JoAnne Visits Her Brother Peter & Sister-In-Law Rita's Sugar House

[Henry]

JoAnne Wilkins sent me some photos she took when she visited her brother Peter & sister-in-law Rita Lavallee in Milton.

The fire box in the arch

Pete is checking the density of the syrup with the scoop

Pete is checking the density of the syrup with the scoop

Drawing off the syrup

Grading the syrup, of course it tastes good.

Rita is canning the syrup, and helps with the operation with especially good treats to eat.

[Henry]

I think Pete typifies the average backyard sugarmaker.  The forego most of the modern stuff and produce syrup the way the old timers used to.  They use sap buckets, gather the sap, use wood in the arch and some type of filtering system.  I asked JoAnne how many trees Pete tapped and she replied:

Hi,
I believe  Rita told me that Pete has about 160 taps (not trees, taps).
He lives on the West Milton Rd. near the bridge. If you are down that way and there is steam coming from his garage, he welcomes visitors.

JoAnne