Harlan F. Stone II

More than a Chesterfield Benefactor

A noted benefactor of the Stone House Tavern restoration, Harlan Fiske Stone II (Jan. 13, 1935 – Jan. 31, 2024) has passed away.  Harlan was the grandson of Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, whose historical plaque stands in front of the Chesterfield School. The Stone family’s ties to Chesterfield run deep starting with the arrival of Peter Stone in 1778/9.

Despite the fact that Harlan Stone II was born in New York City, he always felt a strong tie to Chesterfield. Generations of his ancestors had lived and died here. He has demonstrated this connection to Chesterfield through his family heirloom bequests to CHS and financial donations to the Stone House Tavern restoration.  In June 2019, he and his wife, Helen, visited the town for the main purpose of showing his son, daughter-in-law, and California-born granddaughter their roots. The CHS arranged a two-day tour of the area which included viewing their ancestors’ grave sites, locating family homesteads, and learning how the Stone family and Chesterfield's history were interwoven throughout both sides of their family.  They especially enjoyed touring the Stone House Tavern which will house some of their family’s heirlooms.

Harlan Stone II was a Princeton and Harvard graduate, with a Master’s Degree in English. He was a retired writer and editor who began his career as a reporter for the Stroudsburg, PA Daily Record, now the Pocono Record.  He loved to run marathons and was an avid stamp collector. This passion grew into a life full of accomplishments. He became Director of Education at the NY Philatelic Foundation, where he published and edited several books, booklets, and the Philatelic Foundation Quarterly. The Foundation issues one of the most respected Certificates of Authenticity in Philately.  In addition, he was also the Editor of the Postal History Journal and an authority on Swiss Postal History.

A modest man, he was far more distinguished in the Philatelic community than he would have led one to believe. His collections earned gold medals in multiple international exhibits. CHS is happy to be the recipient of some of these collections. The Consilium Philatelie Helveticae (a Swiss Philatelic Society) awarded him a lifetime membership (2009), only the second American to receive such an honor. “His depth of philatelic contributions and achievements, and his warm and inviting deportment in sharing his knowledge and experience” earned him the prestigious Alfred F. Lichtenstein Memorial Award (2009) for Outstanding Service in Philately. He also received the American Philatelic Society’s Luft Award for Distinguished Philatelic Research (2006).

Harlan is buried alongside his grandparents and parents in the family plot at the Rock Creek Cemetery, Washington D.C.  During the service, his grandchildren spoke of a loving and caring man whom they obviously adored and will dearly miss.  This is a tribute that he would have cherished more than any award.

The Stone family intermarried with other long time Chesterfield families, i.e. Butler & Harvey.

If you want to learn more about the Stone Family there are three articles on this site:

Brief Bio of Chief Justice Stone under Noted Citizens, 

And two "Bits Of History"

The Day Dignitaries Came to Town, 

Sabrina

(Chief Justice Stone was the only Supreme Court Justice to be kicked out of college, 

but that is another story for another time.)