The Hidden Harbor Mystery
Encyclopedia
The Hidden Harbor Mystery is Volume 14 in the original The Hardy Boys
Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap
.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate
in 1935, purportedly by Leslie McFarlane
; however, the writing style is noticeably different from other books in the series known to have been written by McFarlane. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1961 by James Beuchler resulting in two different stories with the same title.
The original story contained racial stereotypes which were removed during the revision. For example, the chief villain, a young Black man named Luke Jones is described in the 1935 edition as "the worst scoundrel we have ever come across", but is completely removed from the 1961 version, and most characters identifiable as Black have been reworked as racially ambiguous.
. Mr. Worth also tells the Hardy boys about the long standing feud between the Blackstone and the Rand families over ownership of a pond in Hidden Harbor.
The Hardy boys accept Mr. Worth’s case and, along with their friend Chet Morton
, drive to Georgia
. Once they have set up a camp on the beach between the two properties the boys begin to investigate the Rand and the Blackstone estates. They are surprised to find a ‘sea monster’ in the pond and to witness Mr. Rand being hit over the head with a vase by Mr. Blackstone, only moments later to find the vase intact and Mr. Rand missing.
Despite the efforts of their enemies, the Hardy boys manage to find Mr. Rand and recover a treasure chest containing historical records which prove that the accusations Mr. Worth made in his article were all true. The feud is settled when Mr. Rand and Mr. Blackstone decide to work together to harvest the valuable cypress
trees from Hidden Harbor.
returning to Bayport on a small coast liner from Larchmont where they had procured handwriting samples from Miss Pennyweather for a case their father Fenton Hardy was working on. During a storm they meet Mr. Samuel Blackstone who tells the boys that he is carrying a large sum of money. Shortly thereafter the ship runs aground and Mr. Blackstone is knocked down by Mr. Ruel Rand and badly hurt. Joe and Chet manage to swim to shore but Frank Hardy goes missing as he stayed behind to assist the injured Mr. Blackstone.
Shortly after Frank is located the three boys are arrested on charges of robbing Mr. Blackstone. The Hardy boys immediately suspect Mr. Rand of robbing Mr. Blackstone and set out to track him down. Recording the license plate of a car that they see him get in to they learn he lives in Hidden Harbor. The Hardy boys visit the wreck of the Resolute where they attempt to retrieve the handwriting samples however their boat drifts off and they are detained by the Coast Guard before they are able to reach their stateroom. After returning to land they are questioned by the district attorney
at Mr. Blackstone’s bedside. There they learn about the long standing feud between the Blackstone’s and the Rand’s.
Chet and the Hardy boys travel south to Hidden Harbor to retrieve new handwriting samples from Miss Pennyworth as well as to investigate who stole Mr. Blackstone’s money. While there they are followed by a detective and their campsite is vandalized. They also stumble across a ‘secret society’ of young black men being led by Luke Jones, a servant to Mr. Blackstone. This group of Negroes kidnaps Mr. Rand’s mentally insane brother who manages to turn the tables on them by stealing their revolvers. Eventually the Hardy boys manage to find and disarm the brother, as well as capture Luke Jones and make him confess to stealing Mr. Blackstone’s money and his diamond ring, as well as being responsible for inciting more hatred between the two families. The Hardy boys also manage to gather indisputable evidence which solves their father’s case, without the need for replacement handwriting samples.
The Hardy Boys
The Hardy Boys, Frank and Joe Hardy, are fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives who appear in various mystery series for children and teens....
Mystery Stories published by Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap
Grosset & Dunlap is a United States book publisher founded in 1898.The company was purchased by G. P. Putnam's Sons in 1982 and today is part of the British publishing conglomerate, Pearson PLC through its American subsidiary Penguin Group....
.
This book was written for the Stratemeyer Syndicate
Stratemeyer Syndicate
The Stratemeyer Syndicate was the producer of a number of mystery series for children, including Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the various Tom Swift series, the Bobbsey Twins, the Rover Boys, and others.- History :...
in 1935, purportedly by Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane
Leslie McFarlane was a Canadian journalist, novelist, screenwriter and filmmaker. McFarlane is most famous for ghostwriting many of the early books in the very successful Hardy Boys series using the pseudonym Franklin W. Dixon.- Early life :The son of a school principal, McFarlane was raised in...
