1906 July 5 - Mr. Hincks, Sarah and Carroll and Alice Stearns
came up and opened Gray Knob cabin. They found everything in
most excellent condition, with the exception of a few edibles
forgotten the year before.
[EDITOR'S NOTE: This would suggest
that Gray Knob was built in 1905, not 1906 as previously thought] July 20 - Alice's
birthday. We had...a quasi-birthday dinner and a most mild celebration.
Played cards. Talked German. Carroll planned a trap for the porcupine. September 1 - Cold day. 34 above at 8 a.m. September 18-19 - Mr. Hincks and Carroll
came up...to prepare the cabin for winter....Caulked chinks,
did up mattresses and bedding, took down stove pipe, covered
hole in roof with zinc, threw away debris, put up shutters, packed
up blankets to be carried down. The pathos of bidding the cabin
farewell for nine months is heightened by the fact that its architect
and constructor is already at the far extremity of the continent
beginning a new work. Mrs. Stearns, perhaps its warmest admirer,
is to start next Saturday to join him with Miss Alice. 1907 August 18 - Wonderfully clear night... Saw comet during
the night. Orion's belt was just rising, with the Pleiades some
40-odd degrees higher. The comet was at about 30 degrees on a
line at right angles to the Orion-Pleiades line.... Devotions
at 8:30. Bed at 9. Mercury: 39 degrees. August 21 - Myron Stearns appeared and
made a 15-minute call. He was 1 hour and 15 minutes from Sorgenfrei
to the White Cairn. 1908 July 17-19 - Bully time. Thanks awfully.
[Visitors from Lafayette, Indiana, and Providence, Rhode Island]. August 2 - I must thank the little cabin
for several of the happiest days of my life. August 23 - Thanks, thanks to thee &
parents, too... and all who bear the good Hincks name...Both
Spur and Gray Knob Cabins share for us the heaven that comes
to sight... when friendship joins the Mountains' song of joy
and peace and love on Earth. August 24 - Tis this of all places, methinks...
the place to come for high jinkes.... We came on a Monday...
Each day's been a fun day... We thank you most truly, good Hincks. September 10 - If you e'er at Randolph
stay, you must walk.
If you don't, then go away. You must walk.
You must walk the morn away, and the middle of the day.
And then later you must stay. You must walk. September 14 - Had a fine chicken supper....
Take a can of boned chicken and put it in a large spider on the
stove. Then proceed to dump in as many things as you an think
of. The more the better. The result was so delicious that Mr.
Davison over-came his theories (temporarily) as a vegetarian
and partook thereof. 1909 July 20 - B L A C K F L I E S ! Black flies
galore... did draw the gore. 1910 August 15 - We made first for Knowles Peak
[from Madison Hut on the way to visit Gray Knob]. A thunderstorm
broke upon us with a broadside as we approached the peak...[and]
...a bolt of lightning struck about 100 feet from us.... We tore
over the rocks... while the bolts glittered and crashed around
us. But it was grand! At last we waggled up to the priceless
door of Gray Knob. Mr. Schauffler at once handed out dry things,
built a fine fire, and we passed from Purgatory to Paradise! August 28 - Dinner: Soup, cold pressed
beef, french fried potatoes, fresh peas, mince & apple pie. September 14 - Mammouth meal! 1911 July 18 - A visit from the camp rabbit.
He's very tame. August 4 - Farewell to thee, Gray Knob....
We'll ne'er again find... a place half so fair... as we're leaving
behind. September 7 - Grand eats... wet feets...
here's to many happy meets. September 9 - Lynx seen... 10 yards from
cabin. 1912 June 26 - Half-grown jack rabbit gave us
a most affectionate welcome.... He ate from Elizabeth's hand,
inspected the interior of the cabin at our invitation, and even
knocked at the door when we had closed for the night. 1913 August 18 - Porcupine sang a sweetly mournful
moonlight sonata beneath the window all night. August 19 - After 6 years of absence in
So. California, I am glad to write my deeper appreciation of
the beauty of these mountains. Hurrah for old New England and
her cloud-capped granite hills (S. P. Stearns). August 31 - A glorious morning. Sunlight
greets me as I say goodbye to Gray Knob cabin. Today terminates
my ownership of a half interest in the pretty place and tomorrow,
Sept. 1, it will belong to Mr. Hincks alone. We have been wonder-fully
peaceful partners... In distant California I still take great
pleasure in knowing that the cabin... is sure to greet me in
any visits in many years to come. (C.C.S.) September 28 - Most wonderful day ever
pulled off in White Mts. Perfectly clear, cool and still. Foliage
indescribable. September 29 - Cloudy. Loafed all day.
