RockHavenFarm

This is truly fascinating! That is a really cool car and loved seeing the article from SIA. I will have to find a copy somewhere to purchase. Dr. Kirk A. Garland was a dentist in South Boston and then later in life lived at Rock Haven Farm in Hanson. He practiced dentistry until he "was too feeble to do so" and he died in 1921 at Rock Haven. His wife Annie also died at Rock Haven a few years later in 1926. The Garland's were eccentric and were well known when living in Boston as they were involved in not only dentistry but it is also believed that they travelled with the circus. They acquired a baboon at some point named Manuel who was likely from the circus. Manuel lived with the Garland's at Rock Haven (also where he practiced dentistry) and was known around town as when getting dental work done, Manuel would come over to the patient, remove their shoes and lick in between their toes... Manuel outlived both of the Garland's. After Annie's death, Manuel and the house went to the next owners (the Seegar family). He lived with the next family until Manuel was shot and killed by the Duxbury sheriff along with the Seegar family dog. The baboon and dog were friends but would cause some trouble by killing chickens on nearby farms. Someone phoned the sheriff and he responded by killing them both. My family has owned Rock Haven for the last 65 years. We were all shocked to stumble upon your post here. Since there are no known pictures nor decedents of the Garland's, I have posted the doctors stencil for his practice in South Boston. We found this inside of one of the walls of the home when working on renovations. It was clearly intentionally placed there to be found by future inhabitants of the house. Circa 90 years after his death, it was uncovered. I hypothesize that the car may never have been finished as he became ill and died in 1921. There is little to no information surrounding his or his wife's death. Odd, as they were well known Hanson community members.