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Chilling with the Garden Club Ladies at York Reading Room
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Written by J. Dennis Robinson
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Seacoast History Blog #55 July 18, 2009
I’ve joked about printing a T-shirt for my next book tour listing all the locations like a rock band does. In my case, however, the tour never gets more than a few dozen miles from home – Brentwood, South Berwick, Kittery, Exeter, Durham, New Castle, -- sometimes as far out as Manchester and Concord. So far I’ve done maybe 30 gigs with the latest book, and last week I was in York, Maine. The fun part is that I get to see the inside of places I might never see otherwise, like the historic York Reading Room that looms over York Harbor like a fort. The sign on the front clearly says PRIVATE CLUB. Until now I’d seen it like any tourist from the Cliff Path, but when you give the keynote address, they actually let you go inside. (Continued below)
The ladies of the Piscataqua Garden Club were holding their annual flower show and taking it seriously. The room overlooking the harbor was filled with delicately prepared botanical specimens in fancy vases. I do own a copy of the book about the Reading Room by historian John Bardwell, but to be honest, I hadn’t skimmed it until now. I’m not much of a socialite. NO, I’m a hermit, so I have to be pried out of my writing office like a periwinkle from a shell.
I didn’t know there was a dress code (men must wear tailored trousers and a collared shirt) until I read the club web site. A jacket is suggested. I don’t think I’ve had pair of pants with a seam since the 80s. IN the eraerly days women were only allowed in with a male escort. The logo, which I love, shows a lobster reading a book.

I spoke in front of a huge fireplace beneath the head of a massive moose. I was afraid my view of local history might be too irreverent for the proper ladies of the club. But they laughed heartily and really seemed to enjoy my slightly scandalous look behind the founding scenes of Strawbery Banke. Mary Decatur, the key sponsor of my latest project, declared the talk "even better than the book" and there could be no higher praise. Cynthia Raymond, whom I believe is in her mid-90s posed for a photo with my wife. Cynthia was among the founders of Strawbery Banke Inc. and the Guild that can trace its origin to 1958. After the event she hopped in her car and drove away. I’ve been to tea at her condo nearby and she remains as active as ever.
I’m also not much for fancy luncheons. I prefer to dine in the kitchen with the help or do take-out. But I must admit that the cold soup and chicken salad (shaped like a flower) was stupendous. This is one restaurant I would return to for the food, the ambiance and the view, no matter the price. But I can’t, since I’m not a member of the club. At least I finally know what the buzz is about. But rather than describe the place and the event, I’ll attach a few pictures that I snapped behind the scenes so you can pretend you were invited too. – JDR








(c) 2009 J. Dennis Robinson/ SeacoastNH.com. All rights reserved.
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| Saturday, November 21, 2009 |
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