4-24-04

The reference librarian at the Katonah library suggested I talk to Mrs. Katharine Barrett Kelly, former town historian. She is about to turn 96, and is a staunch Republican. The librarian phoned Mrs. Kelly (232-3791) and arranged for me to drive to her home off Hillside Avenue in Katonah.

Katharine Kelly was a vigorous woman and very cordial. She was Marion DeVoe's high school classmate (graduated 1927), but not close because Katharine was a Presbyterian whereas Marion was Methodist. She hadn't known that Marion's parents were alive; said Marion was apparently secretive. A close friend of Marion's, also in the same class and in the Methodist Church, was Madelein (sp?) Ryan.

Harry Mayne's house on the hill, which I had discovered still there earlier that afternoon, was originally on Palmer Avenue in Old Katonah; it was purchased by him at auction, cut into two parts, and moved to the land he bought on the hill. Has been a boarding house, and was recently resold.

His father's house was the first to land on its new foundation in its present location next to the Catholic Church.

Mrs. Kelly took me on a tour of the village in her car. The Cargon house has had two additions in back.

4-26-04

Phone call from Katonah library to Mrs. Kelly: the James C. Mayne house is next to the Catholic Church, at corner of Edgemont and Valley Edge Roads. Originally on Palmer Avenue in Old Katonah - he bought it at auction.

On Saturday she had told me the big house on the hill came from Palmer Avenue - that's wrong, it was from a street by the mill pond in Old Katonah - she couldn't recall its name.