Courtesy of the Frank family.
In 1959 our late mother, Charlotte M. Frank, moved to Pine Plains with her three children, Bill, Jim and Chris, after her divorce. At the time, she was an attorney in Poughkeepsie, eager to expand her matrimonial law practice and to provide us with a healthy country atmosphere. Pine Plains was just the place.
Mom worked long hours in Poughkeepsie, returning home each evening to change out of her lawyer clothes and into something more comfortable before having dinner. We often dined at Chris’s Restaurant on Church Street, near the old Grand Union, now Peck’s Market. The warm smiles and the mouth-watering aroma of what we believed to be the best meatloaf in the world are memories that linger. After dinner, Mom would change back into her suit and meet with clients in her home office. She not only maintained her practice but also served as the town attorney.
Living in Pine Plains opened doors to new friendships and opportunities. At 50, Mom decided to teach herself to ice skate. She took a kitchen chair down to the lake to steady herself and spent many winter weekends practicing with the rest of the town.
Mom cherished her cottage at the Antlers Club on Stissing Lake, nestled at the foot of Stissing Mountain. The seclusion and privacy of this retreat, with its serene red canoe paddles, offered her peace — a personal Shangri-la away from the pressures of her professional life.
Every spring Mom, Chris Crouch and John Klink, the town’s justice of the peace, would head to the town beach to see if the ice had melted, vying to be the first to swim laps once the water reached 65 degrees.
Mom also had a fondness for Peck’s Market, where George Hill, the butcher, always catered to her specific cuts of meat. Groceries were delivered to our house several times a week. No church supper within a 20-mile radius was missed, and we were regulars at the Grange dinners at the end of our street. Friday nights meant hot mushroom pizza from the Stissing House — a family tradition.
Active in town politics, Mom was not only the town attorney but also a dedicated member of the Grange. She passed away in 1990. She loved her life in Pine Plains, taking immense pride in being part of the community. Pine Plains was her refuge, and ours. Thanks, Mom.
Chronicles is the New Pine Plains Herald’s continuation of its My Pine Plains memoir series, chronicling life in and around Pine Plains, Ancram, Milan, Stanford and Gallatin. The Herald welcomes submissions from readers that highlight memories and lived experiences from all people of all backgrounds.
Love the story about Charlotte Frank as it was a real tribute to a Pine Plains resident and mom.