The Fantastic Umbrella Factoryby Eva Pasco Author of "Underlying Notes" 
Where have all the Hippies gone?
A native Rhode Islander, one of
my favorite places to visit along the coast was The
Fantastic Umbrella Factory, a small farm with a
cluster of drafty, dilapidated, and musty barns owned by
Hippies. Accessed from worn, torn, two-lane Rte. 1
and situated off of Post Road in Charlestown, this
attraction is definitely "far out,
man"...
Those Hippies never offered much in the way of conversation,
but most times one was mesmerized by the pottery they created
inside a ramshackled outpost. Further along, the big barn
was always chock full of love beads, vintage clothing from the
sixties, greeting cards, signs, toiletries, and novelty
items--though I never recall any umbrellas.
Lush gardens on the wooded
property provide sanctuary for wayward travelers. Exotic
emus beckon. The cafe on the premises bustles.
Yet, without fail, I find myself drawn to the
abandoned Citroen resting on a laurel of weeds and the rusted
carcas of a gutted pickup nearby.
Alas, the Fantastic Umbrella Factory is no longer so
fantastic. The Hippies sold the place. Though you can
still purchase wares of the Sixties, you need Hippies to trip
the lights fantastic as far as I'm concerned.
This prompts me
to inquire if anyone has sighted any Hippies
lately...
|
.jpg "The 60s - Carl - 1968 - Vietnam")
