Miss Ring: part 2

—compiled by Betty Jane Wilson, society president, from the New Era.


Bostonian Miss Lydia Maria Ring, accompanied by her escort (presumably her brother-in-law to whom she referred as “our relative” or “our brother” or even the “tormentor”) as they neared her sister’s home, was assured she would see the falls in all their glory and grandeur.

Miss Ring wrote, “He (the escort) said, ‘You will soon have the pleasure of seeing them and I guess you can hear them roar.’ Upon arriving at the river we were shocked to know that we had to ford so large a stream one half mile in width.

When half across the river (or brook we would have called it at home) the horses came to a sudden halt.

‘Now,’ said he. At the same time stepping up on the wagon seat and striking a tragic attitude. ‘Behold! And admire the wonderful majestic work of our creator.’


Was it himself he was so anxious for us to admire? We came to that conclusion, for he seemed to us as one of the curiosities of the country.

‘There,’ said he, pointing to what appeared a dam with very little water trickling silently over it. ‘Do you not see the falls?’

‘What? That little dam! Are those the grand falls you have been so enthusiastic about? That insignificant little dam?’

‘Don’t be profane or irreverent, Madam.’

We thought how nice and refreshing it will be when we get to our sister’s pleasant, roomy and airy farm house. At last the horses made a sudden halt at what we called a haystack and in the center of it a light that we mistook for a fire and exclaimed, ‘The hay is on fire!’

‘Well,’ said our tormentor, ‘You just get down from there and we will try to put it out.’ ”

Miss Ring had arrived at her sister’s farm house. She described the cabin home.

“It was one very large room with a cooking stove on one side and a large stone fireplace with a flat stone hearth in the other. We came to enjoy all such a country and surroundings could bestow.

The entertainment which caused us the most sincere emotions at the time, was sleeping under a thatched roof! Thought it romantic to look out between chinks in our cabin and count stars and planets and to watch the moon moving in soundless splendor. But such a change one night long to be remembered. The storm and darkness was wondrous strong, but not to us lovely in its strength, for we were awakened from pleasant dreams by water, discolored by smoke and dirt, coming in upon us and the only alternative was to take a milk pan to place under the drippings.

Another little jet made itself felt until six jets and as many pans prepared for them. Even small space was invaded and we called out, ‘What shall I do?’ Then the voice of ‘that man,’ ‘Hold on, guess I must get you an umbrella.’ Which he did.

What was the more vexatious, his laughter resounded through the cabin. . . it was laughable and much more ludicrous to see him dancing about the cabin between jets, but we will insist to this day that it was very ungallant to make himself so merry at our transfixed position.”

Next, the preparation and move to Grasshopper Falls and subsequent adventures

The Valley Falls Historical Society Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 26.