Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 9-27, 1936

Harrisburg trip – 1st Day –

Before Olean beautiful spotting of snow on east side of hills to west – Machias like the middle of winter; as likewise in the mountains snow heavy on the hills unbroken white of mid-winter misty rain falling, - a great warm from spots coming through the snow on hillsides (the shaggy brown hills of March) a feeling of the earth coming forth again after a great ice-age an elemental feeling that grips – a cool dampness of the snowy hills – the damp breath of the snow seeping thru the valley, chilling to the bone, making the walls of the houses damp, roofs soggy – Streams and rivers flush with churning water – one thinks of damp rotting logs, with white foam around them.

The Susquehanna, full and strong – speckled with floating ice; one feels that a pail-ful more of water will overflow the banks – At twilight near a turn, the river has a haunting look; a whispy bar of smoke back of a hill – a feeling it would be a friendly thing to have the river as a background to one’s life –

As twilight deepens into night, the roaring of trucks on the road – it has a spring sound; the black dusk glowers at the road – a train goes by – the wide vastness of train roaring thru hills in march – Darkened houses teem with romance – the sadness and mystery of a warm march night, old memories crowd the mind.

The confusion of coming into Harrisburg – tired out – bending fender on hump of ice.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, March 9-27, 1936