Hide Article Text (OCR)
Reflections Of Hartley-Washabaugh—- Mrs. Susan Berkheimer of Silver Spring, Md. writes us of some pleasant recollections she holds of the Hartley-Washabaugh House, described in an Inquirer article earlier this spring.Mrs. Berkheimer, a grand-niece of the Harrison Hartley family, spent many childhood hours there, after the death of her mother. 'My grandparents were like a second set of parents to me, she writes.Her memories of the house are good ones, recalling an era when the pace was slower, and it was easy to watch the events of the day from a wide front porch.I wish the house could be open for the Bicentennial celebration, she writes. It has so much to recommend it.The old house, following its restoration several years ago, was converted into apartments by current owners, Mr. and Mrs. M. Forrest Randolph. But its original styje and flavor have been retained.There were five children In the Harrison Hartley family— Frank, Harry, Edith, Margaret and Maude, Susan Berkheimer writes. Of the five, only Frank married.But it was such a large house it never seemed crowded.The veranda was enclosed when we were young and it had both a sun porch and a play house for us.Great-uncle Harry always had hunting dogs, at least five at a time. And there were chickens in the backyard. We used to be allowed to help Aunt Marg gather the eggs.Aunt Marg and Aunt Grace, my grandfather Frank and grandmother Clara were ait good cooks. It was a very close-knit family. They were the type who could have many helping to cook and clean up in the kitchen, and never get in one another's way.After dinner, the men would go sit outside and talk, or walk around the block. The children would play, and the women would 'tidy up.'I've always felt very fortunate to have been born into such a loving family. My grandmother lived to be 93, but Grandpa Hartley was 100 yrs„ 6 mos., and 7 days old when he died. Uncle Harry was in his late 80's, as was Aunt Grace, but Mary died not long ago at 96.She always said, Why, 40! when we asked her her age so we never really were quite sure.Memories of a house In Bedford county, as is so often the case here, a home with traditions stretching back through the generations.
Newspaper Details
Bedford Inquirer
Bedford, Pennsylvania, US
Fri, Sep 26, 1975
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
National A.
DC, USA 18 Oct 2023
Other Publications Near Bedford, Pennsylvania
Bedford Daily Gazette
Bedford County Inquirer
Bedford Gazette Weekend
Weekend Extra
Bedford Inquirer
