From collection Creating Acadia National Park: The George B. Dorr Research Archive of Ronald H. Epp

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Old Farm Estate-Growth and Development 1929 to 1960
to
4/26/08
chine file what verseis
here is deplication
and
Old
PRESIDENT COOLIDGE CONSIDERING
rt and Bar
4/11/28 BAR HARBOR AS A SUMMER HOME
octery to
lfog of
Oldfarm, Estate of George B. Dorr, May be Summer White House---
Desert in
Governor Brewster Calls on Chief Executive and Extends Invita-
is Harbor
d a Flower
tion--- President Expresses a Lively Interest in Coming to
on August
Bar Harbor for Summer Vacation This Year
)
show there
g and de-
Island and
Oldfarm, George B. Dorr's Bar Harbor estate, has been offered to President Coolidge as a summer White House. The
ing of these
invitation to Maine and Bar Harbor was extended by Governor Brewster who was a caller at the White House Tuesday
ittee hopes
President Coolidge is seriously considering coming to Bar Harbor and has expressed a desire to see photographs and a detailed
ition open
description of the estate offered him by Mr. Dorr.
all inter-
repared by
published
ORKING
nce For
ason
1 has his
ek. The
arter and
D be filled
r will be
position.
of pitch-
I fill the
1 either
: of two
wo posi-
the out-
ates.
S several
Bangor,
Normal
e season
16. The
Harbor,
Oldfarm Manor, Facing the Shore
School,
May 12,
The first news of the invitation ex-
Governor Brewster said, and asked many
r, here;
flower, at his disposal all summer Mr
tended by Governor Brewster was re-
questions about facilities at Old Farm,
ortheast
Coolidge is very fond of yachting and
ceived here over the radio at four o'clock
rail and water communications and re-
[achias;
missed the trips last summer when he
Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Dorr was at
creation provisions. Governor Brewster
June 6,
went to the Black Hills of South Nakota
Oldfarm when interviewed and told The
promised that these details would be for
The Maine Congressional delegation
TIMES that he had discussed the matter
warded to the White House immediately
called on Mr. Coolidge today and further
with Governor Brewster and had told the
< Coun-
Mr. Coolidge questioned Gov. Brews-
Governor that he would be highly
urged him to spend his vacation in Maine
eir full
ter about the fishing in Maine. Mr.
honored to have the President make use
Cyrus K. Curti who has a summer
Coolidge also was pleased that a summer
ublicity
of Oldfarm as a summer White House.
place at Camden, will lunch with the
home at Bar Harbor would enable him
President today and put in a good word
Mr. Coolidge was much interested,
so have the Presidential vacht, the May-
Continued on page
CALL 777
D
QLDFARM MAY BE
Complete simplicity, the supreme at-
WILL GIVE PART
SUMMER WHITE HOUSE
traction of fine lighting, and the some-
CROS
(Continued from page 1)
thing of the house's atmosphere which
for Bar Harbor.
speaks the dignity and hospitality of the
The Bar Harbor
Oldfarm, one of the Island's most beau-
finest type of old New England manor
Club is planning a ca;
tiful summer residences, is located about
house, is predominant. The special
at the Masonic banq
a mile from the village of Bar Harbor,
charm must naturally be felt by this or
evening, April 17.
its broad avenue leading off lower Main
that individual as reaching the greatest
party will be given
street a short distance from where the
height in this or that room. A host of
ing of a dental fund
road forks, to the right going toward
people have loved and admired the big
Red Cross. Membe
Seal Harbor and to the left leading out
dining room where, for many, the glori-
selling tables. It is
to the Ocean Drive.
ous sweep of sky and sea, spreading in
that $100 may be ear
The house sets far in from the Main
surpassing beauty from the leaded glass
dental fund. Contr
street, reached by a tree-lined avenue of
door which lights the room and gives
from those who do n.
unique beauty, which sweeps up to
upon a big brick and granite porch, un-
card party will be
broaden and curve before the front porch
roofed, is the finest view from the lower
man's Study Club
flanked by handsome lawns and beauti-
floor.
substantial amount.
ful shrubs.
In the corner opposite the parlor is the
At the opposite side of the house from
library, a room giving upon drive and
NEW Y.M.C.A. R
where the entrance drive reaches it, the
woods with a glimpse of Champlain
NEARD
land slopes away in a terraced declivity,
Mountain, rising, through the trees,
granite stepped, reaching down at last
against the sky. And to this room one
The new rifle rang
to a broad grass land extending straight
might say the great lilacs outside belong.
nearly completed.
over and down to the point which, needle
Purple lilacs and white, the rose glory of
been built by E.
like, extends into the sea. It is this
the rhododenrons, the roses, and many
Jesse B. Lewis, ass
somewhat curious formation of rocky
other delightful old time flowers can be
ested men. The o
shore, like a compass needle, which, it is
found in the Oldfarm estate, from the
gallery of the gymn
said, gave the harbor its name, Compass
time the daffodils poke golden heads
moved, the floor rela
Harbor, and the cottage also, which was
through the pine needle carpets beneath
sheathed up. An
the original farmhouse on the estate
the trees of the garden paths to the very
backed with steel.
when the Conners farm as it then was
last golden gleam of marigolds, frost de-
the range will be
known, was purchased by the late Charles
fying.
A rifle club will
Hazen Dorr of Boston, father of Supt.
One would find it difficult to choose
members of the Y
Dorr, and one of the earliest of Bar Har-
one's quarters in the big house above-
club will have con
bor's summer residents.
stairs, for both the second and third
will see that only t
Oldfarm's great attractions may be
floors are equally attractive. On the
shoot, and also that
said to culminate in a sort of beautiful
third floor is a bookcase-lined room known
are carried out.
isolation, for the great extent of the
as the sea room, with its great fire-
believes that the ind
Lands about it, its beautiful old flower
place, huge, window seat and charming
an added feature W
garden and the final merging of the home-
expanse of small paned, swinging doored
tion to many of the
stead lands into the surpassing beauty of
windows, looking out over landscape and
the great growing gardens of the Mount
seascape incomparable in loveliness with
The Emery Dist
Desert Nurseries flowers, plants and
anything else about the house. From the
hold a social and
trees that give the estate charm that is
great side porch, the top or third story,
neighborhood hall
peculiar to its location, unparalleled
one may stand facing the woods with the
Wednesday, April
upon the Island.
sea at the left and Champlain Mountain,
cards will be a par
The house itself, built something like a
in Lafayette National Park, at the right.
gram.
half century ago, by the late Charles H.
