Fifty years ago, on Feb. 6, 1958, Carol Lisa Chirgwin and Richard Thomas Fligor were married in Naples, Fla., at Trinity-By-The-Cove Episcopal Church. Their honeymoon was the drive back to Bowling Green State University in Ohio where Dick was beginning his last semester of college.

Carol and Dick had met the summer before in early June. Carol remembers her mother saying that the nicest young man had just arrived to work at the Colonial Inn and she was sure Carol would really like him. Carol then knew she wouldn’t, but this happened to be one time that mother knew best.

For many years, Carol and Dick lived winters in Naples and summers in Edgartown. In both places they had a store, mostly needlework in the early years.

After having four children in five and a half years, it was time to settle down. When they bought the Smith’s Inn on North Water street in Edgartown, it was the best business decision they ever made. They greatly expanded their store, The Fligors, and with wonderful employees who were more like family, they ran it for 43 exciting years.

Last summer, with their 50th wedding anniversary approaching, they invited all their children, their spouses and seven grandchildren to celebrate with them over Thanksgiving in Naples.

Brad, Anne, William and Amy came from Edgartown, Andy, Leslye, Doug and Cricket from Weston, Ted, Sue, Scott and Craig from Jacksonville and Abby flew in from San Francisco. Also joining in was their nephew Steven Chirgwin from Edgartown and his children, Haley and Grant, his sister Sarah and her husband John from Los Angeles and their dad and his wife, Helen, and David Chirgwin from Naples.

A tour of Naples showed everyone where Carol’s parents had lived at the Beachway, a guest house in Naples, three homes where the young children had lived and the two locations on Third street where the Fligor Store was. A great time was had by all.