Short stories
| Aldrich Hall For the people living in Elmrich, New Hampshire, Aldrich Hall was their "White House". Samson Elijah Aldrich spent over half his fortune paying for construction of the magnificent edifice facing Elmrich Pond. The nineteen rooms on the first floor alone took nearly a year to complete. Forty suites of varying sizes made up the two and a half story building. Square footage of the manor itself equalled that of a football field. Aldrich Hall truly epitomized the meaning of elegance. Unfortunately for Samson, his untimely death came five short months after the home was done in the spring of 1698. From that day forth least one member of the Aldrich family resided there. The words Aldrich and Elmrich were nearly one and the same. Sarah Aldrich, Samson's widow, donated the land abutting the north pasture to the Episcopal Church in her husband's name. They truly loved their town and vice versa. Almost three centuries later in 1996 William Thomas Aldrich assumed control of the mansion. Sadly for his beloved ancestors the youngest of Samson's relative's loved two things, money and women. Not necessarily in that order either. When word of his plans reached the Elmrich Historical Society Director Sharon Glassburg, her telephone smoked with the calls. Aldrich Hall sat in the center of eighty-five prime lakefront acres. Its monetary value far exceeded its historical worth. According to William Aldrich it did anyway. Dollar wise, the estate may fetch several million fast bucks, if subdivided. Yet, historically to the town, Samson's legacy was priceless. Battlelines were drawn in the sand. The evening of June 24th was warm but a cool breeze blew through the open town hall windows. Sharon Glassburg sat along side her "army" facing William Aldrich. Polite but respectful she was "loaded for bear". She may have been past seventy and hardly looking it, Sharon barely acted it either. Minute by minute, time ticked by. William showed the first signs of perspiration as Sharon presented one valid argument after another. Then William got his turn. He possessed confidence and was not afraid to display it. "All your little arguments about how I should handle my affairs are nice, but one fact remains. I own the estate free and clear. Why even pretend there is any legal issue that can stop me from doing as I please with it". William's smug appearance clearly left an impression on the unflappable Judge George Kline. Suddenly Sharon sat straight up in her seat. Her low-keyed approach hid the ammunition potency her guns were about to fire. "William, you may be an Aldrich, yes, but a poorly learned one. Aldrich Hall and the estate cannot be altered as long as the Society holds it in such esteem. Your great-great grandfather took care of that detail." All ears and eyes turned to the silver haired guardian of Elmrich's older buildings and sights of interest. Sharon Glassburg had ample documents to support her claims. She presented one for display. William tried to hide the fact he knew it existed. "And I quote from the edict written by Samson Aldrich Jr., also signed by his mother, Sarah Aldrich the 16th day of October, 1758. "As long as there is one member of the original bloodline of Samson Aldrich alive, all rights to alter or change the Aldrich Manor and estate revert back to the panel of directors preserving the history and integrity of Elmrich". "That, your Honor, is now known as the Elmrich Historical Society. We can see no benefit to the town or its citizens in permitting the estate to become lake front condos as Mr. Aldrich would prefer happening. Another factor is Mr. Aldrich may be divorced from his first wife, but they have a son living with his mother in Massachusetts. That aspect clearly signifies a living family member other than Mr. William Aldrich directly blood related to Samson Aldrich. Thank you, Judge Kline." The ruling came within five minutes. William Thomas Aldrich had been Beaten, legally by both his great-great-great grandfather, Sarah Aldrich and a feisty lady named Sharon Glassburg from Thornton Drive. Thirty minutes later the hall emptied out. Aldrich Hall and the grand estate that drew so many tourists to Elmrich were safe for another generation. For the almost two thousand year round residents of the town, they could not be happier. Carl Hills chills32@comcast.net |
Copyright 2007 (All rights Reserved)
For talented writers focusing on Poems, One-liners, Short stories and Articles