Two large and attractive bedrooms
Dorr of Boston, is one of the oldest on
back of the sea room face the mountains
And
the Island and one of the first to be
also Steps ascending just above the
There
built for practical winter as well as sum-
is
no
winding staircase to the sea room give
husbands
mer residence/here
upon the roof of the rear portion of the
Journal
The house is built with an eye to
house and form a beautiful vantage
spaciousness and comfort. There is the
point for looking off in the town's direc
Tracious charm of old New England in
tion, over sea and land
The practicallit
simple the
On the second floor. the rooms have
too, by its
with its staircase having
the same charm spaciousness and sim-
the furnaces and
him rooms of the first Loor
Dificity
The great front chamber with
which the rock
to the Ocean Drive
our
AWAY
The house 4.14 far in from the Main
surpassing beauty from the lended glurr
dental fund. Contributions t
adrent reached by H tree-lined avenue of
door which lights the room and gives
from thom who do not care to
unique beauty, which sweeps up to
upon a big brick and granite porch, un-
card party will be welcomed
broaden and curve before the front porch
roofed, is the finest view from the lower
man's Study Club has alread
flunked by handsome lawns and beauti-
floor
substantial amount.
ful shriph
In the corner opposite the parlor is the
At the opposite side of the house from
library, a room giving upon drive and
NEW Y.M.C.A. RIFLE R.
where the entrance drive reaches it, the
woods with is glimpse of Champlain
NEARING COM
land slopes away in H terraced declivity,
Mountain, rising, through the trees,
granite stepped, reaching down at last
against the sky. And to this room one
The new rifle range at the
to r broad grass land extending straight
might say the great lilacs outside belong
nearly completed. This new
over and down to the point which, needle
Purple lilacs and white, the rose glory of
been built by E. Vaughn (
like, extends into the sea. It is this
the rhododenrons, the roses, and many
Jesse B. Lewis, assisted by
somewhat curious formation of rocky
other delightful old time flowers can be
ested men. The old bleac
shore, like a compass needle, which, it is
found in the Oldfarm estate, from the
gallery of the gymnasium h:
said, gave the harbor its name, Compass
time the daffodils poke golden heads
moved, the floor relaid and th.
Harbor, and the cottage also, which was
through the pine needle carpets beneath
sheathed up. An excellent t.
the original farmhouse on the estate
the trees of the garden paths to the very
backed with steel. Within
when the Conners farm as it then was
last golden gleam of marigolds, frost de-
the range will be ready for
known, was purchased by the late Charles
fying
A rifle club will be former
Hazen Dorr of Boston, father of Supt.
One would find it difficult to choose
members of the Y. M. C.
Dorr, and one of the earliest of Bar Har-
one's quarters in the big house above-
club will have control of t)
bor's summer residents.
stairs, for both the second and third
will see that only those who
Oldfarm's great attractions may be
floors are equally attractive. On the
shoot, and also that the rules.
said to culminate in a sort of beautiful
third floor is a bookcase-lined room known
are carried out. Secreta
inolation, for the great extent of the
as the sea room, with its great fire-
believes that the indoor rang
Lands about it, its beautiful old flower
place, huge window seat and charming
an added feature which will
garden and the final merging of the home-
expanse of small paned, swinging doored
tion to many of the member
stead lands into the surpassing beauty of
windows, looking out over landscape and
the-great growing gardens of the Mount
seascape incomparable in loveliness with
The Emery District Sew
Debert Nurseries' flowers, plants and
anything else about the house. From the
hold a social and sale at
trees that give the estate charm that is
great side porch, the top or third story,
neighborhood hall on the
peculiar to its location, unparalleled
one may stand facing the woods with the
Wednesday, April 18.
I
upon the Island.
sea at the left and Champlain Mountain,
cards will be a part of the
The house itself, built something like a
in Lafayette National Park, at the right.
gram.
half century ago, by the late Charles H.
Two large and attractive bedrooms
Dorr of Boston, is one of the oldest on
back of the sea room face the mountains
And Some W
the Island and one of the first to be
also. Steps ascending just above the
There is DO place 111
built for practical winter as well as sum-
winding staircase to the sea room give
some husbands are giad
mer residence/bere.
upon the roof of the rear portion of the
Journal.
The house is built with an eye to
house and form a beautiful vantage
spaciousness and comfort. There is the
point for looking off in the town's direc-
gracious charm of old New England in
tion, over sea and land.
The practicallity of the
its simaple arrangement of rooms, the
On the second floor, the rooms have
sured too, by its fine heatin
wide hall, with its broad staircase, having
the same charm. spaciousness and sim-
the furnaces and heaters
the four larger.room of the first floor
plicity. The great front chamber with
which the rock foundation
opening off it directly. The largest room
its windows and long glass doors opening
lasting solidity. Steam an
of the first floor, the partor, looks out to-
upon the vine d-porches is of imusual
the great house comfortable
ward wooded ground on the one side and
beauty
its many beautiful freplad
and door upon the
Because of the fact that Supt. Door
ably constructed for eithe
other, opening onto the large
on that ride of the house and on-
some years ago, when be was the, only
menting or for chilly days
of the top of the first fighter
driving member of his family, made Bar
places by the sea in a A
And there are fine bat
down
to
the
point.
Harbor the place of his permanent read-
he brought from the old Common
closets, clothes premes,
fiding
doors
when
home Beston, this beaus
throughout the house.
old
Oldfarm'
The kitchen, laundry,
is
enhanced by it.
partry,
various
elc
to
the
Whole
"Old
tashioned
yandens
need
to
75HH
Unique
oldform
4/18/28
THE GARDEN AT OLDFARM MANOR
A border of old-fachioned Hardy Perennials
gardenslat Oldfarm which date
at Oldfarro that one come's to reatful
Nurseries a seant quarter of a mile away.
Spiraea. One may admire :1 bit earlier
century to other owners
realization of thatsecurity from intrusion,
Gardens and sea make a beautiful picture
the drooping pendant stender leaves of
the land and which have been culti-
even of noise. A summer afternoon in
for the mind from the mere words, and in
the great fronds of the False Solomon's
and eared for by the Dorr family
the old garden may be spent in silence
the garden at Oldfurni there comes a
Seal with its exquisite cream wax, green
the present owner's father, the
and solitude. For the silence cannot be
quickening realization of what an oldfa-
tipped, of the blossoras, pendant, half
Lile Dorr of Beston, pur-
said to be broken by the Runn! of bees
shioned garden by the sea can mean.
hidden on the stem beneath the foliage.
the land in 1868, there is a verita-
about it yellow rose bush which is prob-
Many of the blooms of today are those
Apple blossom time is a glory in the
hest of obdfashioned flowers. To
ably one of New England's oldest and
from plants the original roots of which
old garden, and the superb Hower show
then one would need to 11111
which blooms with innumerable blos-
came down from Boston. Mrs. Dorr,
given without assistance by the lilaes in
through the cabile of oldtime blooms.
some, is myriad of golden nodding heads.
mother of the present owner, came from
all their loveliness of purple or white or
And than Little chilf charm of the garden
Hor is that silence broleen by the sound
an old Boston family whose traditions
lavender surpasses all knowledge of any-
could he 1:10 DILL of the writing, for the
of the wind in the huge trees which
were interlinked with the homes, the
thing quite so rare. Freet in brilliancy
it its scclusion as it is the charm
guard the garden, the flowers homes lying
gardens, the music, the literature of it
the gladioli comes in the old-fashioned
the which Colate.
