Minnie Merton lost her only child when the boy was very young. The lonely woman then adopted Jessie Hally , a two year old orphan girl from New York City. Jessie Merton grew up in Brentwood. Life was difficult, but the girl and her

eccentric mother loved each other deeply. Minnie’s home known as “Minerva’s Lodge”, was the center of Brentwood.

Jessie grew up surrounded by a very interesting group of her mother’s friends, and they adored her.

She and Rose Newbery, the daughter of Modern Times founder Dr. Edward  Newbery, were close girlhood friends. Jessie Merton married Frand  Ersworth Nichols in Brentwood on June 30.1896. They had two sons and a daughter. The family moved to Hauppauge, and Frank died there on February 21,1938,at age 74.In December 1949,author Vern Dyson recalled a visit at that time with Jessie, where she showed him an interesting collection of early Brentwood memorabilia. Among the items were three of Charles Codman`s paintings, Dr.Edward Newbery`s cane, and many of her mother`s personal belonging`s.

-N.  Ziino, Local History Newsletter, August 2008