MEET THE REAL ‘ROCK’ STARS

The models of artist Norman Rockwell remember what it was like posing for a legend

STEPHEN Haggerty has spent his summers in Arlington, Vt., since he was 3 years old, in 1961, working on a farm, playing Bingo at dance socials, and hearing stories of the artist Norman Rockwell.

It seemed that nearly every parent, every local farmer, every businessowner Haggerty encountered in Arlington had posed for the famed illustrator, who lived there with his wife and three sons between 1938 and 1953. Haggerty, an editor and author, was walking among icons — though most of them were too humble to brag about it.

“I knew some of the people we knew were models,” Haggerty recalled. “But I didn’t know I knew that many!”

Four years ago, Haggerty began tracking down these former neighbors and friends — many now in their 80s — and asking them about their experiences posing for the painter in Vermont. “Call Me Norman, The Backstories of Rockwell’s Beloved Models,” his latest book, which is as yet unpublished, includes 100 hours of interviews with 25 models, including Rockwell’s sons Jarvis (now an artist, 88) Thomas (a children’s-book author, 87) and Peter (a sculptor who died this past February at 84).

“He did the best paintings of his career here,” said Haggerty, who splits his time between Arlington and Pawling, NY.

“He got tired of the class structure in New Rochelle and New York City,” said Haggerty. “He wanted to be around down-to-earth people. And when he first got to Arlington, he saw all these marvelous faces.”