Reflections by Elizabeth Ausley Gablehouse

I may be one of the oldest surviving people to live here in Betton Hills. My father, a local lawyer, was Guy Winthrop’s attorney and encouraged him to develop his farm which back in the 1940s was what today is now Betton Hills. Mr. Winthrop wanted to sell it (which his wife did not want to do). My father tried to encourage him to develop it and he said, “John, no one will ever move this far out of town to build, so what’s the point?”

Daddy told him about all of the GIs living here here and moving here after WW II and told him that that was not correct. WInthrop said it was too complicated so Daddy said that he would assist Mr. Winthrop in this endeavor. John Ausley bought 5 contiguous lots (2.5 acres) on Randolph Circle and built a large home. His brother Charles Ausley bought several acres (5?) and built a private road and then a lovely home at the eastern bottom end of Betton Road just next to Centerville Road.

My father got the word out to many friends and he continued to recruit family members into this neighborhood: his sister and brother-in-law Judge Ben Willis and sister Helen on Hickory Avenue over next to the rose garden (Chittenden Park). Then he assisted my Grandmother’s sister, Mrs. Helen Cochran, to sell her home and buy a home across Randolph Circle from her sister, my grandmother.

Lastly, Uncle Charles and Aunt Loranne Ausley encouraged and convinced Loranne’s sister, Margaret Dubose, to relocate onto Randolph Circle. Since that time, my first cousin Duby and Sallie Ausley bought and lived in the Charles Ausley home and after them, their son and his family lived there. My first cousins Ben and Tricia Willis, Jr. bought and have lived on Winthrop Road for many decades; my first cousin Anne Ausley Lee Heaton built a new home on West Randolph Circle and my sister Margaret Ausley Stalvey and her husband Glenn live on Egret Lane. All of my relativesliving and passed on are and would be so proud to know what a responsible, caring and involved neighborhood Betton Hills has become! So would dear Mrs. Pat Winthrop and her husband Guy.

Very Kindest regards ans thank you all for your impressive work! Elizabeth Ausley Gablehouse and husband Ron (Chamberlin Drive for 41 years).