Before you know it, school will be starting up in about another week. It seems like it just ended.
Condolences go out to the family and friends of Selectman Jon Howe.
The workers are very busy at the Town Hall. The granite slabs are now back in place in the concrete base, with the building now resting on them. It will be nice to see it when all the work has finished. It will be ready to either repair or replace the windows.
Work has begun at the corner of Route 2 and Bridge Street. There were two poles installed a while back and now the reason has been revealed. There is going to be a weather station installed there. Not too much more information was found out other than it will help report winter weather conditions in the area.
Gilead Historical Society
Last weekend the corner was busy with quite a few visitors. Alison Aloisio stopped by to see what the GHS has been busy with recently. She was thinking of doing an article with the latest updates.
May Peabody letters Continued
Letter #4
Pension Benoit
13-15 Lung Arno Serrestori Florence, Italy
[no date, must have been started on 29 June or later]
My dear Family,
My last letter was such a miserable hodge podge that I have little courage to attempt another. Yet I suppose you will want to hear
from me so will take new courage and try again. We reached here last Thursday at nine o’clock in the evening and were met by the
concierge of the Pension Benoit. We had engaged our rooms before leaving Rome and had asked to be met. This pension is
delightful. Miss Hyde and I are roommates this time and our window looks out upon a pretty square and the Arno just beyond. Across the river we can see Santa Croce (the most interesting church perhaps in all Florence), Giotto’s Tower (the bell tower of the Cathedral) and the queer old tower on the Palazzo Vecchio. This is the pension where Kathleen staid and recommended so highly. We pay only $1.20 a day which includes even wine. Our general method of procedure when we arrive in a new place is first to go to Cook’s, then visit places in the city we most wish to see. We followed that program here. I was delighted to find Frank’s letter
announcing the safe arrival of John Wright Peabody. I think I am very glad that it is a boy and I am particularly pleased with the name. I do hope Ethel will get well quickly.
I wish you could all see Giotto’s Tower. It is impossible to give you any idea of its beauty. How I wish you could all see this
Beautiful group of buildings! It impressed me quite as much as the fine old ruins in Rome. We staid at Hotel Subasio,
close to the church. The view of the luxuriant valley below is magnificent. Vineyards and large wheat fields everywhere to be seen and all so peaceful and restful. Again we were favored with balcony rooms. I don’t know how I shall ever be able to live in New York if this sort of thing continues. The view of a plain brick wall will seem worse than ever. We walked about the town a little; the streets are narrow + steep + picturesque. We saw women going to the wells carrying waterjugs on their heads. The costumes were very picturesque and fitted in with quaint old streets.
By this time you must have received my first letter. I’m wondering if the Gilead home is open today. I do not know the date of Colby’s commencement but have a vague idea that it comes this week. I shall try to send a letter every week and postals in
between. Am hoping for a letter from you, Ada, sometime soon.
With very much love to you all.
May
Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com.