in and around their trunks and under
New England which for culture
garden, pale lemon stalks of beautiful
Something like 30 acres are comprised
their shadow for trees were never cut
down the centuries. And an old New
flowers vying with the more goregous
in the old home grounds, it may be
down or uprooted for any but imperative
England garden typifies all that with a
types of scarlet or crimson splashed
stated; and when one remembers that
reasons at Oldfarm.
surety and a beauty which is indescrib-
rose. Then there are huge beds of golden
adjoining estates on either side are equally
One might enter the garden with it
able. The gardens at Oldfarm have,
lilies, heavily scented and showing amidst
scinded, one knows that Oldfarro offers
favorite alower but come out disloyal to it.
even to the untrained Hower loves,
the dark, deep bluish purples of the
privacy unparelleled in the list of summer
For if one favor3 the phlox, in their dain-
proved quite as potent an attraction as
monkshood
homes. The summer estate of Lea Mc.
tiness of pink or lavender or crimson or
have the other attributes of the gracious
And as one follows the paths in the
Lequer is above and this is set in woods,
white or purple or shadings of every lovely
and fine old house, built almost a half
Oldfarm garden with one's feet leaving the
its spacious ground running down (1)
tone between, one would never turn away.
century ago.
bed of pine needles to step upon the earth
Heat Oldfarin's. The next point is that
from the other flowers there, 80 lovely are
One may stand in the old garden in
or gravel one comes to the enclosing
at
of the estate of Mrs. Dayid B. Ogden,
they. Peony blooms are found to be as
midsummer and find something to fit the
beauty of a huge cedar hedge, thru
and the quiet and seclusion of that estate
exquisite there in the oldtime garden as
taste of any flower lover. It inay be
which, at the height of a man's head, one
again augments that of Oldfarm.
they arein the ranks of market prepared
the gorgeous red of a peony or it may be
may pass into the vegetable gardens
It is in the oldfashioned Hower garden
blooms down at the Mount Desert
the creamy, lavey featheriness
of
the
where also are flowers intermingled.
LATEST HAROLD LLOYD
plies. Lloyd, in the breezy character of a
worthy of the sturdiest pioneer, yet
COMMENCEMENT PLANS FOR
COMEDY SETS FAST PAGE
New York boy, whose principal voca-
Lloyd finds plenty for his humorous ad-
BUCKSPORT SATURDAY
tion is losing jobs, gives one of his most
ventures, and in "Speedy" he covers
"Fast and furious" is an expression
likeable characterizations, and in addi-
territory that as far as motion picture
Buckaport, April 16. --The plans for
the Commencement exercises at Bucks-
that earries little weight any longer,
tion has a story that is appealing, as
comedy is concerned, is virginal.
owing to its misuse by picture
well as based on fact.
"Speedy" is the kind of universal pie-
port Suminary were announced today
press agents, but nothing more aptly
Lloyd has a variety of positions in
ture that will make the whole world
by Headmanter Halph E. Peck, The
Trustees animal meeting will be held at
describes Harold Lloyd's newest produc-
"Speedy" ranging from soda jerker, to
laugh. Its comedy is the kind that knows
the Suminary June 8. That evening, the
tjon "Speedy" which comes to the Star
the chauffeur of a horse car, with a
no nationality, and while typically
Theatre Friday and Saturday
taxicab pilot, and several others sand-
American, and New York 111 particular,
Annual Montgomery Prize Speaking
From start to finish it is literally a
wiched in between.
will be just as popular in London as it
is
control
Dorr Initial 4
12/20/07
1930 MAINE, HANCOCK, B.H., Dist.4
Permitted
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State
maine
Bau Harbir
DEPARTMENT OF OF THE CERSUS
Interporated place
Insurance Distict Mr. 5-4
Start Ma.
FIFTERNTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES: 1930
289
County
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Word city
POPULATION SCHEDULE
Supervisor's Describe Mn
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place
Institution
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PLACE OF ABODE
NAME
HOME DATA
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION
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PLACE or BERTE
TOWAR
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AREREVIATIONS TO BE USED
18 INDICATED
ENTRES ARE REQUIRED IN THE
SEVERAL COLOMES is FOLLOWS:
DORR, GEORGE B. $50,000 77 MA MA MA
CURATOR NT. PARK
"OLD FARM MANOR"
[Rental Opportunity No date
Mr. George B. Dorr
Compass Harbor Road
Has one of the finest views in Bar Harbor of bay and islands. Several acres
of attractive grounds sloping to the ocean. Tennis court.
BASEMENT: furnace, heater for hot water.
1st Floor: hall, fireplace; living room, fireplace; parlor, fireplace; library,
fireplace; dining room, fireplace; butler's pantry, kitchen, servants' dining
room, laundry, two toilets.
2nd Floor: six master bedrooms, three master baths, two fireplaces; four servants'
bedrooms, one bath.
3rd Floor: four master bedrooms, one bath.
Laundry House.
Servants' House: three bedrooms, bath, living room.
Chauffeur's House: two bedrooms, bath, laundry, combination dining room and kitchen.
Garage: four cars.
FRED C. LYNAM & COMPANY
Real Estate
Bar Harbor,
Maine
"OLD FARM MANOR" - The residence of Mr.
237
George B. Dorr, situated on the shore of
Compass Harbor. Has one of the finest
views in Bar Harbor of bay and islands. Sev-
eral acres of attractive grounds sloping to
the ocean. Tennis court.
Basement: furnace, heater for hot water.
1st Floor: hall, fireplace; living room, fireplace; par-
lor, fireplace; library, fireplace; dining room,
fireplace; butler's pantry, kitchen, servants'
dining room, laundry, two toilets.
2nd Floor: six master bedrooms, three master baths,
two fireplaces; four servants' bedrooms, one bath.
3rd Floor: four master bedrooms, one bath.
Laundry House.
Servants' House: three bedrooms, bath, living room.
Chauffeur's House: two bedrooms, bath, laundry,
combination dining room and kitchen.
Garage: four cars.
2
Mr. Dour's House
*016 Farm"
Ground Floor:
Kitches
#
Dining Room
.
Laundry
Butler's Pantry
2 Teilets
Ground Floor:
Entrance Halls
Dining Room, Fireplace
Library, Fireplace
Living Room, Fireplace
Living Room, Fireplace
Second Floor:
Upper Hall
2 Large bedreons with bathroom that san be used with
either or both, fireplase in one of these reems.
1 Bedreom, no bath, but with wash bowl.
1 separate Bathroom
1 Large Bedreem, no bath, fireplace
1 Bedroom with bath and fireplace
Servants Zeen on this Floors
1 Bathroom
1 Teiler room
5 Bedrooms, single beds, Notes One of these bedrooms
so arranged that st can Do used with one of the Master rooms.
Third Floor:
1 Bathroom
s Reoms san be used as bedrooms or for other purposes.
Additional Houses
1 Laundry
1 House for servants; this has $ bedrooms, Bathroom
and living room.
