Beaumont News Summer 2019

V o lu me T h i rt y T h ree , N umber 6 & 7

Summer 2019

On Independence Day, we remember all those who fought for freedom

Lower Merion resident helped drive and design American independence

By Lynn Ayres

D-Day launched WW-II liberation of Europe

By Alvan Markle III, Lt. Col. USAR (Ret.) Chevalier (Knight) of the French Legion of Honor

D-Day landings in Normandy,

As a Philadelphia native France, June 6, 1944 who has never lived more than 35 miles from Independence Hall, At the time of Operation I’m familiar with the Continental Overlord, the invasion to liberate Congress, Declaration of IndepenEurope, I was a Captain comdence, Betsy Ross, Ben Franklin, manding Headquarters Battery of Valley Forge, and Washington cross- CHARLES THOMSON: the 266th Field Artillery Battaling the Delaware. However, I am not Continental Congress ion, a heavy artillery unit assigned a Main Liner, and I knew nothing Secretary and signee of to the First United States Army. the Declaration of about a Lower Merion connection.

Our 240-mm howitzers threw a Independence.

A few years ago Bruce 260-pound high-explosive projecPhoto by Lucy Mach for NBC Cooper Gill, executive director of the Harriton Association, tile 25,000 yards with deadly ALVAN MARKLE in spoke at Beaumont. His stories inspired me to take a trip to

accuracy and devastating effect.

Normandy for the 75th nearby Harriton House. It’s just over the hill, they say, but

We were at Canford Cliffs anniversary of D-Day, what hill? What was once farmland is now forest, and you

on the south coast of England wearing badges and medals can’t see the hills for the trees.

overlooking the Solent, a large received during his years

IN THE BEGINNING: Harriton House is south

body of water between the Isle of of service. of Beaumont, but originally they were Wight and the mainland. On June 5, part of the same tract of land. In the 1944, the invasion fleet assembled at 1680s Welsh Quaker Rowland Ellis our feet: battleships, aircraft carriers, was “first purchaser” from William cruisers, destroyers, mine sweepers, Penn of the nearly 700-acre estate. freighters, strings of LCI (Landing In 1704, he built the house and named Craft Infantry) and LST (Landing the estate Bryn Mawr (high hill) after Ship Tank—also known as Large Slow his ancestral farmstead in Wales.

Targets), and many more. Over 6,000,

Ellis went bankrupt and we heard later.

UNITED STATES— sold the property in 1719 to Maryland THE GREAT SEAL OF THE

There was so much traffic that and arrows—was tobacco planter Richard Harrison, who eagle, stars, stripes, olive branch the Brits called it Piccadilly Circus. designed by Thomson, then amended and adopted renamed the property, adding “ton”

The next morning, they were all gone.

by Congress.

THOMSON continued on page 9

D-DAY continued on page 5

The Beaumont News is taking a summer break but will return in October. Stories are welcome throughout the summer, but the final deadline for the October 2019 issue will be September 10.

Articles, pictures or other related matter should be emailed to Editor Lynn Ayres (marilynayres134@gmail.com) and Managing Editor Irene Borgogno (itborgogno@msn.com). If emailing is not possible, articles should be typed or handwritten (as legibly as possible) and given to the Front Office to be converted to email and sent to both editors.

Dining under the stars provided a cheerful, chatty evening

NOT QUITE STARLIGHT, not even twilight, but it's a lovely evening for dining outdoors.

Photo by Barbara Benson

By Deborah Bishop stars. There were four choices for starters, four choices for the main course and one for dessert. I ordered an iceberg wedge.

It was terrific. The lettuce was crisp; the bacon was cooked perfectly; the blue cheese was delicious. Eta and Barbara had tuna and ate every bit of it.

For the main course I had rabbit sausage. The horrified waitress asked how I could eat it. I replied that this particular rabbit was not Peter. I didn’t dare tell her that I also like snails and frogs’ legs.

The chefs, John, Andrew and Mike, visited all the tables. We thanked them for a wonderful, wonderful meal.

Then—oh, happiness—the dessert appeared. Mixedberry trifle was served in a red-wine glass. It had thickened berry juice, pound cake in small squares, real whipped cream and a thick chocolate cream. WOW!

We laughed, relaxed and had a happy time under the stars.

We celebrated the end of May by having a great dinner under the stars in the Liseter Garden. It was a humdinger.

