Day 29, Tues, Sept 30, Bucksport to Freeport, Maine

This place doesn't look like much, but people come here from all over to eat freshly caught lobster and other atlantic seafood here at the Haraseeket Lobster Co. in Freeport.

We orded one large lobster, two ears of corn, a boiled potato, cole slaw and gigantic onion rings! Pretty good eating!

We stopped for the night in Freeport, Maine. After getting settled in our hotel room we asked the proprietor if she could recommend a restuarant. She told us to go to the Harraseeket Lobster Co. located at the docks in the commercial fishing district.

This picture was taken as waited for our lobster to boil in the small but very popular and busy Harraseeket restaurant just off this dock area to the right.

This is typical of the older homes, small farms and rural lifestyle that exists along country roads in Maine.

This was taken as we drove south from Bucksport on US 1 somewhere near Searsport and Belfast, Maine.

This scene is typical of the hundreds of inlets and the small seaside villages that dot the Maine coastline.

We stopped here in Camden on US 1 long enough to take a couple of pictures.

Tuesday morning we said goodbye to our very relaxing and enjoyable stay at the Best Western 'Fort Knox Inn' (the white, flat-roofed building nearest the shore) at Bucksport and took "flight" down the Maine coastline.

This was taken during an early morning stroll along the east bank of the mighty Penobscot river as the tide was still coming in. The seagulls had been resting quietly on this small public fishing warf until I stepped onto it.

This is the big paper mill in Bucksport, Maine, on the banks of the Penobscot River. It specializes in high quality paper used in magazine publication. Large, ocean going vessels, like the one docked at this mill, navigate the Penobsoct River. This is a tide water river, being very close to Penobscot Bay and the North Atlantic ocean. You can smell the sea here. Bucksport is a North Atlantic seaport town.

Day 28, Mon, Sept 29, Bangor to Bucksport, Maine

As we motored down US 1A from Bangor, we had repeated views of the Penobscot River which flows into the Atlantic just beyond old Fort Knox, pictured here.

We drove across the newer of the two bridges you see in the background, spanning the river. We were so taken with the sights about us at this spot that rather than journey further, though it was early in the afternoon, we obtained a room at a small but very nice hotel in the historic village of Bucksport that looks out across the river towards the fort and the bridges as shown here.

As a new missionary I visited Fort Knox with my companion David Williams and other elders and sisters of the Northern Maine District after a District meeting in Bangor. It was special to be here again and walk along the shore of this great river in this picturesque town.

There are two bridges side-by-side; the first bridge was built in 1931. The newer one with the very tall concrete towers was completed just two years ago. If you pay $5 they will let you take an elevator to the top of the tower on the right to an observation floor. (We didn't do that, but it would provide quite a view!)

Before leaving Bangor we drove down to the Eastern Maine Medical Center located on the banks of the Penobscot River on the south side of town. We found the original building where I received emergency treatment in December of 1961. It is still a part of the hospital complex but is now a resource where family members of patients receiving long-term care at the hospital can have a room at a reduced rate. In fact, if vacancy exists they will provide rooms to the traveling public for rates comparible to other hotels in the area.

I remember my companion bringing me to this entrance and walking in with him to the information desk inside. I went in today and found the interior of the waiting area basically as I remember it, with the information counter still there. In those days the place was known as the Eastern Maine General Hospital. Now, a huge medical complex exists behind and beyond this old red brick building.

We stayed 3 nights at the Day's Inn at Bangor, waiting out the storms from the Atlantic. We also made a visit to Urgent Care because of recuring high levels of pain in Linda's left knee. This morning (Monday) we checked out of our hotel and began our journy toward the coast of Maine.

This picture was taken in the Day's Inn parking lot. There were recuring incoming flight's of Air Guard KC-47's (Air-to-Air refuelers) landing at the Bangor airport. Linda will remember this place, not because of in-coming flights but the thunderous take-offs!

Day 26, Sat, Sept 27, Bangor, Maine

We arrived in Bangor, Maine on Friday afternoon, hoping to find suitable, affordable accomodations for the weekend. The weather reports said the storms in the Atlantic would bring heavy rain across Maine and the other New England States. We wanted to rest ourselves and attend church here in the place where I had served as the Supervising Elder of the Northern Maine District so many years ago.