1 House for Chauffour, has 2 Bedrooms, Outhroom,Laundry
room and combination Kitchen and Living room.
Seat slip and Tennis Court
Garageous cars
CI
old
form
BAR HARBOR, MAINE, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1925
FIVI
WAS A
ONLY
25
VOTERS
GOV. BREWSTER HAS
B.
H.
CONTINUES
TO
HORSE
NT EVENT
AT TOWN MEETING
THREE BUSY DAYS
LEAD THE LEAGUE
d Most Success-
Recent Assessors Elected for Short
State's Chief Executive and Members
Many Years in
P. C. Wins Tuesday and is Giving
Term-Firemen Get Back Pay-
of Party Attend Many Functions
Fight for First Place
bor
No Action on Parking
in Bar Harbor
Show Cla
e Swimming Club
A special town meeting on Tuesday
The Bar Harbor baseball team con-
Prog:
attended by more
was attended by less than 25 voters.
For the purpose of examining the
tinues to lead the Maine League but
was by far the
Fred L. Hadley, Osmond Emery and
wonderful relief map of the Island now
both P. C.F. and Bangorare winning more
.nt gathering that
John Suminsby the assessors' of taxes
being completed by Dr. Robert Abbe,
and more games and there is no certainty
1 in more than a
who were legislated out of office with the
Governor Brewster finished his visit in
as to which team will head the league at
concluding featurd
repeal of the Special Act of 1905 were
Bar Harbor by calling at Brookend, the
the close of the season. Good baseball is
Last week it
success of which
elected to serve until the annual meeting
summer home for 40 years of the famous
the rule rather than the exception in this
narred by incle-
in March, 1926.
New York surgeon, on Sunday forenoon,
Maine League and the fans are enjoying
is yachting. A:
The Town voted to instruct the select-
accompanied by his staff and by Supt.
of attraction by
Ball brought to a
the best season ever. The present
taining in honor
men to pay the permanent firemen the
Dorr of Lafayette National Park whose
standing of the teams:
where on Thurs
f the British and
balance due them for wages according
house guest he had been since Thursday
Won
Lost
gymkhana und
Pc.
Bar Harbor
Morrell Park
almost unprece-
to vote of the Town at a special town
17
8
.680
this resort.
meeting held on June 16, 1919. This
P. C. F.
15
12
nearly everyone
.556
from the surroy
S, verandas and
means that the permanent firemen will
Bangor
12
15
444
g Club present a
Easterns
9
18
already a great
receive back pay for one day in each
333
reserved seats
than that of
month having 31 days since June, 1919.
Bar Harbor lost to P. C.~F. here
were flags and
They have been paid on the basis of
yesterday, by a score of 5 to 7. Bar
will be complete
This stand conti
ih and American
thirty-day month. The amount involved
Harbor plays the Easterns at South
each and 80
flags from the
is approximately $500.
Brewer today and plays Bangor at
Isabel Thorndik
in ball room and
The matter of an ordinance relating
Easterns Park Thursday. The Easterns
committee on
be setting for a
to parking in the streets of Bar Harbor
come here Friday and Bangor comes here
the entire first
bered.
was referred to the annual meeting in
next Tuesday.
second row. T
gowns and the
March.
the new stand
uniforms added
than were those
picture. Nearly
SHIPS LEAVE BAR
in the opinion
ninence in and
COSTUME BALL WAS
committee, quit
i the Navy Ball
t that everyone
HARBOR TUESDAY
first row boxes.
Russell's Swim-
A BRILLIANT SUCCESS
Reservations
; at its best for
be made with
Town Regrets Departure and Com-
m, melody and
and Trust Com
manders Express Appreciation
ed in every
Attendance of 500 at Gay and Festive
for Hospitality Here
Among those
19 delicious and
Affair for Benefit of Bar Harbor
for the show are
Navy Ball was
Hospital
Chester P. Bar
very viewpoint.
Bar Harbor thoroughly enjoyed the
Mrs. H. F. Dim
vy Ball Com-
visit of the British and American navies
The costume dance held at the Swim-
here during Tennis Week and the whole
Miss Mary U.
ming Club for the benefit of the Bar
Clinton Falls,
town deeply regretted their departure
like, Chester P.
Harbor Hospital, last Wednesday night,
Mrs. E. Howar
Governor Ralph O. Brewster
Tuesday, their leaving having been de-
)eWitt Clinton
was a gay and festive affair attended by
Livingston, Mr
layed a day on account of the thick fog
ierick Fearing,
nearly 500, and a good sum was netted
night at Oldfarm. Governor Brewster also
H.I Miller, Mrsa
of Monday. The United States Ships
1, F. Hamilton
for the hospital.
visited on Saturday President Charles
Mrs. Robert His
Detroit, Raleigh and Milwaukee and
eorge McMur-
Mrs. E. B. McMories, wife of Lt.
W. Eliot at his Northeast Harbor sum-
His Majesty's Ships Wistaria and
S. Moore, Mrs
illiam Procter,
McMories of the U. S. S. Detroit, won
mer home, visited Kenarden Lodge and
Mrs. William
Valerian had been in the harbor for ten
Bell Sweeney,
the first prize for her Hawaiian costume.
was welcomed by Mrs. John S. Kennedy
Taylor Pyne, M
days. The ships with their gray paint
Miss Helen Thorndike. who was charm-
and called upon Mrs. William C. Endi-
John D. Rocke:
loomed up in the lower harbor making a
ing in an old fashioned costume, won
cott. The three days of the stay of the
L. Satterlee, M
dinners for the
picture that is always welcomed here.
y Ball were:
second prize and Miss Katherine Tod
state's chief executive here were full,
Edward T. Sto:
The officers and men of the two services
rs. Harry Hill
received honorable mention for her
but the program in spite of bad weather
added much to the gayety of the resort
Thorndike, Mrs
V. Hoppin,
Turkish costume.
the greater part of the time went through
during their visit and made many friends
Mrs. Frederick
; Mrs. Walter
Mr. Henry Schieffelin won the first
perfectly.
while here.
McCornick at
prize for the men in a Colonial costume
The party included Governor and
The committe?
r. and Mrs.
and Mr. Robert Ryle, dressed as a
Mrs. Brewster, Col. and Mrs. Farnum,
Frederick C. Fearing, Chairman of
the Tennis Week committee addressed
to 12)
pirate won second prize. Mr. Ernest
Col. and Mrs. Marsh and Philip Shorey.
Burton received honorable mention for
The Governor was photographed at
the following wireless message to Rear
his costume of Italian rag picker. The
Pryor's Island on Saturday as the
Admiral Willard, Commanding Light
judges were Mr. Philip Livingston, Col.
Cruiser Division 3, S., Scouting Fleet.
party was leaving there after a picnic
and to Commander-in-Command P. W.
