This is an actual quote retrieved from Wikipedia this evening, and it brings back memories: “Front Royal, settled by whites as early as 1738, was originally known as Lehewtown, and was also known as ‘Helltown’, due to the abundance of rough and wild mountaineers and river travelers in the area who came into town looking for alcohol and women.”

Wow. Before I only suspected it, now I know:  I was born in Helltown.

In Helltown, ironically, are many apple trees: Jonathon, Winesap, Red Delicious, and Yellow Delicious.  In the woods outside town is something better: blackberries.  Here’s something Wikipedia won’t tell you, but I remember: To lean even a little ways into the woods and retrieve them, you have to wear your cousin’s big old long sleeve shirt and britches. (That’s on account of the briers, and the copperheads that might be there.) Afterwards, it takes about forever to get your hair checked for ticks.  It is worth it, though, because the berries go plunk plunk in your pail like in Blueberries for Sal, and woods blackberries are not like supermarket blackberries — they’re tangier.

Plus, if you have an aunt who comes to visit from Perry Point, she’ll boil them up on the stovetop with water, sugar, and lumps of Bisquick dough that turn into dumplings as the soup thickens. You can pop some in the freezer and warm them up again months later.  They still taste perfect.  You can enjoy them year round, even when hell freezes over.

© 2010, karen. All rights reserved.

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This entry was posted on November 25, 2010 at 9:06 am and is filed under Karen, Memoirs. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.