From: Steve Courtney

MARK TWAIN WALKS AGAIN!

The Seventh Annual Mark Twain/Joe Twichell Walk, Saturday, October 12, 2002
(with related events Thursday, Oct. 10; Friday, Oct. 11; and Sunday, Oct.
13)

Organized by Asylum Hill Congregational Church, The Mark Twain House,
Friends of Heublein Tower, and Cedar Hill Cemetery

“Mark Twain says he and Mr. Twichell always return to Hartford after one of
these jaunts with the jaw ache, but never footsore.” -- Newspaper article,
1874

Follow the route of Mark Twain and his close friend, the Rev. Joseph Hopkins
Twichell, Gilded Age pastor of Asylum Hill Congregational Church, in a
special walk from the Mark Twain House in Hartford to Heublein Tower in
Simsbury – a trek of eight miles!

Or take part in other, less foot-wearying, but no less jaw-wearying events
related to the Twain-Twichell friendship – a bond between the world-renowned
writer and humorist and the city where he lived that persevered to the end
of his life.

Since 1995, friends and admirers of both men have reenacted the October trek
up the mountain, stopping at the Auer 4-H farm in Simsbury to refresh
themselves. This year, several related events have been added.

MARK AND JOE IN THE ALPS!
Thursday, October 10, 5:30 p.m.: Join Twichell biographer Steve Courtney at
the Carriage House of The Mark Twain House at 5:30 p.m. for a talk on Twain
and Twichell’s tramp in the Alps in 1878 – the trip that gave Twain the
gout, and led to the wild fantastic mountain-climbing tales of “A Tramp
Abroad.”

POT LUCK AT JOE TWICHELL’S CHURCH
Friday, October 11, 6:30 p.m.: Convene for a pot-luck dinner at Asylum Hill
Congregational Church. Mark Twain House Executive Director John Boyer, the
Rev. Gary Miller and writer Steve Courtney will present readings from
Twain’s and Twichell’s works.

WALK TO HEUBLEIN TOWER
Saturday, October 12, 7:30 a.m.: This is the full eight-mile walk to the
Tower. The walk must be limited to 30 pre-registered participants because
road walking is involved. Those people must arrive by 7:30 a.m., before
streets shut down for the Hartford Marathon. Call Steve Courtney at
860-589-6412 for information and reservations.
     There will be stops at Scott’s Jamaican Bakery, 1344 Albany Avenue for
provisions and orientation and at the Auer 4-H Farm for cider. At Heublein
Tower, near the site of the 19th-century tower that Twain and Twichell took
as their goal, there will be a picnic, more readings, jokes and
conversation, and a presentation on the Tower by Kathy Hoidge, co-president
of the Friends of Heublein Tower. We will carpool to provide transportation
back the Mark Twain House at 2 p.m.

A TWAIN –TWICHELL DIALOGUE: Sunday, October 13, 10:15 a.m. The Rev. Gary
Miller and John Boyer will present a repeat performance of their
much-admired exploration of the spiritual and human aspects of the famous
friendship. The dialogue will form the “Meditation” section of the 10:15
a.m. Sunday service at Asylum Hill Congregational Church.

NOOK FARM REMEMBERED: Sunday, October 13, 2 p.m. Irene McHugh, Public
Affairs Director of Cedar Hill Cemetery, 453 Fairfield Avenue, Hartford,
Steve Courtney and Mark Twain himself will lead a tour to visit the graves
of the Rev. Twichell and other neighbors, friends and associates  of Mark
Twain: Charles Dudley Warner, John and Isabella Hooker, Gen. Joseph R.
Hawley and others.

Call Steve Courtney at 860-589-6412 with any questions.

STOPS ALONG THE WAY:

7:30 a.m. – Preregistered walkers (limited to 30) must arrive at The Mark
Twain House, 351 Farmington Avenue, by this time.

8:00 a.m. – Walkers start off.

8:30 a.m. – Scott’s Jamaican Bakery, 1344 Albany Ave.: orientation,
provisions, bathroom stop at nearby McDonald’s.

10:30 a.m. (approx.) – Auer Farm, Simsbury Road, Bloomfield: Cider break.

Noon – Arrive at Tower. Picnic, Twain-Twichell readings, Heublein Tower
presentation.

2 p.m. – Carpool returns people to Mark Twain House.