Quailwood cottage has a special place in my heart. For as long as I can remember, the rustle of salty breezes in the pines, the clanging of the East Chop bell bouy, the incredible quality of island light, the excitement of hopping on a ferry, the therapy of feeling warm sand underfoot…have been part of my life. I have been coming to the island since I was a baby and it is my foothold in the USA. My grandparents chose East Chop as their special place on earth. Their great-grandchildren have now caught the bug. Annie, her husband Denis and her cousins love to come to Quailwood too. We all love the opportunities offered on Martha’s Vineyard including (but certainly not limited to) beach picnics, biking to Back Door Donuts, strolling (shopping?) in Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven or Edgartown, catching a striped bass for dinner, tasting homemade goodies at the weekly farmer’s market, scouting for art at galleries and flea markets, watching the sunset over Cuttyhunk at Menemsha…..
After living and working as a graphic designer in Manhattan for ten years after art school at RISD, my life took a turn when I came to “do” the “Haute Route” ski tour in Chamonix, France in 1986. I ended up married to the guide, Serge, and have lived in the Alps ever since. We built our chalet and a second one on our property which we rent out. My career has evolved from graphics to teaching English, working at the Chamonix ski school, the French Alpine Club and running our rental chalet. We take advantage of all the wonderful things to do here…skiing, ski touring, hiking, climbing, and biking as well as the benefits of living in a town with a worldwide reputation for its scenery and lifestyle. Chamonix and East Chop are certainly wonderful places to to call home.
Hello everyone, I’m David Clark and I’d like to give you a sense of what Quailwood means to me and how it has always been a big part of my life.
Quailwood, East Chop and Martha’s Vineyard have provided ‘sensory’ experiences for me ever since I was a toddler…or for more than 60 years! What makes for such sensory experiences? The scents of flowers and salt air…. sunshine and stunning images of boats coming and going, long white sandy beaches, big waves at South Beach, picnics and fishing from the jetty at Menemsha…. Ever since I was a youngster I have had happy memories of coming to this special place where my grandparents welcomed us and later, where our parents treated us to some equally special times. I guess it is all about vacationing in a place that has so much to offer. As an adult I’ve enjoyed being on “The Island” and fishing with our good friend Edgar, playing golf on my favorite course in the whole world (Farm Neck), riding a bike up-island or to South Beach with my kids or taking a plunge in the ocean. Martha’s Vineyard holds such a special place in my heart that I can honestly say that there is no other place in the world like it. Quailwood Cottage is a great hub for such explorations and jaunts as it is conveniently located within easy reach of all the wonderful things the island has to offer.
I am the President of Sprout/Standish, Inc., an executive search firm in Bedford, NH that specializes in the printing industry. My wife Susan and I split our time between Quailwood Cottage, Bedford, NH and our summer home on the water ‘up to’ Brunswick, Maine.
We became grandparents in February last year when our middle son Riley and his wife Liz had a little girl, Ingrid. Because of Covid, we have not been able to travel to Bellingham, Washington to see her yet. Thank goodness for FaceTime ! Our eldest son Tyler and his fiancé Alison are moving to Bend, Oregon from Seattle as he has accepted a position with a private neurology practice in that beautiful spot. Caldwell, our youngest son and his wife Laura have moved back to Vermont from Bellingham and looking forward to spending more time at Quailwood. We hope that you too will be able to enjoy happy times with your family and friends at our cottage on Martha’s Vineyard.
Quailwood Cottage 