Tag Archives: Community

Half-a-Century in One House

To illustrate the subject of the post.
The Thurlow home since Veteran’s Day 1974 as it looks on Veteran’s Day 2024..

We Thurlows moved into our new house on Banyan Road on Sewall’s Point on Veteran’s Day 1974. It is hard to believe it was 50 years ago.

Dick Granfield designed our house and Paul Siefker of Indiantown’s Martinique Construction, was our contractor.

Years later, when we needed a handicap bath downstairs, Dick’s architect son, Stewart Granfield, designed a pleasing addition.

The three Thurlow children Jenny, Jacqui and Todd stand in front of their home-to-be before the driveway was poured.

Dick Granfield placed our house near the street with a big circular driveway that came close to our front door. Visitors have easy access.

The driveway was great when our kids were little. Other neighborhood children liked to bring their scooters and Big Wheels to our house because of the driveway was not on a busy street and had a gentle slope. Later it was skateboards.

This shows the empty lot next door.
Jenny and Todd, confront each other on our driveway.
Our dog Nifty sits in the lower story of Todd's chair-house.
Across–the-street neighbor, Kimberly Burkey, and Todd enjoy a two-story structure made of lawn chairs.

A noble black man, Charles Lynn, designed and poured our driveway. Ten years later, when Mr. Lynn put in a walkway at the side of our house, I realized he was an artist in his trade who appreciated the beauty of proper proportion and gentle curves.

Starting at left: Bob Johnson, Dale Hudson, Mary Thurlow Hudson, Sandra Robson, Chuck Schad, Jane Greenwasser, Sarah Johnson.

Old and new friends respond to an open invitation to sit in the Thurlow driveway on Friday evenings.

So now our driveway that was so popular with the youngsters is popular with the oldsters. Friday, driveway gatherings that began during COVID 19, continue.

Starting at lower left, Bob Johnson, Sandra Robson, Bill Robson, Margie Dunn, Liz Dunn, Brooks Bahner, Courtney Bahner, Bryson Bahner, Tom Thurlow Chuck Schad, Jackie Burkey, Sarah Johnson.
It is always a highlight when younger family members drop by.
Starting a left, Mark Puchalski, Cathyi Puchalski, Sandra Robson, Bill Robson, Tom Thurlow, Chuck Schad, Jackie Burkey, Sarah Johnson.

Tom Thurlow, in the orange shirt, is no longer with us but his friends continue to gather in his driveway on Friday evenings. Notice the small ramp that allowed his wheelchair to access the driveway.

Starting at left, Gloria Fike, Thresa Schober, Chuck Schad, Margie Dunn, Dale Hudson, Mary Hudson.
Driveway guests become aware of the length of days as the months go by.
J J the turtle and Chuck Schad.

Neighbors, like Curt Grimmer’s Sulcata Tortoise sometimes drop by on Fridays. Chuck Schad is amused.

Chuck Schad, Bella Thurlow and Sarah Johnson,
Our cat, Bella, enjoys driveway gatherings. Here she is expecting a treat from Sarah Johnson. She sits in a chair as soon as they are put out and waits for the guests to arrive.

Our most regular guest is Chuck Schad, who was Tom Thurlow’s classmate in Liverpool, New York, and who came to visit him by bus after the Thurlows moved to Stuart in 1952. He and his wife, Audrey, moved to Stuart, in 1963 where Chuck’s local banking career began with First National that is now Seacoast.

Deanna, Nat, Julia, Mary and Todd Thurlow, Tom and Sandy Thurlow,  Ed and Jacqui Thurlow Lippisch, and Jenny, Mike and Evie Flaugh,
Robert Holland photographed our family standing on our driveway in July 2018.

Thank you, Mr. Lynn. Thank you, Dick Granfield. Thank you, Paul Siefker.

I love my 50 year-old house.