Pictures of Hike to Perley's Place

Article in Keene Sentinel

Family saga mirrors region's [I still haven't figured out what this means!]

Swanzey woman's family project turns into local bestseller
By David P. Greisman, Sentinel Staff - published Monday, July 27, 2009

A local author who had sought to ink a biography of her grandfather for an audience of her family has seen that same book become an area sensation.

"Perley - The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit" is the first book by Sheila D. Swett. It is the nonfiction tale of Perley Swett, a Stoddard man who lived from 1888 to 1973 and who was known as "The Hermit of Taylor Pond."

The book, published through the Historical Society of Cheshire County, came out in November. Since then, regional readers have turned to the page-turner.

"We're actually on our third printing, so we've sold more than 2,500 and maybe a little less than 3,000," Sheila Swett, 54, of Swanzey said in an interview with The Sentinel.

Most of those sales have come in the Monadnock Region, though there have been orders from as far away as New Zealand.

"A lot of people who like the story, they might send it to friends or relatives who used to live around here, or maybe they might know somebody who they feel is a bit of a hermit and might appreciate the story," Swett said.

The first printing of 1,500 books sold out in about five weeks, with stock running out around Christmas last year.
A second printing of 1,000 came out in February and sold out a few months later.
The third printing of 750 was released a couple of months ago and is still in stores.

"We kept waiting for it to slow down, but it seems to be keeping its momentum," Swett said.

Indeed, employees at a pair of Keene bookstores say the book has been an overwhelming hit for a local publication.

"Last year, we sold 255 copies. And then so far this year, we've sold 270," said Robin D. Matthews, a salesman at The Toadstool Bookshop, giving sales figures for the Keene location. "In the beginning, we had lots of requests for it.

"There are some (local books) that might just sell half a dozen copies. We've got one in the educational department that hasn't sold yet for a couple years. It's all over the map, but this Perley book is especially a standout."

At the Borders bookstore, manager Sara C. Adams said she did not have specific sales figures but described "Perley" as "one of our best sellers."

"I can tell you without even looking that it's our number one local title," Adams said. "We sell several copies a week. We've sold a couple hundred since it's been in the store with us. There's no other local title we can count on to sell as consistently.

"It's a fascinating story, even if you're not aware of the local history, so it's a real easy sell for us," she said. "We sell it to people who are visiting the area looking for a good memento, or people who know the family or the property involved."

Which is a lot more than what Swett had initially intended.

"When I first planned the book, it was just going to be something for my family," Swett said. "As I dug up more and more information and found that it was quite a fascinating story, then I started thinking that maybe it could become a little more."

Swett believes people can relate to the story of her grandfather, that people might identify with his minimalist existence due to "the economy being the way it is and people not trusting the government."

"People start looking for something better," she says. "They look at Perley, and in their minds it just sounds like an ideal kind of situation."

Swett has done book signings, talks with organizations, visits with book clubs and even hikes to Perley's haunts. Those hikes, organized by local groups, each have drawn more than 100 people, Swett said.

Yet a successful debut as an author won't mean a second book, Swett says.

"A lot of people ask me what's the next thing I'm going to write," she said. "I think this is kind of a one-shot thing I felt had to be done. I did it, and that'll be it."

Me & "Perley"

I needed a "publicity photo" for a talk I will be doing. I had my poor son, Jake, take about 30+ pics to try to get a good one. I finally narrowed it down to this one.

Let's try again!

It is so exciting to see some "followers." For a while I felt I was writing only for myself and got discouraged. I still have so much information about Perley that I could add but I wasn't sure anyone 'out there' would care to read it. Any suggestions on what I can write about? What you might be interested in reading about Perley?

Neighbors of Perley

Another odd neighbor that became friends with Perley's mother, Elsie Jane Whittier, when she was a young girl was Rosina Delight Richardson Wood. Around 1862 Rosina held the esteemed position of being the "Fat Lady" for the famous P.T.Barnum traveling circus. Perley and his family kept a gold framed portrait of her hanging on the wall of their home for almost 100 years and Perley often recalled his mother telling him that when Rosina came to visit she could only fit through the doorway by turning sideways to enter.

1903 diary

Wednesday, May 6, 1903
44d at 5:30 Clear and Pleasant Wind in the North

We have been fixing fence today. I got a woodchuck in our traps, and see another.
Papa shot at a hawk and hit it.

