toadhollowhistory

Toad Hollow Valley

The Toad Hollow Valley is a wet land region.

It is believed that the Urbber race originated in the Valley. Archeological digs have discovered what is believed to be bones and relics of the earliest of residents. haveThe Toad Hollow Valley is comprised of over twelve thousand acres of wet land. Many years ago several families migrated into the area to build homes and raise their families. They struggled to tame the wet land, but in time the farms were forsaken. A small logging operation and saw mill brought in workers to clear the land, but eventually both businesses were abandoned. Too expensive to drain, too difficult to develop, the bowl shaped valley was set aside as "Forever Wild". Hunting and fishing are not allowed, so few people ever venture into the inner reaches of the area.

Ursine Evolution (did you know?)

Paleontologists believe that the ancestors of modern bears began to evolve thirty to forty million years ago. Bears, raccoons, and canines are descended from a family of carnivorous little tree climbers called miacids. Some paleontologists hold that the oldest known creature that could be called a bear was Ursavus elemensis...a predator the size of a small dog. Many genera and many more species developed over the years only to become extinct. Between two and three million years ago the genus Ursus finally appeared. Its descendents split into four separate lineages, one (U. spelaus) was the ancestor of the now extinct cave bear, and two in Asia brought forth today's brown bear and black bear.

Fossilized bones of the cave bear have been dated from about ten to fifty thousand years ago. Most of the present forms of bears have probably been in existence for less than a million years.

Ursus minutae (the Urbber)

Findings suggest that early Urbber were migratory. Many generations must have lived and died as they traveled, gathering their food. The stories from long ago do not say when or why they stopped, but STOP they did, in a sheltered wooded area on the shore of the Tumble Down. Primitive tools made from rock litter the area. Archeologist have discovered fire sites and pottery shards. Much, much later this valley would be named Toad Hollow. There the trees grew close together almost reaching the sky it seemed. The Bear, although they did not think of themselves as "The Bear" yet, lived among the roots of the trees and dug boroughs to hide in when danger lurked and to keep warm in during the dark winter nights. Sometimes Man, as The Bear came to call this strange violent creature, came to the woods to hunt. The Bear watched these strange beings and they listened to the sounds these beings made to each other. Many generations of The Bear lived in the valley, watching a sman came and went through the years. The Bear eventually developed a language and formed a community. As the years passed fewer and fewer Man creatures came to the valley.

Mossy Nedder

One fall, when the leaves were golden and ready to fall to the ground, a group of men came to the Toad Hollow Valley and cut down many trees to build homes, businesses and churches. They chopped down the long straight tree trunks of trees that were several hundred years old. The Men cut off the limbs and branches, leaving them hopelessly tangled around the base of the trunks. The wagons filled with logs made deep ruts, it would be many years before the forest would recover from this invasion. The Bear watched and hid from this danger. The rains and snow came in their season. The sun could reach the earth for the first time in many, many years. Seeds blew in and settled in the rich earth. Spring warmth brought the growth of new green shoots. As the years passed, young trees started to grow around the butchered trunks, wild flowers bloomed, there was fresh life in abundance. Into this world The Bear slowly, cautiously moved . Many of the trunks had started to rot, leaving a hollow center. The Bear found shelter within the heart of the old tree trunks. that was the beginning of Mossy Nedder. In time, The Bear formed groups called clans. Some of these clans eventually moved to other areas of the Toad Hollow Valley, making new communities in Bubble and Squeak Swamp, The Bog and Murky Wood. The Bears within each community developed their own customs and these differences caused the clans to become even more diversified in their outlook and lifestyle. But, if you were to find your way to any of these communities today, you would discover towns of tree trunk homes and businesses. The trunks are usually well cared for, most of the Bears are gentle beings. And for most, life is good in the valley surrounded by high hills.

Disappearing Pond

There is a large pond in the Toad Hollow Valley that periodically "disappears". Usually the pond covers several acres, some years creeping across even more land during the early spring thaw. Other years, the pond literally disappears leaving only Tumble Down Creek to gurgle its merry way through the soggy area. What happens to the water.......no one knows. There are many stories told about this phenomenon. The most popular among The Bear is that a young cub drowned while swimming across the pond with its mother one early spring. The cub's mother frantically searched for her baby for many days, her cries of anguish echoing throughout the valley, Some feel that the pond disappears periodically so that the distraught mother can find her cub and bring him safely to shore.

Tumble Down Creek/Waterway/The Mill

The creek (pronounced "crick" by the natives) is a source of cold, pure drinking water. There are several species of fish indigenous to the waters, but trout remains the most popular among The Bear.

The Fisher Clan live along the eastern bank of Tumble Down Creek to the south of Disappearing Pond. They have a small town called Waterway. The Fisher Clan are expert fisherman and they supply Mossy Nedder with both fresh and dried fish.

The mill is situated on the eastern bank of Tumble Down Creek. The Mill Clan have been grinding grains for many generations. This is a very small clan, little more than a large extended family.

Bubble and Squeak Swamp

The swamp is named for the sound that the mud makes bubbling and squeaking around and between the toes when one walks through the swamp. There is a large number of Bear living in this area of the Valley. They are unorganized and separated into dozens of small family camps. Each family often randomly selects a leader and then the various camps squabble among themselves as to who has the right to do what. Feuds are as common as mosquitoes. Each family remains independent so that there is little trade among the camps. The main sources of income are derived from fishing the swamp waters and gathering the dark full bodied honey produced by the swamp bees. Most families make the trip to Mossy Nedder twice a year to barter for such luxuries as flour, salt, nails, fabric and other sewing notions. Most of the Swamp bears can neither read nor write. They refuse to send their cubs to the Toad Hollow school. Many of the group are musical and the sound of their picking and fiddling can be heard as far away as The Mill on a quiet summer evening.

Bottom Bog

The name comes from the superstition that there is no bottom to the bog. Harsh conditions in the bog have bred a very hardy breed of the Bear. Their abrupt, no nonsense manner have led other clans to consider them "humorless". Bog Bears are rumored to be responsible for certain unsolved crimes in the Toad Hollow area. Most of the bog residents live in one large village of tree trunks. They elect a leader who serves for life.

Murky Wood

This part of Toad Hollow has never been lumbered off. The trees are several hundred years old and their leafy canopy effectively keeps the ground beneath in shadows even on the sunniest of days. A small clan of bears live at the edge of this forest. Very little is known about this clan and what is known is difficult to separate from the mythology of The Murky Wood area. These bears are considered extremely intellectual and scientifically inclined. There is an unsubstantiated rumor that they dabble in "magic". The only time that they venture into Mossy Nedder is to visit the stores and buy supplies. When they do come to the town the residents give them a wide berth.

Most of Murky Wood has remained unexplored and nothing is known about the area.