We visited several hotels in the area and found the rates excessive, much as we had in North Conway, NH the previous day. We finally bedded down at a Days Inn just off Interstate 95. They were one of the very few hotels that would honor their add in the hotel savings coupon book we obtain from Denny's Restaurants as we travel. What we didn't realize until after we had signed in and gotten our things brought in from the car is that this hotel is within a stone's throw of one of the runways at Bangor's international airport. That first commerical airliner that came roaring overhead was quite the experience! They must be using other runways most of the time because these thundering take-offs and landings have only happened about three times.

This is the LDS chapel where we will be attending Sunday morning with the members of the Brewer Ward. It is located about 5 miles from our hotel. The Church Web site shows there are two wards in the Bangor area and two smaller Branch's nearby as well. When I served here in 1960-62 we had only one small branch of the Church in Bangor and no Wards or Stakes anywhere in New England at all until the organization of the Boston Stake in early 1962.

The rainy conditions have kept us in. Except for a run to the store and a pizza place for the some takeout we have been tucked in to our hotel room.

Day 25, Friday, Sept 26, N. Conway, NH to Bangor, Maine

This is the beautiful Kennebec River that flows down from the mountains through the heart of Maine and on to the Atlantic Ocean. This was taken at a rest stop just east of Skowhegan, Maine, on US 2, as we journied toward Bangor.

This is looking north along a rocky stream bed just off to the east side of Rt 16 in the midst of the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

Learning that serious rain and wind was being forcast for the New England area, beginning today(Friday, Sept 26), we hoped to remain in Conway, NH rather than drive through the beautiful White Mountains during rain and limited visibility. But such was not to be because of high room rates and non-availability.

So, after a comfortable night's rest at North Conway's Comfort Inn we continued on up NH Rt 16 to Goram, then turned east on US 2 stopping for the night in Bangor, Maine where I served as a missionary so many years ago (Fall and Winter of 1961).

This picture was taken along Rt 16 in the heart of the White Mountains, the tops of which are caught in the storm clouds. This drive through New Hampshires mountain region provided our best experience to date viewing the amazing colors of Fall.

Day 24, Thurs, Sept 25, Laconia to Conway, NH

This is Chocorua Lake with famous Mount Chocorua in the distance. This is one of the most photographed mountain peaks in New Hampshire. We were northbound on NH Rt 16 heading towards Conway when we came upon this splendid scene!

Along the same side road we drove down to pick apples was this log home, tucked there in the New Hampshire woodland. This is so typical of the many,many homes we see as we drive through rural New England.

Thursday morning we took our journey south from Laconia along State Rt 11, planning to drive around to the east side of Lake Winnipisaukee, then north toward the White Mountain Region of New Hampshire. Just south of Laconia we noticed a sign saying "Apples U-Pick." A short distance down a side road we found this apple orchard and were given a 1/2 peck size sack and permitted to pick apples off the trees, getting a dollar off the regular price for our efforts.

Day 23, Wed, Sept 24, The Lake Region of New Hampshire

After the camera battery charged sufficiently I did drive on down to the lower west shores of the Lake Winnipesaukee near the lake front communities of Glendale and West Alton. I was able to get access to the lake shore at Ellacoya State Park. The clear sky's of morning had given away to increasing cloudiness by the time I took this later picture, but it was still a very pleasant day with temperatures in the high 60s and low 70s.

We decided on another night's stay at our hotel in Laconia (actually in the Laconia suburb of Tilton)so we could explore the Lake Winnipesaukee (correct spelling)shoreline.

We took this picture at a small public beach in the resort community of Weirs Beach. Linda took her shoes off and walked across the sand and into the water. She was surprised that the water didn't seem that cold. The water is very clear. Of course, this lake is huge with only a small part of it visible from this inlet on the west shore.

Daily 2-hour cruises on Lake Winnipesaukee are available to the tourist here at Weirs Beach by going aboard the MS Mount Washington, but we didn't opt to take the cruise, prefering a quiet walk along the sandy shore.

Our outing was cut short by the sudden, unexpected failure of our camera. I hadn't charged the battery. So, we returned to our hotel. It may have been just as well, as Linda very much needed to get her leg up and rest.

