A Not-So-Small-Time Town

Book excerpt: Plainfield, New Hampshire, has been an extraordinary place since its beginnings. The serene river valley life offers nature's very best and has beckoned many artists and intellectuals, including Ethel Barrymore, J.D. Salinger, and President Woodrow Wilson. In her whimsical and touching Americana memoir, Viola Sawyer Lunderville reflects on her growing up years spent in the quaint New England town in the Connecticut River Valley where she explored, learned, and experienced a simple lifestyle full of freedom, memorable places, and special times. As she looks back on the years, Viola not only offers a unique look at Plainfield's history from the mid-1950s to the early 1970s, but also shares a glimpse into all the reasons why the beautiful landscape beckoned many to settle on this picturesque land, including the famous and wealthy. Through detailed personal anecdotes, Viola brings to life historic places by sharing real-life experiences that detail adventurous days spent exploring local swimming holes, roaming the vast woodlands, licking sap from maple trees, and skiing on Whaleback Mountain. A Not-So-Small-Time Town takes a nostalgic, sentimental ride through a New England town filled with historical significance and many wonderful memories from a simpler time.