Charles Whittemore told this story in Sutton after the pot luck supper.
He marked the time of this story as just after WWII, when he returned from Japan after a stint in the arm. At that time Pine Blister Rust was a problem in the state. The disease was killing off pine trees, and an article appeared on the town warrant to eradicate the gooseberry bushes in town, as they were potential hosts for Pine Blister Rust, which could then spread to the trees.
Quick at the article came up, Charles’s fourth cousin John Bailey moved to table it. And it was tabled. That year and every year following.
Seems John Bailey’s mother made gooseberry jelly.
“Was it delicious?” I asked Charles.
“She sold it.”
Jack Noon, at the same story swap, spoke to the character of Sutton. Seems in the early years consensus was that Sutton needed a meeting house. But it took forever to get built -- people disagreed about where it should be built. So, after a fashion, Sutton built two -- one in North Sutton. One in South Sutton.
Problem solved.
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