I was invited for 6:30, and I got there on time. My dinner companions, Barbara and Eta, were already there, but Nina, who’d put the dinner group DINING UNDER THE STARS as envisioned by together, was not

Vincent van Gogh is titled Café Terrace at Night.

feeling well.

Painted in 1888, it now resides in the Kröller The weather Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.

was the kind that you can only have in a place like Bryn Mawr: crummy and then suddenly and unexpectedly beautiful.

The menu was printed on thick blue paper with

In Memoriam Joan Stuart July 6, 2019 Members of the Beaumont Community extend deepest sympathy to her family and friends.

BEAUMONT NEWS The Beaumont News is published by the residents and staff of the Beaumont Retirement Community, 601 N. Ithan Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

MONDAY AFTERNOON PRESENTATION: On May 13, Malcolm Lee, former White House, Ali Baba and Microsoft policy advisor, discussed “US China Relations: a Career Perspective” in the Beaumont Room. He served in senior economic, foreign policy, and technology positions in the Clinton and Obama administrations.

Executive Editor Lynn Ayres Editor Emeritus Mary Graff Managing Editor Irene Borgogno Deputy Executive Editor and Production Manager John Hall Graphic Designer TJ Walsh Photo Editor Louise Hughes Contributing Editor Linda Madara Quality Control Jennifer Frankel Index Manager Nancy Harris Consulting Assistant Editors Mary Schnabel, Jean Homeier, Peggy Wolcott, Sis Ziesing, Wistie Miller

Mr. Lee is the son of Beaumont residents Raymond and Ivy Lee.

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The buses are running very late!

By Lynn Ayres

Last autumn, Darth Vader was finally defeated by The Force. Sort of.

For those of you who are not Star Wars fans, Darth Vader was a villain. He dressed all in black, with a long cape and impenetrable headgear that was shaped like a Nazi helmet but also covered his face.

Beaumont’s big, black bus was nicknamed Darth Vader because of its dark, armored, slightly sinister appearance. The other characDEBUT and the first ride begins under the portico.

teristic that the two Vaders shared was headgear. Vader’s Star Wars headgear didn’t allow people to see in; the bus’s “headgear” didn’t allow people to see out. They could see out the side windows, but the view straight ahead was blocked.

The time had come to replace our two buses; Darth and his smaller sibling’s days were numbered. “Old buses for new” was set for the end of December 2018. Unfortunately, the new buses weren’t ready, but they were promised for the early part of 2019.

As you might have predicted, that deadline was missed also. And the next … and next. April seemed promising, and the new buses actually arrived. Unfortunately, Beaumont residents’ most important specification—a front window—had not been installed. So back they went.

The new buses arrived on May 17, five months later than originally expected!

It isn’t clear if there will be a new nickname; if so, it

NEW BUSES FOR OLD: The old, black buses have been replaced by new, blue vehicles.

Photos by Linda Madara and Lynn Ayres

INSIDE: Roomy and comfortable and a forward-looking window. Even if other passengers' heads blocks the windshield, there's another window on top.

will be nothing like the old. The buses are a pleasant blue color, comfortable to ride in, and best of all is the window in front!

Summertime is ice cream time

By Irene Borgogno

Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…or so the song goes. Certainly, most of us are glad to see the end of the cold and the snow. Summer lends itself to outdoor activities and to everyone’s favorite: ice cream. Beaumont joined the seasonal celebration with a house call by an old-fashioned ice cream truck. The product is not gourmet quality, but the memories are exquisite.

Remember when you would eagerly await that unmistakable music, played by the ice cream truck as it lumbered through the streets to your neighborhood? Same time, same place, same reliably familiar products, every day. My favorite was always the pre-packaged ice cream cone: sugar cone, packed tight with vanilla ice cream, coated with chocolate and topped with crushed peanuts. When the truck was here on June 14, I checked, and there was my vanilla ice cream cone …

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and fudgsicles and creamsicles and ice cream sandwiches and all the other old, familiar goodies of summer.

You couldn’t help but smile, ask for your favorite, and walk away carrying a happy summer memory.

Fads and fashions alter: cocktails have yielded to wine at dinner

What does the Wine Committee do besides drink?

By Mary Schnabel

Text and photo by Zack Margolis, Food and Beverage Director

It’s hard to imagine that back just 20 years ago Beaumont didn’t even have a liquor license! In those days, residents who wanted to have a Cocktail before dinner would just buy the booze from the liquor store and make our drinks at home.