Journals

Perley kept journals most of his life. He started when he was 14 years old in 1903 and kept a daily journal until the day he had a stroke at age 85 and could no longer write. The over 60 journals I have give a detailed description of what Perley's life was like growing up and in his later years. Unfortunately either he did not have time to write during the years of his marriage or those journals were lost or destroyed. The journals I have range from 1903 to 1911 and then again from 1945 to 1973. What has surprised me most in reading through his journals, especially in the earlier years was how busy everyone was visiting their neighbors. When I first started researching for this book I always thought that Perley and his family were totally secluded from the rest of the townspeople but almost every day Perley mentions neighbors visiting, strangers passing by or they go to visit someone.

1903 diary excerpt

Friday May 1, 1903

45d at 5:45 Clear, strong northwest wind.

We got a woodchuck and a hedgehog which was going off with our trap. We set two traps in a den in our sugarlot. Mr. Wallace came over here.

I see some blue and white violets and strawberry blossoms. Our cow "Mabel" calved today. I went over to Mr. Howards.

Why I wrote "Perley"

In writing this book I wanted to not only tell Perley's story, but also include interesting tidbits of neighbors and other family members. One example was the Taylor family of Stoddard, NH, the original owners and builder of Perley's home. Many of you may not realize it but you probably have items in your home with their family name on it. In 1851 members of the Taylor family were the founders of the Taylor Instrument Company which is still in business to this day and produces thermometers, bathroom scales and other household measuring tools. Look around your house and I bet you will find something with the name Taylor on it.

Perley's siblings

Excerpt from 1903 diary

Thursday, April 30, 1903

48d at 5 o'clock. Pleasant. cool west wind.

We took off a hen with 8 chickens the 28th of this month. Festina and Myrtie went away this a.m. and carried the children to school. Yesterday they got excused earlier.
Mrs. Pierce came here. Mrs. Dyer came over and Paul came over after her.
A one-legged man went up by this a.m.

Excerpt from 1903 diary

Wed, April 29, 1903

76d at 6:40 Clear and hot. Cool north wind.

Festina and I went up to our traps and got a hedgehog; we saved its head; we see about a dozen dandelions up there.
Ella, Walter and Martin [Perley's siblings] took off their stockings and shoes tonight.
Everett and Paul came over here this evening.

Perleyism

"I'm glad you were thoughtful enough to be married so close to Xmas as it would seem one present could cover both occasions." (Written to Perley's daughter)

Excerpt from Perley's 1903 diary

Tues. April 28, 1903

50 degrees at 5:45 Clear and real warm
Wind in the northwest

We set two more traps up to the Whittier place.
Festina and Myrtie [Perley's half-sisters] came up here today, they brought Ella and Walter home.
Papa went to East Sullivan this a.m. and carried the children to school

Excerpt from 1888 letter

Mary Andrews Whittier Tarbox
(Perley's grandmother holding Luella Guillow)

The following is taken from a letter dated May 2nd, 1888 written by Mary Andrews Whittier Tarbox (Perley's grandmother) to her daughter in Kansas, Almina Whittier Guillow, Elsie Jane's (Perley's mother) sister.

Mary is telling Almina about her stay with Elsie Jane shortly after Perley was born, Feb. 6, 1888. Elsie Jane was confined to her bed and Mary was there to help.

"I was there fourteen weeks and eleven of them I never undressed, only to change my clothes. I laid on the old lounge and got up and changed the baby [Perley] but she [Elsie Jane] is stronger in her arms and can change him now by drawing up her feet and laying him acrost her. She can't lift up her feet yet. Her eyes are stronger and she had the east curtain put up a week before I came home and she looked upon the Woods hill and see a bare spot but wanted to set up long enough to have her bed made and to have her chair to the window so she could look out in the garden but I liked not to get her bed made. Dan [Elsie's husband] tipped her so far back and I hurried to make it and she did not faint away. It seems so hard to lay there and can't get up to save her life but she don't get so discouraged as I should. You know she is blessed with great fortitude and good constitution.

It was something new to see such a destitute house. He [Daniel, Elsie Jane's husband] missed it in keeping so many hens and not raising any grain to feed them. I asked the first years why he didn't raise some barley to feed his hens and fat the pigs. He said 'I couldn't thresh it' and so he tugged corn or meal on his back or on his handsled rather than break out the roads and so the horse and oxen have stood still all winter.

Elsie tried to have him get up a good wood pile the first of the winter but he said, "O, I have got some oxen now and I can get it up any time." I told her I didn't pity him much. I never was used to such shifflessness. Elsie says she won't stay there another winter and I can't ask her to unless he will try and raise something to eat.

