Afternoon light still streams over the Thanksgiving table every year, as it does in this photo, and as it has for almost 100 years.
But who took the photo? One of the people seen, since there is no empty place setting. And where was the camera? On the corner of the sideboard. Before the remodel by the Boutelles the wall between the dining room and kitchen had a pass-through to the built-in sideboard.
This photo was provided by and notated by Margaret Leask Epstein, the "Peggy" referred to by Mr.Leask in his interview. She didn't know anything else about the circumstances of the photo. Since I had no facts, I started wondering what else was happening in Santa Cruz that day. Here's what I found out.
This is the only photo I have (so far) of the interior of the house and its original inhabitants. It shows the square lamp remembered by Margaret Epstein when she visited me. It is also interesting to see how dark the walls were painted, and the original dark door moldings and dining room wainscotting. Only the pocket doors, opened behind Mr. Netherton, retain the original varnished finish.
Mrs. Epstein pointed out that the piano visible behind Mr. Netherton is still in the family. It was custom-made for Hazel, and finished in "smoked oak" a very popular craftsman finish.