This photo of a hayfield on top of Droop Mountain is from Helen Graves, who found this among some of the photos her mother Virginia Campbell had collected. Though this photo was probably not taken by Virginia, Helen remembers her mother as a well celebrated photographer throughout the area. "Mom's goal was to make good quality photos available to everyone, no matter their means. And she practiced her craft for most of her life and then was a professional for over 30 years."

Notice the old haystacks in the field, which are bunched by hand before hay stacking machines came around. To be a good hay stacker, a person had to perfect the craft of laying the hay down so the rain wouldn't get through. Shouldn't we do a "hay bunching" competition today, and see who still knows the art?

This photo was possibly taken just off the sign that currently reads ﾓDroop Mountain 3060 feetﾔ, near the Walton property and the old "Sunrise School" on Droop. If you have a better guess, leave a comment or contact us.

Thanks Helen, and thanks to everyone else who has helped our project so far. Very soon, our new website, featuring stories and tales from the Seneca Trail, will be available. Start getting excited (we are).

-Roxy and Emily

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