It was a bit more complicated if we wanted to have a pre-dinner drink in the Mansion. Then we would bring our bottle to our Bar, where Beaumont would provide the setups and the ice. The cozy Bar became a special place to meet friends and greet other residents enjoying a sip or two!

Notice that I am only mentioning Cocktails before dinner. Wine was still not as accepted a part of an evening meal as it is today. I am sure it was served at some tables, but definitely not an important component of the dinner.

Once wine could be purchased at Beaumont, it became necessary to learn what we should have available on our menus, and that meant we needed a Wine Committee!

Our President at the time was Joe Fortenbaugh, whose personal interest in wine made him happy to serve ex officio on the committee. The small group consisted of four residents, two staff members from Dining Services and Joe. The first meeting was held June 12, 2002. The Chairman was Dr. Herb Diamond. In addition to Dr. Diamond, the Committee consisted of Messrs. Etherington, Webster and Mainwaring.

Looking back over the minutes of the early meetings, it seems that the cost of a modest white or red wine was, in 2002, between $8 and $10 dollars for those who wished to buy a bottle at the table. The average price of a glass of Beaumont table wine was between $2.75 and $3.25. I noted one interesting statistic in the minutes of November 2005; during that month 283 glasses of white wine were sold and 113 glasses of red.

In the last seventeen years, interest and knowledge of wine has changed things completely, and by now the number of glasses of red and white that are raised each night are too many to count!

A wine committee … you mean a group of people who get together and drink? Sounds like a party!

Once a month members of the Beaumont Wine Committee meet to discuss our beverage program. Yes, I will admit we do drink wine, and we do have a great time, but it is still a business meeting. Every month we review the number of glasses and bottles sold to our residents and focus on trends.

For example, in June the wine list got a bit of shake up. We changed a few selections to items that have been big sellers as either a wine of the month or something our residents have truly enjoyed at wine tastings. Our monthly wine tastings are held in the Music Room on the last Thursday of every month at 5:30 pm—come join the fun.

Over the past few months, I have been having a great time introducing new wines, not only new vineyards but also new grapes. This has been a learning experience for both the residents and me, as we have found great success in this venture.

Wine is the biggest-selling alcohol category here at Beaumont, and residents are enjoying all new options.

The wine committee is packed with residents who have years of experience studying wine and traveling many places to appreciate a delicious glass of regional-specific wine.

My goal is to bring back memories our residents have had from enjoying wine in different parts of the world and to allow for new experiences as well. My approach to wine has always been to make it about an experience, connecting the wine to a fond memory of a flavor or a time in your life. This is truly the best way to experience a glass of wine.

Our wine program is small but mighty and has an incredible value. We plan on enhancing our program through specific Food & Wine dinners in the Bistro @ Beaumont, as well as monthly wine tastings and a few surprises to come.

Please join us in trying a new glass of wine the next time you are in the dining rooms.

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D-DAY continued from page 1

Because our forces had the firepower of the heavy guns of two navies, our mobile weapons had low priority. Tanks and infantry were needed first.

We were also delayed by storms. We sat in tents in the Southampton Marshaling Area for three days playing bridge and watching the barrage balloons swaying on their cables while the rain poured down.

When we arrived at Omaha Beach on July 5, 1944, it was no longer under fire, and piers had been constructed.

D-Day 75th Anniversary joint celebration, June 6, 2019

Our trip to Normandy in 1994 for the 50th Anniversary proved so rewarding that when the National WW-II Museum announced its plans for the 75th anniversary this year, Carolyn and I were among the first to sign on. My son, Captain Alvan Markle IV, and his wife accompanied us. We flew D-DAY LANDING CRAFT carried troops to the beaches of Normandy from Philadelphia to Amsterdam where we were met

by Museum people and escorted to buses that took us to the American Cemetery in Normandy were clear. Parking for Regent Seven Seas Navigator, a POSH cruise ship that provided buses was far from the site, and everyone had a long walk. every amenity imaginable, including our own concierge

Veterans were effusively thanked, questioned and and a maid on constant call. photographed.

