Harlow Shapley Project

As a summer place, in 1941 the Shapley’s bought a former farm of about 100 acres located in the township of Sharon NH, near Peterborough NH. The southern New England woods encroached on the one-time fields, but Mount Monadnock and the night sky were clear viewing. Harlow prowled the property to tally plant specimens and study ants. After the main house burned their first season, the Shapleys summered in the small guest house. Various outbuildings and the disused barn were expanded sleeping quarters; the barn’s big space and piano were handy for square dances.

When he was not in the woods Harlow kept working. He dictated into a wax cylinder at his desk on the second floor landing. Martha or other family pitched in typing. But he could drive his dictation-filled cylinders to Cambridge to keep his long-time secretary Arville Walker busy. 

Martha managed two homes: the Sharon “farm” in summer and the Residence. As the children grew up in the late 40s and 1950s, she held to the Betz tradition of the big family household. To Sharon came those sons not yet married: Carl, Alan and sometimes Lloyd, who worked in California. Also Willis came with his young family and Mildred with hers. Meanwhile the Betz clan in Kansas City were in the picture: Martha got streams of letters from her sisters Alma and Nettie. Her Betz work ethic, sense of humor, and pride in family saw her through.