In September 1969, Doug Haney,'69 and Ben Shaw '69, were both back in the States after graduating AIS. They contacted former India band members Glen Minehart '69 and Dan Perrelli '66 and together they rented a large house in Ashton, Maryland from the Moore family (Tom, Tim '69).

AIS alumni of that period drifted in and out of the house. Some brief visitors and some who stayed and found a home there. It was viewed by many as a haven between their India school years and the "real world." It was a place to adjust to the USA in the company of other former India expats and 'third culture kids' who were trying to decide what to do next with their lives. In India we had lived almost like royalty. Now, in America, we were just ordinary citizens. Ashton is remembered as a house where, with AIS friends around, the culture shock was softened.

The house itself was large. It was once a funeral home, the mortuary slab was still in the basement! As the number of residents grew, new arrivals found that there were not enough beds and had to sleep on the hard wood floors.

Much of our time was spent playing day-long badminton tournaments or bent over the pool table. The band was formed. We grew a vegetable garden. Dan Perrelli kept busy writing proposals to government agencies for funds to make a movie and other schemes to return to India. Some of us held odd jobs in the area. Cathy Shanley ('69) worked at the local supermarket and would bring home day-old bread and other treats. Former AISers from all over the USA would visit, sharing in the fun and often wishing they could stay and join us.

Over time, one by one the Ashton residents left as they found careers and paths of their own. By the end of 1970, the Ashton house haven had served its purpose and was returned to the Moores. It has recently been renovated and is now an office building.

These pictures and film have been with Ted Beck '69 since 1970. Ted and Anne Briggs '69 added sound and music.

Ashton residents

Doug Haney '69
Roger Wood '68
Cathy Shanley '69
Cindy Jones '69
Kent Olson '69
Dan Perrelli '66
Ben Shaw '69
Glen Minehart '69
Ted Beck '69
Mike Metzler '70
John Fuller '67
Doug Davy '66
Dan Rizzie '69
Jeff Olson '66
Tom Nichols '68
Rod Davis '68