Two weeks ago I wrote here about violets and about Mary E. Hart’s painting of violets. When I visited Whirlwind Hill recently I took a drive to Durham, Connecticut to visit the old cemetery in the town center. My mother loved this drive, and we went there together often to visit the Hart graves. My great-grandmother, Lydia, was a Hart, and her family had been long-time Durham residents.
So it seemed fitting that when I found Mary’s little grave marker, the grass surrounding it was full of violets.
Mary E. Hart’s grave stone with violets, May 2014
On Monday: The Letter
Oh, Carol … This is so lovely. I have never been to this Durham graveyard and want to go when I’m next in CT. (And will be glad to know what the M.E.H. stands for on that small marker.) This post makes me happy that Dad’s middle name was Hart. I always thought it was appropriate because of his loving and tender h(e)art … but am now glad to be putting more context around that name and his matrilineal line. I become more and more interested in Lydia as I read your stories. So – am I right that Mary and Lydia were sisters? Ahhhh …. I am really loving this. Thank you for doing it. Love you.
Lydia and Mary were cousins. I think Mary’s full name was Mary Elizabeth Hart. (Thus the MEH on stone.) Lydia and Mary’s fathers were brothers.
Yes – you should visit that cemetery. It’s lovely. I may come back to it in a later post. And how appropriate for your dad to have that middle name. The Harts were, by all accounts, very good people.
Nice,
Carol, I love your blog. What I think I love most about it is the insights it gives me about how you became Carol — a solid person and loving woman.
Such a very nice thing to say. Thank you Linda!
Ah perfect – I just love this sort of coincidence given meaning by association! I imagine you smiling when you spotted those violets, knowing they’d find their way into a post!
I WAS smiling. I, too, love this kind of stumbled-upon surprise.
Lovely post Carol! I’m so enjoying reading your blog and your family’s story.
Thanks Michelle!
Love the photo!!
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