DOOR TO ... SOMEWHERE?
The maternal side of Mark's family came from Scotland during the 1700s and settled in the Ryegate area. There, James Whitehill, Mark's ancestor, built a stone house on his 600 acres. The house still stands; each year it hosts the family reunion.
Mark enjoys many childhood memories of the place. But there are other memories, too: the most profoundly puzzling incident of his life occurred there when he was in his early teens.
OLD SLIPPERYSKIN & MUSIC OF THE SPHERES
This fearsome oddity came to be known as "Old Slipperyskin." The creature was said to resemble a huge bear, but unlike any known bear, it always walked upright, on its hind legs. It was said to have a mean disposition, and sometimes sought revenge against individuals who had offended it.
From Fairlee to Lyndonville: Six Strange Tales
Mark Massie recalls a ghostly experience from his early adolescence. He and his brother Matt were playing near the family place in Ryegate. While exploring, they found a hill with a wooden door in its side. This wood-plank door looked ancient. So did its rough iron bolts, oversized hinges, and huge rusty padlock.