De Witt Clinton Fulls and Col. F. L. V.
lunch by Ranger W. B. Campbell. He
Hoppin.
visited the war ships in the harbor and
King, D. S. O., R. N., of H. M. S.
odick
Wistaria:
(Continued on page 12)
(Continued on page 12)
"The hosts of friends which you and
the officers and men under your command
TE
(Continued on page 12)
Eastman Cameras, Films and Supplies
Waterman and Wahl Pens and Pencils
A Superior Line of Leather Goods
10
U-DRIVE
The Store of Quality
TAT I
din
lot
06
this morning wish
the
fleet
left.
From
noon
until
late
seriously and is putting in some hard
tened
health and happiness,
every night the sailors kept them rolling.
work with his partner, Maurice dePau.
to welcoming you here
The building was open all day-Sunday
An extra added attraction will be the
The worst fire that Bar
for the boys and the swimming pool and
moving picture of the championship
had in years broke out in the
illard sent the following
pool tables were used all day except
wrestling match between Strangler Lewis
of the Mount Desert Inn, for
in reply to Mr. Fearing:
during the morning church hour.
and Big Wayne Munn.
Lynam House, on Thursday
S. Detroit, Flagship Light
The Y. M. C. A. was letter writing
burning the Inn to the ground
Division 3, U. S. Scouting
headquarters, too, and stamps and
GOV. BREWSTER HAS
áging the St. Sauveur Hotel nex
Via Seawall RadioStation.
mailing service were furnished. The
BUSY THREE DAYS
an extend conservatively estir
t 10, 2 P. M.
regular magazines on the reading table
(Continued from page 1)
$10,000, the entire property lo
Fearing,
were liberally supplemented by additional
received in turn Admiral Willard and
fire being about $40,000, partial
Maine.
ones brought in by Mrs. Sutton, of the
ed by insurance.
other officers at Oldfarm.
ander, the officers, and the
Navy League, who also distributed
One of the largest receptions ever
Though the department
: Cruiser Division 8, thank
candy and other treats to the men.
ever held in Bar Harbor was that of
promptly the fire had gaine
:heir friends in Bar Harbor
Basket ball men, boxers and wrestlers
Friday afternoon at Oldfarm when Mr.
headway that the fight was
al welcome and generous
from the American ships did daily
Dorr invited about 700 people, to greet
surrounding property and the
stended to them. We are
work-outs in the gymnasium. There
Governor Brewster at his home, where
of Chief Hamor and his men,
regret, but carry away with
was no need this year to provide any
for many years distinguished guests have
gular and volunteer, was the
ppy memories and cherish
beds, as the liberty periods ended at
been entertained. The house was sim-
of most favorable comment.
we may return next year.
midnight.
ply but tastefully decorated. The guests
narrow driveway separated
(Signed) Willard
It would be difficult to over-estimate
were received by the governor and his
Sauveur from the nearest of
ng replied as follows:
the part the Y. M. C. A. and its social
party and Mr. Dorr. Tea and punch
cottages and time and time agai:
S. Wistaria
advantages to the sailors played in
were served, Mrs. R. W. Wakefield, Mrs.
Sauveur caught fire, the flames
awall Radio Station, Aug.
making the stay of the men of the two
Harry Lynam. Mrs. Fred C. Lynam,
by the prompt action of the fire
5. P. M.
fleets SO pleasant and friendly. The
Mrs. T. L. Roberts, Mrs. Harry M.
while in the neighborhood several
Fearing,
national and international services ren-
Conners, Mrs. Mark Morrison, Mrs. A.
residences took fire on the roofs.
Maine.
dered each year in this way give the
Stroud Rodick, Mrs. John Preble, pour-
no headway however; because
please convey to all the
Association a rightful claim to the sup-
ing and being assisted by Miss Cathleen
vigilance of various volunteers.
ends we have made in Bar
port of all who know of its work.
Sherman, Miss Aileen Lenhart, who is
Mrs. J. N. Kondazian of
"sincere thanks for their
Miss Sherman's guest, and Miss Dorothy
trapped in her room by th
|od-speed. We thank you
WILL HOLDIMEETINGS HERE
Higgins. Mrs. G. Prescott Cleaves and
progress of the flames was resc
artily for the wonderful
AND AT NORTHEAST HARBOR
Mrs. William Sawyer also assisted.
Daniel H. Hamilton of the Bar
id kindness you have show-
Motor Company, who climbo
Continued from page 1
On Friday noon Mr. Dorr gave an
during our never-to-be-for-
swaying ladder and brought her
The patronesses are: Mrs. Robert Bacon,
informal luncheon when about 25 were
it Bar Harbor. We are all
though unconscious, to the
Mrs. John A. Brown, Jr., Miss Coles,
present.
rd to meeting you again.
his courage and sure-footedne
Mrs. T. DcWitt Cuyler, Mrs. M. L.
Governor Brewster and Mrs. Brewster
Signed) Captain P. W. King
doubtedly averting a tragedy.
Fearey, Mrs. Philip Livingston, Mrs.
and Mr. Dorr were guests on Friday
The fire was discovered by
John Markoe, Mrs. R. A. Parrock, Mrs.
night for dinner at the home of Mrs.
D TWO HOUSES
McCaffery, manager of the Inn: as
Harold Peabody, Mrs. Lansing Reed,
DeGREGOIRE PARK
Henry F. Dimock of Washington and
going up the back stairs from th
Mrs. John S. Rogers, Mrs. Charles R.
Bar Harbor. The same evening his
ment to the first floor and hea
Scott, Mrs. H. O. Sturges, Mrs. Augustus
staff, Col. Farnum and Col. Marsh,
erman has this week sold
crackling, and the fire swept up
Thorndike, Mrs. II. H. Thorndike. Miss
Mrs. Farnum and Mrs. Marsh and Mr.
DeGregoire Park. No. 34
the wooden building in an inc
Trevor, Mrs. A. Murray Young.
Shorey, Miss Grace Oakes, and Captain
short space of time,
nue has been purchased by
Another meeting will be held at the
C. W. DeMoleyns were entertained at
er and Son of Northeast
The Mount Desert Inn, Bar H
home of Mr. and Mrs. Harper Sibley
dinner by Hon. and Mrs. Guy E. Torrey
plan grading and other
oldest hotel, was a large wooden b:
at Northeast Harbor on Tuescay after-
at the Jordan Pond House.
9 on the lot now and durin
noon, August 18, at five o'clock. There
Saturday morning was a 'busy one and
(Continued on page 4)
) build a handsome bun-
will be singing by a quartet from the
in addition to various calls Governor
No. 80: has been sold to
Institute and tea will be served. The
Brewster addressed the Appalachain
Is and Lucy A. McCabe of
patronesses are Mrs. Stephen Baker,
Y. who will also build a
Camp ut Echo Lake, Lafayette National
Mrs. Charles D. Dickey, Mrs. William
Park. Many Southwest Harbor people
Draper Lewis, Mrs. Fitz Eugene New-
were present. Saturday noon Supt.
bold, Mrs. George Wharton Pepper,
Edward B. Mea
Dorr gave a picnic to 40 summer resi-
STATE TRANSFERS
Mrs. Charlton Yarnall.
dents of the Island in honor of the Gov-
The American Church Institute for
ernor and his staff on Pryor's Island, the
Attorney at Law
1 Hancock County For
Negros makes appropriations to ninc
nding August 8, 1925
recently acquired Park property, given
Industrial Schools, the Bishop Payne
in memory of James W. Pryor and John
26 Mt. Desert St.
Divinity School for the training of
Doyle to Earl L. Gray,
B. Pine by Mrs. Pryor and Mrs. Pinc.
Bar Ha
Negro+young men for the ministry, St.