Champagne and flowers greeted us in our commodiTwelve veterans ous suite where we enjoyed breakfast in bed. Our private open of the Normandy veranda gave views of the fireboat water displays that greeted campaign were us and the tugs that docked the Navigator, after which we were seated on the serenaded by marching bands on the pier. Half a dozen fine platform behind restaurants aboard provided a wide variety of gourmet dishes Presidents Trump at all hours. The charge that we paid included all taxes, fees, and French Presiservices and gratuities, as well as a veteran’s suite upgrade and a dent Macron and tax deduction for a contribution to the Museum. their attractive The wives who greetNavigator ed us individually. took us to six

The Postdeep-water ing of the Colors ports from was followed by which we both National were bused Anthems and an FRENCH AIR FORCE FLYOVER is to cultural invocation. I was viewed by Presidents and First Ladies of the and historic in the second row. United States and France sites: BrugEach President gave an appropriate address. President MESSAGE from a grateful nation.

es, a mediTrump stayed on script and was well received. President eval gem; Dieppe, where a thousand Canadians died in a failed Macron spoke to the American veterans in fluent English. invasion; Dunkirk, the site of the evacuation that saved the

The 21-gun salute was followed by Taps and a British army and much of the French; Calais, where we were Moment of Silence. Then nine French jet fighters painted graciously received in the spectacular Town Hall; and, of course, the red, white, and blue colors across the sky. Forty-seven the beaches where the British and American troops landed. vintage C-47’s and other WW-II aircraft followed. In all, it

Prior to the anniversary day itself, the former beachhead was a memorable service. was choked with re-enactors in authentic uniforms and scores

The adulation given the WW-II veterans stood in of restored WW-II vehicles, as well as many young American my mind in sharp contrast to the false news and vicious and European visitors. vilification that met the returning heroes of the Vietnam

However, the ceremonies were by invitation only. On conflict. It furthered my conviction that war is so devasD-Day, security was rigid, and many clearances were required. tating that it can only be justified when survival as a free Armed soldiers manned checkpoints, and the roads to the nation is at stake.

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Tweeting birds, buzzing bees, and now we look at silent butterflies Text and photos by Jane Ruffin

Butterflies are an indicator species, and seeing them in the garden usually means a healthy habitat for some of our favorite insects.

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NECTAR AND POLLEN: 7.

There are many shrubs and flowers that attract butterflies. The best ones are flowers that are wide and flat, giving the butterfly a place to stand so it can reach the nectar with its proboscis. The proboscis is kept tightly wound up when not in use. Butterflies pollinate flowers less efficiently than bees, but their role is still useful.

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BUTTERFLIES VS. MOTHS: Most butterflies are day flyers, and they fold their wings upright when they are at rest. Moths mainly fly at night and fold their wings flat over their backs at rest. Many moths are dull in color and often go unnoticed. There are about 700 species of butterflies in the US, and there are many more species of moths than butterflies.

Butterflies have long thin antennae with a club on the end, whilst male and female moths’ antennas are quite different. The female antennae are long and thin, whilst the males’ are feathered.

CATERPILLARS: The more one learns about butterflies, the more one needs to learn about the plants that the caterpillar stage eats. Some species only eat one type of plant whilst others eat many different plants in the same family. The black swallowtail lays eggs on carrots and species of the carrot family: fennel, dill, parsley, and more. Interestingly, these herbs are related and come from the Mediterranean area.

Most North American species of butterflies will use native plants for their eggs. They taste the plant with their proboscis and their feet to find the correct one. If a butterfly lays its eggs on the wrong species, the caterpillars will hatch but will not eat the plant.

Depending on the species and size of the butterflies, they may lay from 40 to 800 eggs.

Butterfly caterpillars usually do not destroy the plants.

Although many eggs may be laid, the caterpillars are food for many birds and predators. Migrating birds that nest in this area carefully time the hatching of their eggs to coincide with the maximum number of caterpillars in the trees. Usually very, very few caterpillars live long enough to go through metamorphosis to become butterflies.

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About 14 species 1. Orange sulphur of butterflies have been 2. Silver-spotted skippers seen in Beaumont’s gar3. Tiger swallowtail dens, and hopefully we may encourage some more. 4. Black swallowtail caterpillar The handsome humming5. Black swallowtail bird moth is often mis6. Monarch taken for a hummingbird.

7. Spring azure Its host plant is a native 8. Hummingbird moth arrowwood viburnum.

9. American lady

If you see a butterfly in the gardens, please take a photograph or write down a description and I’ll try to identify it.

DIFFERENCES: antennae, bodies, when active (day/night), pupal stage (chrysalis/cocoon), wing position at rest.

Photo from http://animalia-life.club

hour later, another spill snapped her head off.

