Heeere's Johnny LbNA #50761

A few years back Flat Stanley arrived at my house courtesy of my first grade nephew, Timmy, from Maryland. I was asked to show him around my hometown. After a week of touring, he returned home with pictures and postcards detailing everything we saw and everywhere we went. As we toured around Leominster visiting the City Hall, the new library, and Sholan Farms Orchard, I began to realize that I knew very little about my hometown’s favorite son, John Chapman a/k/a Johnny Appleseed. Many cities, towns and states from Massachusetts to Indiana claim Johnny as their native son but he’s really our boy. Johnny was born just up the hill from here (where Rte. 190 is today) on Sept. 26, 1774. For six years he wandered these woods, studying the land and the creatures who lived here. Trees became his passion, especially apple trees. In 1797, John headed West. His journey led him to Ohio then on to Indiana. He was a gifted nurseryman setting out orchards as he went. He gave or sold thousands of apple trees to the pioneers who longed for the fruits they left back East. Many folk thought John to be a bit eccentric but the Native Americans in that area revered him as a medicine man. From the time he was very young, John marveled at the works of his Lord’s hands. He became a preacher as well as nurseryman, in fact, you could call him a “sower of seeds”. On March 18, 1845 near Ft. Wayne, IN our boy, Johnny passed away. Ask anyone around town to name Leominster’s most notable character and chances are you’ll hear: Johnny Appleseed! Who else in this fair city can claim a monument in their honor along with a street, a school, a fall festival and a visitor’s center? Walt Disney in 1948 portrayed him in a cartoon feature as a real American Folk Hero. The US Postal Service honored his life with a stamp in 1966. That’s our boy!

Now, you know the rest of the story so here’s the clues to claim your prize!
Take Rte. 2w to exit 34 (Harvard St/Mechanic St), turn left off ramp and go back under Rte.2. At the intersection turn right onto Mechanic Street (pass Gove’s farm stand, stop by on your way back to the highway for the best corn and veggies in all of Worcester county) drive about a mile further down the hill and turn left onto Johnny Appleseed Land. Proceed up the hill for about 1/4 mile and the monument is on the left. To find our boy, look in the basement of the log cabin.
Happy 225th Birthday, Johnny!