So Sad, Upsetting and Depressing!

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This is the way I remember the Wickersham farm in East Springfield, PA. (My maiden name is Wickersham) When my sister and I were young this is where my Aunt Ella and Uncle Clifford and my cousins David and Philip lived. They farmed the 100 acre farm which was mostly apple orchards. I just found out this past week that the house has been bull-dozed!!!!!!! I can't believe it!! It has affected me more than I would've thought! My Grandma Wickersham and her husband (who had died when my father was young), raised their five children in this house. They were all born in this house. My father was born here!

The one son, my Uncle Clifford, stayed to farm the land and raise apples. He lived there till his death. Neither son wanted to farm so it was sold to a man that used the land all these years. I had taken my husband to see it about 25 years ago and I would've liked to have the chance of buying it but we never knew it went up for sale.

I have very fond memories of spending time in the summers here. The house was big with dozens of rooms upstairs. (At least it seemed that way when we were young.) It was a wonderful magical place.

Aerial View. "Our" farm is on the south side of the road. Doesn't show all the acres of orchards. Don't you wonder how farmers keep such straight lines when the plow!!!!!!!

This was at harvest time. The apples were sold to grocers in the NW PA area. They made cider in the barn and the whole place smelled like apples in the fall.

I remember when my Dad and Mom and my sister and I would go to the farm usually on Sundays, we'd sit up there on the porch. I guess the man who bought it just finally let the house go to ruin. How sad is that!

Apple blossom in the Spring. Can you imagine about 70 acres of these in bloom. What a beautiful sight.

There were tractor paths through the orchards that we used to run and play on. One path lead to the old cemetery where all the Wickershams are buried.

The house was probably built in the early 1800's and was at first a stage-coach stop. I just can't believe it is gone. As my sister said, we'll just never drive down that road again. Really upsetting!

Shirley