Cut big woodpile... 1914 June 22 - Opened the cabin.... A swarm
of huge black flies descended like a plague of Egypt.... Found
100 lbs of ice in the refrigerator and some more in the cave. July 30 - On leaving cabin found the eternal
and infernal porcupine 2 yards from front door and... was able
to kill it before it escaped. August 10 - Arrived... from Spur cabin,
too hot for comfort and too bitten by black flies for our disposition... 1916 May 25 - Lowe's trail... was almost entirely
covered with snow and ice, in some places a couple of feet deep. June 8 - Mice danced under my mattress
in the loft at night and porcupines or bears danced on the roof,
knocked on the chimney, and played ball with tin cans on the
porch. July 10 - About 1 o'clock we were awaked
by the porcupine. September 13 - Friends, look with awe upon
this reverend pile; it was a stove! But now, 'tis mouldering
fast. 1918 September 25 - In the middle of the night
we were awakened by a howling wind and heard snow pattering down
on the roof. Before morning, we realized that it was a tremendous
blizzard. 1919 On opening in the spring (undated). Porkies chewed
their way in during the winter and ate up most of the cabin and
its contents.... Put chicken wire around the foundations and
mended the floor. July 21 - Came up and housecleaned the
wreck. 1924 June 9 - Arrived... after unexpectedly
snowy climb. We were delighted to find plenty of dry wood...
also to discover that no porkies had called. After starting a
fire we dug in rain in 3 ft. of snow for an elusive spring, and
afterwards chopped ice under a nearby cataract to enable us to
fill the buckets.... [The next day] finished house-cleaning,
then went up Adams.... We were astonished by the fleet of [cotton
poplar seeds] that came sailing past us. Against the sunset they
looked like tiny fire balloons. 1925 July 23-24 - Gray Knob rather untidy as
compared with previous years. It had not been visited by porcupines,
for whom I once entered here an unappreciated defense, but by
those skunks who steal blankets (and here I regret to malign
the quadrupeds). 1927 July 19 - I am leaving Gray Knob with a
happier disposition than when I arrived. August 9 - After a stiff climb up Spur,
through mist and rain, from Coldbrook camp, I stopped to dry
off a bit before continuing up Washington. Your cabin came in
mighty nice for an hour and although I thank you for the use
of it from the bottom of my heart, I suppose you wish I had never
been born. But never mind, Prof., you shall be rewarded in Heaven....
GOD BLESS THE PROF. 1929 July - For two winters Gray Knob stood
on its ear as a result of wood, snow, and flood....[sp?] Hunt
& son, with the aid of a 50-lb jack, let it down on new foundations
about 4 feet southeast of its original site. The only substantive
piece of repair in 24 years of its life. July 25 - Brought up stove and put it up....
Cabin in good condition. September 17 - A high wind... gave wonderful
opportunity to air all the bedding, preparatory to closing camp.
We leave an ample supply of wood both inside and on the porch.
The shelves have all been washed down and all food, candles,
matches... etc. are left in tightly-covered tins. We are leaving
some dried vegetables, soups, etc.... also dried beef in jars.... 1931 August 31 - They have arrived wet and frozen,
but oh boy! what a time all of us are having. No one can ever
take that away from any of us. December 2 - Yale Outing Club. Xmas Trip
#2. 1932 September 21 - As it was growing late,
decided to stop at Gray Knob instead of going to Randolph. Supper
of corned beef, rice and raisins and maple syrup. Used blankets
which we put back as mouse-proof as possible. Replaced kindling
wood, and will pack up food and candles. Had glorious time and
thank owners. 1933 September 21-22 - Miggy Arnold, artist. 1935 August 27 - 1 a.m. and all is ill. 4 a.m.
and he's gaining still. Three hours now we've lain awake, while
Porky's jaws made the cabin shake. Clippers and axe, stamp and
yell, have failed to send him back to hell.... With tooth and
claw and quill and maw, he's swallowing the cabin raw. Now, Porky,
go and chew a tree and leave our little Gray Knob be. Go masticate
Mt. Adams' cone and gain thereby a great gallstone. 1937 4th of July - With great respect and admiration
for the urban luxury of this camp. [Klaus Goetze].
