KATHIE CASE

508-627-5349

(kathleencase@comcast.net)

It has been quite the week. We were lucky compared to the people in Waltham and the area around them with all the rain. But now we are in for a nice spring break for the rest of the week.

Happy birthday to all who celebrated their day this past week. Big balloons go out to Caroline Gazaille who celebrated her day March 13, Nils Aldeborgh, Brenda DeOliveira and Christopher Cartier on March 16, Austin Chandler and Lillian Kurelja on March 17, and to Daniel Nelson and Sarah Taylor who celebrated their day March 18.

My grandmother rented the Shurtleff house and we spent summers there in the late 50s and early 60s. I do remember the Shurtleffs, including Gordon’s wife whose first name I do not recall. I do remember her energy and her accent (Scottish or Irish, I believe). She helped me learn the right way to hang the laundry outdoors, depending upon the wind and time of day. She was “green” before we knew it.

After writing the article about the Tyra House I received this very nice letter from a gentlemen named Steve about the area. I thought I would share it with you as you may have the same memories and maybe a couple of answers. He writes:

“I also remember Shurtleff Way when there were only two houses on it, both on the same side, the main house they rented and the garage over which was their apartment. Now, not only are the crushed shells all gone, but so is that lovely meadow. And, the end of the road has been extended.

“I have always been interested in both houses on either side of the entrance to Shurtleff way. They both seem to date from the same period. Is there any information on them? I get this aura that something historic happened there. Maybe just my imagination, but I am curious about why a little development was started there in the early1800s.

“Before renting the Shurtleff house, my grandmother rented the Teller house, at least that is what it was referred as! It is just before the entrance to the Sheriff’s Meadow and it looks exactly the way it did 50 years ago. The vegetation around it has remained unchanged.”

Thank you Steve for sharing your memories with us.

The Edgartown High School Class of 1959 was so saddened to learn just recently that classmate, Jean Francis Laramee’s husband, Al, had a severe heart attack right after the holidays. Treatment and surgery was at Brigham & Women’s in Boston but heart damage was severe and he died on Jan. 27. Jean and Al had joined the 50th class reunion here in Edgartown in July. His brother in law is Porky Francis.

I was going to an appointment on Wednesday and as I passed the Dairy Queen I could not believe it. The school had let out at noon time and I think the whole school headed to the DQ. The line was coming out the side door down the ramp and into the parking lot. After my appointment and a stop at the Stop & Shop I looked again at the DQ and the line was still down the ramp. I can only hope the employees had plenty of rest and are ready for the busy week ahead with the weather being so nice.

I just got back from seeing the fifth grade play Dear Edwina. I have said it many times that we have such talented children in our school. The voices and all the lines they memorized and the very large names of the characters were incredible and you know they worked very hard to make this play the success it was.

Have a great week and keep the home candles burning.