River Run
I enjoy legends. Do you? This is the Saco River. It's stunning and peaceful. It runs 136 miles from its source in Crawford Notch, NH to Saco Bay. It gets its name from the Abenaki word (sakohki) meaning "land where the river comes out". Since we started living nearby, I've heard about the curse of the river. As one legend goes, Chief Squandro, a member of the Sokokis tribe in 1675, lived among the white settlers in peace till an English ship anchored nearby. Sailors came ashore, found the chief's son and pregnant mate and threw them into the river. All three drowned. He mourned for three days, and then in a terrible fit, 'cursed the river' and told it to take three white settlers each year till they are driven from its banks. To this day, supposedly the 'Saco Curse' still stands, and it takes three victims a year. Some people still believe in the curse and stay away from the Saco each summer till three bodies are taken. I like the story, but I'm not a believer.
Well, you guys up in New England have the curse of the Bambino. Not perfectly effective, but close. I'm worried about the curse of the American Airlines pilots today.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting legend. It reminds me of our "Lost Dutchman Mine" story here. Supposedly a Dutchman found a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix and the mine was cursed so that no one could find it. Anyone who found it would die before they could prove it's location. I don't believe that one either.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me Bob, the curse of the Bambino ended in 2004 and confirmed it's termination in 2007. Obviously a Yankee fan who is still cursed by the enormous contract that saddled them with "Mr A-Rod".
ReplyDeleteLove old stories of any kind.
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove the way the leaves are turning -- nice shot and great story!
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to have stories like that about local places.
ReplyDeletethat is some interesting lore.
ReplyDeleteCursed or not...it sure is beautiful with its autumnal foliage.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful area there. Legends are what they are---do you believe???
ReplyDeleteI know you said you didn't but it seems some still do. MB
PS. More horsees
Interesting story.
ReplyDeleteYou are fortunate to live neat to such a gorgeous body of water. Legends are legends. Most people bet their lives on legends. But that's another story. So, you jump in the river every summer, no matter what? What? You do?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Shot! Can't wait to get to Maine this weekend!
ReplyDeleteSee you soon, Birdman, Marchin, Elenka, and D- and the crew from Jersey!
Lakeland Checks In!
Pretty river. And I'm not taking any chances near it . . .
ReplyDeleteI see you got close enough to take a photo.... I don't swim well at all, so I'd stay on the bank.
ReplyDeleteA sad story behind such a beautiful setting!
ReplyDeleteGod bless you!
Cezar
This is a beautiful photo of the river -- I really like the hint of autumn color along the bank. The legend is interesting, too. I'm not sure how brave I would be if I lived nearby.
ReplyDeleteIt's really is a lovely spot.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the curse sounds like a reach, but who knows? In any case, a beautiful spot, esp. in the fall. You might want to see the poem at my place today--about rivers and passions.
ReplyDelete