63 degrees at 5:30 A.M. - not raining.
The Yankees have clinched their ninth consecutive American League East crown and 'tho the Red Sox fought till the end, their 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays and the Twins' win over the Orioles on Saturday meant they'd miss the postseason for the first time in four seasons.
Decisions; decisions!
The route of our Sunday "Ride in the Country" will probably be determined by the weather, but we have several possible destinations in mind: to continue photographing hop houses in Oneida and Madison counties - especially towards Munnsville; to see if "Witch Hazel" is in bloom down near Brookfield; to find out if Hinman Farms on Route 5 west of Kirkland is open.
Hop Houses take priority because unlike this example, which was restored through the efforts of the owners - the Gordons - with assistance from a New York State "Barn Grant," more and more such buildings just fall down into the weeds each year.
Hop Houses tend to collapse faster than other farm structures because of the opening in the roof, where the "cowl" provided ventilation during the hop-drying process. But where sulphur-scented air went out, rain came in and, after just so many seasonal soakings, timbers rotted and just gave up.
This cowl, which was on the hop house of the former Zombek farm on Route 12B North of Deansboro, blew right off the building in a strong wind just a few years ago.
Those hop houses that remain standing have all had that opening covered so that the building could be put to other use.
At the Avery Farm in Stockwell.
On Route 12 in North Brookfield.
Livermore Road in Bouckville.
The former Fusek Farm on White Street in Waterville.
On West Hill, in Deansboro, at the Bolan (above)
and Steinmann residences (below,)
and Steinmann residences (below,)
A drawing of the Cleary Hop House on Route 315 North of Waterville.
The Marshall Historical Society might still have five-packs of Hop House note paper! Call Dorothy McConnell - Mrs. John McConnell on Post Street in Clinton - she'll know!