Charlotte was gone, but several cousins, Text and photos by Linda Madara the result of the Personal Care bird-feeding team’s

Over the past 10 months the Beauwild birdseed mix, had mont greenhouse has been under the watchful appeared. “Sam,” not as eye and green thumb of David Randolph. big as Charlotte, manHe has worked to assure spaces are allotted to aged his debut through residents enthusiastic to learn. A portion of the shrubbery next to the the greenhouse has been made available for the dining porch. Sitting at horticultural therapist. David has undertaken the center window table, growing vegetables from seeds, and he has diners are exactly situLONG, tall already harvested cucumbers. ated to see him and anCharlotte

The greenhouse-grown marigolds (nat- other sunflower, “Sunny,” ural insect repellant) have successfully warded off bugs indoors and out. Deer don’t like their odor and have not eaten every young green shoot outside.

The star of the spring growing season has been “Charlotte,” a huge sunflower with Jack-in-the-Beanstalk tendencies. Sunflowers grow tall and are phototropic: they follow the path of the sun. Charlotte was special. On a TOMATO ROW with ripening tomatoes, cucumbers, and other burgeoning plants. single stalk, she kept growing taller and taller.

By May Charlotte had a substantial bud forming and filling out. Up she continued.

SAM is the offspring of a Her supplemental support increased from a sunflower seed that dropped single bamboo pole to two. from the bird feeder in

On June 4 Charlotte opened in full Personal Care to the Porch Room garden directly below. glory. Her bloom was the size of a dinner plate Several cousins have now with a chartreuse center, surrounded by an followed his lead. orange ruffle and then a halo of bright lemon-yellow petals.

Sam photos by Lynn Ayres

Charlotte by now had reached a foot over the top of the greenhouse door and showed no signs of ceasing. She had won quite a few feet away. A few additional had put forth a small shoot near the top a following as she grew. And then it happened. clan members hover nearby. Sam’s of her beheaded stalk. The shoot has a

On Sunday, June 9, the wind caught advantage is that his neighboring tiny flower bud and is growing.

Charlotte and flipped over her pot. There she shrubbery is tight enough to hold Charlotte has returned! lay on her side. A good Samaritan set her back him stable when it is windy. upright, closer to the green house, but she

Then, on June 11, David was too unbalanced for the pot. About an Randolph noticed that Charlotte

Charlotte and Sam encourage their clan of sunflowers

Want to write for the Beaumont News?

JAZZ GUITARIST Chuck Anderson is an educator, composer and author, with 10 CDs and 24 books to his credit. He teaches residents Marv Weisbord, Vick Kelly, Evelyn and Gerry Isom, and Dick Peterson. Marv asked Chuck to give a concert for students and friends in the Music Room on March 30.

Photo by Linda Madara

Got ideas? We like that. Like to talk to people? Stories often require interviews. Afraid of making mistakes? That's what editors are for.

Uneasy about fitting in? Take a look at a recent issue of Beaumont News. Check out the bylines and articles. The masthead at the bottom of page 2 lists names of staff and contributors. If there are people you know, talk to them. Ask questions.

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Or simply join us at the monthly BN story conference at 10 a.m. on the first Thursday of every month in the Bar (a short walk from the Bistro, where you can get coffee and pastry before the meeting).

Panamanian vacation paired with volunteer time for Floating Doctors

By Ryan Sholinsky and Irene Borgogno woman with intense knee pain who had fallen a month before.

Clearly, she needed an X-ray but the closest one was over four hours away. It was difficult to send her away with a knee brace and Tylenol.

“My greatest frustration is knowing that every problem I saw had a simple solution. The solution is that the government of Panama needs to invest in their medical sector.” INDIGENOUS NGOBE-BUGLÉ

Frustrations are children play in their village. balanced by rewards. “On the last day, Floating Doctors had a walk-in clinic on the base. I was put in charge that day….

[A] staff member told one patient (and the family) that the patient needed to go to the main town for a certain issue.

The patriarch of the group said no, that he only trusted us at Floating Doctors. He said the local medical staff was always making mis- takes, and that they only trusted us.

“I suppose I have mixed feelings about this. Of course, I wish they all had access to high-level

medical care.

INDIGENOUS ANIMALS include threetoed sloths that spend most of their time in the

However, I had trees.

This happy baby is sitting on his (hidden)

taken three mother's arm—or maybe her leg. Her long, strong flights and

claws let her travel by hanging upside down

a boat ride to from tree branches.

get to that point, so it was nice to know that these folks trusted me.”

