After prospering for eight months in England, the Litchfields returned to Newark, New Jersey, at the end of March 1905 for a brief respite before embarking on another season, one that was fully booked into 1906 at scores of stops from New York City to Colorado. Neil’s daughter, Abbie, was now 16 and had begun taking part in the act, which was modified with roles to utilize her talents. After several positive reviews, they began appearing in November as the Neil Litchfield Trio. Her first critical assessment under the new name said simply, “Miss Abbie Litchfield, as accompanist, could not be improved upon.”

A month later, their touring days nearly ended in Vermont, where they were directed at the last minute to take a different train for a better route to their next performance. The one they were initially scheduled to board crashed near Vergennes, killing three passengers, seriously injuring 14 more, and leaving a dozen others hurt.

By January 1907, the Litchfields had performed Down at Brook Farm more than 3,000 times in England, Canada, and the United States. Now working as a trio, they remained as busy as ever. Early in the year they toured northern New York, covering several towns along the St. Lawrence River. Heading southeast, they performed at Whitehall in Washington County before moving on to Vermont and the New England States. Later in the year, there were stops in the central and southern states, with 20 weeks booked in Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas prior to a dozen more stops back in northern New York. » Continue Reading.