Brinley had always been cooking while also being a full time fire fighter. He was a pizza cook for years at The Tip Top Cafe (where the recipe of that famous pizza we all knew and loved came from). Once a year Abington would have a carnival and the firefighters would have a booth and cook all kinds of foods . Brinley, Dean and Uncle Bill would cook. During the summers both families (Nelsons and Stimpsons) would lease The Old NH cabins in Stoddard NH (loved Stoddard) they opened a little rest. Called The Black Hat and sold Pizza and fried foods all summer. People would come by boat off of Highland Lake. Called the Black Hat because they wore black cowboy hats all summer. I guess that is where they got bit by the rest. Bug.
 |
| Dean and Brinley '67 in their black cowboy hats |
In April 1969 Brinley Nelson and Dean Stimpson moved their families from Abington Mass to New Durham NH where they had bought The Foxy Jonnie B. Inn.
 |
| Natalie, Brinley, Dean and Norma |
 |
| The boys painting |
 |
| Jan '69 |
 |
| The original sign |
 |
| Brinley and Nat |
 |
| Cherine and Prince |
More to come...
I will add more to this in time.
My 1st memories
There is two that I hold close too. It is only right that my 1st memories be at The Foxy. It was our world. I remember more about that place then our own home growing up. The house was a place we slept. The Foxy was where we grew up.
The 1st true living film that I can play at a drop of a hat in my head is holding tight to my mother as we swept into the busy kitchen. Everyone moving at once but as a dance. Jeff would sweep into the kitchen from working at the pit and always get down to my level or if I was being past around get close enough so I could nock off his chefs hat. No matter how many times I would get a kick out of it. Then I would be passed behid the line. I would sit in front of the small pit where my father and grandfather were working next to each other. The smell, the heat the sounds to this day can fill my head.
Jeff and I
The next one I love just as much. If I got away I would head to the swinging doors to the lounge. The dance floor was always full, every table taken, the jukebox or live music would be playing so loud and I would watch till someone out at one of the tables saw me. It was usually Julie and Chuck. Julie would sneak me out to there table where I would happily sit until someone took me back to the kitchen. I hope to never let these memories go.
If I got to pick something on the jukebox it was always Love Shack by B52’s or Kokomo The Beach boys. Both songs always make me think of The Foxy!!
