Enfield
“I wanted to do 10, as I remember, and primarily to support economic development,” Struckhoff said. Other members of the association quickly grew that number to 30.
What started as a simple fall display has since grown, and the village association — “never imagining that it would become so exciting” — created a new town tradition, Struckhoff said.
Doug Smith, a volunteer with the village association, said the dozens of scarecrows help build pride in the community.
“Each year they come out in late September and then they go back into storage a month or two later,” he said. “Each year they seem to gather more interest from the community.”
The scarecrows are all over town. Some sit in front of businesses, others are along roadways.
“We like to encourage citizens to do their own,” Smith said. “There’s a few out there that we can’t account for, they just appear.”
On the bridge that crosses Mascoma Lake, the scarecrows go well with the fall scene and add an extra appeal to an already beautiful scene.
A pair named Eva and Evan (for Enfield Village Association) stand outside the association’s office. Others represent nearby businesses, such as the scarecrows outside Laundry Depot and George’s AG Super Value.
This year’s scarecrows are even more special for Struckhoff, now the executive director of the Enfield Shaker Museum. Her mother, Evelyn Crate, died last month and as a tribute to her and Struckhoff’s father, Don Crate, a pair of scarecrows sit side by side on a bench across the street from Mascoma Savings Bank.
Between the two, both wearing sun hats, sits a basket of yellow flowers.
The scarecrow resembling Struckoff’s father has its arm raised in a friendly wave.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.