Buck's Bank LbNA #23119

Buck was a friend of my mother’s family when they lived on Pine St. in Potsdam, NY. He was a bit eccentric and his family ended up institutionalizing him later in life. He didn’t trust banks to hold his money so he buried it in tin cans. Many have tried to find “Buck’s Bank” but none has ever been successful. It was assumed that old Buck was just telling stories.

My mom was looking through some old photos of her family when she stumbled across this letter written to my uncles from Buck. My uncles and mom used to send him care packages and write him letters when he was in the psychiatric ward. We could never make much sense out of it.


Dear Dick and Win,

Thanks for all your letters. I gotta tell you something, secret. Real secret. Damn family! Not a penny! My bank’s safe. Damn banks! Keep it close to home. Home…why can’t I come home? You still live on Pine? Things change but not here. Too bad. Gotta get across the street, down that Back road to the Falls.

Straight lines from home. That’s the best way. Kinda like that lazy, noisy river. You could walk it, eh, Dickie? Gotta check the traps anyway. They still work that quarry? Nice sandy red rock…there’s a good place. Too many people, too many banks! Damn banks! Better to stay in the North.

Don’t need no boat but we were awful pirates. Looking for treasure, eh? I miss that damn sweet island. It was just nice for picnics and such. That’s why it’s there. Too many institutions! Damn! Pipeline just rolls on like that noisy river. But no time to wander, get on the island and look for the traps. Gotta go left when people are turning right. It ain’t easy but the wooded road is the best road, eh, Winnie?

Thanks for the packages, too. Good stuff. Just what I like. Good stuff! Go get her, boys. Too bad that tree is the last of its kind. Love them trees so simple, so black and white. But that little blue treasure just before it is good too. ‘Member the time I put shotgun shells in the woodpile? Hell of a blow up! Up, up on the right. Move through that natural door, Winnie.

Don’t tell the family the secret. Not a penny for them. Winnie, Dickie, you go check the traps. You know how to handle them varmints. Don’t like banks! Institutions! From the top of that ridge, three trunks is better than nothing. Find some treasure like the old pirates we are.

Secret, boys, secret. Thanks, Dickie. Thanks, Win. Say “hi” to your sis for me.


Buck