RSW's Diary Comments

There really is no record as to why or for what this sketch was made, but the Deerfield Academy's American Studies group made great use of it.

The 1970 Deerfield Academy's American
Studies Group Woodward Exhibit Catalog

CLICK THE LINK ABOVE TO VIEW CATALOG

The sketch used for the design of the American Studies Group catalog on Woodward handed out at their May 1970 exhibition held on campus in the school's Hilson Gallery is missing. We can't seem to find it and it may possibly be lost forever.

The closest thing we have to the sketch is the oil painting Four Maple Trees in March. However, this sketch is pointing more to the right of Four Maple Trees in March, focusing more intently on the sugar house itself. Not to mention the sketch has FIVE maple trees and a man gathering sap.

The Griswold House is a historical landmark across the road from Woodward's historic Southwick Home and Studio. It is best known as the place education pioneer, Mary Lyon, began her school for girls in the home's fourth floor ballroom. The school would evolve into what would later become Mount Holyoke College. Mary would die two years before the college would open.

An old photograph found in a scrapbook
of the four maples and Griswold sugar house

All that remains of this scene (also pictured in the image to the left) is the stone foundation to the sugar house. The maples all along Upper Street in Buckland aged and became dangerous. The town was forced to cut most of them down.

One maple did survive as late as 2014. It was the fourth tree from the left in the sketch. FOR MORE PICTURES SEE THE: