The Chronicle uarterly

Weston Historical Society Summer 2007 Volume 28 No 2 ------~------HELEN DORE BOYLSTON NURSE, WRITER, sc WOMAN OF ADVENTURE

"The train began to move at last. attended Massachusetts General outpatient department and an Sue leaned forward, her red curls Hospital School of Nursing. She instructor in anesthesiology back at crushed against the windowpane, graduated in 1915, promptly Massachusetts General, and also and looked back to enlisted in the Harvard worked as a psychiatric nurse in where her father and Medical Unit, and served New York City. She was also a head mother and Ted stood as an anesthesiologist with nurse in a Connecticut hospital. In on the station platform. the British Expeditionary the late 1920s she began writing Their faces wpre Force in France During and publishing some of her wartime growing smaller. Sue's World \'\7ar I, achieving memoirs, as well as stories and resolute young mouth the rank of captain. Her magazine articles. quivered suddenly, and first book "Sister; the War her eyes misted." Diary of a Nurse," Drawing on her experiences as a published in 1927, nurse, her portrayal of Sue Barton is These were the words of detailed her wartime extremely realistic and poignant. In Sue Barton Student Nurse, written expenences. discussing the most important thing by Helen Dore Boylston. This was a nurse can do with her fellow the first book in a series of seven After the Armistice of November students, Sue exclaimed: "The chronicling the life of Sue Barton 11, 1918, Miss Boylston patient's from her days as a nurse, published joined the Red Cross attitude." "\Vhen between 1936 and 1953. They and spent several years in people are sick have become classics for young Europe, living and they need adult readers and reveal an amazing working in Albania, something to portrait of the feelings, hopes, Germany, and Italy. steady them - ambitions, sadness, and learnings of During this time she met some - some a young girl. Rose Wilder Lane, idea. It depends daughter of Laura Ingalls on the person. The books were based on the life of Wilder (author of the Maybe it is just Helen Dore Boylston who lived Little House books). being a good right here in Weston for a good Ms. Lane was a reporter sport, or a noble many years. She was born in covering the postwar martyr, or - or Portsmouth, New Hampshire on reconstruction, and the thinking they will Apri14, 1895 and spent a happy two women became fast friends. get well twice as quickly if they put childhood there. She attended their mind to it. You can help Simmons College in Boston and Upon her return to the states, Ms. them think the way they want to. after one year at Simmons she Boylston served as the head of an Nobody likes being frightened, or ------M,. M,. M,.

