I am sending this again in case my new followers have not seen it.
It was a once in a lifetime event , and after 46 years have past,a few of the guests still reminisce of the great time it was.
Enjoy.
46 years ago, Ray and friends were sitting around his kitchen table at 110 Elm St., Seaview, Marshfield, Ma., having a few beers and discussing something fun to do for the coming Thanksgiving Holiday .
We zeroed in on a Thanksgiving gathering of a few families, re-enacting an old-fashioned Thanksgiving with fun and feast.
After a few more beers it was decided to devote a full week to this event
We agreed to keep this gathering to eight adults & eight youngsters. This would be a convenient number to work with. Much research had to be done to include period food & drinks, and, of course, a large turkey.
A FORMAL INVITATION WAS SENT FOR THE RECORD
Each adult was given a choice of assignments and responsibilities from start to finish, with a home-grown theme if possible.
These events would take place at the Freden’s 1820 antique home referred to as “Holly Hollow”.
The barn’s playroom would be used as an overflow of events in case of inclement weather.
Period outfits were required to participate, home-made encouraged.
The youngsters were to draw a turkey on poster board to be used as bow and arrow targets.
The kids were also charged with after-dinner entertainment. Suggestions included any form of music, poetry reading, magic tricks, round-robin story telling etc.
The men were responsible for the heavy work and chasing down needed materials. And yes, the women were delegated to kitchen duty!
A once-a-week meeting took place at the different homes to report on progress.
Two weeks before November 25th, 1975, we had an impressive assortment of goods and ideas.
Our pantry was filling fast.
The traditional Thanksgiving dinner drink was Apple Cider in all forms:
Sweet (freshly squeezed), Tangy, Hard, & Harder!, Apple syrup, (boiled-down Apple juice.) and Apple vinegar too.
GRINDING APPLES
PRESSING THE CRUSHED APPLES RESULTING IN A SWEET JUICE
MUCH JUICE WAS PUT-BY FOR WINE & VINEGAR
LOOKING FOR ME?
YES I AM 
!——-SEE-YA LATER !——-
—-YES YOU WILL—!
THAT IS A VERY LARGE TURKEY
RAY & CAROL ANN STARTING THE BOILING DOWN OF APPLE JUICE TO MAKE SWEET APPLE SYRUP.
THE THREE MUSTY-REARS ARRIVE ON THE CLAM FLATS.
CLAMS & CLAM CHOWDER ARE ALWAYS WELCOME AS A THANKSGIVING EVE DINNER.
ERIC AND MARK STEP IN TO STIR THE APPLE JUICE SYRUP.
OUR LADIES BUSY IN THE KITCHEN.
HOSTESS, CAROL ANN CHECKING HER LIST.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Spencer Brewster, his Morgan horse, “Flourish”, along with their buggy. awaits for our guests to be shuttled to our home, “Holly Hollow”
AS , “FLOURISH” & SPENCER TURNED INTO OUR “HOLLY HOLLOW” DRIVEWAY, A RENEGADE INDIAN SQUAW STALKS OUR INCOMING GUESTS!
OH NO! THAT BAND OF LOCAL INDIANS MAY BE PLANNING TO CAUSE TROUBLE !!
IT APPEARS THEY WANT OUR CHILDREN !
THEY THREATENED TO BOIL THE YOUNGSTERS ALIVE UNLESS WE PROVIDED FOOD & FIRE WATER !
A POW-WOW , —-SOME INDIAN TALK—–
—AND WHITE-MAN’S GIBBERISH—ALONG WITH A PEACE-PIPE OFFERING–PEACEFUL TERMS WERE AGREED ON.
WITH A SIGH OF RELIEF, SPENCER DELIVERED MORE OF OUR GUEST’S.
CAROL ANN CONTINUED WITH SOME SWEET TALK AND RAY HAD A HUG FOR THE SQUAW………
——WE CONTINUED TO CARRIED-ON –IN PEACE—
” PROMETHEUS” A WELCH PONY AND MARIETTA ” LALLA”, ALONG WITH OUR BOY’S, ERIC & MARK, CAME OUT OF HIDING AND ARRIVED SAFELY !
THE YOUNGSTERS WERE GETTING ITCHY FOR SOME FUN & GAMES…
RAY, OFFERS BOW & ARROW INSTRUCTIONS…
CAROL ANN CAREFULLY REMOVES ARROWS FROM THE TURKEY TARGETS…
JUST MAYBE, A JUICY APPLE WILL SHARPEN-UP HIS AIM ?
THEN, MAYBE NOT !
FEAST TIME IS NEARING
CAROL ANN PUTS ON SOME FINISHING TOUCHES
MASTER JOHN SAYS GRACE.
REGGIE HASN’T MISSED A BEAT!
“GIVE THANKS FOR A LITTLE, AND YOU WILL FIND A LOT”
WE TOOK OUR PLACES……. ALONG WITH THE TURKEY& HAM.
THAT BIG BIRD WAS DEVOURED IN NO TIME, AS WELL AS THE HAM & FIXINGS!
AFTER DINNER, THE YOUNGSTERS TOOK TURNS WITH THEIR ENTERTAINMENT.
MARK READ POETRY AS JULIE AND HER VIOLIN WAITED HER TURN….
HE WENT ON & ON!
FINALLY, IT’S NOW JULIE’S TURN
WHEN JULIE TOOK A BREAK, MARK WENT AT IT AGAIN AS THE FAMILY AND GUEST’S ENJOYED
THE END OF DAY IS NEARING & LETTING OFF THE LAST OF IT’S STEAM…..
AS OUR FIRE DWINDLED DOWN—– IT WAS TIME TO CALL IT A
DAY——-& THEN SOME!
A REMEMBRANCE TO BEHOLD FOR A LIFETIME. NOVEMBER 27th, 1975
THANK YOU’s WERE IN ORDER
THANKS TO ERNEST, “MAC” & LOUISE , “MAUD”, CAROL ANN’S PARENTS. A SPECIAL THANKS TO “MAUD” FOR HER HELP.
THANKS TO TOM & MARY ALONG WITH THEIR GIRLS FOR JOINING.
THANK YOU TO NANCY & FRED ALONG WITH THEIR BOYS.
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR CAROL ANN”S DEDICATION FOR THE OVERWHELMING TASK OF PULLING THIS FEAST OFF .
ANOTHER SPECIAL THANKS TO SPENCER & MARIETTA BREWSTER OF PLYMOUTH FOR PROVIDING HORSE & BUGGIES TO TRANSPORT OUR GUESTS AND FENDING OFF THE INDIANS. Note:Spencer is a direct descendant of Elder William Bradford of the Mayflower.
“WHEN YOU LOVE WHAT YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED” Author unknown
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY FRIENDS & FOLLOWERS
By W.Ray Freden, The Village of SEAVIEW, 70 years.
Wish I had been there!
Ray! This is such a great post! It looks like great fun. I miss those crowded Thanksgivings with lots of families and food and booze and pot!!! Haven’t had one quite like it since I moved out here. I did just talk by video with Billy and Zach, though, which is saving my life during the pandemic. They’re fine–Bill just bought his own home in Worcester.
How are Tom and Mary? It was nice to see their faces–and yours of course too.
Give my love to Carol, and have a lovely Thanksgiving.
Love from your old friend, Pam.
This just made my day! My favorite posting to date. Miss you all. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I can’t wait to show Kevin. He will love the picture of Reggie.
That had to have been a great day snd a great time in preparation. Awesome
What wonderful photos of your fabulous Thanksgiving! Although Bob and I were not a part of it, we thoroughly enjoyed living it vicariously!