A delicious chowder was served under
arranty deed, recorded Aug.
Agnes' Hospital and the Training School
254 South Fifteenth St.
the direction of Chief Ranger Hadley
for Nurses at St. Augustine's. The
and Ranger Rich, assisted by Ranger
Philadeli
Carr to D. E. Hurley,
number- of students enrolled in these
elease deed, recorded Aug. 3.
Thompson and Chief Mechanic Ralph
schools during the last regular school
Carr to D. E. Hurley,
Douglas. Saturday afternoon Governor
term was 3,673.
warranty deed, recorded
and Mrs. Brewster were guests of Mrs.
Three thousand five hundred and
Henry F. Dimock at the Building of
ninety-five attended the Summer Schools
or Banking & Trust Co.
Arts at the concert and Supt. Dorr had
and Farmers' Conferences held for the
VICTOR
a box in which were seated the Mrs.
Isaac M Tripp, Bar Harbor;
improvement of rural life, better farming
recorded August 3.
Farnum, Col. and Mrs. Marsh, Mrs.
REAL ESTATI
methods and better homes. Thus,
Lawrence to -Zettie M.
Mary G. McBride, Mr. Dorr, and his
more than 7,000 Negroes receive an-
recorded August 3.
secretary, Miss Oakes. Col. Farnum
Bar Harbor and 806 Se
nually definite instruction in the schools
i. Spurling to Emma F.
played golf on Kebo with Mr. Torrey.
under the supervision of the Institute.
I, recorded August 3.
Saturday evening the Governor and his
Perkins to Caroline P.
pa.rty were entertained at dinner at the
U. S. OFFICERS WIN
recorded August 3.
Pot and Kettle by Mrs. Harry Hill
TENNIS MATCHES
L. Spencer to Emma F.
Thorndike and they attended the Navy
GEORG
Continued from page 1
recorded Aug. 3.
Ball at the Swimming Club.
Smith to Alta E. Frisbee
Third Round, Men's Singles
Real Estate and Ins
recorded August 3.
In the third round of the men's singles,
COSTUME BALL IS
New York Office, Ca:
Young to Sprague Cousins,
H. B. Shaw defeated H. Vonhemert,
MOST SUCCESSFUL
quit-claim deed, recorded
6-0, 6-5: W. A. Lawrence defeated R. M.
Continued from page 1
THE BAR HARBOR TIMES, WEDNESDAY, AGUSUT 5. 1925
SEACOAST
MISSION
GOV. BREWSTER TO
OWN
ANNUAL MEETING
BE HERE THIS WEEK
LOCAL READERS
Will be Mr. Dorr's Guest at Oldfarm
Held at Kenarden Lodge Last Wed-
-Several Functions in Honor of
nesday Reports of Workers Heard
O
State Chief Executive
with Interest by Large Number
T. Deavitt, publicity manager
>oklyn Record, Brooklyn, N.Y.,
Governor Ralph O. Brewster and Mrs.
At the annual meeting of the Maine
18 a week at the home of Rev.
Brewster will arrive in Bar. Harbor by
Sea. Coast Missionary Society held at
John Simmons of the Methodist
motor on Thursday afternoon and will go
Kenarden Lodge last Wednesday, there
at once to Oldfarm where they are to be
SATURD
was the usual large attendance. Each
house guests during their stay here of
obert Helmshaw, who has re-
year this annual meeting is one of the
Mr. George B. Dorr. Col. Farnum and
en the guest of Mr. and Mrs.
outstanding features of interest. Mrs.
Col. Marsh, the Governor's aides, Mrs.
earls has returned to her sum-
John S. Kennedy opens her beautiful
Farnum and Mrs. Marsh and Philip
e at South Bristol, Maine.
home to members and guests and all
R. Shorey in charge of publicity, will
BEST EQUIP
Mrs. Edward Searis and son,
friends interested in the work of this
arrive by train and will join the Governor
so spent the week end in Bar
Maine society which has a membership
at Oldfarm.
d Northeast Harbor.
list including the best known people of
On Friday noon Mr. Dorr is giving an
STATION IP
Mrs. Natt Young of Milton,
the country.
informal luncheon for the Governor at
1 Mr. and Mrs. Leon Smith of
Dr. Henry Van Dyke presided and
Oldfarm.\_Mrs. Henry F. Dimock is
who have been at Salisbury
those who have heard his splendid
giving a dinner for twenty in honor of
he past few weeks have return-
tribute to the Maine Seacoast Mission
Governor and Mrs. Brewster. Mr. Dorr
eir homes. Mr. and Mrs.
and who look forward each year to hear-
will entertain a large party at a picnic
almer and sons are remaining
ing him were in no way disappointed this
for the Governor- and his party at the
ays longer.
year.
island in Somes Sound recently given
Afrer the opening prayer by Dr.
ona Mayo was the guest of
the Park on Saturday noon.
BAR HARBO
William Schell of the Presbyterian
a small tea party given at
In honor of the Governor and Mrs.
Foreign Board of Missions, and scripture
in Monday, by Miss Anna B.
Brewster there will on Friday afternoon
reading by Dr. Simmons of Clark Memo-
d Miss Lillian Lawson. Other
from four to six be a reception and tea
rial Methodist Church, a series of most
COT
Mrs. Frank T. Stinson, Mrs.
at Oldfarm for which Mr. Dorr has
interesting reports were given by the
er, and the Misses Georgia
issued about 500.cards.
workers of the Mission Staff. Mrs.
Ruth Simpson, Eleanor
Governor Brewster will speak on
Alice M. Peasley. whose work centers at
orence Fogel, Elizabeth Gott,
South Gouldsboro described the splen-
Saturday forenoon at Echo Lake, Lafay-
:tinson and Helen Cigler.
did work of her week-day Religious
ette National Park, before a meeting of
the Appalachian Monutain Club when
S
inson of New York, a former
school which is held in connection with
all the people, summer and permanent
the United States Senate
the day school sessions similarly to the
resident alike, of Southwest Harbor are
on investigation of famine
Bar Harbor plan. As the result of this
invited to be present.
in Russia, is spending some
work, there were several decisions to
unite with the church and lead Christian
Socony C
Mount Desert Island with
INDIAN POINT
as headquarters. Mr. John-
lives.
time was chairman of the
Mrs. Peasley has accomplished won-
A crew of painters have made recent.
Relief and was head of the
ders in teaching the women of the com-
improvements on Uncle Tom's Cabin.
