Wee Keithock
Home from Europe in late 1940, our family moved into Dad’s house, “Wee Keithock,” at 80 High Street, Metuchen, NJ. The house had been Dad’s graduation gift from his parents in 1928. Its name, “Wee Keithock,” was a variation of “Keithock,” the family’s former 17thC. manor house in Brechin, Scotland.
Our new American home was a grand, Tudor style, brick house with a slate roof, leaded windows, and several large fireplaces. To me, a three year old, the house always seemed dark. Outside, however, its extensive gardens and green lawns were further enhanced by tall oaks, giant rhododendron bushes and a stylish fish pond.
Unfortunately, at the same time there were indications the family’s Metuchen company, Edgar Clay Company, was experiencing major problems. Harold Thomas Edgar, Dad’s uncle and the company’s President, sought Dad to discuss the company’s difficult state. In due course and following deliberations, the Board of Directors urged Dad to join the company as Secretary of the Board. As such, he would be in a position to become its President.
During the decade (the 1930s) of The Great Depression thousands of businesses across America had been eviscerated economically. Even viable companies continued to suffer heavily. Then in 1934 came a further turn for the worse when Dad’s father and President of the family company suddenly died creating a major vacuum in its management team. As a result, the extended Edgar family must have found itself suffering.
Given the dire circumstances at hand, Dad acceded to the Board’s urgings. He resigned from the Foreign Service that November and joined the Edgar Clay Company’s Board as Secretary.
In any event, our stay at the Metuchen house did not last long.
