Marty, Sam JoAnne.

The  picture of the three of us out in front of the house was probably taken when we were out waiting for the vegetable man to arrive with produce or the milkman or the knife grinder or hurdy-gurdy man and his monkey - who regularly walked up from O.B. and made stops at all the family homes - and, every year a truck would arrive in June with the tick dunk tank.... 3 dogs, kicking and screaming, would be "dunked" to help keep ticks off (didn't do much good as one of our chores was to de-tick the dogs daily and putting ticks in a jar of kerosene. Dad would check the jar every Friday nite when he and Grandpa came from New Britain).  And I mustn't forget the June visit from the "honey wagon" to empty the cesspools!  Now isn't that a good memory!

JoAnne Shepard

All this thinking about the Vineyard when I was young, is making me rather sad -especially today, seeing the pictures of Marty and Sam  - the one of the two of them was taken out on South Beach when the family would use "George's Shack" (now Jean Young's) when all of us would go up Island, including the maid and cook-out supplies, for a picnic.  Then, it was quite a long row over to the beach - now you can wade over. Back in the middle 30's - that was a real adventure (especially having to use the ‘outhouse'.) When we were older (like 9 or 10) Dad taught us to canoe and row up there.  JoAnne Shepard

Sam Chandler's mother Maxine, lived with all of us in New Britain (she was divorced). Dad was a widower- my mother died when I was 3, he didn't remarry till I was 17, so Sam was like our brother rather than a cousin.  JoAnne Shepard

Ted Hart (right)

One of my first, and no doubt my fondest, memory of Harthaven is from my early childhood. Ted Hart was my paternal great uncle, and he would invite my dad and mom to visit for one week every summer. My parents would pack up all five of us kids and head to the Vineyard in the old station wagon. We would all be so excited to get to Uncle Ted and Aunt Ruth's house, I am sure we drove my parents insane on the car ride to the ferry.

I remember arriving and all of us helping to unload the car into the tiny cottage adjacent to the "main house"....imagine two adults and five children in a two bedroom cottage. We never thought twice about it being cramped, we are at Ted and Ruth's!

Ted was my paternal grandfather figure, I so loved him, and we became fast buddies. Every morning when we were there he and I would head down to Young's beach and stay for hours! He taught me how to crab and clam, and most importantly....he taught me the fine art of hunting for seaglass. He was my best friend, we would walk and talk for hours on end, it warms my heart every single time I think of those years. I doubt the visits would have been nearly as special if it wasn't for Ted.

I love living in his home now, I see different memories every time I enter a different room....very special indeed. Jill Wollacott

Joanne Shepard, Sam Chandler, Lou Abello

Marty Hart (left) --- on Ted Hart’s boat (right)

Louise Hart with daughters Joanne and Marty

Ted Hart with daughters Joanne and Marty