In the U.S., we take the availability of medical treatment for granted. It may be expensive, but it is available.

This is not true everywhere. In many places, trained medical people are scarce to non-existent. Many organizations have arisen to try to alleviate the situation, relying on volunteers with medical knowledge and skills to pursue humanitarian goals.

Floating Doctors is one such organization. Originally formed to supply medical help in disaster areas, Floating Doctors now provides medical services in remote areas of the developing world.

FLOATING DOCTORS do just that; Ryan and other volunteers use waterways to get from place to place.

For a long time, our nurse practitioner, Ryan Sholinsky, has wanted to do volunteer medical work. During a vacation in Panama last year, he learned about Floating Doctors. When he got home, he researched the organization and decided it was worth volunteering with them.

He put that decision into practice this year, donating five days of his two-week vacation to providing medical treatment to a variety of Panamanians, including members of the indigenous Ngobe-Buglé. Beaumont stepped in with financial support from the Beaumont Fund.

The target area was Bocas del Toro, a beautiful tropical archipelago on the northwest coast of Panama. The most serious medical event that occurs here is leishmaniasis, a parasitic disease caused by the bite of an infected sand flea.

But cases of leishmaniasis are infrequent.

Most problems are very ordinary: urinary tract infections, COPD, upper respiratory infections, rashes, back pain, dehydration. When a tropical illness presented, it was likely to be gastrointestinal worms or scabies. There were also many pregnant women.

Ryan explained, “To be honest, nothing was particularly unique from a health perspective. The unusual part was how to treat the conditions. For instance, I treated a

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THOMSON continued from page 1

House, where Charles pursued his interest in scientific agriculture. He was an avid beekeeper (honey is still a Harriton House product). Most important, he managed his farm with paid labor.

He also returned to his classical studies. His translation of the Bible was printed in Philadelphia in 1808 by local printer Jane Aitken. It was the first translation of the Bible from Greek texts on the North American continent.

20th CENTURY: Harriton House estate passed to Hannah Harrison Thomson’s great-nephew, and subsequently to his daughter, Naomi. She married Philadelphia Quaker Levi Morris, who divided the estate into three parts. The southern end of the property became the Harriton Farm, which eventually became the Harriton Guernsey Dairy in 1908. It was sold out of the family in 1927.

At Naomi’s death near the end of the 1800s, DIVISION OF THE HARRITON her three daughters had PROPERT Y: Early in the 20th inherited the estate.

Century, a 67-acre parcel in the middle

The middle part section south of Ithan Avenue was sold was sold to William to William Austin. The Harriton Austin in 1901, effectively heirs retained control of the northern splitting the remainder into and southern segments, 145 and 85 acres, respectively. two separate segments.

In 1983, 50 acres of the original Austin estate was purchased by Arthur Wheeler, who envisioned and constructed Beaumont at Bryn Mawr.

(for town) to a shortened version of his name. (“Bryn Mawr” was forgotten for 150 years. It resurfaced when the Pennsylvania Railroad assigned Welsh names to stations along the Main Line.)

Harrison brought tobacco culture and African slaves to Harriton. His property was the northernmost tobacco plantation operated on a slave economy.

BEST-KNOWN RESIDENT: When Richard Harrison died in 1746 he willed the property to his wife, Hannah, bypassing his sons for unknown reasons. Harrison’s daughter, also named Hannah, inherited the property in 1774. Its slave economy ended when she married Charles Thomson, a politically and socially active abolitionist. He taught Latin and Greek in the Quaker schools in Philadelphia, and he was a tutor in Latin at the Philadelphia Academy (now University of Pennsylvania). In 1765 he became a leader of Philadelphia's Sons of Liberty and helped lead local resistance to the Stamp Act.

After his marriage to Hannah, Charles hired an estate manager and went to Philadelphia, where he served for 15 years as the Secretary of the Continental Congress.

Thomson and William Barton (expert in law and heraldry) submitted a proposal for the Great Seal of the United States in 1782.

It was 18TH CENTURY CUISINE is prepared in the Harriton amended

House kitchen by Chef Walter Staib of Philadelphia’s City and

adopted.

Tavern. His PBS program, A Taste of History, airs

Saturdays at noon on WHYY-TV.