Helen Dore Boylston Continued

bored, or terribly nervous. They have ever been driving alone in a Sempre Dritto in Italian means (the patient) always try to hang on car during those years. straight ahead, but 200 feet down to something, and if you pay the road turns are left, right none attention and find out what it is Their fond memories of the trip not straight ahead so they had to rely you can encourage them along that only included the sights they saw on their best instincts. They finally line. If they haven't anything to and the people they met along the did make it to Albania. steady them they're miserable, no way, but Troub's memories of matter how good a bath Following Helen's you can give, or how adventures overseas, she many stories you tell sat down to turn her hand them. If they have to writing books. The Sue something to steady Barton books were them, then the other published with the help of things just make being Jane Ayer Cobb (Berry) sick that much easier." who lived at the corner of Ms Boylston's true Cobb's Mill Rd. and Rt. feelings of how things 57. Jane was one of the should be and her Cobb family who at one unwavering belief in time owned Cobb's Mill people's goodness comes Inn. Through this across the pages as if she friendship, Helen were speaking directly to you. Zenobia, the car. She writes Boylston came to Weston often and "Today, almost all day, we climbed purchased a house on Georgetown In 1926 Helen and her friend Rose dreadful mountains, and the Road at the corner of Hillside Wilder Lane, along with their faithful Zenobia, struggled and South. French maid, decided to take a trip perspired and panted and even shed across Europe in a Model T they rusty tears from her radiator." They This move also proved fruitful to named Zenobia. The account of often stopped to let the Helen in that their travels is one of optimism and car rest and give it oil and VI ..r.E she became humor. It is hard to believe that water. friends with two women in that day and age her neighbor would even take on such a trip Rose writes a very funny Eva alone. They went from Paris to passage about asking Le Gallienne Albania and each wrote about the directions in Italy. She and started a experience in a book "Travels With says that it is better than a new series of Zenobia". The book was written in vaudeville show. "Troub: books about a diary-like fashion with notes and Please signore, is this the an aspmng observations from Rose and then way to Spezia. Man: actress named from Traub - Helen's nickname - Spezia? Troub and I: Si Carol Page. short for Trouble. Signore! Spezia! Man: Miss Le Are you Germans? I: No. Gallianne On August 20, 1925, Rose and allowed Helen Man: You are not Helen began their journey from Germans? Traub: No, we [~~~;;;~~;','r , ' '.. ; f. backstage ~~J Paris to Albania in a Model T Ford. are Americans. Is this the access to many Along their many stops people took way to Spezia, please:" After going theatrical stage performances so as them for German women rather on about their nationality for to lend realism to her books. In her than Americans. Near the end of another two minutes, the man first book about Carol Page, Helen their trip they learned that the brightly tells them that this is the writes "Ever since my first book, I reason for this misjudgment was road to Spezia, "Si, Sit Sempre have looked to Jane Cobb for her that only German women would drirto, Spezia. They learned that lively suggestions and her true ear

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Helen Dore Boylston Cont ... EDUCATION OUTREACH 2006 - 2007

for dialogue. In this new story of The Board of Trustees of the children make the batter for old Carol, she has cheerfully assumed Weston Historical Society is so fashioned oatmeal raisin cookies. the role of collaborator and fortunate to have a liaison to the The third group goes to the front godmother, and in gratitude I school system to reach out to the parlor of the home where they are should like to dedicate the story to teachers and administrators finding shown pictures of an old fashioned her." ways in which we can help the farm, a gold nugget, and read a schools teach children about life in story. The groups then move every In a passage from Carol Plays Weston. That person is Judy Albin. 15 minutes or so. At the end of the Summer Stock, Helen writes the Judy has been extremely busy this trip all the children are given a one- following: When he returned, half past school year coordinating year honorary membership in the the company was crowded around programs with different classes and Society. the steps of the Pullman, where grades in all four schools. Carol was waiting for the train to pull out. She made a startling We began last August with a box picture against its dark grime, for lunch on the grounds of the Coley the glow under her skin seemed House for new teachers in Weston. lighted from an inexhaustible They were given a tour of the eagerness within her. Her hair was grounds and the buildings and polished in the sunlight, and the shown our collections and archives. smart green hat accentuated the clear greenness of her eyes. She "Old fashioned" games were taken stood straight and light, one hand in to the first grade classes and on the iron guard rail, and she was shared with the children. For a laughing, though her throat, unit on mapping, we prepared a smooth above the white cascade of simplified map of Weston with During the Post Office trip, the her blouse, felt tight with nostalgia locations of historic buildings. children begin at the old post office for the summer that was gone, with Children placed photos in their where they are told about and affection for the affection in the proper place and then colored them shown some of the items sold in a faces below her, with a surge of in. The children then asked our general store during the 1800's. panic for what the future might volunteers a series of questions They are then given a talk about hold." How easy it is to remember about life in "old" Weston. the post office side of the building the excitement of youth and the and shown letters that were written dreams and hopes of new careers, The second graders study Weston to people in Weston. They even jobs, friends and adventures. during the year. Judy has created address envelopes (special Post two field trips, one to the Coley Office issue), and insert letters they Helen Boylston spent the last years Homestead (4 years) and one to the have written to their families. of her life in a nursing home in old and current Weston Post Then its on to the new Post Office Trumbull, Connecticut. She died Offices (2 years). During the first where they are shown how letters there on September 30, 1984 at the trip in the fall, the children come to are mailed today. age of eighty-nine. She was a the Homestead and are separated neighbor, friend, and prolific writer into three smaller groups. One The WIS School (Weston of classic stories for young adults. group visits the barn where Ernie Intermediate School) Grade 3 had a We are grateful to add her to the Albin and his volunteers show the visitor who discussed the gold rush list of important and grand citizens children various tools and have days in California and in the of our community. hands on activities which they Yukon. The students were shown a enjoy. The second group gathers in California gold nugget and told the the kitchen where Peg McCullough story of Yukon's "Soapy Smith." and her volunteers have the The WHS arranged for a Holocaust

