My mother's interest in Cranberry began
and continued through her friendship with
Captain Frank G. Spurling, who was the captain
of my father's yacht "Hesper" for many years.
Captain Frank grew up at the family home at the
top of the hill where the road from the public
wharf turns to go south down the length of the
Island. His sister, Aunt Hetty, kept her little
store there later.

My mother was much impressed with the work
of the Rev. Mr. Harwood at the Island church.
Later, members of this church came to my father
and President Eliot, asking them to organize it
as a Union church. This was accomplished by
many meetings, and finally a committee was app-
ointed, of which George Bulger was the first
Chairman. A Mrs. Richardson (whose family, the
Prebles, had been in control of the church) wrote
father "You have given George Bulger more power
than the Pasha of Egypt would dare to exercise."
She wrote for the newspapers, and later wrote a
poem about the gift of a bell for the church;
attempting the impossible in working "Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew C. Wheelwright" into the rythm.
Mother gave a little round window designed by
Sarah Whitman of Boston in memory of Mr. Harwood,
and also restored the old fashioned pulpit and
chairs to the church. The pulpit had been
thought too old-fashioned, and was stored in a

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hen house. Ahe also bought the Rosebrook house
after Mrs. Rosebrook (who was one of the most
artistic hook-rug workers on the Island) died,
and gave it to the church for a minister's house.

Captain Spurling came to her one day and said
that the people of Cranberry Island had no public
wharf, and had raised enough to build one, but
couldn't agree on the site after they'd bought the
lumber. They had to sell the lumber later, or it
would have spoiled. Captain Spurling said he
thought that if mother would have some sort of
entertainment to raise money, and would give this
with the stipulation that the wharf should be built
where it now is, that the people would be glad to
have it settled, and would raise the rest of the
money. This was done, and all were satisfied.

Mother also ran a summer kindergarten with
Mrs. Schrifgrisser, who was a professional teacher,
and was born on Cranberry. The children didn't
know many games or handcraft, and the classes ran
for several years.

I remember the first Fair for the Ladies Aid
was held under a tent made of the sails of the
fishing boats, and all the people who stayed to
lunch sat on whatever they could find, wheelbarrows
included--a contrast to the Fairs now in the fine
building, with crowds of visitors.

The people loved and trusted my parents always.

-Mary Cabot Wheelright