I’ve been reading a lot about the McCarthy massacre, and I’m stunned by the close-knit nature of the community, especially how trusted and loved the Heglands were. It’s particularly tragic to think about how they left their porch unlocked so that their neighbors wouldn’t have to deal with frozen groceries. This small gesture of kindness says so much about who they were. The fact that the Heglands served as unofficial postmasters in McCarthy just shows how integral they were to the town. They built relationships with everyone and made their home a place of warmth and welcome. It’s hard to imagine the community without them. I can only hope that their legacy of kindness lives on. Does anyone know if the Heglands’ porch was ever preserved or what became of it after all this time? It feels like such a pivotal part of their story—and the community’s.
