The Callendar House was the first summer cottage built of brick in Bar Harbor. When this photograph was taken in 2016, the Jackson Lab owned this structure which is located on the Schooner Head Road just outside of Bar Harbor. The history of Bar Harbor is the history of the rich and famous and the story of the Callendar House fits right into this history. The imposing “cottage” was built in 1901 for Mrs. John Callendar Livingston, a member of the prominent and incredibly prosperous Livingston family, by Fredrick Savage. The structure was Savage’s most formal design and also the most expensive (partly because just before it was completed in 1901, the entire building burnt leading to a near complete rebuilding). Savage, himself, was a native of Northeast Harbor and the vast majority of his work consisted of cottages and hotels, showing the rise of Bar Harbor’s place as a “summer colony”. Savage built cottages in many styles including several prominent Queen Anne and Shingle Style structures showcasing the dominant design trends of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Callendar House, however, can be seen as firmly colonial revival in design and was the first summer “cottage” built with brick. At the time of its construction it was praised by the Bar Harbor Record for both its refinement and its modernity. In 1992, the Callendar House was purchased by the Jackson Lab at a foreclosure auction. (Source: Maine Preservation).
Description: The Callendar House was the first summer cottage built of brick in Bar Harbor. When this photograph was taken in 2016, the Jackson Lab owned this structure which is located on the Schooner Head Road just outside of Bar Harbor. The history of Bar Harbor is the history of the rich and famous and the story of the Callendar House fits right into this history. The imposing “cottage” was built in 1901 for Mrs. John Callendar Livingston, a member of the prominent and incredibly prosperous Livingston family, by Fredrick Savage. The structure was Savage’s most formal design and also the most expensive (partly because just before it was completed in 1901, the entire building burnt leading to a near complete rebuilding). Savage, himself, was a native of Northeast Harbor and the vast majority of his work consisted of cottages and hotels, showing the rise of Bar Harbor’s place as a “summer colony”. Savage built cottages in many styles including several prominent Queen Anne and Shingle Style structures showcasing the dominant design trends of the late 19th century and early 20th century. The Callendar House, however, can be seen as firmly colonial revival in design and was the first summer “cottage” built with brick. At the time of its construction it was praised by the Bar Harbor Record for both its refinement and its modernity. In 1992, the Callendar House was purchased by the Jackson Lab at a foreclosure auction. (Source: Maine Preservation). [show more]
In 2019 graphic arts students at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor created these posters to promote the Digital Archive. The students were: - Mark F. Riewestahl (Take a trip down the rabbit hole) - Rosemary Santoro (Discover the history that connects us) - Alissar Chaar (Local history is just a click away) - Anita van Dam (Connect the dots to discover history in a click).
Description: In 2019 graphic arts students at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor created these posters to promote the Digital Archive. The students were: - Mark F. Riewestahl (Take a trip down the rabbit hole) - Rosemary Santoro (Discover the history that connects us) - Alissar Chaar (Local history is just a click away) - Anita van Dam (Connect the dots to discover history in a click).
Published in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Norwood's Cove which took place on August 9, 1914. The book describes how the events appeared to those Mainers who participated in the battle, and how those events became part of the local historical narrative.
Description: Published in honor of the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Norwood's Cove which took place on August 9, 1914. The book describes how the events appeared to those Mainers who participated in the battle, and how those events became part of the local historical narrative.
This book of W.H. Ballard photographs, from the collection of the Southwest Harbor Public Library, compiles images from the Ballard exhibit displayed in the library from June 30, 2013 - July 26, 2013. The book images that are less well known than Ballard's famous postcards and scenic views of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Written and edited by Meredith Hutchins Designed and produced by Charlotte R. Morrill Research by Meredith Hutchins and Charlotte R. Morrill
Description: This book of W.H. Ballard photographs, from the collection of the Southwest Harbor Public Library, compiles images from the Ballard exhibit displayed in the library from June 30, 2013 - July 26, 2013. The book images that are less well known than Ballard's famous postcards and scenic views of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Written and edited by Meredith Hutchins Designed and produced by Charlotte R. Morrill Research by Meredith Hutchins and Charlotte R. Morrill [show more]
The following comes from an article in Soundings by Steve Knauth. Lester Fagans was a top commercial illustrator and painter through three decades, honored by the American Merchant Marine Institute as “one of the country’s leading contemporary marine artists.” Fagans was known early on for his detailed boat portraits. A 1939 work, Breezy Day, shows Henry Gibson’s powerboat Vesta, built by Hubert Johnson’s yard in Bay Head, New Jersey. After serving in the South Pacific during World War II, Fagans began a career in commercial art, working for a variety of companies. He did road maps for Esso (Standard Oil); illustrated articles for Popular Science (one on “How to Drive” required Fagans to do extensive study of accident photographs); and a series of cutaway drawings of a centrifuge (for an article on supersonic aviation). His finely done posters for the shipping companies Moore-McCormack, Grace Lines and American Export Lines helped publicize their new fleets of ocean liners. But he’s perhaps best known for his work in the recreational boating field. The boating business was booming in the 1950s and ’60s, with new boats, new designs and new technology to excite the buying public. Fagans helped show it all off through his magazine article illustrations and covers. He also did drawings for the so-called “Bible of Boating,” Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and Small Boat Handing. Self-effacing, Fagans worked with what he called “quick sketches” and “no ideas.” He described himself as a guy who has to work “pretty hard” and “once in a while receives a check.” He was active as an artist in the Chatham, Massachusetts, community that was his home. Countless entries in the Chatham Press announced lessons and demonstrations for civic groups and schoolchildren. Fagans died in 1964. To those with whom he worked, he was known for his draftsmanship and attention to detail. As an illustrator, one publication noted, Lester Fagans was a “popular choice.” This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue.
