Home is Litchfield
May 15, 2019 Uncategorized 9 comments meaton19
My Dad’s side of the family has always lived in Litchfield for decades as far back as I know. When I was younger I would go to the bank in Richmond with my Dad. We would always drive by where my relatives had previously lived. He used to tell me stories about going to see them and what they managed to do to survive. My Grampy was a trapper and he tanned the hides of whatever animal he got which was either: a beaver, mink, muskrat, or a fisher. My Grampy lived just down the road from us and we would always go visit to see what he had captured in his traps. Seeing him always being out in the woods inspired me to go spend most of my time following in his footsteps. My dad would always reminisce about how my Grampy used to drive trucks and how he was a sharp shooter in the Marines. My dad said, “Grampy used to always shoot clothes pins off of the clothes line with a 22 at about 30 yards.” Every year he would shoot a deer out of the same stand on the back field with his Marlin 30-30. Helping him field dress and process his deer sparked my interest in guns and hunting. After his health started declining my Grampy gave me his hunting rifle and he told me, “It only takes one shot.” When he gave me his rifle it made me feel honored to have such a important part of my family history given to me. I hope one day to pass the rifle on to either my kids or grand kids in order to hold up tradition. Holding a piece of history in my hands while out hunting and thinking about what the gun has been through is special to me, and that helped change my view on hunting. I gained more respect for hunting because it connected me to my ancestors.
Hearing all of these stories, about my family and what they have done in the woods of Litchfield, helped shape me into who I am today. I can go out back in the woods and I can find a lot of things or places that remind me of my ancestors and connect me to them. Whether it was from the old trap lines or just fishing the same holes that everyone else did. It made me love living in Litchfield. I get to drive down the same roads that some of my family helped build. My family history is all over Litchfield, and it has been a constant reminder of what my family stands for and who I should be in order to follow in their footsteps. I didn’t have to drastically change who I was like Joses Vargas did, but I did change after learning the depth of my family history. This has molded me into the person that I am now, and I love being able to drive around my town and see them all etched into the towns in ways only our family knows. Now I just have to remember that history is something that we have to remember because it helps mold us into the people we are today. My Grampy is another part of history that I need to remember but I won’t forget how he helped form the person I have become today.
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9 Comments
I really enjoyed this story @meaton19. I found it interesting learning what has shaped you into the bright individual you are today. I’m glad you look up to your family, and have decided to follow in their footsteps. Its very important to have those role models you can learn from!
Hearing stories of older relatives and seeing old homes that they lived in always seemed interesting to me and I´m glad that someone else seems to have the same feeling. Growing up in a small town for many generations can lead to mnay crazy experiences being passed down.
Your family has a deep history in Litchfield and that’s really awesome to hear. It’s also cool to hear about how much you cherish your grandfather’s rifle and will keep it as a sort of heirloom in your family. Your story shows the kind of impact a family can have on an area. It seems like you really enjoy where you live and the history you have there.
I love how you really painted the picture of the different stories your dad has told you about your Grampy. My grandparents and great grandparents are also a big part of who I today too. My Pepere having a camp up in Jackman and me being there for almost every time he goes up I can relate to making those memories in the woods. Very well written; love the stories.
I really like how good of a relationship you had with your grandfather, I am the same way and my grandfather has shaped me to be who I am now as a hunter, fishing, racing or even life.
I use to live in Litchfield as well, when I think of that it makes me feel that I was meant to be here. Being able to go out into the woods and kill to support you and your family can be the best feeling ever, it makes some people feel like they are doing a good deed.
I love litchfield the way you do. It is an amazing place not too small or too far from the city just far enough. I wish I lived in litchfield as long as you have. I lived in Lewiston most of my life up until about 5 years ago when I moved into this lovely town.
I too like that you kept your grandfathers gun and how helping your grandfather in the field helped spark your interests in hunting and guns. I like how you want to follow in your ancestors footsteps and how that has molded you into the person you are today. I’m happy you like the town you live in and how your family history has impacted you. Do you plan on staying there in the future?
I think this is a pretty powerful writing , to me, as far as the teaching goes. For someone who was not born around here and who doesn’t have a lot of family here , it really helps me understand the deep family history that goes back here and some of the culture