RALPH AND KIT HARDY 1995
TOWN REPORT
Ralph and Kit were a Hollis institution for half a century. They were
easily recognizable around town, Ralph in his Jeep and HAR-D license
plate and Kit with her NEWZ plate.
Ralph and Kit moved to Hollis in 1947. Ralph's mother, Kate Cutter
Hardy, grew up in Hollis. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph
E. Tenney, the sixth generation of the Tenney family to live at the
Tenney Homestead on Pepperell Road. Ralph is a descendant of Phineas
Hardy who was one of the first settlers of Hollis in 1751.
Ralph grew up in Arlington, Massachusetts but always considered Hollis
his home. His family summered in Hollis and he enjoyed large family
gatherings at the Tenney Farm. In addition to his grandparents, his
Hollis family also included his aunt, Agnes F. Tenney and his cousins,
the C. Frederick Worcesters of Worcester Road and the Rodney T. Hardys
of Love Lane.
Ralph and Kit met in an elevator in Boston after Ralph graduated from
Brown University. Kit was a pioneer for women in the world of business.
As the assistant to the senior partner of a Boston insurance firm
she developed business skills which later proved key to her leadership
in thc Hollis community.
After Ralph completed his service in the Navy, he and Kit settled
in an apartment above the horse stalls at the Worcester Homestead.
In 1950 they had Royal Barry Wills design and build them a house on
Tenney property adjoining the Tenney Farm.
Kit and Ralph had two sons, Bill and Tom, and immediately embarked
on what was to become a lifetime of involvement in and service to
the Hollis community. Initially, Kit was a Cub Scout Den Mother and
Ralph was active in the bowling league and a member of the Hollis
Boy Scout Committee.
In 1958, Kit, her mother-in-law Kate Hardy and Ralph's Aunt Agnes
Tenney were among the original twenty-five founders of the Hollis
Historical Society. Kit later became the Society's secretary and a
memberof the Board of Directors.
Active as Hollis P.T.A. Boosters, Kit and Ralph were involved in the
1959 Klassified Kountry Kapers Variety Show; Kit on the Costumes and
Make-up Committee and Ralph part of the Hollis Kitchen Band.
Kit was Secretary of the Hollis Reading and Charitable Society, Secretary
for the Hollis Congregational Church and a Supervisor of the Checklist.
She was also Secretary and President of the Hollis Women's Club and
a New Hampshire Federation of Women's Club Honor Roll Member.
Her best known achievement was 20 years of service as the Hollis news
reporter for the Nashua Telegraph. Kit knew all the Hollis news and
enthusiastically promoted people and activities in the community.
In her later years Kit enjoyed her membership in the Southem New Hampshire
Medical Center Auxiliary and service as a Board Member of the Gift
Shop. She extended herself, as always, by giving many other Hollis
women the opportunity to serve with her in the Gift Shop.
Ralph enjoyed the out of doors. He cut wood at the family wood lot
on Proctor Hill, was a fly fisherman and noted mountain climber. A
member of the Appalachian Mountain Club, he completed climbing all
42 New Hampshire 4000 footers at the age of 69. He was also an avid
skier and could be seen every weekend in his National Ski Patrol uniform
at Temple Mountain.
Ralph was a Hollis Selectman for twelve years, Town Treasurer for
six years and a member of the Hollis Conservation Committee for fifteen
years. He was true to his ancestry; his great-great grandfather was
a Representative to the New Hampshire General Court, member of the
State Senate and a Hollis Selectman.
Those who knew Kit and Ralph well remember the fun they had with their
family and friends. Their life together was full and complete. It
was a special pleasure to be with them in their cozy house, have a
bowl of Kit's toot-a-lings and spend the evening laughing and sharing
memories.
We appreciate the many generous contributions made to the Hollis Historical
Society in memory of Kit Hardy who died in February, 1995. Ralph is
now living at the Hunt Community in Nashua, New Hampshire. He still
enjoys a "pop" and is blessed with wonderful memories of
his long life in Hollis.
Thank you for recognizing Ralph's and Kit's contributions to the Town
of Hollis. When thinking of Kit's passing, please think of the verse
from Whittier: "For all of good the past hath had remains to
make our own time glad."
Thomas T. Hardy, Norwell, Massachusetts
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