; however, the writing style is noticeably different from other books in the series known to have been written by McFarlane. Between 1959 and 1973 the first 38 volumes of this series were systematically revised as part of a project directed by Harriet Adams, Edward Stratemeyer's daughter. The original version of this book was rewritten in 1961 by James Beuchler resulting in two different stories with the same title.
The original story contained racial stereotypes which were removed during the revision. For example, the chief villain, a young Black man named Luke Jones is described in the 1935 edition as "the worst scoundrel we have ever come across", but is completely removed from the 1961 version, and most characters identifiable as Black have been reworked as racially ambiguous.
Plot summary (revised edition)
The Hardy boys meet Mr. Bart Worth who is the editor of the Larchmont Record. He explains that Mr. Samuel Blackstone has sued him for printing a story accusing his ancestors of being piratesPiracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
. Mr. Worth also tells the Hardy boys about the long standing feud between the Blackstone and the Rand families over ownership of a pond in Hidden Harbor.
The Hardy boys accept Mr. Worth’s case and, along with their friend Chet Morton
Chet Morton
Chet Morton is a fictional character in the The Hardy Boys book series by Franklin W. Dixon.-Fictional history:Chet grew up with Frank and Joe Hardy and has been one of their best friends since second grade. He usually says he doesn't want to have anything to do with the Hardy boys' mysteries,...
, drive to Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Once they have set up a camp on the beach between the two properties the boys begin to investigate the Rand and the Blackstone estates. They are surprised to find a ‘sea monster’ in the pond and to witness Mr. Rand being hit over the head with a vase by Mr. Blackstone, only moments later to find the vase intact and Mr. Rand missing.
Despite the efforts of their enemies, the Hardy boys manage to find Mr. Rand and recover a treasure chest containing historical records which prove that the accusations Mr. Worth made in his article were all true. The feud is settled when Mr. Rand and Mr. Blackstone decide to work together to harvest the valuable cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
trees from Hidden Harbor.
Plot summary (original edition)
The story begins with the Hardy boys and their pal Chet MortonChet Morton
Chet Morton is a fictional character in the The Hardy Boys book series by Franklin W. Dixon.-Fictional history:Chet grew up with Frank and Joe Hardy and has been one of their best friends since second grade. He usually says he doesn't want to have anything to do with the Hardy boys' mysteries,...
returning to Bayport on a small coast liner from Larchmont where they had procured handwriting samples from Miss Pennyweather for a case their father Fenton Hardy was working on. During a storm they meet Mr. Samuel Blackstone who tells the boys that he is carrying a large sum of money. Shortly thereafter the ship runs aground and Mr. Blackstone is knocked down by Mr. Ruel Rand and badly hurt. Joe and Chet manage to swim to shore but Frank Hardy goes missing as he stayed behind to assist the injured Mr. Blackstone.
Shortly after Frank is located the three boys are arrested on charges of robbing Mr. Blackstone. The Hardy boys immediately suspect Mr. Rand of robbing Mr. Blackstone and set out to track him down. Recording the license plate of a car that they see him get in to they learn he lives in Hidden Harbor. The Hardy boys visit the wreck of the Resolute where they attempt to retrieve the handwriting samples however their boat drifts off and they are detained by the Coast Guard before they are able to reach their stateroom. After returning to land they are questioned by the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
at Mr. Blackstone’s bedside. There they learn about the long standing feud between the Blackstone’s and the Rand’s.
Chet and the Hardy boys travel south to Hidden Harbor to retrieve new handwriting samples from Miss Pennyworth as well as to investigate who stole Mr. Blackstone’s money. While there they are followed by a detective and their campsite is vandalized. They also stumble across a ‘secret society’ of young black men being led by Luke Jones, a servant to Mr. Blackstone. This group of Negroes kidnaps Mr. Rand’s mentally insane brother who manages to turn the tables on them by stealing their revolvers. Eventually the Hardy boys manage to find and disarm the brother, as well as capture Luke Jones and make him confess to stealing Mr. Blackstone’s money and his diamond ring, as well as being responsible for inciting more hatred between the two families. The Hardy boys also manage to gather indisputable evidence which solves their father’s case, without the need for replacement handwriting samples.