Snow Rollers of Vermont: Half Century of Snow Rolling in Vermont - Paperback

by Richard Dean Hovey (Author)

Richard Hovey is passionate about saving some of Vermont's historic treasures. In his enthusiasm to preserve the old snow roller barn of Peacham village, he became interested in finding snow rollers for the barn. Very few remain. Each is different and demonstrates the ingenuity of Vermonters to make roads passable in the winter. This book is a fascinating collection of snow roller photographs and quotations. There are studies of the construction of snow rollers and snow rollers are shown doing their tasks of packing snow on roads powered by horse and oxen. Included are many photos of historic rollers and some of modern replicas. Some rollers are pictured in the field and some in museums. Folklore where found is preserved in this book in the language of rural Vermont. Enjoy is all

Author Biography

Richard Hovey is a petroleum geophysicist now retired from a major oil company. He was born in Vermont. Dick has seen much of the world in his work. Now he has chosen to return and to retire in Vermont. There are geologic mysteries in Vermont yet to be solved as well as cultural interests to study, such as the story of Vermont snow rollers. Dick has always been interested in Vermont antiques. He lives in Peacham in an 18th century country house restored to it's original state. He lives amongst early American antique furniture. Across the dirt road is a 19th century maple sugar house filled with early maple equipment, the results of his passionate search. In the back yard is a collection of early 19th century antique apple tree varieties. As a member of the Peacham Historical Association, Dick helped to restore an early (1820) blacksmith shop filled with antique blacksmith shop equipment. In the sixties Dick was occupied with the photography of surviving Vermont covered bridges. In the holiday season for the last 28 years Dick and his family have annually built a different miniature model of a significant building in the vicinity of Peacham for relatives and friends. For ten years Vermont's snow rollers have occupied Dick attention. His goal was to preserve and restore the snow roller barn and display antique Vermont snow rollers. Today Peacham's antique snow roller barn is a museum. It is restored. It is filled with antique Vermont snow rollers for all to enjoy and relate to earlier times in Vermont.