The “Salt Box – Yoke” was then owned by Alein and Frank Merrill. Some years later, Mr. Merrill died and Alein would marry again to Todd Owens. That summer after renting “The Salt Box” my Dad inquired about purchasing a home from Alein and Frank as they owned a number of homes on the Heights. For sale at that time was what is currently the Eschert home, the Eaton home, the Salt Box which we had just rented and my parents’ home at 9 Doane Way.
My parents were only 33 and 34 years old at the time. They could not afford the asking price of the future Eschert home, the future Eaton home and the Salt Box were not heated and with four little kids and a desire to use the cottage all year round they decided to purchase “My Fair Lady” in 1964 for $20,000. It was named “My Fair Lady” by Alein Merrill Owens. The home was a year old at the time of their purchase. The purchase only included the cottage. The garage, porch and fireplace were all added some years later. A local carpenter named Dick Smith did all the work.
In 1967, Mom worried about privacy and suggested to our Dad that he inquire about the two adjacent building lots. This is where the “Big Cottage” now sits. Dad went to the Land Records and found out that a Mrs. Barbara Burton from Manhattan owned the two lots. The story goes that she never intended to build on them, she just simply wanted to own property on Cape Cod. Dad wrote her a letter asking if she would consider selling the lots to him. She agreed and told him the price for both lots would be $12,000. He had $9,000 saved and offered her that. She did not accept his offer. So Dad waited an entire year. He saved up the extra $3,000 and once again made contact with Mrs. Burton and told her that he had the $12,000. She agreed this time and he sent her the money and she sent him the deeds in 1968.
In 1989, Dad had heard from the late John Brigham (a good friend and fishing buddy) that the Barnes family was going to tear down their cottage and replace it, but that it was available if someone wanted it. Dad and Mom bumped into Hap and Betty at a cocktail party at Tom Martin’s home and had a nice conversation about this possibility. The house would be made available to us if we moved it and incurred any and all expenses. Our parents approached my brothers, my sister and me and asked us what we thought. A deal was struck and my siblings and I moved the Barnes home in May 1990. It was moved in three (3) sections. 
My mother’s wish was that we would utilize both building lots to place the home as it would look best that way. The timing was perfect as we were all either married or getting married and already had 4 of my parent’s 8 grandchildren. We needed the room!!! We were told that the Barnes home was built in 1941 and that the Barnes’ purchased it in 1958. Everyone knows that our beautiful home’s original birth place was Skunk Hollow on the bluffs. We will always be indebted to the Barnes’ for their generosity.
D.J., Meg, John and I have so many happy memories of summers on the Heights. Mostly of friendships made, mischief gotten into and finding our way as we grew from very small children to adults. Every summer my Mother manned the controls as Dad would leave her in charge of the four of us as he would travel back and forth all summer long from Waterbury to the Cape. He was running a busy law practice in Connecticut but desired his children to be in a wonderful, safe place by the ocean with their mother.
For me, my oldest memory is of my first friend on the Heights, Joannie Gochenhaur. We met in the summer of 1963 when my parents rented “The Salt Box”. Her parents owned what now is Joe Kearing’s home just two homes away. We were 7 years old. We are still friends to this day and keep in contact through email as she lives in Florida.
On behalf of my parents, Ellen & Jack as well as D.J. Meg and John, we invite anyone on the Heights to visit us any time to exchange stories. Our doors are always open to our Nauset Heights extended family.
Sincerely, Beth Caldwell