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1936-12-15: ​tour stops---images---audio---~TRANSCRIPT~---notes---links---site navigation
(PAGE 1)

THE FERNBANK NEWS.

Special Edition.

This is a special and most unusual edition of this well known paper and on account of many difficulties must be so considered.

In the first place the Editor-in-Chief left for Foreign parts, this summer, to be more specific she set out for "India's coral Strands" early in June, and did not appoint a successor to her position as editor before leaving this country.  In the second place although the entire Atlanta contingent of the Stokey family travelled to Fernbank by automobile and much baggage accompanied them a typewriter was not included and no one would expect a newspaper to be issued without the aid of a typewriter, consequently the various assistant editors did not submit copy until after the vacation was over, and some have failed to turn in their copy notably our Society Editors whose articles have always been amusing and instructive.

In the third place many of the contributors to this paper have in recent years spent considerable time in working on school papers, which have been printed and this possibly may have diminished the enthusiasm for contributing to a private publication.  Whatever the reasons we will just add that what was to have been a summer edition has become a Christmas number and we will proceed with the news, which will include items of interest not only from Woods Hole, but also Atlanta, Chicago, Cambridge and Philadelphia.

Colonel and Mrs. W.P. Stokey and family left Atlanta in the beginning of August to drive to Woods Hole.  Finch, the dog, have been boarded out and the house having been boarded up (as one might say), the many and various suitcases were loaded on to the car and the family settled, three in front and three behind and left the city of Atlanta about noon on one of the few cool days of the summer.  The first stop over night was at Asheville, the ride through the North Georgia mountains having been very beautiful.

The next day's ride through the mountains of North Carolina was very beautiful and very impressive.  The dwellers in the mountain cabins added (?) to the natural beauty of the scenery by their displays of rugs and quilts.

The second night out was spent at Lynchburg.  The ride on the next day was very hot and several stops were made in order that the family might have cooling drinks.  Quite late that night the family registered at the Clinton Hotel in Philadelphia and after a period of "cleaning up" a call was made upon Mrs. Evans who had been expecting the party for some hours.

The following morning Mrs. Evans had breakfast with some of the party while the others went around the city.  The journey was resumed about noon and that night was spent in Connecticut, and the following day the party arrived in Fernbank.  The day was damp and chilly and Mrs. W.P. proceeded to make a fire in the fireplace.  Miss Margaret and Miss Kathleen Stokey prepared a meal and sleeping quarters were than assigned and the necessary preparations for the night were made, after Mrs. W.P. had duly admired the new living room and the additional bedroom.  Everything was in order and if houses in cities were as free from dust and soot as those by the sea, housekeeping would surely be simplified.

The pond looked very pretty the following morning as the sun was shining brightly and little sparkles covered the surface of the water.  Algae was conspicuous by its absence, except in just very small quantities.

There was no boating on the pond this summer and that was missed by some of the occupants of Fernbank.  The field or meadow across the pond was used as a baseball ground and Roger Stokey at times joined in the games.

(PAGE 2)

After a few days Mrs. Evans drove to Fernbank in the Beagle and with two cars available numerous trips were taken through the cape.  Most of the trips have been described by contributors to this paper.

Visitors to Fernbank this summer included Dr. and Mrs. Meyer who seemed in very good spirits.

Mr. and Mrs. Gorokhoff, Galina and Boris came over one night for a supper which was served in the living room.  Afterwards the younger members of the party played Monopoly and Mr. Gorokhoff entertained the others with some very interesting talk about Russia and Russian affairs, and particularly wished Miss Alma Stokey to be reminded that she must be "accurate about snakes".  The refreshments served were salad and sandwiches and cake, to the best of the belief of the writer who does not seem to be as fluent as the regular editor of the Fernbank news in describing meals.  (Refer to said editors letters from India).

Miss Rodehouse came to dinner one Sunday and accompanied some of the members of the family to Dr. Warbasse's house to hear a talk by Mr. Cameron Forbes.  Miss Elizabeth Attee from Cincinnati who had been spending some time at Brewster stayed at Fernbank for several days and went on some trips with the family.

Miss Dorothy Stewart called twice and related some of her experiences as a sailor.

Miss Hogue came in for a few minutes towards the end of the stay in Fernbank, spending a few days vacation in Woods Hole on her way home.  She was just as bright and cheery as ever.

​Dr. Fred Stokey arrived in Fernbank at about the time when the family were ready to break camp.  He had been expected for some time, but finally arrived just at the last minute.  He and Colonel Stokey had a great deal to say and there was not time to say it all, to say nothing of the fact that everyone was trying to find time to look at the latest literary work of Dr. Stokey.

In the absence of the Society Editor the writer is having difficulty remembering some of the items which might come under that heading.

Mrs. Johlin and two friends called one evening at Fernbank and Mrs. Evans and Colonel and Mrs. Stokey called at the Johlins and also saw the married daughter and her young husband.  The young son was asleep as was fitting for the call was paid in the evening.  Mrs. Evans and Colonel and Mrs. S. also went to a tea at a house across the street from Fernbank.  Mrs. Evans also paid a number of other calls, unaided and unassisted.  In fact she did her duty nobly in this direction.