3 Education Outreach Cont... survivor to visit and relate her In addition to classroom visits and duplicate scarf pins of dainty experiences with the TAG Class. field trips for the students, the design, and to the strains of lively Social Studies teachers from the music all were marched to the The activities for the Middle Middle School took a tour of the dining room, where an elaborately School this year included a Coley Homestead where they were decorated table laden with good classroom visit to TAG classes who shown some of our resources which things was a sight to gladden the were shown our artifacts that were might enrich their programs of heart of an epicure. The game dug at the old Jarvis Military study. We talked about how selected to wile away the balance of Academy. The students then students might be able to help the the evening was another novelty, created their own artifacts to be WHS with archiving, cards were distributed to each of discovered and studied by another creating/maintaining a web site and which was attached a bright cent of class to determine the civilization interviewing elder Westonites. At the vintage of 1894, and on the that left them. the end of the school year, some of cards was the following inscription: our honorary second grade students 'Find on the accompanying coin Six 6th grade students have chosen marched with us at the Memorial the following, a fruit, part of a to become the Historical Society's Day Parade. mountain, flowers, a scholar, a first junior docents. With the messenger, a defense, a small animal guidance and help ofJudy Albin Judy Albin has done an incredible and youth and age.' The correct the children are researching job this past year sharing our answers are as follows: Dates, the information about an item of their resources with students and we brow, tulips, pupil, one cent, a choice from the inventory of the certainly hope it continues. We shield, a hare, and 18 and 94. Miss Coley house. They will be at the will again be having a box lunch in Anna Hyatt and Miss Bertha Brady Coley Homestead in the fall with August for new school staff were tied for first ladies' prize, each their presentations. There was also members who always bring energy giving five correct answers. The a classroom visit by James and great new ideas to the table. question of ownership was decided Lomuscio, author of "Village of the We, of course, want to do more by lot, Miss Brady proving the Dammed." All the social studies with the students and faculty, but lucky one. R. H. Fitch won the classes in the 6th grade were we are off to a great running start gentleman's first prize, and Mrs. presented with information and and thank Judy for her tireless Elmer Jackson and Seth L. material regarding onion farming in energy in her Education Outreach. Grumman secured the 'Booby' Weston. _____ fa., _ emblems. The first prizes were head-rests made of silk, American At the High School level, the PARTNERS FOR DINNER flags, and mucilage bottles were Albin's took their gold nugget to a presented to those last in the race science classroom where students ''A most enjoyable party was given with the hope that they would not examined and weighed the nugget. by Miss Florence Sturges on the get 'stuck.' It was then tested with acid for evening of Decoration day, at her purity. In the geophysical home in Cannon. Twenty-five Ed. Note: This was a newspaper department class, information was guests were present. Five minutes clipping found by Sandy O'Brien given concerning the charcoal each was allowed for conversation in papers at the Coley House. It is industry in Weston. Material on on twelve topics that ranged from a lively account of what a party slavery and the Underground dogs to Trilby, the gentlemen might have been like back in the Railroad was supplied at the request selecting different partners for each day. Unfortunately we have no of one particular teacher. A senior subject. All entered heartily into date on the article, but we thought student was helped with research the spirit of the game, and at times it would be fun to share with you. for a paper on the Weston Meteor the buzzing in the parlors was a shower (this year is the 200th strong reminder of an animated bee anniversary of the event which hive. Partners for supper were occurred December l-ith, 1807. selected through the medium of