For more detailed information: Harriton Association brochure, online at www.harritonhouse.org; “Harriton House's history is America's Heritage” by David Schmidt; and Wikipedia

In 1789 Charles and Hannah retired to Harriton

English as a Second Language class sharpens employees’ skills

By Mary Wells

The first-year long session for our English as a Second Language (ESL) employees wrapped up in June.

The class was led by two very experienced volunteer resident ESL instructors, Debora Zug and Joan Bromley, who continue their love for teaching to the benefit of our employees.

For the convenience of the employees, classes were held at noon on Fridays and the employees were paid while they attended class. A special luncheon was held in the Green Room on June 7 to celebrate everyone’s hard work.

Photo by Louise Hughes

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ESL PARTICIPANTS: Row 2: Shingara Singh, Laundry; Marie Sannoh, Housekeeping; Debora Zug, Instructor; Kelly Phasavath, Housekeeping; Joan Bromley, Instructor; Marta Aviles, Housekeeping; Jude Phasavath, Maintenance. Row 1: Nonh Keokanya, Housekeeping; Paula Ortiz, Housekeeping; Abeba Hailu, Housekeeping.

100 paintings in 100 days!

Who’d have believed it?

Text and photos by Linda Madara

It was a book that challenged Joan Bromley.

The exact title is forgotten, but its impact was huge: make a painting every day for 100 days!

Joan decided to try it … for a while.

Maybe just two weeks!

ART SHOW VISITORS are welcomed by a love- Then it be came for a ly garden and refreshments.

month. By the end of month two, she was hooked.

Joan has painted all of her life. She prefers still subjects and working from pictures to plein air work. Admittedly there are fewer atmospheric challenges. For 100 days, including time vacationing in Florida, Joan opened her box of oils, set up the easel in the top and painted on 6-inch Masonite squares.

Her subjects varied greatly: clouds, fruit and vegetables, animals, scenes she CUSTOMERS examine the selection. encountered, seascapes, and from photographs she took on her and husband Jamie’s travels.

As the stack of paintings grew in size, Joan was asking herself… “What am I going to do with 100 paintings?”

She settled on selling the paintings from a show. Who to invite to see them? Friends at Beaumont and the wider world?

The idea continued to grow. Where better to have

Going on vacation? Here's a Green Tip.

Unplug appliances before you go. Many appliances are always "on." Does it have a light? A digital clock?

Then it is draining power and costing money.

a show than in the garage? How to display them? What to charge friends? If the proceeds went to Beaumont… that’s different!

After much consideration, the paintings were mounted 25 in a square on four large boards placed in the order they were painted. Each one was given a number.

A coat of paint in the garage, and the gallery was ARTIST AND HER WORK: Joan Bromley ready. Invitations with 25 of her 100-day paintings. Red dots were delivered. indicate that the picture has been sold.

Guests choosing to buy a wee masterpiece were invited to pay $100.

100 paintings in100 days for $100! Would anybody come? Would anybody buy?

At the opening the garage-gallery was so filled with enthusiastic friends and neighbors that one needed a periscope to see the work. Jamie, keeper of the sales

records, was almost crazed trying to keep up

with the sales and placing the red sold dots.

At the end of the first day, 45 pieces had a

red dot. When the show closed 24 hours later

Joan had sold 67 pieces!

It was a magical show, the gift of a gen erous artist, and an event enjoyed by everyone who attended.

Now, the question to the artist is, “Are you going to do it again?”

SOLD! Joan's husband Jamie records Helen Vinick's purchase and prepares to attach a red "sold" dot to her picture.

Obviously you don't want to unplug your refrigerator, but coffee makers, microwaves, audio-video equipment and computers should be unplugged. This not only saves money but also protects them against dangerous electrical surges during lightning storms.

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Best Laid Plans are targets of comedy

Murder mystery dinner and theater came to Beaumont on June 12. Themed on “Old Hollywood,” residents could choose to dress in costume for participation in the show presented by the Murder Mystery Company in Philadelphia.

A whodunit mystery at the estate of Sir Warren Peace, audience members could bribe suspects for clues and gather information to uncover the unhinged guest who was whacking invitees.

Free-flowing wine, a delightful three-course dinner and cleverly appropriate (and punny) names combined to provide the evening’s entertainment.

MR. GREENSPAN (above) dies from a poisoned drink intended for someone else. His companions become hysterical— with laughter, not grief.

SIR WARREN PEACE (right)— or in this case, LADY Warren Peace—pleads, bullies, and commands guests to kill her tonight.

