Going places at Doolittle

RIDING HIGH – While the Doolittle Home continues its fund-raising effort to purchase a new van that would serve all residents, trustee Joanne Pratt stepped forward to purchase a second-hand unit that will provide transportation immediately to those in wheelchairs.

Trustees of the Doolittle Home found themselves on the horns of a dilemma.
They have a van to transport residents to outside social activities and medical appointments. But the present van doesn't accommodate residents on the nursing unit who may require use of a wheelchair-accessible van.

To resolve the problem, the trustees committed to a major fundraising effort to purchase a new dual-use vehicle by sometime next year that would be easily convertible to serve all residents of the Life Care retirement facility.

Unexpectedly, a second-hand vehicle designed for wheelchair transport became available. While not suitable as the only van operated by the home, it could serve on an interim basis to extend wheelchair service to residents immediately while fund-raising for the new van continued.

The temptation was strong, but as a public charity, trustees had to carefully weigh the additional expenditure of money and the return in terms of benefit to residents.
Sensing the practicality of the purchase while appreciating the financial implications, Trustee Joanne Pratt brought the discussion to a speedy resolution: she offered to pay for the second-hand van — as well as the brake replacement it needed — so that wheelchair transportation services would be available immediately.

“Joanne's sensitivity to the needs of the residents and her generosity in purchasing the van is greatly appreciated,” said Jack Authelet, president of Doolittle Home. Not having to hire special transportation for wheelchairs in the future will be a substantial cost savings for Doolittle Home, he added, “and residents on the nursing unit will have full access to outside activities.”

The trustees also agreed that while running two vehicles on an interim basis incurs additional cost, the experience gained in transporting individuals in wheelchairs will be most beneficial when writing specificiations for the new van.

Proceeds of the annual Doolittle Home auction scheduled for March 24 on Channel 8 will be directed toward the purchase of the new van.

(This article was from the Foxboro Reporter 2/2007)

Celebrating 212 Years of Marraige

With 212 combined years of marriage between them, four couples who reside at Doolittle Home in Foxboro recently gathered to consider their advice for young couples today and to reflect on their many years together.

Dot and Howard Kane just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on December 27. They were married in 1941 in Medfield, Massachusetts where they lived for many years. They share one daughter, one granddaughter and two great-granddaughters leaving Howard significantly outnumbered. They originally met on a blind date set up by his sister. With three older brothers, Howard considers himself lucky that his sister selected him for the date. Their first date was at a company dance. Howard was very impressed with what a good dancer Dot was and learned that she taught ballroom dancing.

Jane and Robert Babcock have also been married 65 years. They wed on April 12, 1941 in Cambridge. They married in her home with his cousin as the minister. They share three children, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Jane met Bob for the first time at a dance and “really didn’t like him much.” He kept asking her to dance and she wanted to dance with other young men. When he arrived at her house the next day with a car and a large dog she was a bit more interested and thought he was better looking. He invited her to ride to Newton with him to return the dog to a friend and they went out to lunch. They have been enjoying each other’s company ever since.

Helen and Robert Dick celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on January 17. They married in 1943 in Danbury, Connecticut where Helen’s father, a minister, presided over the wedding. With three children and three grandchildren, Helen joked that they didn’t have any great-grandchildren yet. They met one summer when both were working at the Ferry Beach campground in Saco, Maine. After their summer together a camp, Bob transferred to Tufts University where Helen was already a student. He hitch-hiked from Illinois to Medford to begin his classes at Tufts.

The newlyweds of the group are Evie and Phil Rhind who have been married 18 years. They married on June 6, 1988 in his daughter’s living room in Bristol, New Hampshire. Between them they share four children, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. While only married for 18 years, they first met in 1930 when Phil’s sister married Evie’s cousin. She was twelve at the time and he was fourteen. They remained friends for many years and after both lost their spouses they married. They first met at Camp Finberg on Bungay Lake when Phil rowed over to Evie’s cousin’s cottage. They enjoyed many “cruises” in the rowboat on the lake together.

Military service played a significant role in the early days of these marriages. Howard Kane was drafted just ten days after he and Dot were married. He spent 4 years with the Signal Corps primarily stationed in Newfoundland. He was very isolated up there and it was Dot’s regular letters that got him through those days. He was stationed at Fort Monmouth in New Jersey for his six months of training and Dot was able to visit and stay at the visitors house. Howard laughed remembering how startled she was to be awoken at down by the bugler playing revelry.

Bob Babcock served in the Navy in the Pacific during WWII and on a ship during the Korean War. Phil Rhind served in the Army Air Corps also in the Pacific during WWII. Bob Dick had registered as a conscientious objector and spent four years doing community service work which included cutting trees in New Hampshire.

Each couple had a connection to Doolittle Home prior to becoming residents. Helen Dick, Bob Babcock and Dot Kane all had mothers who were residents of Doolittle Home. Evie Rhind’s cousin was also a resident. Dot Kane also served many years on the board. Helen Dick explained that her first visits to Doolittle Home were as a baby when her mother parked Helen in her baby carriage on the porch so the residents could watch her while her mother went to church in the center of town. Another interesting coincidence is that Jane, Helen and Evie were all born in 1918 at the end of WWI.

Bob Dick spent his career as a pastor so the family moved from one parsonage to another sharing their church work and looking forward to their family camping trips. Helen was quick to point out that the first parsonage they lived in had no town water. The Babcocks lovingly restored three historical homes together including one built in the late 1600’s. The Kanes loved to go out dancing and they built their own home in Medfield with help from Dot’s father. The Rhinds enjoy playing cards, eating out and visiting friends.

Honeymoons have certainly changed over the years. Jane Babcock still has the bill from their one night stay at the Exeter Inn in New Hampshire, a whopping four dollars for room, breakfast and lunch. The Dicks spent their wedding night at the Parker House in Newton Connecticut and then took a bus during an ice storm to Boston where they spent two nights at the Parker House for eleven dollars. They too still have the receipt. The Kanes spent their wedding night at the Kenmore Inn in Kenmore Square before rushing off to begin his military service. Evie Rhind remembers arriving at the Wolfeboro Inn on their wedding night with her corsage still on. The hostess asked what anniversary they were celebrating and was quite surprised to learn that it was their wedding night. Phil admitted to leaving a bottle of champagne in the bathtub that night and was quite surprised the next morning to find that it had popped over night leaving the entire bathroom covered in champagne.

As they reminisced about their years together they often finish each others sentences or jump in to add another detail. Having shared so many years together they enjoy reflecting on favorite memories. When asked if marriage gets better over the years Jane Babcock was quick to point out that at some point their health starts to become an issue but the relationship continues to grow.

What do they see as the keys to a long, happy marriage? They agreed that common interests, sharing, caring and communications were critical. They also felt that is too easy for couples to walk away from marriage today. They took their vows of “til death do us part” very seriously and worked through the challenges over the years. Bob Babcock emphasized that it is the tough times that brought them closer together.


Would they do it again? Absolutely!!