Interviews.
Miss Kathleen Stokey was very happy in securing several interviews with people of note, such as Joseph Lincoln, Robert Nathan, the writer of "One Night of Love", and also the writer of a book on Cape Cod, also of course with Mrs. Annie Nathan Meyer.

Sports.
The favorite outdoor sport and occupation of Colonel W.P. Stokey was fishing from the Fish Commission wharf.  Although the fish were small and not very plentiful a number of fish meals were provided by Colonel Stokey for the household.

Roger Stokey built a golf course around Fernbank but as it was only completed about the time the family left, he was not able to play much golf.

Bicycling was enjoyed by Roger and Bill Stokey, and a good deal of repair work was done from time to time.

Monopoly and Mah Jong were played indoors.

Bill Stokey spent considerable time in Dr. Stokey's work shop.  Inasmuch as the key to the shop had been misplaced it was necessary to enter by the window and it would no doubt have amused the editor if she could have seen Mrs. Evans and Mrs. W.P. entering the shop this way.

Mrs. Evans accompanied Mrs. Meyer on a trip to Boston one day, going out to Harvard and to Radcliffe.  Calls were also paid on Dr. and Mrs. Meyer and Dr. and Mrs. Meyer played and Mrs. Evans sang.

Mrs. Evans, Miss Attee, Miss Margaret Stokey and Miss Kathleen Stokey went to see a performance of

(PAGE 3)

Camille and enjoyed it very much.  Eva La Gallienne played Camille.  Miss Kathleen Stokey endeavored to interview her but was not successful.

Some of the young people went to see "Mary of Scotland" and reported that it was very good.

Swimming was enjoyed, but did not seem quite so popular this year as on former occasions.  The water was reported very cold on most days.

The Library was visited on several occasions, but the report was that it was not up-to-date.  The book by the Atlanta writer "Gone with the Wind" seemed to be very much in evidence, both in bookstore windows and in the conversation of people.

Falling In

This paper would not be complete without a few remarks on this subject.  On one occasion Colonel W.P.Stokeys hat fell into the water, and was rescued by some people in a sailing vessel, who however did not trouble to return said hat to its owner, who however did not mind as he had left his better one at home.

History repeats Itself.

The editor will no doubt recall that a number of years ago one of the younger members of the family dropped a letter on the way home with the mail from the M.B.L. to Fernbank and that unfortunately the letter was not recovered.  This was the only occasion on which such a thing had happened in this family although many letters have been carried to and from the mail.  This summer the writer wrote a letter to the Editor and gave it to one of these younger members (now considerably bigger) to mail.  Imagine her chagrin when she was informed that the letter had been dropped on the way to the Post Office and not recovered.  Fortunately however it was handed in at the Post Office by some unknown benefactor and the clerk in the Post Office having been informed of the mishap, stamped the letter and sent it on its way.

Departures.
On September 3rd, the family broke camp.  Miss Margaret Stokey left for Chicago by way of Boston on the morning train.  The rest of the family left about five oclock, Mrs. Evans drove the Beagle and Colonel W.P. Stokey the Olds.  Towards time for settling for the night the Olds showed sings of being overheated and a stop was made at a garage.  The Beagle went on ahead to seek a resting place for the family for the night.  The Olds continued to stand and wait while a mechanic poked around to find out what was the matter and after considerable length of time said that the necessary part would have to come from Providence in the morning and that we should not get away before noon.  In the meantime the Beagle driven by Mrs. Evans had returned to find the cause of the delay.  With the aid of a car furnished by the garage the family was finally transported to a convenient resting place.  The next morning bright and early Mrs. Evans and Bill Stokey departed in the Beagle for Philadelphia as Bill was particularly anxious to see the Planetarium in Philadelphia.  The rest of the party continued their journey when the necessary repairs had been made on the Olds and arrived in Philadelphia after Mrs. Evans and Bill had returned from their visit to the Planetarium.  That night was spent in Philadelphia and the following morning or rather noon Colonel and Mrs. W.P. and Bill and Roger left for Atlanta.  Their trip from then on was uneventful and very interesting.  Some little time was spent in Washington D.C. and many interesting buildings were seen.

Now the thoughts of the family are turning towards Christmas and the assembling of the family.  No doubt the editor will receive letters from all those we expect to assemble here.  We shall think and talk of the editor and we wish her MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
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1936-12-15​: ​​​tour stops---images---audio---transcript---~NOTES~---links---site navigation
1.
This Fernbank News is undated, but it I think it must be from 1936.  Evidence:
  a) Alma is in India.
  b) The car of the Atlanta Stokeys is an Oldsmobile, which was bought in 1935 - see:   c) There is mention of Mary of Scotland, a 1936 movie.
  d) Of the four children, only Bill and Roger go back to Atlanta in September.
As for the month and day, it's obviously December, and I don't know when Radcliffe's Christmas vacation started in 1936, so the 15th is a guess, and probably a wrong one.