DEAD MAN WALKING: (right) French maid Ooh La La removes the corpse.

All photos by Linda Madara

Actress & producer discuss a play (or a murder?)

Flirtatious flapper (what's hidden in her headband?)

Eccentric professor (speaks gobbledygook to confuse.)

Birds An eagle soars alone on outstretched wings And shares with clouds the silent upper air, Or in the solitary starlight clings Where cliffs are jagged, perpendicular, But smaller birds are jeweled in the sun, Dart among fragrant branches, take their rest In hedgerows warm with summer. Everyone Admires eagles. I love swallows best.

Sophisticated ladies (cigarette holder or disguised stiletto?)

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— Bette Keck Peterson

SWALLOW & EAGLE by Dennis S. Davenport, Portland, OR

O AT F A BE L AU L T M AL the melon, lift it overhead and then replace O E it in the water. Four contestants tried and N failed. Then came Mrs. Merrick. She had T prepared by filing several of her long fingernails

Independence Day picnic needed rethinking

By Peter Mead Abel, April 1, 2019

One Fourth of July early in the life of Beaumont, the Dining Committee (at the time a bold but inexperienced group) decided to eschew the security of the Beaumont Room and hold a picnic outdoors, al fresco. The Committee must have made the right sacrifices to the weather gods because July 4 arrived with no rain threatening, a temperature of 70 degrees and a slightly overcast sky—a perfect day.

The picnic took place where the putting green is now located. The neighboring bushes were festooned with red, white and blue ribbons.

The residents and staff were festooned with red, white and blue Yankee Doodle caps.

There was a large cake with red, white and blue icing.

Everyone had their fill of hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, beer and/or wine, but before the celebratory cake was served, the sporting contests started.

The first event was a three-legged race. Five pairs were entered. At the crack of the starting gun Mr. and Mrs. Pickering streaked toward the finish line about 40 yards away. They ran in perfect synchronization, smoothly and gracefully. It was beautiful to see. The Pickerings were snickering at their apparent victory. Suddenly, Mr. Pickering stumbled and fell with Mrs. Pickering on top. While Mr. Pickering was seeking his glasses in the grass, another team, Mrs. Brundage and Mr. Cholmondelely (pronounced Chumly) staggered by and finished first. A stunning upset.

There were no more snickerings from the Pickerings.

Next came the “egg carry.” Contestants held the handle of a spoon between their teeth with an egg balanced in the spoon hollow. Thus burdened, they raced to the finish line. This race flopped. All eggs flipped. Not a single egg crossed the finish line. To top it off, one tooth was cracked and one denture was severely damaged.

Next followed the sack race. Each contestant inserted him/herself into a large burlap bag and hoped to hop to the finish. There were eight contestants this time. The agile Mrs. Pickering (remember the three-legged race?) neared the finish while the rest of the pack was still stumbling and tumbling near the starting line. Suddenly an aggressive little dog burst forth from the crowd and tugged at Mrs. Pickering’s burlap bag, causing her to stumble. With great luck she fell across the finish line and won the event. However, upon arising, she was overheard to mumble, “Never again!

Never again!”

Then followed the much-awaited watermelon lift.

A large watermelon, generously slathered with Vaseline, was floated in a large tub of water. Contestants had to pick up

to a sharp point.

Thus she clawed the melon out of the water quite easily. But alas, poor Merrick! She was unable to raise it above her head. Subsequently, three residents completed the task and shared the prize.

Incidentally, four contestants and a few bystanders were splashed by the falling melon and had to retire to their digs for a wardrobe change.

With all contests completed, it was time for dessert.

The skies had been darkening ever since the last egg fell during the egg carry and there had been distant rumblings. All concerns about the weather were, of course, put aside during the excitement of the events. As the cake with the red, white and blue icing was being put on paper plates along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a few drops of rain fell. Then (you guessed it) more and more drops fell. Everyone headed for the nearest entrance. Most reached safety before the great deluge, but a few were held up at the door and were soaked. Meanwhile, the cake with the red, white and blue icing was reduced to a soggy mass. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth and cries of “Never Again!” The entire Dining Committee resigned the next day.

Ever since, the Beaumont Room has served quite nicely as the picnic destination.

NOTE: This article was based on an archival search and interviews with the living and the dead (via Madam Arcati).

BLITHE SPIRIT: Assisted by medium Madam Arcati, deceased Elvira makes contact with her widowed husband and his new wife.

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