Sweetcreek Sugarworks

[Marie Hass]

Last run of the year. He called the result, "Peeper Syrup", and sure enough, on this unseasonably warm March day, in a marshy area outside the building, the spring peepers were in full accord.

I had never seen a maple sugaring operation and when Ed and Connie invited me to stop by and see their 28 year old operation, I took full advantage of the opportunity. Camera and gear in hand, and countless questions in my head, I embarked on this photographic journey...

Please enjoy, comment or critique as you will. The very sad part of this adventure is that a gas pipeline is forcing Connie and Ed to sell their 128 acre maple grove and sawmill operation (and their home). The pipeline will go through - this summer - destroying the entire grove and their buildings, which they had so lovingly constructed. They have hired an attorney, but the best they are hoping is that they get a good price for their farm.....

1. Ed at the fire box. The flame and hot coals power the evaporator.


2.


3. Grades of syrup displayed in the window.


4. Miles and miles of tubing, the sap all flowing downhill to the collecting house.


5. The tap.


6. The guts of the operation.


7.


8. One of his canning machines.


9.


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12.

[FootLoose]

Nice set, Marie. I have heard about maple syrup works but you series makes it real for me - and pretty amazing, at that. Where was it taken?

[Manfred M]

Nicely done photo essay. Marie. You have caught the essence of a maple sugar bush. Cold nights and warm days get the sap running. The only thing that looks a bit strange to me is the lack of snow on the ground between the trees, but then you are a lot further south than I am.

The lines running (by gravity) from the tapped trees to collect the sap from the sugar maples (they are the trees that have the bright red leaves in the fall) to carry it to the sugar shack where it is processed.

The sap is collected and boiled down (i.e.water is removed) in the wood fired evaporator to create the maple syrup. It if boiled own even more to make maple taffy.

The dress code of the sugar maker - the plaid shirt and jeans with a baseball cap seems to be pretty standard around the sugar shack.

We are having the right weather for getting the sugar to start running, so we might be heading out to one of the local sugar bushes shortly, cameras in hand. With the March winter holidays starting for the schools up this way, I;ll probably give next week a miss though.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Sergio M.]

Very informative series. It's sad and a shame they will have to sell what they've built up over 28 years.
This will make a good historical record of what once was.

Sergio

[Dave Humphries]

Great series Marie,

The mind boggles why they can't just bury the pipeline and move on, leaving most of the site unharmed - but perhaps "pipeline" to me is something a lot smaller than the reality.

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Manfred,

Glad you liked the series. I thought I did a good job controlling the specular highlights, especially in view of all the stainless steel!

I had no idea how sugaring was done, but certainly I can now appreciate this fact: "30-50 gallons of sap are evaporated to make one gallon of syrup. Sap sweetness varies from season to season and within a season so the amount of sap required to make a gallon of syrup varies".

A lot of work. He had a timer every 10 minutes to add wood, glycerine, clean the filters, etc, I do not believe he actually had time to sit and rest. His is a smaller operation. He sells locally and he belongs to several Maple Sugaring organizations. One quart of syrup cost me $20 - and 10 gallons of sap to make it. Crazy.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Dave.

The pipline itself, although not so huge, has to have clearance of about 100 feet on each side. They do not care what is in the way - just try to get from point A to point B in the most expedient manner. In this case, right through the heart of the grove.

Cheers,

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Greg,

Thank you for the kind words. I live up above Paden City, WV on the west side of the state next to the Ohio River. Ed and Connie's operation is in Sistersville, WV - the next town south of us.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Good morning, John!

I was thankful for the opportunity to document this operation.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Hi Sergio,

Agreed. I am glad I was able to get pictures.

Marie

[Wavelength]

Wonderful set of images....

[joebranko]

Great photographic essay and a sad tale of the loss of this family business.🙁

[bnnrcn]

Great set Marie

[IzzieK]

It breaks my heart for your friends. I hope they have a Plan B. Losing your home is heartbreaking, not to mention their business. Your series tells a very interesting story. I am glad you took the time to photograph the machines and the operation. These will bind you closer to your friends for very long. One door closes, another door opens...I hope for their sake that the next door that will open for them is so much better than what they have now...

[Marie Hass]

Dear Dave,

Today I had a home visit and we passed a crew working on placing some pipelines. This is what they do when getting ready to lay line.

[pnodrog]

Very enjoyable and interesting.

Sad that "progress" is often so destructive.

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Nandakumar,

I am glad to share these pictures with you!

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Hi, Joe.

I wanted to make a political statement, but that is not what this forum is for.

The fact that Diane and Ed will loose their land and their business just makes me so sad.

Marie

[Marie Hass]

Dear Binnur,

Thank you for stopping by and commenting.

Marie