Also, though the Fernbank News was usually written in Eastern Massachusetts, I think this one must have been written in Georgia.  There's a Fernbank News that I believe to be from September 1936, I speculate Kay wrote the September editi while she was staying with Eva in Philadelphia in early September, with more information about outings and less about the drive up to Fernbank and back down to Atlanta.  But I don't know.

​2.
Finch, the dog
The Atlanta Stokeys had a dog?  I thought they had only cats.

3.
​Mrs. W.P. had duly admired the new living room and the additional bedroom. 
New living room?  Additional bedroom?  How?  What?  (Having read an earlier Fernbank News, I think I have the answer.  Stay tuned.)

4.
After a few days Mrs. Evans drove to Fernbank in the Beagle and with two cars available numerous trips were taken through the cape.
There's another mention of the Beagle here: Clearly the Beagle was a car, but the only Beagle car that I could find on the internet was from the 1960s.
My speculation is that the Beagle was Alma's car - see: ...and that, Alma being in India for a year, Eva went to South Hadley and picked it up - see:
5.
Visitors to Fernbank this summer included Dr. and Mrs. Meyer who seemed in very good spirits.
The Meyers are in the Non-family page for Woods Hole folks on this website.

6.
​Mr. and Mrs. Gorokhoff, Galina and Boris came over one night for a supper which was served in the living room.
The Gorokhoffs are also in the Non-family page for Woods Hole folks on this website.​

7.
Miss Rodehouse came to dinner one Sunday
Elizabeth Rodehouse is in the Non-family page for Ohio folks on this website.

8.
Miss Elizabeth Attee from Cincinnati who had been spending some time at Brewster stayed at Fernbank for several days and went on some trips with the family.
Miss Attee is in the Non-family page for Ohio folks.  It is very pleasing to get her first name here.

9.​
Miss Dorothy Stewart called twice and related some of her experiences as a sailor.
Maybe she should be added to the Non-family page for Woods Hole.  I'll keep her in mind.

10.
Miss Hogue came in for a few minutes towards the end of the stay in Fernbank, spending a few days vacation in Woods Hole on her way home.  She was just as bright and cheery as ever.
I don't think I've ever heard of Miss Hogue before, so it seems strange that she is referred to as somebody well known.

11.
​Dr. Fred Stokey arrived in Fernbank at about the time when the family were ready to break camp.  He had been expected for some time, but finally arrived just at the last minute.  He and Colonel Stokey had a great deal to say and there was not time to say it all, to say nothing of the fact that everyone was trying to find time to look at the latest literary work of Dr. Stokey.
What was Fred's latest literary work?  I know he had applied for a patent earlier the summer of 1935, but it wasn't approved until October of 1936, so I don't think that could be it, even if anybody actually wanted to read it.  (It's not light reading.)  Also, Fred's daughter Alma Grace would have been 4 1/2 months old at the beginning of September 1936, so I wish there had been a mention of her.  This is one of those things that has me thinking, "Maybe it wasn't 1936," but it must have been.

12.
​Mrs. Johlin and two friends called one evening at Fernbank and Mrs. Evans and Colonel and Mrs. Stokey called at the Johlins and also saw the married daughter and her young husband.  The young son was asleep as was fitting for the call was paid in the evening.
These people are on the Non-family page for Woods Hole.  Ruth Johlin and her daughter Sally Loessel and her husband (Edward?).  I don't remember there being a Loessel son - just two Loessel daughters.  But maybe he just never came to Woods Hole after he grew up.

13.
​Miss Kathleen Stokey was very happy in securing several interviews with people of note, such as Joseph Lincoln, Robert Nathan, the writer of "One Night of Love", and also the writer of a book on Cape Cod, also of course with Mrs. Annie Nathan Meyer.
Wow, Joseph Lincoln!  I wish I had known that Aunt Kay met him.  Robert Nathan wrote Portrait of Jennie, which was made into a movie starring Joseph Cotten and Jennifer Jones.  And also, of course, many other books.

14.
Bill Stokey spent considerable time in Dr. Stokey's work shop.  Inasmuch as the key to the shop had been misplaced it was necessary to enter by the window and it would no doubt have amused the editor if she could have seen Mrs. Evans and Mrs. W.P. entering the shop this way.
I imagine Fred's workshop was in the basement of Fernbank, and smaller that it would have been after the Great Raising of 1946.

15.
History repeats Itself.
The story of the letter getting lost doesn't seem very interesting, so I speculate that the letter was for Aunt Eva and she never let the child who dropped the letter forget it.  Note: this would have been when all the mail was sent care of Alma's office at the MBL.

16.
One thing that interests me is that there is no mention of Gladys Green and her father, though my understanding is that they started coming to Woods Hole in the early 1930s.  Conceivably they were doing something else in 1936.
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