Tuesday morning, Sept 23, we checked out of our hotel in White River Junction and drove north the short distance to Sharon, Vt and the birthplace of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

This is a spot that is very special to us because we came here on our 35th Wedding Anniversary trip and back in 1960-62 I was privilaged to come here a number of times as a missionary of the New England States Mission to perform baptisms of new converts. All of our mission also gathered here for the dedication of the then, new Visitor's Center (the buildings you see in the foreground) performed by President Hugh B. Brown.

Linda can be seen in the left of center, walking and talking with our guide, Sister Slade. Sister Slade and her husband are serving a 6-month mission as guides at the Visitor's Center. They come from Star, Idaho and have family in the East Valley, Arizona. (This photo and note is out of sequence. It didn't transmit the first time I attempted to post it)

Day 22, Tues, Sept 23, Sharon, VT to Laconia, NH

After our visit to the Joseph Smith birthplace we headed toward Laconia, New Hampshire, crossing the Connecticut River (not shown) which forms the boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire at White River Junction and continuing east on US 4 and then NH 104 towards Laconia and beautiful Lake Winnapisoki. As with events of yesterday, we had to stop numerous times to take pictures. It was all so very beautiful! The colors are really starting to "pop!" as Linda says.

This is a body of water, name unknown, along Route 104. We are looking east toward one of the majestic mountains of New Hampshire, about hafeway between Lebanon and Meredith, NH (Yes, there is a resort town on the shores of Lake Winnapasoki called Meredith).

When our guides, Elder and Sister Slade, learned that Linda would not be able to walk to the sites of interest that are in the forested area north of the Monument, they loaded us into a golf cart and took us out to the location of foundation stones of the homes built by Lucy Mack Smith's father, Solomon Mack. They also showed us the remains of a stone bridge over a stream of water; part of the roadway that was built between Montreal, Canada and Boston, Massachusetts, back in the 1700's. The Solomon Mack properties adjoined this historic old turnpike that would have been an important means of transportation and commerce in those early frontier days.

Elder Slade took this picture of us, standing on the stones of the bridge.

Vermont Ancestry

As we visit these beautiful places of Vermont we are reminded that we have ancestrial roots here in the rocky soil of this Green Mountain state.

Welcome Benjamin Chapman was born in the village of Readsboro, Bennington County, Vermont on July 24, 1805. He was a contemporary of the Prophet Joseph Smith, born in the same year and in the same state. His grandparents, Throop and Deborah Chapman were among the earliest settlers in Readsboro, coming there in 1784.

Welcome's parents, Benjamin and Sibyl(Amidon)Chapman, moved from Readsboro to the area of Syracuse, New York when Welcome was only 2-years-old. So, his growing up years were in upstate New York. His first serious life's work was as a cook on a fishing vessel on Lake Ontario. He was in the Great Lakes and north Atlantic fishing trade until he began courting his future wife Susan Amelia Risely, a native of Madison, NY sometime around 1831. As Susan's parents looked negatively upon her suiter being a fisherman by trade and since he had earlier apprenticed as a stone cutter, Welcome forsook his life as a commercial fisherman and became a stone cutter, a cooper (a maker of barrels) and a farmer. He would have been around 26 years of age.

When he first learned of Joseph Smith and the Restoration Welcome saddled a horse and rode over 200 miles down to Kirtland, Ohio where he spent several days with the Prophet Joseph, and was baptized. He is the first of our Chapman line to become a member of the LDS Church.

On the Burnham side, James Lewis Burnham was born in Waitsfield, Washington County, Vermont on October 29, 1813. We do not have his history with us on our trip, but he most likely grew to manhood in the same area as he was wed to Mary Ann Huntley in 1834 and she was also a native of Waitsfield, VT, born there in 1816. The only other thing our limited record shows is that Mary Huntley Burnham gave birth to great grandfather George Franklin Burnham in October 1839 in Woodstock, Illinois. James must have joined the Church and brought his wife and family to gather with the Saints to the Nauvoo area. He died at the young age of 32 in Nauvoo.

