Here’s the Ryan Round Barn at Johnson-Sauk Trail Park:

A plaque at the site stated that it had been built by a Dr. Ryan, ”a noted brain surgeon,” for his Angus herd in 1901. Wonder exactly how “noted brain surgery” went in 1901, but whatever. It contains a central silo for feed, a ringed feeding trough, stanchions for the cattle surrounding the trough, and a concrete drainage channel around the outside for removing waste. Plus, its beautiful.

There have been a lot of black walnuts in our most recent campgrounds, something I don’t see much of in New England. I’ve noticed them in every site since Minnesota. That, combined with lots of oak trees, and now hedge balls, mean you have to be careful where you park your camper (and your head!).

When I was growing up in Pennsylvania, we had one big black walnut tree right next to our driveway. It grew straight as an arrow for a good twenty feet before branching. It was our job as kids to pick up the walnuts—Dad would pay us a nickel a bag. As we got older, I remember the bags getting bigger, and the payment might have gone as high as a dime. He would bring the walnuts to a patient of his, who would husk and shell them over the winter, then give Dad half of the nut meat. He probably got a reduction in his medical bill, too—in those days Dad and his partner, Dr. Nagle, would occasionally be paid in eggs or produce from the local farmers.

I also remember that a man would come every year and offer Dad money for the tree, as walnut wood was valuable for furniture and cabinetry. I don’t remember exactly how much he offered, but I know it was more and more as time went by. Eventually, Dad had the tree cut down, had the wood cut into planks, and then stored them in our barn for quite a few years to dry. He finally gave the wood to a local carpenter, who made us a kitchen table and hanging corner cupboard out of it. My brother has the corner cupboard and I have the table.

And I still remember crisp autumn days picking up walnuts.