Hi there,
I found your page on Mont Vernon very interesting. I was wondering if perhaps you know anything about a particular area that I spent many times at in my childhood.
My grandparents owned a beautiful home on top of a hill in Mont Vernon. It had a complete wrap around porch, hand carved woodwork, fruit cellar, tennis court and an old, in-grown pool plus beautiful groves of birch trees. Down at the bottom of the road there was a lily pond.
I also remember an old building, like a library or a town hall, that had a little tower on it. I am 47 years old now and to this day nothing will ever compare to their home or that area. I do remember that one of their neighbors was a countess.
There were four houses on top of the hill and I believe two of the homes had full time residents. Around 1975, the house was sold after my grandmother passed away. From what I understand, the house was moved to another location. Years before, there was a fire in the house caused by fireplace cinders...the roof was replaced at that time.
I do remember a general store where we would buy essentials like orange popsicles, milk and tea bags. Then off we would go to the dirt road that led up the little hill to my grandmother's home. Sometimes we would visit a very old graveyard that has a statue of a dog lying down waiting for his owner to return. My other memory is that of turning on the pump to the house to supply the water.
My grandparents names were Martin and Emily Neary. They came from Somerville, Massachusetts.
I hope to go up to Mont Vernon again and give my memory a jolt and to find the spot where the house once stood and maybe, if I'm lucky, to actually find the house! The only problem is that when you are younger everything appears much larger and exaggerated. I hope that is not the case.
Thank you for my moment of nostalgia...I saw your web site and couldn't help myself.
Bernadette (Bernie)Neary-Boder
Hi Bernadette,
Thanks for your letter regarding my story about Mont Vernon. I am pleased that I might have helped stir up some pleasant memories for you.
You must remember that I am a relative newcomer to Mont Vernon. I moved here the year after the death of you grandmother (1976). All my information has been gathered by my extensive interaction with the locals over the years. I do need to brush up a bit on my Mont Vernon history.
I may be mistaken, but it sounds like your grandmother lived in or near the remaining outbuildings that were once associated with the Grand Hotel. There were three guest cottages that were associated with the hotel. Do you by chance remember any old stonework in that birch grove? it would have been the remains of the front stairs to the hotel.
I did not know about the pool. I did know there were tennis courts at one time on Grand(Prospect)Hill but I had never seen them. I suppose both the pool and the courts might have once been associated with the hotel.
Is it possible that the fire you refer to was at the time the Grand burned (1930) I seem to remember someone telling me that they had worked on redoing the roof but that is all I remember. Is it possible the cinders were from the hotel fire? On this point, I could very well be mistaken.
One leaves Grand (Prospect)Hill down what was once a dirt road. At the foot of the road there is a small pond that is now used for under 16 fishing. At that point the road became paved.
As you proceed along the road toward the center of town, you pass by a vast green field that was once part of the golf course associated with the Grand. also, you would pass by the library.
The cemetary you mention is the town cemetary and there is a dog statue there although I have never seen it. The owner of the little dog had accidentally shot himself and the dog stayed with his owner until the man could be brought in. In memory of the dog's devotion, the man's wife had the statue commissioned.
I seem to remember some of the oldtimers referring to 'The Countess'. She had lived in a very large house with a red roof on the top of Prospect Hill. I believe she also held a winter home in the village. I knew a man that did work on the houses and used to move the lady back and forth between her summer and winter homes.
Would you mind if I use your letter on my Mont Vernon web page? I think the memories of your childhood would certainly be of interest to others.
jim
Hi Jim,
You nailed the place!!
My grandmother's house was next door to the 'Countess'.There were large fur trees that separated the the two pieces of property.If you stood at my grandmother's front door and looked a little to the left there was a set of steps leading to a large overgrown field that must have been the site of the hotel.I now remember her telling me about a hotel that was once there.I always thought she was pulling my leg because I could never imagine such a thing.
Her property included a barn (across from the house),dirt tennis court,and the birch tree groves with old stone tables and chairs.My grandparents probably built the barn but I'm not sure.They had a collection of old buggies and wagon wheels and old model A's in the barn.
My uncle Bob Neary is an artist and divided his time and paintings between Mont Vernon and York,Maine. He is a well known seascape painter in Maine.He has done covers for Yankee Magazine and Down East Magazine.
I am so excited about being able to "talk" with you about these things.
Jim,I want to thank you again...
I cannot tell you how happy you have made me and yes you may use my email for your web site.
Bernie Neary-Boder
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