More pictures along US 4 Vermont

This was our view from the spot where we ate our roasted corn and apple pie while at the "Fool on the Hill" farm outside of Woodstock, VT on Monday, Sept 22. The fall colors are just starting to turn

It is impossible for us to drive by these covered bridges and not stop for a picture. They are old, but still serviceable. A big ice cream delivery truck drove through this one just before this picture was taken on Monday during our journey from Rutland to White River Jct, VT

Another covered bridge along US 4 Vermont

Here's another look at the "Bears" that are mixing it up with a herd of Holstein cows at the "Fool on the Hill" farm just outside Woodstock, VT

En route to White River Junction, VT on US 4 we had to stop and take a picture of this "starter home" sitting just off the road west of Woodstock, VT. We didn't see a for sale sign. Does anyone want to make an offer?

Day 21, Monday, Sept 22, Rutland, to White River Jct, VT

Just a short distance west of White River Junction, VT we came upon another surprise! The Quechee Gorge, pictured here from the middle of the bridge (looking south) that spans this gorge on US 4. I would estimate the bridge to be at least 300 feet above the river. This gave us another opportunity to stop. While I hiked up and down the footpath along the edge of the gorge, Linda surveyed the interior of a very intriguing Country store nearby. She liked everything she saw but didn't buy. What restraint!

This was just a picturebook day for us! Every mile filled with wonderful sights of New England in the Fall!

We ended the day by finding a room at a Comfort Suites hotel in White River Junction. We will wait until tomorrow (Tuesday) to visit Sharon, VT.

We were just beyond the village of Woodstock when we came upon this amazing sight which this photograph can not really do justice. A green hill covered with hand crafted farm and forest animals; cows, sheep, dogs, pigs, bears, even skunks and foxes! It was part of a display for a roadside farm produce store call "Fool on the Hill." We pulled in and ended up not only taking several pictures but buying and eating our lunch. What a delightful experience! Ears of corn roasted on an outdoor fire, homemade apple pie, hot apple cider and donuts. Good stuff!

As we entered the village of Woodstock, VT, the flowers and gardens surrounding this Assisted living facility caused us to have to stop and take pictures. Linda walked through the flower gardens and couldn't quite believe the variety and beauty of this will maintained older property. It was just pristine in every way! And the further we drove through the town, the more apparent it was that we were in one of those classic New England villages that people love to come to and just spend time walking around. You could spend days in the place and not see all the photogenic, historically interesting sites.

We left our hotel in Rutland, VT with the intention of driving to the Joseph Smith birthplace in Sharon, VT, some 50 miles to the east. It was such a beautiful sunshine day and the sights along route 4 so compelling that we just kept stopping and stopping time after time to look at this and photograph that, that we ended up stopping in White River Junction, only 43 miles down the road.

Twice, we stopped to take pictures of covered bridges. This is the first one spans a small stream just off the highway, west of Woodstock, VT.

Day 20, Sunday, Sept 21, Lenox, Mass to Rutland, Vermont

This was taken as we traveled north on Route 7 through the Green Mountains of southern Vermont. Storm clouds were just beginning to roll in from the west and temperature hovered in the high 50's. Another refreshing drive for us!

We were impressed by the size of these mountains. They are big and they are beautiful. You can see the color change just starting to touch these trees as Fall officially begins tomorrow and cooler weather brings the frost that will set these hardwood forests ablaze with all shades of yellow, red and orange.

After attending Sacrament Meeting with the Pittsfield Saints we journied north from western Mass on Route 7 into southern Vermont's beautiful Green Mountain region. As we drove through Bennington, Vermont we noticed this very large and impressive stone monument on a hill off to the west of the highway. It took us a little while to locate the right roadway, but it was surely worth it. This is a most fantastic piece of work. It was contructed to pay honor to the soldiers of Vermont and New Hampshire who successfully prevailed against the British in the famous battle of Bennigton during the Revolutionary War. It stands over 380 feet tall, made of massive blocks of Vermont granite.

We checked out of our hotel in Lenox, Mass and drove about 4 miles to this lovely LDS chapel which houses the Pittsfield Ward and attended their 10 am Sacrament Meeting. It happened to be their Ward Conference. We were much pleased by the good feeling and sweet spirit evident in the conduct of the meeting by the Bishop, the passing of the Sacrament by the Aaronic priesthood, the congregational singing of sacred hymns of Zion and the inspirational words and counsel provided by both the Bishop and the Stake President. We were greeted at the door by two young missionaries who serve in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. It always warms our hearts to see these young elders and to speak with them however briefly.

