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Show Mile High City 149 On May 19, 1939, they met at Madelyn's home and pro duced selections from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Madelyn played the part of Jo March. As a special treat Madelyn let Elizabeth stay home from school that day so she could see this. Elizabeth later became a member of the club and served as president in 1994-95. The club made up Thanksgiving baskets for needy families in November and at each Christmas the club furnished a happy holiday for some family in need, providing food, clothing, toys, and entertainment. III Some of Madelyn's writing during this year seems to have been almost a form of self-punishment. She berates herself, she acknowledges that she has not been perfect as she had dreamed of being, and she blames herself for her inadequacies. Some of her problems were solved when she and Harold, early in 1937, bought a two-story red-brick home at 315 Clermont. The home was well-located in what is now called the Hilltop residential area near Cranmer Park, Mountain View Park. Built in formerly Tudor style, with a peaked roof, the house had a half-timbered cupola over the door which narrowed to a peak. Marble blocks stood on each side of the door. The yard included trees and bush es and an ample lawn. Ivy decorated the outside walls; the new Roscoe Hill Junior High School was subsequently built nearby. The Silver home had one bedroom on the main floor and three up, including the master bedroom, so Barnard (and later Brian) shared one room, the girls another, and the third was reserved for guests. There was now ample room for everyone, and a home Madelyn was proud of, with a yard that tempted her to work with flowers, bushes, and trees. Though very much a city resi dence, the yard offered a touch of nature to Madelyn's life. Gone much of the time, Harold was not able to help around the house. To assure that Madelyn, with her little children, had adequate help, he insisted on a live-in assistant, who was never referred to as a maid or servant but was regarded as a member of the family. At first Madelyn had a girl from Sweden, Ellen Benson, who helped keep the house clean, prepare the meals, |