We have had a hard winter for NH and not raising grain he got out of meat and we had to cut potatoes three times a day and fed the hens on them as well and now not a potatoe to eat. She wants her potatoes and something she can relish. We can give him beets and potatoes if he will only come after them.

Read the town news and see what a winter we have had. The oldest people never see such a time."

Mary A. Tarbox

Why I wrote "Perley" continued

Though Perley chose to live what most of us view as a simple, uncomplicated life, at least in his later years, he was a complex human being. He grew up with a deeply ingrained puritanical view of the world. To him something was either right or it was wrong and he had a hard time understanding or accepting anything that ended up in a grey area. When faced with what life had to throw at him, Perley sometimes reacted in ways that we, now, might find difficult to understand. Perhaps the hardest choice for me to make while writing this book was how to portray Perley. Was he the loving grandfather I had always idealized and who always treated me kindly or was he the narcissistic, pig-headed and stubborn individual I discovered as I read through some of his poetry and letters. Often, I wanted to shake some sense into him and make him see what he was doing to his life and family by his actions. In the end, I decided I didn't have to portray him in any certain light, he was who he was and like most human beings he had his good side and bad side and I would try to portray him as honestly as possible and leave it up to the reader to decide whether they can forgive him for his actions and like him for the person he became. (to be continued)

Why I wrote "Perley" continued

It took me about 6 months to sort and catalogue everything but in doing this a story of Perley's life started to unfold that I had no idea existed. So often over the years people have asked me, "Why did Perley live the way he did, as a hermit?" As he himself said, "How easy to become a famous hermit just by not moving or dying."

As I was growing up, I had heard bits and pieces of Perley's story, mostly just rumors. Once, as a child, I remember finding in our attic a scrapbook with old, faded newspaper clippings telling of the time Perley spent in the County Farm. I was shocked and could not imagine what had caused him to be there but I also never dared to ask my parents "why" either.

Once I was able to read through all of this newly acquired information, the questions I had wondered about for so many years started to fall into place and I could understand the reasons behind some of Perley's rather odd behavior, maybe even better than he ever understood them himself. (to be continued)

excerpt from 1963 diary

June 21, 1963

Rained some in night but mostly pleasant day.

A party of five was to pond fishing, a lady, boy and three men. Gave me forty-four cents. Frank and Danny came up fishing later and brought up loaf of bread, dozen doughnuts, three dozen cookies, a cake and three packages of candy. I put two dollars in empty cake box as reimbursement in part.

Wilber and wife and two of children came up in late p.m. and gave me a check for seven dollars as payment for a cord or more of pine cut but not taken to mill. Phone was not working but did not known it till Frank tried to call his mother when he got here. Later I called Ella and also Mildred.

Why I wrote "Perley" (Continued)

I pestered my family for the next several months and collected hundreds of old family photos. I became fascinated with these family members that I had never known but of course it was my grandfather, Perley, who was the most colorful character in the family and the one I wanted to learn more about.

In the process of collecting information about Perley I became obsessed with finding any little tidbit I could. I remembered that Quentin, an indispensable friend of Perley's for the last few years of his life, had ended up with the majority of Perley's papers, poetry, letters, pictures and diaries after he died. Basically everything that had been piled high on Perley's kitchen table! I had no idea where Quentin was living now, or what the likelihood would be that he would still have any of Perley's things after almost 30 years. After several months of searching I finally located Quentin living in Utah, he still had all of Perley's 'stuff' stored in his garage and after assuring him I would take good care of it, he was willing to return it all to my family. It was like Christmas when UPS showed up with 8 big boxes filled with the remnants of Perley's life. (to be continued)

Perley, The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit

My Book!

Why I wrote "Perley"

It wasn't until my father died in the year 2000 that I really became interested in the family history. Unfortunately, with his passing I realized that I had lost an invaluable resource to the past. And I had never questioned him in detail about the family history. In fact before he died I didn't take the time to find out what questions needed asking. Like so many I was tied up with my own family and raising my children. It wasn't until I started sorting through all the family pictures in that infamous box of old photos in the attic that I realized I didn't know half the people in them and, of course, no one had bothered to label them. It took me a while but with other family members help, I was able to figure out who most of these people were and it made me wonder how many family pictures my remaining aunts, uncles and cousins might have, all of us being something of packrats. (to be continued)

If you would like a copy of "Perley"

To order a copy of "Perley" go to the Historical Society of Cheshire County's website www.hsccnh.org Thanks!

