Mr. de Cordova and the plate of cookies

I know some of my eastern Massachusetts dwelling friends and readers know about the DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, a thirty-acre sculpture park and a museum building with towers that wear conical roofs like a small castle. I recall going there as a very small child.

It turns out my father went there as a very small child, too, back when it was just the house of Mr. de Cordova.

"I remember old Mr. de Cordova came out with a plate of cookies for me and your uncle," he recalled.

I looked up M...