PRICE 28
immission. He is an agri-
munity the art of making most beautiful
ert and has travelled widely
Mrs. C. D. Strout of Arlington, Mass.
rugs which are in considerable demand
and other lines of work. He
has been visiting her sister, Ethel
by our summer visitors. As the result
roughout his travels over the
Fickett who is boarding at Belle Her-
of her untiring pastoral work, a church
3 found no such wonderful
lihy's.
organization has been formed in the
Mrs. Victor Gooch entertained a
climatic conditions as those
community known as the Union Evan-
esert Island.
party of ladies at the Wigwam, her new
gelical Church, which is undenominatio-
bungalow, recently.
Everythic
nal and unites the people by a simple
Mrs. C. E. Norris spent Sunday here.
W. C. A. NOTES
covenant in Christian brotherhood and
M. and Mrs. Deland of Massachu-
a community religious life.
setts were week end guests of Mr. and
be no swimming period for
The Sigma Kappa Sorority maintains
VISIBLE PUN
Mrs. T. Carrol Higgins.
girls at the Y. M. C. A.
a worker under the mission who for
Mrs. C. H. Stover attended the Sea
.k. Next week the schedule
three years has worked at Head Harbor
Coast Mission meeting at Bar Harbor
lext us usual with two plunge
Island. Miss Lucy King in reporting
LADI
last week.
slay and Friday evenings
her work showed how substantial re-
3.30, as the Swimming Class
sults had been accomplished by teaching
in the public school, by maintaining
Sure to Succeed
C. A. will appreciate gifts
regular church services, also teaching
Original men are not content to oi
for Its library ut any time,
gardening to the children and many
greated by tradition: they think
yment of its members and
other useful occupations.
for themselves, and the result Is
Miss Adams and Miss Peasley re-
that they succeed where others fall.
thing employment is asked
ported interesting experiences during
Now, a certain photographer. never
the Y. W. C. A. as calls are
a brief period of work on Outer Long
says to a woman customer, "Look
pleasant. madam, if you plense.' IIe
revied for which there are
Island.
knows a formula infinitely better than
applicants. The Y. W. C. A.
Miss Myrtice Cheney of Portland
For this day only
that.
employment exchange 30 is
who gives her vacations in educational
In the most natural manner in the
ve names of those wishing
work along the coast, reported much
world he remarks "It Is unnecessary
ny kind of work.
progress in her work of finding and
to ask you to look pleasant I am sure
gas on
for the Finance Campaign
assisting worthy young people who
you could not look otherwise.
anvarsing this week and
wished to obtain an education beyond
Then click goes the camera and the
MORE PE
Thursday evening on the
what
facilities
result is never in
Letters of Pauline Palmer Ed. Eleanor Dwight
Off to School in Massachusetts, Fall 1925
N.Y. M. T.Train/
Scala Books,
2005.
Bar Harbor, Maine
September 26, 1925
Mrs. Herman Kohlsaat
Hotel de Russie
Rome, Italy
Dear Mother:
Our life is very quiet. There are a few people here, and it is quite cold but sunny. We stay
as near the fire as possible, and the house is fortunately quite warm with the furnace.
Yesterday we looked at houses and played bridge. Today we decide what to do about
houses seen(!) and play bridge. Min can't bear "oldfarm." so that is off the map. He likes
still the Fabbri place and as second choice the "Fry place," which is very nice and pos-
sible and on the hill back of Eden Street. It is a good house, but a lot would have to be
done to it. I could buy some old furniture if we took it, which quite thrills me! Well, it all
depends on dollars and cents, like so many things in this world. No word from either
child. I suppose that they have not had time to write. I hope Potter passed his exams. He
is all fed up on tutoring and says he will not fail anything in June 1926! Let's hope so.
Gordy is all aquiver about his school. We go to Boston on Tuesday the 29th, and he goes
to F.S. on the 30th. I shall indeed feel shorn when he is gone-it's bad enough now.
You are on the Riviera today and lucky! My last love to you,
Pauline
"Min"is hewhushand,
The Copley-Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts
October 1, 1925
Mrs. Herman Kohlsaat
Hotel de Russie
Rome, Ituly
Dour Mother:
Copy 1-oldfarm
ZEBAICE
WYRAGYL GARDENS
NEW ROCHELLE. re. v.
"ay 12, 1935.
My dear Mr. Dorr:
Your letter of May 8th reached me a day or two ago.
Albright
By tomorrow morning, at the latest, you will receive
my letter to which is attached a number of papers which I
hope will fully answer the questions that have arisen in your
mind about roads, lands, etc. I will be glad to answer any other
questions that arise.
I think Mr. J.D.R.Jr. has pretty well given up the
idea of any more horse roads, but he would like the National
Park Service to 30 locate the motor roads that zore horse roads
can be built in the future if deemed advisable by the Service.
In other words, he hopes that more horse roads will not be
recluded by deliberately building the motor roads in such a
way as to destroy routes for horse roads or make their construc-
tion cost prohibitive. I had a long talk with Kr. 9. one day
about horse and horse roads and trails, and we both came to the
conclusion that at least for the present interest in riding and
driving horses is at very low ebb, and we both thought that it
might never again become important.
Unfortunately, I must leave New York on the 15th for
a trip of ten days or thereabouts into the south - Atlanta,
Nashville, Louisville, etc. I will be in Washington one day.
I do not know just when I will return. Mrs. Albright will be
here and will send me any mail that looks as if it should have
my attention while I am gone.
Tell Miss Oakes I have also received her letter of the
8th. It was a very fine letter and I am glad she told me the
little story. I'11 write her again when I get a little more time.
,Wuffarm
I was delighted with her article about Oldfarm which she en-
closed with her letter. Oldfarm has a big place in my heart.
I wish I could visit it with you again this Spring. Miss Oakes
reminds me that the rhodora will soon be blooming.
Take the best of care of yourself. All members of
my family send you our love and good wishes.
Faithfully yours,
Hon. George B. Dorr, Supt.,
Acadia National Park,
Bar Harbor, Maine.
Joseph W.Ernst. EJ.
WORTHWHILE PLACES
1934-1943
Bronx Fordham U.P.,1991.
anything out of Palmer we should work through her. I did not
Arthur C. Train. Opposed motor roads in park. Conservation
discuss the details of the Palmer problem. I merely said there
activist.
was something for him to do in connection with carrying out
the park plans. Mr. Dorr says that Potter Palmer is entirely under
the influence of a man named Charles Pike, who has always
been a trouble maker. Pike lives near Palmer. It is rumored that
Pike has cancer and cannot live. Arthur Train told Mr. Dorr
July 12th 38
this a few days ago, and also said that Palmer will object to
the road as long as Pike does. Mr. Dorr's final words were "Pike
Dear Mr. Albright:
is a pig-headed fellow. He married a daughter of R. A. Alger,
former Secretary of War, and she has not been any help". I
Your letters of June 27, 28 and July 1 have been received.
do not know whether this gossip is of any importance or not
How I wish we could talk over the matters of which you wrote.
but it may offer some leads which can be followed up.