Excerpt from 1904 diary

Friday, June 10, 1904

"Papa went over to Frank Knight's place to help Mr. Howard load some hay.
Eleven or more cattle went down to the mill. We went down later after sawdust.
Mr. Howard lost his hat off going home and after he got home he came back after it.
This a.m. I went down to the mill, there was three fisherman there.
Mr. and Mrs. Wellman came over here to look at our cows."

Why I wrote "Perley"

Perley touched a lot of people with his lifestyle, his friendships, his generosity and sometimes even his stinginess! So many people have memories and stories of visiting him, that we have all come to the conclusion that the term "Hermit," when applied to Perley, may be a little bit of a stretch. But it is thanks to everyone's willingness to share their memories, stories and pictures of Perley along with his letters and poetry, that I have been able to collect a library of information about him. And it is through that information that I was able to piece together Perley's life story and the story of those that influenced him. Through this blog I hope to expand on Perley's story and delve deeper into his life.

Leaving a comment

Because I am so new to this I'm not sure I understand exactly how to leave a comment but a few people have mentioned they had a hard time doing it. I guess the easiest way would be to leave your comment as "anonymous" (when you scroll down the list for a signature) but sign your name so I know who it is. Otherwise I think you need have an account. Hopefully I will figure it out more as I go along!

Excerpt from Perley's 1904 diary

June 11, 1904

"Joe Waldron came over and sawed a little and this P.M. went back. I went over to Mr. Pepper's but he had gone to Keene. Mr. J.E. Verris(?) and three other men came over Chandler Hill and looked Mr. Pepper's and Mr. Proctor's timber lots over. Mr. Verris has put a new steam mill in Stoddard. Papa went with them to show them the timber. We found some ripe strawberries today."

One of the things that surprised me the most as I started my research into Perley's life was that I expected him and his family to be totally isolated, living so far out of town in the wilderness. I thought they had to fend for themselves with very little contact from neighbors, but just about every entry in Perley's diaries (at least the early ones) show almost daily contact with atleast one or sometimes several neighbors. Everyone in the family seemed to be going in different directions. It really makes you realize how much everyone relied on their neighbors for help.

1908 letter from Helen to Perley

Dear Mr. Swett,

Are you at home now? I have been intending to write before but didn't know where to address the letter. And I have been pretty busy this summer.

We have about 120 bushels of popcorn, we don't raise any field corn. Two of our neighbors had huskings this fall and I went to them and have been to two or three parties at our neighbors. I expect to go to a Poverty Party next Friday night. Did you ever go to one?

Is there any fires over that way? There have been two or three small ones round here.

From your twin-sister,

H.E.W.

This is a letter that Helen Whitney wrote to Perley in 1908. Those of you that have read the book know that Perley married Helen in 1911. She says "twin sister" because both Helen and Perley were born on the same day and year, February 6, 1888. Does anyone know what a "poverty party" is? - Sheila

Perley's diary 1904

August 25, 1904

87d. at 7:30am Pleasant. Southwest wind.

While we were after berries last night Mr. Pepper came over and two city people from Munsonville stopped here.
Mr. Howard brought a barrel of flour which he got for us.
Mr. Pepper came over. Everett Dyer came over.
We went to Munsonville to see Aunt May and Ocie Whittier.
Some city people went by; two teams of them.
I got a new pair of .75c shoes today. I weighed 113 lbs.

Excerpt from my book

Let me introduce you:

My Grandfather, Perley Swett, dug his own grave, both literally and figuratively.

"Perleyism"

"How easy to become a famous hermit just by not moving or dying"

Perley - The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit

This is the cover to my book. We will be going into our 3rd printing soon. I have been amazed at the interest there has been in it. By doing this blog I am hoping to get the word out to more than my hometown area of Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Also, for those of you who have read the book and would like a little more info on Perley I will be regularly adding excerpts from the book and diary entries, letters, poems, etc. from Perley himself.

Trial run

This is a trial run. I know nothing at all about setting up blogs but will give it my best try.

This is a sketch of my grandfather, Perley Swett. It was drawn by Arthur Tremblay in 1975. His son Tony was kind enough to let me use this image for my book, Perley - The True Story of a New Hampshire Hermit.

The reason I am setting up this blog is to give additional information to all the people who have been so supportive and interested in my book and Perley's life.