luluVinalhaven is another of Maine’s islands with a year round population and an interesting history. At one time it was known for quarries where granite was cut for use in buildings in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. among other places.
Today the quarries are abandoned though there remains evidence of their existence.
Quarry men are of the past and now most of the residents depend on lobstering for a living and, to a lesser degree, tourism.
Well known folks have lived on the island. Until his recent passing, Robert Indiana maintained a studio on Vinalhaven and it was a favorite place for Margaret Wise Brown. If the name isn’t familiar, her children’s books likely are. Particularly notable is Goodnight Moon still popular all over the world.
She had two cottages on Vinalhaven, one she named The Only because it was the only one on that side of the island.
Close to it she built another small quirky cottage with no electricity or running water and it became a favorite retreat.
Inside are reminders of her presence. In the kitchen are cookbooks from another era.
In the simply furnished main room are nooks close to the fireplace where she would warm an evening brandy.
There are shelves lined with children’s books, of course including some of hers.
Margaret loved fairies and on the property is a flat area she called the fairy ballroom and a water filled quarry which is the fairy pool.
How she must have loved the views from atop a defunct quarry. They are some of the most stunning views of Penobscot Bay I have ever seen.
The islands in the distance, bisected by the ferry that runs from Rockland, are breathtaking making it very easy to see why Margaret Wise Brown was enchanted with the island.
It is here she rests. She died when only 42 suffering an embolism after a relatively minor surgery. One day she will be joined here by the man to whom she was engaged and to whom she left this beautiful place. I believe she would be happy to know that three generations continue to enjoy her special place and share it with friends.
i so appreciate your visit and the comments you leave behind
I have just finished reading Dan Brown’s most recent book, Origin, which had many references to Gaudi’s Casa Mila and Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. These gave me reason to review photos I had taken of both.
At Casa Mila, the influence of nature is obvious beginning with the facade which reminded of something growing from the earth.
Inside graceful nautilus shapes are among those reminiscent of the sea.
On the rooftop are amazing organic structures with flowers and layers resembling the earth’s strata.
Sagrada Familia continues to illustrate Gaudi’s fascination with nature and his interpretations go beyond traditional which for me is his genius.
Their branches spread across the ceiling giving one the illusion of being in a forest.
One could go on and on about the natural elements at Sagrada Familia, but as I looked at my photos I was stuck by contrasting religious images.
Ones depicting the birth story are delicate and detailed.
Not only are they crudely done, there is such incredible sadness in them.
Without question, Gaudi was an architect of tremendous talent who was not afraid to think outside the boundaries. While other of his work is complete, Sagrada Familia has been a work in progress for 140 years.
