Dad took the scenic route from Plainfield to Danville, Illinois on a business trip yesterday. As he drove north on Highway 41 from Rockville, he saw a little maple syrup sign pointing left. He followed the signs about two miles to a gravel road named "Egg Farm Road". There was a small old farm house with several outbuildings. It had obviously been a serious working farm in it's day.
He let himself into the front porch of the house since the sign said "Syrup Inside - Honor System". As he was reading the pamphlet inside, the door opened and out came Florence Williams, 85 years old. She was happy for the visit and offered to take him down to the sugar camp. It was her old poultry house, where she once kept 1100 layers. After their sugar shack burned down three years ago, they moved the equipment to the deserted poultry house. They made about 200 gallons this year - her neighbor and sons-in-law help her run the operation. Yes, she still makes syrup herself and she's proud to say that she began making syrup in 1935 with her dad.
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