Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 39, May 3, 1934

To Orchard Park by bus, & thence southwards afoot to Chestnut Ridge Park. Down in ravine to make studies of rapids under bridge. The dry weather had shrunk them & made them much more interesting – work there till noon —
Coming up out of the comparatively cool hollow into the hot sunlight was like coming to a different world —The sky was a pasty chalky whitish blue – in fact the whole landscape was of a bleached out color, further softened by a dense smoky haze – At church strike S.W. across fields. Enter little pine grove where I eat my lunch – in spite of the white brilliance of the day, in here there was a dark twilight –
After lunch, S.W. along road towards brink of Hamburg Valley – a woods attracts me & I enter it coming soon to a deep hollow that was a delight to me – There was a feeling of ancientness about it, with rotten logs, moss-covered, and dark ledges showing in the steep banks. Going down it, over the slaty creek bed was a physical pleasure also. I came to the end with regret — the red barn & the road where it dwindled seemed banal –
Along road to old railroad bed – very hot now — Farmers everywhere seemed to be plowing – I had not gone far till I came to a great pile of trash, mostly basket tops & old boxes — Following some impulse & without thinking, I struck a match & touched it to the grass under a box-lid – Without looking back I walked rapidly away — finally I stole a glance back — a great sheet of flame was writhing where had been the trash-pile – Fearing the farmers’ wrath, I left the road bed & ran into a swampy depression, where I continued until some trees would screen me from anyone’s view, when I resumed the road-bed. Looking back I could see a great white smoke rolling up into the hot sunlight – no doubt a field of dry weeds adjoining the trash-pile was burning. I could see the farmers still calmly plowing and concluded they were not concerned about it.
Here I had come upon a large pool in the swamp fringed by low shrubs — it was just the material I needed for the swamp-picture – Sit here & make studies. Against the bank here it was very warm and I lay flat on my back awhile absorbing the heat.
Charles E. Burchfield, May 3, 1934