1899 – 1982

John and Marion Hart lived behind Gray’s Store. Both were very civic-minded – John was known as the “Mayor of Adamsville” because of his good works around the village, and Marion was postmistress of Adamsville, 1920-1927. She was frequently ill in her later years, and periodically bedridden.

Visiting Marion Hart

When we went to the store at night, a lot of nights we’d say we wanted to stay outside on the porch, and my father would say, “Don’t go bother Marion.” That’s Marion and John [Hart] in the back. And as soon as he went in the store we’d go to Marion’s door, and we’d go in there, and God, we’d visit for a long time. My father, he’d be in the store talking, and we’d stay in there with her. And of course, all these people were great cooks.

Based on an oral history interview with Leslie Deschene.

First published in “Remembering Adamsville” by the Little Compton Historical Society, 2013.

Christmas Spirit at Old Stone Church

Most of the people in the village considered themselves to be members of the Old Stone Church.  My fondest recollection of the kindness of Adamsville was one Christmas when I was about five or six years old. Eleanor Gray [Rosinha] wanted to invite me to go to their Christmas party.  She asked Mrs. Hart if it would be all right. Of course it was. When Santa was passing out gifts to the children there was a gift for me. Looking back in later years, I realized that not only was the little sewing kit which I got prophetic, but undoubtedly Mrs. Hart had somehow gotten a gift for me to put under the tree in a time when trips to Fall River to shop were all-day excursions.

Based on an oral history interview with Grace Simmons McKivergan.

First published in “Remembering Adamsville” by the Little Compton Historical Society, 2013.

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