Vol 3 Section 0733
when they inspected it the week before. Roberts understood the mantel was being removed; it could be done at once and replaced easily; Whitmore had not heard back from the Roberts who wanted to “think it over” [MTP].
Miss Annie E. Trumbull of Hartford stayed the weekend with the Clemenses [Gribben 715: Livy’s Diary, DV161 MTP].
May 18 Sunday – Livy’s diary: “Annie Trumbull, Miss Dike & John Howells here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
May 18 ca. – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote a short note on a black-bordered calling card to Miss
Lawton: “The matter of negotiating our Tarrytown house kept me at home & busy all day…” [MTP: American Book Auction catalog, Apr. 23, 1954, No. 232, Item 36]. Note: this may be Mary Lawton, friend of Clara’s and author of Katy Leary’s memoirs.
May 19 Monday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore, reacting to the lack of interest in the advertisements for the sale of their Hartford house. Whitmore was surprised there had been no letters from out of town. To Sam, the plan used to seem plausible to hook “some rich Chicagoan” but now that the scheme wasn’t successful he wasn’t surprised.
The thing that does is that there is but one Hartford bid. I had thought of Mrs. George Perkins, & of James Goodwin’s son; as possible bidders.
A Hartford man has said to me, “If the house were out of the way, the land would promptly sell for $35,000; it is a prime site for several purposes.”
Is that true? What could we get for the house & stable as old materials?
If the house is not sold now to some appreciative lady like Senator Roberts’s mother, it may some day be degraded to base uses. I will prevent that by tearing it down, if I can afford it [MTP]. Note: luckily for posterity the house was not torn down.
In St. Louis, Mo., James R. Clemens and daughter Muriel Clemens wrote to invite Sam to stay with them prior and after his honorary doctor of law degree ceremony [MTP]. Note: Sam accepted on May 23.
Sam’s notebook entry lists more ideas for the “50 years after” tale, never finished [NB 45 TS 13].
Franklin G. Whitmore wrote to Sam, enclosing the sketch made by his nephew, Charles O. Whitmore of the proposed mantel replacement. The estimate for taking down, boxing and shipping the old mantel, then replacing it with the one planned, was $200, with an architect’s fee an additional five or ten dollars
[MTP].
May 20 Tuesday – Livy’s diary: “Mrs William E. Dodge here for tea” [MTP: DV161].
Katharine I. Harrison wrote to Sam, advising that she had used $5,000 on the Steel investment which
Rogers had made “some time since,” to offset $5,000 owed Rogers [MTP].
May 21 Wednesday – In Riverdale, N.Y. Sam wrote to Franklin G. Whitmore (only the envelope survives) [MTP].
Sam inscribed a copy of A Double-Barrelled Detective Story with his signature and the date on a blank preliminary leaf [PBA Galleries auction 24 May 2007 Lot 248].
SLC used mourning border for most letters from Susy’s death on, then from Livy’s death on.