But now, with the high cost of gas, groceries, and student loan payments, the Parkers are in trouble.

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The Parkers' own story began in 1883, as America was just beginning to develop a middle class with time for leisure pursuits.

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Flanagan, who was a Nassau officer for nearly 30 years, helped broker the return of the electronics, prosecutors said, and afterward he received a thank-you card from the Parkers that included several hundred dollars of gift cards to a steakhouse.

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The Parker cellar lies just below the kitchen floor and is accessed by a door decorated with a charming photo of the young Parkers: Pat Parker looked like a double for Natalie Wood, while Mr. Parker looked like Jack Nicholson in his prime.

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