SALADS, BREADS, & PIES AT FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY
MACARONI
Macaroni Salad is Norma’s go-to pot luck item — and a favorite of Molly’s. I have to confess, I’m not a fan, but mayonnaise is not my thing.
PEANUT BUTTER
Knowing that she was going to miss the 2024 Christmas Party and therefore Sarah’s Peanut Butter Pie, Catherine requested that I save her some. Another confession: While I did save some, I forgot to bring it to Catherine, so I still have it in my freezer! WordPress doesn’t like when I try to use emojis so you’ll just have to imagine the big smiley and winky faces here.
ALOHA
Jan did not bring Aloha Pie to the 2024 Christmas Party. Her chili was wonderful, of course, but I, for one, hope Aloha Pie makes a return in 2025.
CHICKEN-BROCCOLI
There’s too much Chicken-Broccoli Bread!
— SAID NO ONE, EVER
In 2024, Michaela took over the making of Chicken-Broccoli Bread from Karen and the only complaint now is the same as all the years Karen made it — not enough.
FAMILY MEMBER FOOD DISLIKES
TOMATOES
Several family members have a dislike for tomatoes. Michaela, Catherine (I think), Molly, and Loralei come to mind. Jim doesn’t really dislike them to the point of refusing them but they’re not his favorite and he avoids them if he can. For Michaela, I think she has issues with the whole nightshade family.
CANTALOUPE
Not Jan’s favorite. Anyone else got strong melon likes/dislikes? I don’t really care for the green one. What’s the green one?
BANANAS
I’ve long known that Catherine does not like bananas. I recently learned that Sam likes them less than Catherine. I believe for both of them it’s the texture more than the flavor, so banana bread might be acceptable.
OLIVES
This is me. And this is Sarah. Anyone else?
SOME FAMILIES THE SIBLINGS GREW UP WITH
QUIGLEY
I can come up with the names of 4 of the Quigleys. There were a lot of boys, they hung out with the younger Hillman boys.
MORGAN
The Morgans were a family that lived in ‘the plat” nestled between South and Old Baptist Roads. I don’t know this for certain, but my guess is that they were among the many Navy families that we knew over the years. While Naval Air Station Quonset diminished in size over several decades, it did not close entirely until 1973 so we did grow up with many families that may have only been in the neighborhood for a year or two. I can come up with names of a few Morgan kids but I think I’ve forgotten some. I remember: Bob, Velma, Barbara, and was recently reminded of Edith. Was there a Walter?
I believe the family moved to Maine and I think some of the Hillman siblings visited there a few summers after the move.
I remember going to a birthday party at the Morgan’s house (probably for Edith) and it was the first “organized” birthday party I ever attended. Pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey, clothes pins into a milk bottle, PARTY FAVORS! It was AWESOME! My party favor was a little board book. I don’t remember the story but I was definitely one impressed party-goer!
I don’t have any photos of any of the Morgans but for some reason (completely unknown to me) I have a drawing done by Bob Morgan of my brother Bob’s car. Below are the scan of the original drawing followed by the result of my digital manipulation and play.
HATHAWAY
I only remember one Hathaway; Merideth. I had forgotten her but in doing research for this project I’ve read a lot of archived editions of the Standard-Times. I’ve gone down a lot of rabbit holes and many names have surfaced. I believe she graduated with Jan. I don’t know anything else about her but oddly I do think I remember where she lived.
MAYO
Norma and Karen had a friend that lived on Clearview Drive. Her name was Andi Mayo. Her name may have been spelled with a “y” or an “ie” and I think maybe she had a brother. I tried to trick some of you by using “mayo” as a family name rather than as a condiment, which, as mentioned earlier in this post, I don’t like. Additionally, while I wouldn’t go as far as saying I did’t like Andi, I will say I was definitely intimidated by her.
“VILLE”S WE KNOW/HAVE CONNECTION TO
DAVIS
Davisville is a name that should be recognized by most family members as one of North Kingstown’s villages. I often think of The 461 being located in Davisville but I might be wrong. The original village included an area along Davisville Road comprised of homes, a mill, and support structures for that mill. The village also encompassed Pine and Center Streets but the village proper only went as far on Old Baptist Road as about where the high tension electric wires cross. So I guess I technically live on the outskirts of Davisville.
BELLE
Bellville is another North Kingstown village, it is situated near and about Tower Hill Road and Oak Hill Road. The exact boundaries of Belleville are even more nebulous and unclear to me than those of Davisville. Regardless, Belleville is where Flo and Frank moved their family when they left West Warwick. The house at 717 Tower Hill Road still stands — directly across from long-time neighbor Razee’s Motorcycles. I was in the early grades of elementary school when Flo left there for her little house on South Road, so I don’t have strong memories of it but I’d give my eye teeth to see the inside again!
I do remember a game we played outside when we visited. There was a double-seated glider swing (I believe Uncle Ken made this) and we would swing on it and pretend it was a spaceship. We’d reach out to the sides grasping at imaginary candy bars…primarily milky ways, of course.
