.SARASALLY’S
NORTH COUNTRY PERSONALITIES
Aunt May
Mary Elizabeth Boothman “Aunt May”
(1870- 1956) 86 years
Daughter of John and Sarah Ann (Kelsey) Boothman
Sister of John H. Boothman
A Moment in Time
Of my three great aunts, I remember only Aunt May, who was a sweet lady with hundreds of cats it seemed. From the time the Mt. View House was sold until her death in 1956 she lived in the Scates House which stood opposite the Grand View on Route 2. This wonderful cape, which earlier served as a tavern and post office, (and had brick ovens), was demolished as a result of the new Route 2 in 1964.
Aunt May was the youngest of the three “Boothman Sisters”. She along with Aunt Belle and Aunt Becky ran the Mt. View House until 1950. This summer boarding house was passed down from their grandparents. The “Sisters” grew up there while their mother worked in the ribbon mills in Manchester, New Hampshire after their father died.
Keeping her promise to her mother Aunt May never married. She stayed home but kept up a lively correspondence with Rodney Barnes, who she was very much in love with. It appears that he sent her money regularly from his job which required a lot of traveling. I think he was a surveyor.
During the long winter nights, the “Sisters” made quilts for the guests to use during chilly summer nights on Randolph Hill. Several of their quilts are still keeping us warm at night. Knowing the history and still using their handy work was the inspiration for making this figure.
Aunt May is sitting in a chair "working on" a quilt. She is holding a needle as she puts the finishing touches on the quilt.
She comes complete with "Our Story" and is signed and numbered.