Description: The following comes from an article in Soundings by Steve Knauth. Lester Fagans was a top commercial illustrator and painter through three decades, honored by the American Merchant Marine Institute as “one of the country’s leading contemporary marine artists.” Fagans was known early on for his detailed boat portraits. A 1939 work, Breezy Day, shows Henry Gibson’s powerboat Vesta, built by Hubert Johnson’s yard in Bay Head, New Jersey. After serving in the South Pacific during World War II, Fagans began a career in commercial art, working for a variety of companies. He did road maps for Esso (Standard Oil); illustrated articles for Popular Science (one on “How to Drive” required Fagans to do extensive study of accident photographs); and a series of cutaway drawings of a centrifuge (for an article on supersonic aviation). His finely done posters for the shipping companies Moore-McCormack, Grace Lines and American Export Lines helped publicize their new fleets of ocean liners. But he’s perhaps best known for his work in the recreational boating field. The boating business was booming in the 1950s and ’60s, with new boats, new designs and new technology to excite the buying public. Fagans helped show it all off through his magazine article illustrations and covers. He also did drawings for the so-called “Bible of Boating,” Chapman Piloting: Seamanship and Small Boat Handing. Self-effacing, Fagans worked with what he called “quick sketches” and “no ideas.” He described himself as a guy who has to work “pretty hard” and “once in a while receives a check.” He was active as an artist in the Chatham, Massachusetts, community that was his home. Countless entries in the Chatham Press announced lessons and demonstrations for civic groups and schoolchildren. Fagans died in 1964. To those with whom he worked, he was known for his draftsmanship and attention to detail. As an illustrator, one publication noted, Lester Fagans was a “popular choice.” This article originally appeared in the April 2017 issue. [show more]
Historian, Genealogist, Musician, Boat Builder, Author, Raconteur - there is only one Ralph Stanley. Ralph bears many titles and awards, but for the Southwest Harbor Public Library he is, most of all, a friend. Ralph started using the library as a child and continued as an adult, graduated to Trustee, to President of the Trustees, and, in 2013, became our first Trustee Emeritus. Since 2007 he has spent hundreds of hours patiently identifying people, places and vessels in the Digital Archive. He gave the library his vast collection of photographs, The Ralph Warren Stanley Collection, in 2014. For years he has told us stories of his family, friends and adventures on Mount Desert Island. Archivists have written down almost every word and fact – a treasure for the collection and for the community. This is his chef d’oeuvre, The Stanleys of Cranberry Isles…and Other Colorful Characters, Ralph’s own story, based on his own research and in his own words. To purchase the print version of this book please contact the Southwest Harbor Public Library at archivist@swhplibrary.org or (207) 244-7065.
Description: Historian, Genealogist, Musician, Boat Builder, Author, Raconteur - there is only one Ralph Stanley. Ralph bears many titles and awards, but for the Southwest Harbor Public Library he is, most of all, a friend. Ralph started using the library as a child and continued as an adult, graduated to Trustee, to President of the Trustees, and, in 2013, became our first Trustee Emeritus. Since 2007 he has spent hundreds of hours patiently identifying people, places and vessels in the Digital Archive. He gave the library his vast collection of photographs, The Ralph Warren Stanley Collection, in 2014. For years he has told us stories of his family, friends and adventures on Mount Desert Island. Archivists have written down almost every word and fact – a treasure for the collection and for the community. This is his chef d’oeuvre, The Stanleys of Cranberry Isles…and Other Colorful Characters, Ralph’s own story, based on his own research and in his own words. To purchase the print version of this book please contact the Southwest Harbor Public Library at archivist@swhplibrary.org or (207) 244-7065. [show more]