4 ~------EBENEZER FITCH His Life and Times, His Grandson

As most of you know, the Weston fabric of Weston life. Historical Society has recently been given 15 diaries of Ebenezer Fitch who was We recently came across an interview with born and raised in Weston in the 1800's. Ray Fitch. Ray was the grandson of He was a man of many accomplishments, (8~Ebenezer and the father of the three Fitch I that of a farmer, notary public, teacher, I children. Although there is no date on the bookkeeper, husband, father and a man of paper, we have to assume it was done in strong religious beliefs. the late 1970's or early 1980's and recorded by three middle school children: In 1858 Ebenezer started keeping diaries Carrie Tendler, Kylee DiBlasi, and Megin of his daily activities. Although these Walden. We would like to share it with entries were short sentences and just an you here: occasional mention of his family, they are an incredible account of his years as a "It was a snowy day in 1911. Some of the farmer and a religious man. The entries Ebenezer Fitch kids going to Goodhill School trudged are short, but say so much about the man 1838·1905 through the snow which crackled with and his times in Weston. We were very each step. Some kids came in horse and moved by the entry on July 4, 1876. "Our Country wagon, but most walked carrying their lunch in tin Turns 100 Today." The following is an example of a pails. Girls wore skirts and boys wore heavy pants. page from one of Ebenezer's diaries: They waired until ,------Au"COm-j.:r------:10 FridA,. jJ Mrs. Treadwell, the The diaries ended in fJ1;lfliJ teacher, rang the 1893 and Ebenezer bell declaring passed from school had this earth in April officially started. - 1905. There were .. They entered

many notes of jO illeidiy through the small sympathy to entrance and older Ebenezer's wife, children took their Amelia, (collected seats at desks that papers with the were attached to diaries) expressing love the floor, while and respect for such 31 Wudnwcba) younger children an incredible man. sat at benches. He led an exemplary Among them was life, at times Mr. Raymond struggling, but always Fitch whose headed in a forward recollections are A()~~ 1570 ~t.I€.U5"'" 1570 direction. what this story is We have been given based on. these amazing diaries from the Fitch Family great- grandchildren of Ebenezer: Kay Fitch Farrar, Mary "Goodhill School was about twenty feet by twenty feet Ellen Fitch Hauge, and Raymond Fitch, Jr. They felt with wood constructions and a really small entrance. that keeping the diaries in Weston as a major part of our The windows were small and not much light came history was in the best interest of their family and the through. Three of the four walls had benches and desks town. We are extremely grateful for this generous and against them and on the fourth was Mrs. Stillman's desk. meaningful donation as the Fitch family is part of the All children brought wood which they placed near the

