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Welcome to Quarry Hill's Blog!

Quarry Hill Creative Center in Rochester, VT, founded 1946 by Barbara and Irving Fiske, is Vermont's oldest alternative community and at one time was probably also its largest. In the 60s -80s, as many as 90 people lived here.
It was and is visited each year, often in summer (but in every season, really) by visitors from all over the world.
We welcome interesting and creative people who are peaceful, bring no weapons, don't believe in hitting children or killing animals, and enjoy the beauty of Vermont and of themselves.

Most of us do not adhere to any particular dogma or religion, though many do find Eastern philosophy closest to our own thought (some of us are also members of the Quakers/Society of Friends).
We value the individual, particularly people who are energetic and have a sense of humor.
Visitors are welcome-- and prospective residents, too. There are some places for rent, others for sale. If interested, get in touch!
And, please follow the Blog and comment whenever you like!

"The symbol is the enemy of the reality, and the reality is ever one's true guide, true friend, true companion, and true self." Irving Fiske, 1908-1990

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Nov. 22, 1963

Remembering President John F. Kennedy, whom I admired and whose humor and vivacity I enjoyed. I was 13 when he was assassinated. Irving first tried to tell William and me that it was a "publicity stunt," and then when he realized he couldn't fool us on that topic (the news, constantly flowing past us with every tiny rumor for the first time in our lives, belied any such idea), he broke down and cried. For Kennedy was the first young president, good looking, with a beautiful, artistic, intelligent wife who appreciated the arts; and I know he hoped for a great deal from a glimmer of sanity in the nation having elected the Kennedys. (He got it-- and much more-- when the later Sixties came along. He said:"All of a sudden a generation came along that was enlightened.") Anyway, I am thinking of JFK and remembering him and that warm, sunny late NOvember day-- here it was warm, sun on the pine needles outside my window-- no snow-- no sleep, for we watched the TV coverage all weekend long, all day and night. William saw Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated. I missed that part, but he saw it and was profoundly affected by it. I am thinking of that world, and the innocent, unrealizing, era that came before it, in which it was almost unthinkable to assassinate a President. It had not been done in a long time...since McKinley, I think. And since Lincoln in the mind of the nation. RIP JFK...

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