Details of the October Meeting
There's been a little less elbow room at our pre-club meetings at C.B. Perkins these days. It used to be that the pipe smokers dominated the the seating area but for the past few months out numbers are being closely matched by the cigar guys. They're a great bunch of guys and you can tell, even though they may not admit it, that they are intrigued with our pipes. We've tried to lure them over to the more sensible and economical side of tobacco but they just don't seem to be able to make the leap. I guess they'll just have to keep spending $10 for one smoke while we pay $10 for a dozen or more. All kidding aside (although I was telling the truth) we enjoy spending time with our brothers of the leaf. If you haven't been to Perkins before a meeting yet why not stop by this November. If you've been thinking about joining our club or just want to smoke with friends, this is a great place to get started. C'mon in, I'm sure you'll be able to tell us apart.

We're Still Growing
That's right we've added to our ranks once again. In October we welcomed Horatio Yeung. A very easy going and likeable guy who meshed with our group instantly. Here's a little bit about him.

Horatio lives in Farmington, CT, working for a diagnostic company that brings him to Boston for business once a month. Thus, with some flexibility in his work schedule, he can occasionally arrange to co-ordinate his business trip with a visit to SHPC. He has been an infrequent and only-social pipe smoker for 36 years. Generally smoking briar pipes he has recently taken to a meershaum calabash and very much enjoy the cool smoke.

We hope you'll be able to join us in November Horatio.

• 1st Prize: $250 Gift Certificate
• 2nd Prize: $100 Gift Certificate (If we get 1,000 "Likes" by Sunday)
• 3rd Prize: $50 Gift Certificate (If we get 1,500 "Likes" by Sunday)
• Huge Prize: $1,000 Gift Certificate (If we get 10,000 "Likes" by Sunday)
• Winners announced on 11/1 at 12PM (EST)
• All current fans are included in the drawing

Our good friend Ernie Whitenack is at it again. He's gone and dusted off and old piece of fiction he wrote years ago. He's spruced it up a bit and is now making it available to the world in two parts courtesy of the SHPC Gazette.

This stage is set in the early 1800's and tells the story of a young girl named Annabelle and her trials through life from a quiet Vermont farm to the seedy streets of San Fancisco. Life was not pretty back then but a few people thought Annabelle was.

An Excerpt from Part 1
...Seeds were carefully gathered and stored in an earthen pot for the next planting should the tobacco prove to be saleable. So, with great anticipation Jacob rubbed out a leaf and carefully loaded his newly made Cherry wood pipe. After two or three puffs Jacob's eyes lit up and a large smile appeared, much to the relief of Edith and the delight of the children. The Vermont grown Virginia was far superior to the Connecticut tobacco shipped to Vermont stores. The tobacco became a hit throughout Vermont and western New Hampshire and added significantly to the Mac Alister income. The success of the tobacco is a mystery seeing as other attempts to grow tobacco around Vermont produced a harsh and bitter crop not worth the smoking. [Read More...]