I talked Linda into posing in front of the Church before we departed.

Day 19, Saturday, Sept 20 Still in the Berkshires of Mass

This autumn harvest display is on the front walk of the famous Red Lion Inn in downtown Stockbridge, Mass. Linda surveyed the room rates and found them to be as expensive at those at the Grand Hotel. We are happy to be in our more modest accomodations at the Yankee Inn in nearby Lenox.

During our travels yesterday (Friday, Sept 19)we stopped in the village of Lee, just a short distance east of Stockbridge, Mass and purchased lunch-to-go from a small eatery named "Hot Harry's Burritos." Mexican food in Massachusetts; can you believe it?

We drove around until we found a picnic table under a large maple tree next to a large old paper mill that is at the base of one of the larger mountains in this part of Massachusetts. The elevation here is less than 1,000 feet above sea level. Linda is sporting her straw hat. The burros were not too bad.

We decided to remain at our hotel in Lenox, Mass for another day and take time to do some laundry and then just kick back and watch the college football games. So, we didn't go anywhere today at all. We did take a swim in the indoor pool (both of us). That was fun! We promised ourselves we will do that more often. Water exercise is good.

This picture, which we took yesteday, down in Stockbridge, is just outside the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Day 18, Friday, Sept 19 Stockbridge, Mass

This was taken on the grounds of the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. We visited this area during our 35th Wedding Anniversary trip to New England in the Fall of '97. It was great to visit here again and see that it all looks relatively unchanged. Stokbridge was only a 20 minute drive from our hotel in Lenox, Mass. We decided to take a couple of days here in the beautiful Berkshire area of western Massachusetts, which is so rich in the New England tradition of small, picturesque villages tucked into quiet little spots among the hills and hardwood forests that cover this part of the Northeast.

These few small, old fashioned stores in downtown Stockbridge have been made famous because of Norman Rockwell's illustrations that depict this area.

While Linda was looking through the little shops in downtown Stockbridge, Mass I crossed the street and went inside an old Episcopal Church and took pictures of some of the beautiful stained glass windows.

Day 17, Thurs Sept 18, from Utica, NY to Lenox, Mass

After leaving the area of Palmyra Wednesday afternoon, we drove east on Rt 5, stopping at this beautiful spot on the north shore of one of the famous Finger Lakes; Seneca Lake, Geneva, NY. However the hotel on the lake shore had no room available and we traveled on east and were unsuccessful in finding anything suitable or otherwise until we reached Utica and took lodging in an old Ramada Inn. (at the point we were glad just for a bed - actually it wasn't all that bad and we got a suitable night's rest. Ironically, we heard from Sister Suzanne Wyatt, one of our CDNM missionaries who we had hoped to see and visit with while traveling through the area. We had given her a bad phone number and so we kept missing each other. It turned out that she lives and works in Geneva, right across from the hotel we were hoping to stay at! But, we had traveled far down the road before we became aware of how close we had been. We feel bad that we missed seeing and visiting with her.

This is a view of the Mohawk Valley, taken as we traveled east on Rt 5, east of Little Falls, NY. A nearby historical marker reminds travelers that this Valley was once the home of the Mohawk Indians, "proud members of the powerful Six-Nation Iroquois Confederacy." The Valley was the main gateway between the Adirondack Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau. It was the pathway of Christian missionaries, pioneering settlers, adventurers, trappers, and contending armies during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

This is a view of the Mohawk Valley, taken as we traveled east only Rt 5, east of Little Falls, NY. A nearby historical marker reminds travelers that this Valley was once the home of the Mohawk Indians, "proud members of the powerful Six-Nation Iroquois Confederacy." The Valley was the main gateway between the Adirondack Mountains and the Allegheny Plateau. It was the pathway of Christian missionaries, pioneering settlers, adventurers, trappers, and contending armies during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution.

Downtown Albany, NY (the State's capitol) is filled with remarkable, older buildings of beautiful architecture. We are not sure what this building is, whether government or business, but it is representative of the so many that we saw as we drove through the city on Rt 5.

