Apples, Old Implements, Music, and Logging: It Was All There For Tucker Mountain Day
This free event was a great excuse for lawn chairing and just plain sitting or standing around and chatting with neighbors or newcomers as the kids explored or watched any number of demonstrations with a working draft horse named Leaf, artifacts found in local barns, or a chance to see and discover just how an ox team can listen to and obey commands from its driver, Miles Conklin.
Bernie Marvin
Visitors and Tucker Mountain Town Forest Board Member Jeff Goodell, on the right, observe draft horse logger John Jayne of Newbury as he speaks to the crowd about low-impact horse logging and ecologically sensitive timber harvesting at last weekend's Tucker Mountain Day. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
West Newbury, VT – With great weather and those high Vermont puffy clouds most of last Saturday, August 29, 2026, nothing could go wrong that would mar another perfectly executed Tucker Mountain 250th Anniversary Day.
For four busy hours, the East Parking Lot saw a steady stream of people coming aboard the neat layout of the grounds and enjoying themselves in the shadows of majestic Tucker Mountain. The program was brought to the public by the talented members of the Newbury Historical Society and the Tucker Mountain Town Forest Committee.
This free event was a great excuse for lawn chairing and just plain sitting or standing around and chatting with neighbors or newcomers as the kids explored or watched any number of demonstrations with a working draft horse named Leaf, artifacts found in local barns, or a chance to see and discover just how an ox team can listen to and obey commands from its driver, Miles Conklin.
A full trip down memory lane was in store for visitors to Tucker Mountain Day, as people connected with the Grande Montagne made sure there was enough of everything on location to have a very successful program that was supposed to end at 2:00 PM, but hung over that final limit because folks did not want to leave.
Music was also at hand, as the Tucker Mountain Boys and the Sacred Heart Singers entertained guests during the day. Picnics were enjoyed as groups participated in fun projects such as apple pressing with Rick and Emmy Hausman and learning about the wonderful geologic history of the rugged grounds everyone had come to see from County Forester AJ Follensbee..
Organizers did not forget the rich history of Tucker Mountain, as they celebrated 250 years of this mountain's heritage as part of the town's incorporation in the long years of experience from its founding in 1763 to today's vibrant Newbury township in 2026.
Newbury and its outer territories of South or West Newbury, and Wells River, have long attracted an interesting base of people from throughout the United States. Read the 2018 story, “A History of Tucker Mountain” by Tom Kidder and you will get the complete story of Tucker Mountain Town Forest as it was honored last weekend.
It's the people that make events in the Newbury environs so interesting, whether it is a Goodbye Summer program in Wells River, a superb sit-down home-cooked turkey dinner at the West Newbury Town Hall, or a busy land-based education program on the wonders of the 635-acre Tucker Mountain Town Forest.
County Forester AJ Follensbee of the Vermont State Forest, Parks and Recreation, at left, speaks to an early group of visitors attending Tucker Mountain Day about the highlights of the forest and fauna that can be found throughout the grounds of the Tucker Mountain Town Forest. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.
Rick and Emmy Hausman assisted visitors with the fine art of crushing first-of-the-season apples. They are experienced in making quality fresh Vermont apple cider. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.
An interesting display of early farming implements and books that visitors found interesting at the Tucker Mountain Day program. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin.
This talented group of Sacred Harp Singers was getting ready to present a complete set of vocal music to the Tucker Mountain Day visitors last Saturday, August 29, 2026. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Uncommon Jam hosts three bands on a fine weather day
She said the crowd appreciated the live music from these three organizations, also hosted by the Cohase Chamber of Commerce. It is one of the largest fundraiser benefits for Court Street Arts, which is part of Haverhill Heritage Inc.
By Bernie Marvin
The musical group Faerie Godbrothers. This spirited group was well received by the crowd. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Newbury, VT – Writers’ rules demand that one should never begin a story describing the weather. So, I will defy that dictum, go out on a limb once again, and write that last Sunday was a fine day, especially after several drab forecasts noted that the afternoon events for the day would be caught by the approaching rain and put a damper on their outdoor fun.
The rain did not fall, and the Uncommon Jam on Newbury Common was a superb event, with an appreciative crowd spending many hours listening and enjoying a total of five hours of quality music by two groups and a single performer.
First up last Sunday, August 24, 2025, was The Faerie Godbrothers, a Montpelier and Burlington, Vermont group who came together in 2028, I am told, to perform impromptu harmonies, emotional vocals, and “otherworldly guitar solos.” They have since refined their sound, incorporating originals and creative covers that blend folk, rock, blues, and country.
The second group on the docket Sunday was The Party Crashers, described in some media as the upper Valley and Central Vermont’s hottest band. This six-piece high-energy dance band has been rocking the New England music scene for 20 years, playing a mix of Motown to Modern Hits.
The third appearance was that of Dave Keller, who, over the past decade, has earned a reputation as a “magnificent soul singer,” “a stellar guitarist,” and a “song-writing genius.”
The host and sponsor, Court Street Arts, brought listeners all this talent and has been doing these Uncommon Jam shows for at least 15 years, according to Board President Past Buchanan. She said it was an excellent way for fans to enjoy friends and music at a comfortable and attractive venue, Newbury Common.
She said the crowd appreciated the live music from these three organizations, also hosted by the Cohase Chamber of Commerce. It is one of the largest fundraiser benefits for Court Street Arts, which is part of Haverhill Heritage Inc.
Ms. Buchanan said the event featured a nice cross-section of music and a variety of foods from three food trucks, including Asian, BBQ, and standard fare. She said there was also a beer service area where guests could sit and enjoy the music with the stage set up nearby.
She said she was happy to speak about her daughter, Rachel, who is taking over the helm of Court Street Arts as the Executive Director. This move will allow Buchanan to rejoin the board as President, a position she once held before serving as Executive Director for many successful years.
She said her daughter Rachel has some creative ideas for the future and will bring new energy and vitality to the area. She said a lot is being planned for the future, including “classical programs and a holiday show, jazz from New York, all pointing to a nice variety coming our way.”
This panoramic view of the Newbury Common shows the immense space available for events, with plenty of room for performers, vendors, and patrons. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
Good weather greeted Uncommon Jam concert fans on Newbury Common last Sunday afternoon. Court Street Arts and Haverhill Heritage hosted the event. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin
President of the Court Street Arts/Haverhill Heritage Board of Directors Pat Buchanan speaks with a patron during last weekend’s Uncommon Jam on the Newbury Common. The five-hour show included three different music groups. The Bridge Weekly/Bernie Marvin