ELINOR M. PARKER 30 East 72 Street New York, NY 10021 September 1985 SOME MEMORIES OF THE CRANBERRY CLUB We came first as a family to NEH in 1914 - I was aged 8, with two older and one younger brothers. For many years we rented a series of cottages, depend- ing in size on the needs of each year. My father's sister, Mrs. Henry Parkman (Aunt Frances), was then and for many years thereafter, president of the Cranberry Club. Soon, possibly in 1915, my mother, Mrs. Charles W. Parker, became a summer member and shortly thereafter a regular member. In those days owning property was not a requisite for member- ship, so at about the same time her cousin, Mrs. Edward M. Jefferys, also became a regular member. Mrs. Jefferys served as treasurer for many years and my father annually audited her accounts. My mother was active as chairman of the house committee, so that each visit to the clubhouse was apt to include some minor re- pairs or improvements, provided by my father who was handy with tools. He also waged unending war on the alders which encroached on the path leading from the road up to the clubhouse. Happy summers succeeded happy summers. We did not have a boat, so getting over to Cranberry was always an event, quite often a three-generation "tribal bonfire", as Parkmans multiplied into Peabodys, Homans and Griswolds, many other Parker branches came for a season or two or became NEH regulars like Cousin Cornelia Drury (Mrs. Samuel S.). In 1925 after Uncle Harry's death, Aunt Frances observed the usual (in those times) widow's withdrawl and did not attend the annual lunch-meeting but invited a substitute - something which no one else would have even dared to suggest - the delightful Miss Eleanor Patterson; renowned for her clever repartee. My father, as handy with a camera as with tools, was appointed official photographer and his prints show Miss Patterson in the center of the assembled Cranberry ladies. He was, of course, not admitted to the ladies' lunch meeting, but, perched on a rock outside the kitchen door, was amply supplied with food. Everyone was expected to contribute a verse and his was: The Cranberry's annual "bat" Is something that never falls flat, And this year it gains From the charm and the brains Of the witty Miss Eleanor Pat. Visits to the Cranberry Club were generally daytime affairs. After lunch we would scatter, some to explore the rocks, especially the children who could dabble in the pools left by the tide, and some just to sit in the daisy-starred grass above the rocks, drinking in sunshine and salt air and watching the surf beating on the south shore. All too soon would come the summons to assemble and reluctantly meet the boat which had been ordered to take us back to NEH. Until electricity was installed we relied on kerosene lamps and candles and cooking was done on a kerosene stove. Once Lily Tunis, daughter of member Mrs. Joseph P. Tunis, and I spent the night at the club, chaperoned by Mother and Counsin Amy Jefferys, who occupied the bedroom. Lily and I, head to head on