#11 The Sugarbush

Last Updated on February 1, 2021

From this point, the entire sugarbush can be viewed. We know that Indians gashed trees and used the sweet sap to boil venison. Imagine early pioneers and farmers using oxen and stoneboats, or teams of horses pulling bobsleds, to collect sap for boiling in black kettles or on flat pans.  Later, of course, the tractor and wagon would roll up to the sugarhouse with another load of fresh sap.

Imagine making sugar cakes to sell, then having to leave at 3 a.m. by horse and wagon for the market in Erie.  How different today is the marketing of maple syrup and products, using all the communication, social media, and travel improvements.  Overall, though, not much has really changed in the process of sugarin’ at Hurry Hill.  Every spring, fragrant maple steam rolls out of the sugarhouse, and some helpers work through mud and snow just for the fun of making maple syrup!  And these same trees, tapped during centuries past, will continue at least into the next century, their contribution.

(Use the Walking Trail sub-menu above to navigate to other stops on the trail)