After crossing the Hudson River in downtown Albany, NY, we stopped on the east bank and took this picture tooking back across the river toward the Albany skyline. In the extreme right is some commercial shipping seen under the Interstate bridges. One of these looks like a US Navy destroyer. It is obvious that the Hudson is passable for large ships even this far inland. This was a beautiful, clear, sunny day with temperatures in the 60's.

Day 16, Wed Sept 17, Palmyra Temple and Cumorah

When we arrived at the Palmyra Temple to attend

the 11 am session on Wednesday, Sept 17, we were met at the recommend desk by this man, who upon looking at Terry's recommend said, "Brother Chapman don't you recognize me? You and I served together in the New England Mission."

I admitted I didn't know who he was, though he did look familiar. He smiled and said, "Elder Yancey." Then of course, I remembered. Elder Marvin Yancey. He had been a Traveling Elder (like a Zone Leader today). He and his companion Elder Gerald Flake had visited Elder Walker and I when we were stationed in Dover, NH. We had fed them a very bad meal and given them a place to bed down for the night in our little apartment.

After the Temple session he introduced us to his wife Linda. They reside in Blackfoot, Idaho and are serving a Temple Mission in Palmyra. They have a daughter living in Rexburg.

We met Ron and EdieTimmerman, who were in our session. They are from St. George and knew Jeffery and Kristi from their previous years in Dixie Downs area. Brother Timmerman said he served with Jeffery on the High Council.

We also met Elder and Sister Dugger who are serving at the Temple from Mesa. When you are a member of the Church it is indeed a small world!

This is the Temple entrance. As you can see, the temple has beautiful stained glass panels that depict trees and vegetation to harmonize the Temple decor with the Sacred Grove that is just to the west of the Temple. President Hinckley said when he approved the plans for the Temple that he wanted those who entered to be reminded of the Sacred Grove. It is very beautiful inside and out.

Day 16, Wed Sept 17, Palmyra Temple and Cumorah

We were in touch with former CDNM sister missionary, Maryann Hidalgo of Ontario, Canada. She planned to attend the 11 am temple session with us Wednesday morning, but as time came for the session to begin she had still not arrived. It is a 3-hour drive from her home to Palmyra.

But to our great pleasure as we entered the Celestial room at the completion of our endowment session, there she was, all dressed in white, waiting to greet us! That was a very happy moment for the three of us! She said that she did arrive right at 11 am, but the session could not be delayed. She participated in some initiatory service instead and then was able to be in the Celestial room when we entered. How good of her to come all that way! Such a splendid young woman! We went to lunch together down in Manchester before she had to get back on the Interstate and return to school and home.

We love and admire this dear young woman and wish the very best for her in her schooling and in her church assignment as Relief Society President in her Young Singles Branch.

Before we departed from the Palmyra area we drove over to the Hill Cumorah. They now have a paved road that curves around to the east side of the hill and allows the visitor to park at the top of the hill in a concealment of trees a short distance from the statue of Moroni. This made it possible for Linda to experience our second visit to this very sacred and remarkable place.

Day 15, Tues, Sept 16, Palmyra, NY

After enjoying a guided tour with the sister missionaries at the Smith farm, and spending some very peaceful moments in the Sacred Grove, we drove the short distance to the village of Palmyra situated on the south bank of the Erie Canal. Here, among other points of historical interest is the actual print shop where the Book of Mormon was first published.

While Linda visited an LDS bookstore next door, Terry entered the print shop and bumped into a large group of students from BYU-Idaho University and their professor and guide, brother Nate Williams in the midst of being instructed about the publication of the Book of Mormon as part of their tour of Church history sites. I interrupted long enough to shake brother Williams' hand and tell him we were parents of Jeffery Chapman of the Religion Department. He said, "Of course! Brother Chapman! I was just with him at West Yellowstone just a few weeks ago!"

So, before we left I had to take a picture of the tour bus to memorialize this unexpected encounter. It is a small world, no?

You don't see the Palmyra Temple until you are literally upon it. It sits on a rise of ground directly east of the Smith farm, but the forest of trees both to the east and west conceal it from the highway (Rt 21).

It is small but it is beautiful with grounds that are covered with grass, flowers, shrubs, and both hardwood and conifer trees.