Last week’s column and mention of David Golart prompted many of us to take a stroll down a very nostalgic Memory Lane. The stroll commenced, as many of you may recall, with Aleta Bezanson reaching out to me with a mind full of wonder. She had come across a lovely sweater neatly tucked away in one of her uncle’s drawers. The label with David’s name on it prompted a fruitless Google search so she and I resorted to the old fashion form of inquiry — just ask.

Thank you to Margaret Maida, June Manning, Lee Smith, Carl Leaf, Ginny Jones, Everett Poole and Julie Flanders for helping me compile the following information. Main Street Vineyard Haven was lined with shops and offices that folks ducked in and out of to purchase everything from shoes to groceries, indulge in an ice cream treat or perhaps send a Western Union telegraph (installed in 1946, I think, with David in charge.) One of those shops was David’s and it was housed in his father Frank’s building who resided upstairs. He was a kind and well-respected man, quiet and gentle, and always dressed with a tie ready to assist his customers as they browsed through their country casual finery which included cashmere, linen, silk, tweed and other either for themselves or for gifts. He married his wife, Mary, in 1953 and together they tended to customers making friends with many. From what I gather he was born in 1909 and ceased walking the earth in 1995.

Apparently, some years ago when they were still with us, “old man” Louis Larsen played a little joke on his wife Mary. He managed to wrestle up a box from David’s store, which was quite fine in its own right, and filled it with a collection of goods from the thrift store. She was thrilled when she saw the box and was so pleased with what appeared to be a well-chosen gift on his part. Upon opening the box her delight turned to dismay. His good intentioned joke backfired and she was pretty darn angry. Mary got over it, I’m sure having played an equally sinister trick on him, and they lived on for years at their home at Beetlebung Corner.

For many of us, the label in the mystery sweater gave us an excuse to have conversations about the good old days, of friends and family who were shop keepers and cooks and story tellers and more. Names of old friends no longer with us rolled off the tongue, and shops that have given way to Amazon and more were reflected upon fondly — Jane and Ted Farrow’s Tashtego, Jane Slater’s OverSouth Antiques, The Shetland Shop, Vineyard Dry Goods, and Wood Chips to mention just a few. The sweater not only brought back memories of shops that have closed their doors, but it also brought back memories of friends, like Louis and Mary, who are no longer with us. I miss the likes of Basil Welch, Matt and Maryjane Poole, Frankie Vincent, Betsy Lagemann, Ozzie and Rena Fischer, Eric and Marguerite Cottle, George Szilassy, and many, many more.

I could go on and on, but I’ll get back on track after I express a heartfelt thank you to those who reached out. I enjoyed our conversations and I truly do look forward to more. Who else has a mystery that needs solving? We make a great team.

Speaking of great teams, congratulations to Ella and Piper Oskan who have completed a fall of cheering. Ella was awarded the title of cheer captain for next year so there’s already something to look forward to in 2020.

Santa visited the kiddos of Station Menemsha this past weekend. He dropped in by helicopter — the reindeer were resting up for their big flight later this month — and distributed good cheer, hugged babies, posed for photos, listened to Christmas wishes and departed in the whirling bird after some Christmas cheer.

A few weeks ago I mentioned the red day marker on the west jetty entering Menemsha Harbor has a light added to it by the fine Coast Guard folks who tend to aids in navigation. There’s now one more light to assist mariners. The green bell buoy now has a light which will lend itself to providing safer passage for both our commercial and recreational boaters. The crew of buoy tender, Ida Lewis, completed the task.

Don’t forget that Santa will be visiting the Chilmark kids, newborn through fifth grade on Dec. 20. Please reach out to me if your child lives in town, falls in this age group and hasn’t received an invitation as Santa needs to know who to stuff his sack full of gifts for. Santa is visiting at suppertime so, with the firefighters leading the way, a community potluck and singalong are in order. Bring a dish, your own place setting and a voice that is ready to be shared to the CCC at 5:30 p.m.

Need details? Call or email me. I’ve got your answers.