5 ------~ ~ ~------Ebenezer Fitch cont... fireplace. The wood was given by bell to signal the end of recess, the didn't have homework either because the parents. The fireplace they all had several was their only source of chores waiting for heat. The children were them at home. often afraid that the huge stove pipe would fallon " 'Some kids felt that them. school was a vacation' says Mr. Fitch. And "Each morning, Mrs. in those days it was. Treadwell, like the other teachers would greet the Ed, Note: Raymond children by saying, "Good Fitch was born Morning." The children February 10, 1906 in responded with the same the Fitch house on greeting. Since it was Goodhill Rd. (known winter, the children kept to many as the Jim their lunches near the Daniel home). He stove. If they did not, attended the Goodhill their lunches would freeze. Interior view of an old school house described by Ray Fich. Rd. School and then The children felt that the Norwalk High School. teachers were very nice. They took children would return indoors. They He married Elizabeth Fairchild in out their slates provided by their would take out their slates and 1931 and they lived on White Birch parents and the teacher would prepare for the next lesson. Usually Rd. until 1964 when they moved to announce the first subject, it was history. a home on Old Farm Road. arithmetic. During the lesson the Daughters, Mary Ellen and Kay lived older children would help the Since it was almost Christmas, Mrs. in the White Birch home until they younger children who didn't Treadwell announced they would be went off to school. understand. After arithmetic came having a Christmas party. 'Settle reading and spelling. Then they down, settle down Raymond', the Ray was very active in Weston as a would usually have music. They teacher said as the other children also historian, and in the Norfield would sing a song. quieted down. They played several "Finally came lunch. The children games and ate some put on their coats and hats and tasty treats. Soon it whatever else they had to keep them was 4 o'clock and warm. Then they took their lunches time for dismissal. in tin pails and went outside, even though it was winter, for lunch and "The 'delicate' recess. Most kids sat with their children were friends on stones. They would picked up by their spread out their lunches which parents, but most would usually consist of a sandwich walked home. wrapped in bread wrappings and a Many had numb piece of fruit. As soon as they fingers and toes by finished they had recess. Boys would the time they Good Road School House located near the Fitch fomily home. play tag, hide and go seek, or catch. arrived home. Girls would play hop scotch, swing Grange. At every grange fair for on the tire swing or have a snowball "The children never went home to years, Ray could be seen using his fight. When the teacher rang the soccer or baseball practice. They one-lung cider press squeezing apples

6 Ebenezer Fitch cont... SUMMER RECIPES into delicious juice for all the visitors. With the abundance of wonderful fruits this time of year, many of which can Unfortunately Ray and the making be purchased at our local Farmer's Market held at the Coley Homestead on of cider without pasteurization have Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. until 12 noon, we thought it would be fun to all gone from our lives. We are share a couple of old fashioned recipes with you from "The Old Farmer's grateful to have had such a Almanac Colonial Cookbook", edited by Clarissa M. Silitch, Copyright 1976. wonderful family give Weston so much fun, knowledge, and history CHERRY SLUMP l for the generations to come. 2 Cups Cherries 2/3 cups sugar 112 cup water I tsp. cinnamon 1 cup flour, sifted 2 tsp. baking powder 113 tsp salt 112 cup milk

Remove stems and pits from cherries and combine them with the sugar, water and cinnamon. Bring to a boil. Mix and sift the flour, baking powder and salt and add the milk gradually. Drop this dough by spoonfuls into the boiling fruit mixture. Cover and cook for 25 minutes. Remove the cover and cook 10 minutes longer. Serve with cream. Serves 4.

Ray Fitch riding in the WHS Buggy in the 1985 Memorial dayfair. We also came across a recipe in the same book called "DR. ZABDIEL BOYLSTON'S HONEYCOMB PUDDING. The entry before the recipe says that Dr. Zabdiel Boylston, who braved the threat of mob violence in 1721 in order to get Bostonians inoculated against smallpox, favored this excellent pudding. We are wondering if Dr. Boylston might be a relative of Helen Boylston who lived many years in Weston, and worked many years as nurse.

The recipe is as follows:

1/2 cup flour 112 cup butter, melted 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup warm milk

1/2 tsp. each: cloves 4 eggs beaten cinnamon, allspice I Tbs. soda in 1 cup molasses 1/4 tsp. salt

Stir together the dry ingredients, add the rest of the ingredients, and pour the mixture quickly into a buttered baking dish. Bake in a moderate oven (350 degrees) for about 30 minutes. Turn out on a hot plate. When the pudding is sliced, the honeycomb will show.

Honeycomb Pudding Sauce

1 cup sugar 114 tsp. salt 1/4 cup butter 3 tsp. cornstarch juice of 1 lemon I cup boiling water I egg beaten

Cream the sugar and butter, add the rest of the ingredients and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened. Serve the pudding and sauce warm.

7 The "WestonHistorical Society NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE Chronicle Quarterly PAID Westport, CT Karin Giannitti, Editor Permit No. 212 9 Christopher Hi!! U7t>stonCT, 06883

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