Dear Curtis,
       
            I understand you work for the water company and I
       assume your work takes you all over the Island, and that
       you have had a chance to observe much of the construction
       that has been going on in the course of the past few years.
       
            From the days when I was coming over to Nantucket to
       examine eyes, we have owned some land near Madaket, on
       the plains, on the other side of Long Pond. 
       
            Now that I am no longer so busy in my medical practice,
       we would like to build a house on our land, so that we will have
       a place to stay and so that I might be able to see patients
       on Nantucket again, if it seems feasible.
       
            As you can understand, we would like to build a house
       from which we can see the ocean, and as you know, the Historic
       District Commission would like us to build a house that can't
       be seen.
       
            As I understand the world, everything is politics, and I
       should be surprised and shocked if the Historic District Commission
       and the Selectmen who are empowered to overrule them were anything
       other than experienced practicing politicians. I would be very
       much surprised if the Historic District Commission had not somewhere
       on the Island approved exactly the kind of house we would like to
       build. 
       
            That is where I need your help. I would like you to help me
       make a list of the locations of all the houses on the Island built
       in the last five years, especially those located out of town:
       1) which have wooden decks above ground level, especially where
       these decks project from the side of the house, or 2) which have
       foundation walls higher than 4 ft, like so many of the old houses
       in town or 3) which although out of town have two story walls
       or 4) which have shed dormers extending across most of the breadth
       of the roof.
       
            I expect to be coming over to Nantucket on the Friday after
       Thanksgiving on the boat that leaves Hyannis at 7:45, and to spend
       much of the day looking over building plans on file in the Historic
       District Commission offices. If you have time that day, perhaps we
       could get together for a few minutes and you could tell me about
       some of the houses I have asked about.
       
            Of course I expect to pay you for your efforts, but please
       don't be concerned if you don't have time or inclination to
       help me.  Thank you.