Topical Guide 321

Mark Dorset

Babbington: Neighborhoods: “Over South” or “The Beach”

AT MAY AND GARTH’S WEDDING, Herb was best man, Lorna was matron of honor, and Ella was flower girl. As a wedding gift, Garth gave May a cottage on the beach. …
     The shack Garth bought for May was small and rough, but with it he gave her a sketch he’d made of what it might be. By the following summer it was a comfortable little cottage, thanks to May’s money and Herb’s handiwork.

Herb ’n’ Lorna, Chapter 11

This could be a photograph of May’s cottage. It is not a photograph of May’s cottage, but it could be. It’s a photograph (ca. 1950) of a cottage on Oak Island owned by a close friend of Kraft’s paternal grandparents. (From Kraft’s collection.)

     The island was accessible only by boat. It was nearly a mile long, but less than a hundred yards wide. From a narrow dock on the bay side, a narrow boardwalk led to the “main street” of the settlement: a somewhat wider boardwalk that linked all the shacks.

Herb ’n’ Lorna, Chapter 11

This could be a photograph of a boardwalk at “The Beach.” It is not a photograph of a boardwalk at “The Beach,” but it could be. It’s a photograph of a boardwalk in Florida. (From Kraft’s collection.)

     Said May of the bar at the beach:
     It was dull. Then one evening I said, “Mr. Newsome, I’m going to make a contribution to the atmosphere in this establishment: I’m going to give you my piano.” Well, I had an old upright in the cottage — not very good, but a piano. It was a grand gesture — giving the piano to Nosy. There was applause. I took bows. It’s talked about to this day. I suppose it is. The piano is still there. I think. I haven’t been to Nosy’s for years. I don’t think it’s even called Nosy’s now. Well, that doesn’t matter, does it? Oh, anyway, a dozen fellows went right over and carried the piano from the cottage to the bar. Well, they didn’t actually carry it the whole way — they pushed it quite a bit — did it have little wheels? — I think so. I rode on top. We were all a little drunk. Well, we got it into the bar, and we sang some songs and danced, but we had to dance outside, on the boardwalk, because there wasn’t enough room for a piano and dancing.

Herb ’n’ Lorna, Chapter 11

This could be a photograph of the entrance to Nosy’s. It is not a photograph of the entrance to Nosy’s, but it could be. It’s a photograph (ca. 1992) of the entrance to a bar in Montauk, Long Island. (From Kraft’s collection.)

See also: Babbington TG 5; Babbington: Bolotomy Bay TG 23; Babbington: History of TG 47; Babbington: Landmarks in TG 47

[more to come on Monday, August 22, 2022]

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