Maine artist Cynthia Smith illustrates... 
                                                                             A Swift River Anthology

       In the 1930's the state of Massachusetts dammed the Swift River in the western part of the state to create the Quabbin Reservoir as a drinking water supply for the city of Boston. Homes, farms, businesses, and public buildings in the towns of Dana, Prescott, Enfield, Greenwich and parts of New Salem were taken by eminent domain to facilitate the inundation of the area. Buildings were either moved or demolished. The residents relocated as best they could, and the remains of over 6,500 souls were exhumed from town cemeteries and taken away to be reburied. Most were reinterred in the Quabbin Park Cemetery in Ware .


     Maine artist Cynthia Smith has collaborated with playwright Dorothy Johnson of New Salem, Massachusetts to create a book which chronicles  and illustrates the lives of 60 imaginary individuals who might have lived in the Swift River Valley some time between the 18th and 20th centuries. Johnson's word portraits and Smith's illustrations give life to a varied cast of characters...men, women and children, young  and old, rich and poor. Each character's musing or reminiscence allows the reader into the character's own private and personal world...a world of  emotions, dreams, successes and failures. You will hear truth in their voices and recognize people you know or have known - and yourself. It is based on a time and place in history, but speaks to everyman in every time.
 

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                      Edwina L. Pearl 1852-1920

I was called the cat lady of Dana.
There were cats in my house,
in my barn, in all the sheds. 
Everybody brought unwanted cats to me.
When I walked to the mailbox, 
cats followed me there
and followed me back to the house.
Some children thought I was a witch, and neighbors complained about the smell.
If anybody asked me how many cats I had,
I'd always say ten.
It seemed like reasonable number.

I hope somebody took care of the cats
after I was gone.
When first I was buried,
I thought occasionally
I could feel a cat's paw on my grave,
but after I was moved, 
no cat could ever find me.

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                  Swift River Valley c.1925

  

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                         Swift River Valley c. 1937

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Swift River ...  
sculpture by Cynthia Smith