This is in regards to your article about the Haven portraits. We are descendants of Franklin and Eliza (Strong) Haven and were delighted to see the article regarding Susan Ferland’s grant for saving these beautiful portraits. Susan had been in touch, and we were happy to be able to give her some information to add to her research. How wonderful that someone would take such time and interest to pursue a grant in the name of local history. Thank goodness those portraits were noticed in the antique shop; they look to be in beautiful condition.

Although the article was about Franklin and his wife, Eliza, and his store in the old Haven Block, (as it used to be known before it burned), we thought your viewers might want to know, and some will remember, that Kittredge Haven, our father, and great-grandson to Franklin Haven, had an insurance business, The Haven Ins. Agency, for 30-plus years just down from Franklin’s store. Yet another generation of the Haven family carrying on with a business on Main Street, Vergennes.

We look forward to seeing those beautiful Haven portraits at the Bixby Memorial Library. We see a certain amount of family resemblance with both portraits — so fascinating. Some of us in the family have a few artifacts handed down to us that came from Franklin’s store, and will donate them to the Vergennes Historical Society, to be added to this particular collection at some point.

Thanks again to Susan Ferland and the supporters of the grant for helping to preserve important local history.

Sue Haven Tester of Barton

Betsy (Haven) Grant of Addison

Robert Haven of Charlotte

Charles Haven of Salem, Mass.