Out the Back Road
Aunt Claire and Uncle Ern Hunsinger lived out the Back Road in the 1950s, first house on the left if you’re headed to Sugar Hill from Hollenback. Aunt Claire, like my grandfather, had red hair, and I would sit on her lap on their front porch to count the freckles on her arms. My mother used to tell a story about Aunt Claire’s cooking. She came to our house one day when the men were filling silo and “helped” my mother fix a
hardy lunch of chicken and biscuits for the crew. She took a butcher knife and hacked up those chicken pieces, bones and all! (Fortunately no one died that day!). I also remember her cake made from scratch. It had lumps of baking soda visible throughout the cake; with icing so thin you could still see the chocolate cake through it. Thankfully, what she lacked in cooking skills, she made up for with her kindness, hard work and good sense.
My memories of Uncle Ern are sketchier, probably because he kind of scared me. After all these years, I can’t remember why, other than that he seemed ancient and had scruffy whiskers. Uncle Ern kept bees and a parakeet and liked to take a nip now and then. My father told of the time one winter when they heard a strange sound down by our barn. Uncle Ern, headed home after having a nip, fell asleep, ran off the road and crashed into a huge pile of manure! Aunt Claire was miffed. Apparently, he really was a good man, so I wish I’d gotten to know him better. He and Aunt Claire sold their house and land to my father in 1960 and moved to Towanda.
My father farmed the fields out the Back Road and rented the house to the Salsman family for a few years. He sold the place in 1967, but whenever I walk or drive by, I imagine Aunt Claire in her rocking chair on the front porch and Uncle Ern down below the house tending his bees. Amazingly, I realize now that my “ancient” uncle was only in his 70s!
The Champluviers lived just a little further out the Back Road. They moved to Wysox in the 60s, selling their place to the Zakrzewskis. One fine summer day as I was riding my horse, Topper, down the hill near the Back Road, I heard our German Sheppard, George howling horribly. He had gotten
his front paw caught in a steel trap set there by a neighbor to catch fox. I wasn’t strong enough to get it open, and knowing that no one was home at our house, I ran the half mile to the Zakrzewskis’ house and got Mrs. Zak. We ran back out the road and together were able to free George. With hindsight, I realize how brave she was to approach a strange German Sheppard in such obvious agitation. She will forever be my hero!
Mrs. Zakrzewski’s granddaughter and her husband live on their old homestead. They established and operate Deep Roots Hard Cider. Check them out at www.deeprootshardcider.com or visit them at 348 Back Road, Sugar Run, PA 18846. Then, follow the old dirt road as it leads you on a pleasant ride through the woods to meet up with Sugar Hill Road. You won’t be sorry you took the time.
Aunt Claire and Uncle Ern lived out the Back Road in the 1950s, first house on the left if you’re headed to Sugar Hill from Hollenback. Aunt Claire, like my grandfather, had red hair, and I would sit on her lap on their front porch to count the freckles on her arms. My mother used to tell a story about Aunt Claire’s cooking. She came to our house one day when the men were filling silo and “helped” my mother fix a hardy lunch of chicken and biscuits for the crew. She took a butcher knife and hacked up those chicken pieces, bones and all! (Fortunately no one died that day!). I also remember her cake made from scratch. It had lumps of lard visible throughout the cake; with icing so thin you could still see the chocolate cake through it. Luckily, what she lacked in cooking skills, she made up for with her kindness, hard work and good sense.My memories of Uncle Ern are sketchier, probably because he kind of scared me. After all these years, I can’t remember why other than that he seemed ancient and had scruffy whiskers. Uncle Ern kept bees and a parakeet and liked to take a nip now and then. My father told of the time one winter when they heard a strange sound down by our barn. Uncle Ern, headed home after having a nip, fell asleep, ran off the road and crashed into a huge pile of manure! Aunt Claire was miffed. Apparently, he really was a good man, so I wish I’d gotten to know him better. He and Aunt Claire sold their house and land to my father in 1960 and moved to Towanda. The Champluviers lived just a little further out the Back Road. They moved to Wysox in the 60s, selling their place to the Zakrzewskis. One fine summer day as I was riding my horse, Topper, down the hill near the Back Road, I heard our German Sheppard, George howling horribly. He had gotten his front paw caught in a steel trap set there by a neighbor to catch fox. I wasn’t strong enough to get it open, and knowing that no one was home at our house, I ran the half mile to the Zakrzewskis’ house and got Mrs. Zak. We ran back out the road and together were able to free George. With hindsight I realize how brave she was to approach a strange German Sheppard in such obvious agitation. She will forever be my hero!