52 Main, a mainstay on Main Street

MILLERTON — When diners enjoy tapas at 52 Main in support of the final North East Historical Society Dine Out for History fundraiser on Thursday, March 7, they will be doing so in an old newspaper office where they once would have been welcomed by Colvin Card, a man with a tremendous taste for life. 

As publisher of The Millerton Telegram from 1889 to 1908, Card’s days would have been filled by visits from residents — possibly ancestors of 52’s patrons — sharing news for the weekly paper, the precursor of The Millerton News. 

Card was described in various sources as energetic, enterprising, “tender, sympathetic and good natured” before illness led to a change in personality and an early death at age 48. 

At 19, he left the family farm near Boston Corners and taught for 10 years in Irondale and Millerton, where he was principal for four years. Sources also indicated he was involved in real estate, was an auctioneer and partner with W.D. McArthur, served two terms as the town clerk, was a choir leader for the Methodist Church and was a member of the school board, the Board of Health, the Masons and the Odd Fellows. He raised The Telegram’s circulation from 480 in 1891 to 1,108 in 1897 and founded The Lakeville Journal in the latter year. 

His great-granddaughter, Jonina Herter of New York City, fondly said of the man she never knew, “He was a larger than life figure in our lives. My grandmother who was his daughter, Hazel, worshiped him.” She spoke of the family’s vaudeville act, which they performed “at places like Masonic Temples and Granges. My mother played the violin and her mother was a renowned whistler.” 

Although the family moved away after Card’s untimely death in 1908, affection and connections remained as the family returned to Millerton for years – usually arriving just in time for dinner with old friends.  

Card’s granddaughter-in-law Mary Whalen of Westport, Conn., shared the family’s description of “a man for all seasons… just one of those people who was very, very interested in everything and people and life in general… He used to take pictures of people who traveled through town. In those days there were a lot of tramps and people coming on the train and trying to get jobs and that type of thing. He had a gorgeous collection — almost like a time machine.”

Although those would have been a valuable asset to the town, she said the pictures had disappeared. Learning of the Historical Society’s plan to use part of the money from Dine Out to digitize material, she noted that had the process been used for Card’s collection, they would happily be available instead of being lost to the ages.  

Historical Society President Ed Downey agreed modern techniques can do much to preserve Millerton’s past. 

“A lot of people don’t like to part with things in their families, but what we would love to do would be to come and photograph them,” he said, which would allow close examination, and even lead to the “exciting possibility” of eventually recreating objects by the use of 3-D printing.

Restaurateur Eleanor Nurzia said she is supporting the Dine Out program, donating 10 percent of 52 Main’s evening’s proceeds because, “At the end of the day when you come into a small community,” which she did seven years ago, “you have a responsibility to be part of that community and give back to that community that supports you.”

When she transformed Card’s old building, also once an office and a pharmacy, she said she worked to create “an atmosphere that is safe and welcoming and nurturing” balanced out with “a lot of rough materials — metal, wood, and brick… trying to find that happy medium of energy.” 

Nurzia chose tapas for the menu because she believed it’s an ideal size for the restaurant meant to be “a place to stop and meet friends — a stop on your journey of the day… to connect and socialize and bring a community together.”

Appreciating the community response that has made the program a success, Downey said, “We’re very pleased with the turnout we’ve had. We especially appreciate the restaurants that have been willing to work with us.” Hoping to continue the program in the future, he concluded, “We’ve heard good things from them about the experience so we’re very encouraged with the response from them as well.”

Many thanks to the above sources and to the North East Historical Society, Ed Downey, Meg Downey, Edie Greenwood, Betsy Strauss, Jane Rossman, Sarah Ellen Rindsberg, Jeanne Vanecko of Townscape, The Lakeville Journal Co., The Millbrook Roundtable and www.Findagrave.com.