GREEN
This one’s easy, Bob lived in Greenville for the better part of 3 decades! He now lives in a town with several “ville”s; Manville, Quinnville, and Saylesville. He, however, doesn’t live in any of these villages.
WASHINGTON
Washingtonville! Yup. I didn’t know of it either. I think it fitting that I learned of it (within the last few months) from my grandmother.
Esther Kenyon presented her essay on the history of the village of Usquepaug to the Richmond Historical Society at a meeting held in the fall of 1968. An introductory statement in the Society’s newsletter of November of that same year describes Esther’s presentation as “eloquent and very instructive.” In her essay, she outlines Washingtonville as follows:
The area directly out of Usquepaug and
in South Kingstown along what is now
route 138 was known as WASHINGTONVILLE.
You can find the entirety of the essay here: Richmond Historical Society – Usquepaug – Washingtonville
15 responses to “January 18, 2025 – Puzzle Discussion”
I liked this puzzle the best! Full disclosure I needed more than 4 quesses! It’s funny I was friends with Andi Mayo and that had me stumped for a little while. Love the picture by Bob Morgan. The Morgans were Bob, Velma, Theresa, Walter, Edith + Barbara. There might have been an older brother. Also Meredith Hathaway had a brother that was my age(I think). Don’t remember his name.
I only did slightly better on this one. Thought for sure Mayo was a disliked food.
Did like the fact I could get more then 4 guess. Still didn’t get them all. Loved the Washingtonville fact.
I got it!!!!! Took more than 4, but I did it! Got the neighbors first. I think Charlie was the oldest Morgan. Eric Hathaway. Do not remember Andi’s brother’s name. Bill or Russ would have to supply all the Quigley names, though I think I could get most of them.
Loved the drawing by Bob Morgan!
Also did not have Mayo here first guess. Was thinking Dougie and put Davis but then remembered it was Davidson.
Got the Villages next. Love the Washington village info!
The two groups of food took a few tries. I forget Jan’s pie was called Aloha.i was adding peanut butter to allergies or disliked foods. Knew the chick/broccoli and macaroni definitely had to be Christmas Party reference.
Good job everyone!
There were even more Morgan’s than I remembered. I thought there was a Thelma but figured there couldn’t be a Velma AND a Thelma! No rhyming names! Don’t think I would have come up with Charlie.
Quigleys: Dale, Derrick, Lance, Rhonda —- but I think there were more. Where did they live?
I was stoked when I found the Washingtonville thing.
Also, was surprised when I went to take a picture how the Belleville house looks. It’s seen better days. I think the barn/garage out back is in better shape.
Did anyone read the rest of Gram Kenyon’s essay?
Rabbit stew on the school stove – hot lunch!
I get Quigleys, Bonneys (sp?) and Sherlocks mixed up.
Not positive on the Charlie.
Andi’s brother’s, maybe Mike.
Ken definitely made the glider that is why it ended up in their yard.
Did read about Washingtonville also went back and read about Washington County (George Washington traveling through the state).
Quigley’s lived on Midway where it intersects with Edgewood. I think there was a Becky too. Also I’m pretty sure the swing in Kens backyard is the same one from Gram’s. I think he built it. I think you’re right Karen about Charlie. Who can name all the Bonny’s(sp?)
The onlly Bonnys I can come up with are Sue and Paul
Quigley..Midway and Edgewood? There was a Hughes family there … Ginny Hughes. Were the Quigleys next door?
I agree about the swing but I think it’s long-gone from Ken’s yard too.
Karen – I saw there some articles about George Washington’s travel through the state . I skimmed it but do want to go back for a more thorough read.
I still didn’t get this but was closer and got one away a few times!
I do not like olives. Muffin does not like olives. And I do not like mayo! That was confusing.
I thought Meredith Hathaway was Muffin’s college roommate, I didn’t realize she was someone local.
I never knew the name of the aloha pie! LOL I thought it was white chocolate cherry pie!
I have always loved that house across from Rayzee’s!
Did I make up Aloha Pie?
As I get older, I do admit my memory may be going, but I honestly don’t know what aloha pie is. I don’t remember ever bringing anything with that name to the Christmas party. I have for years brought chili and a cherry mousse pie. If anyone remembers the recipe for aloha pie, send it along. It sounds like it might be delicious.
Meredith and as a good friend my senior year of college. We student taught at the same time.
So apparently I DID make up Athe name Aloha Pie, weird. It is the pie you describe.
This one was fun!!! I do not like tomatoes at all. I’ve tried for so long to like them but I just can’t. I’ve also been scared to try olives since my mom doesn’t like them. Once, a coworker at Yawgoo forced me to try one. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world.
Normi’s macaroni salad is in fact my favorite dish at any Hillman event.
That’s one cool car!!!
Davisville is also the middle school Meg and I and maybe Piper went to?
I LOVE the porch on that house.
Molly – sorry, I’m just seeing your comments now, over a week after this puzzle was posted.
I agree, that car is pretty cool looking.
Catherine went to Davisville Middle too…and Davisville Elementary but I actually wonder now if either of those schools would technically fit in the boundary of the village of Davisville in its earliest layout.