Frank Hickory

A-la Johnny Appleseed, Frank comes from town in September and collects hickory nuts from beneath the hickory trees that populate Willow Bay Recreation Area and the Allegheny National Forest.

He drives and walks about until he finds likely spots and plants the seeds. While out, he collects hickory seedlings and transplants them where he thinks the forest needs them.

John “Appleseed” Chapman, by the way, planted his first orchard near Franklin, PA and Sheffield (in the lower left corner of the map above) annually celebrates the Johnny Appleseed Festival in mid-October.

Perhaps someday there’ll be Frank Hickorynut Festival and my grandkids can see their grandfather knew him.