But since that is impossible I will give you as briefly as I can
This has been a very long report, and I regret that I have
my reaction to the several questions that need early consideration.
had to go into so many details. There are many other things
1. While it is none of my business I cannot see that any
that I picked up that would be worth passing on to you but
useful purpose would be served by the establishment of the
I do not feel that I should trouble you with them while you
George B. Dorr Foundation. The same to own Mr. Dorr's houses
are on vacation. Perhaps when I am on the ship next week
and their contents, all to be operated for the interest of the
I will have an opportunity to write them out for you to peruse
public. Everyone who knows Mr. Dorr loves him. When he
before you go to Acadia.
is gone the houses in which he lives will have value only in
Laurance was on the train with his wife and baby going
proportion to their intrinsic merit and not because they were
down to Bar Harbor. He has a lovely family.
once owned by Mr. Dorr. It would therefore seem to me
oldfe
I have a note from Secretary Ickes in which he says that
although you may think it heartless for me to say so, that the
he had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Rockefeller and you in
public interest would best be served in the long run were the
Europe.
homes and possessions of Mr. Dorr to be sold.
We finally got the Colonial Historical Park Bill through
2. What I have said in "1" applies equally to any effort
both Houses, and it has been signed by the President.
to perpetuate the nurseries. There again I feel no worth while
With all good wishes, I am
public service will be rendered.
Faithfully yours,
3. In view of the above I should feel, from a cold blooded
HORACE M. ALBRIGHT
point of view, that ultimately it would be in the interest of
the public not to retain any foundation for exhibition purposes
the Dorr houses, their contents, the surrounding lands and the
Mary Roberts Rinehart, Author. Supporter of the National
nurseries, but rather that they should be sold, the monies derived
Park Service. Wrote a book on her travels through Glacier
therefrom after paying the debts of the estate to be used for
National Park.
the other purpose of the Dorr Foundation, which as I understand
it has to do with the development and upkeep of the Wild
Atwater Kent. Inventor. Manufacturer of radios.
Gardens of Acadia.
4. As to the Wild Gardens of Acadia, their perpetuation
Charles B. Pike. Seal Harbor resident. Opposed Newport road.
and development from any other point of view than merely
174
175
1934 - 1943
WORTHWHILE PLACES
a total of 16 acres. I should think these lands were worth $100
as land to be added to the park, seem to me of no great value,
an acre, that is what I thought the Potter Palmer Tract was
but at the same time of far greater value than the retention
worth. One might justify $200 an acre, but that would double
and perpetuation of the houses and nurseries in the Foundation.
the price of the Potter Palmer Tract, unless because it lies on
Holding the views above expressed, my feeling is that the
a steep mountain side, it might be thought less valuable. But
properties that are of interest to the Park are the following:
even at $200 an acre for these 16 acres, the total price would
be $3200. It is possible one could add something as the value
a. the Bear Brook Pond Tract
of the Quarry, but again the whole question is whether anyone
b. the Quarry Tract
wants to develop a quarry. Even if one were to say arbitrarily
c. the 25 acres in the Gorge beyond the Tarn
that the quarry added $2000 to the value of the acreage, that
d. the 89 acres between Echo Lake and the Great Pond
would bring the total price only to $5200. Frankly, this would
e. Possibly the lots on Strawberry Hill.
seem to me a very full price for the property today. However,
I would be willing to pay this much for it if the bank would
Of this group, the most important pieces of properties
sell on that basis and would release the property from under
are the Bear Brook Pond Tract and the Quarry Tract. These,
the mortgage, and if Mr. Dorr would agree to deed it
or portions of them, are essential to the motor road around
immediately to the Park. There would certainly be no harm
the north end of the mountain. To acquire these two tracts
in taking up with the bank a proposition of this kind, not stating
I would be willing to make any reasonable contribution. For
the value I put on the property, but seeing whether they would
many years I have worked closely with Mr. Dorr, done
be willing to sell it out from under the mortgage at its present
everything I could to further his projects, and at times found
appraised value. If it would help in bringing about that result
him difficult and not as cooperative as I have tried to be. I
I would be willing to consider the further purchase of the 25
love him dearly, as you do, and have the greatest admiration
acres in the Gorge and the 89 acres between Echo Lake and
for and appreciation of what he has done for the Park. I would
Great Pond on some similar basis of value, with the
not be interested to consider paying off the mortgage. I would
understanding that they also would be deeded immediately to
be interested to finance the purchase of the two tracts so
the Park. This would leave the houses, their contents and the
immediately necessary if they could be taken out from under
nurseries as security for what would remain of the bank loan.
the mortgage and given to the Park. Let me speak of this specific
If this whole situation were explained to the bank and if the
question. Unless these two tracts were sold at auction, they
bank felt that the properties left under the mortgage could
would presumably have to be sold at their present appraised
ultimately be sold for enough money to liquidate the mortgage,
value. Since the Quarry Tract adjoins the Potter Palm Tract,
they might be willing to go forward with the matter. But knowing
which in turns adjoins the Attwater Kent Tract, it is important
Mr. Dorr's state of mind so much better than I do, you may
that the value put upon it should be the value at which the
feel that any such proposal as the above would never be
two adjoining tracts could properly be acquired when available.
considered for a moment by him. If so then, so far as I am
If, for the sake of helping Mr. Dorr, any higher price than
concerned I see nothing to do but let the situation develop
its present appraised value were paid for Quarry Tract, it would
as it will.
obviously work against the purchase of the two adjoining,
Perhaps if this letter reaches you in time you will write
privately held, tracts. The same considerations are true to a
me your views before I sail. We shall be here at the Crillon
degree regarding the value of the Bear Brook Pond Tract which,
in Paris until the morning of July 20th. We sail from Gherbourg
while not contiguous, is in the same general area. There are
on the Europa. In any event, unless you write me to the contrary
in these two tracts of Mr. Dorr's 9 and 7 acres respectively,
177
176
WORTHWHILE PLACES
1934-1943 -
I will talk over the situation with Mr. Rodick when I reach
August 10, 1938
Maine early in August and have before me the map of Mr.
My dear Mr. Rockefeller:
Dorr's properties, a copy of which you say he and Mr. Hadley
are sending me.
Although I have thought a great deal about the Acadia
As to the other matters which you mention, all so
land problem for a month, - I still have formed no suggestions
interesting, let me comment briefly. I am delighted that the
for you to consider. Unless the situation is changing this summer
Kebo Valley motor road is so well received and that the survey
I see no early solution along any line that does not recognize
for its continuation to the Quarry meets so fully with your
for the present at least some kind of Dorr Fund which will
approval.
give some promise, however vague, that his personal property-
As to the proposed horse road in the Kebo Valley section,
homes, books, etc will not be dissipated or rather sold and
I shall have to refresh my memory by referring to my agreement
dispersed.
with the Government. I had hardly supposed that the
I wish that in 1934 I had pressed him for details of his
GBP
Government would want to build horse roads. Under present
financial situation. I naturally felt that with the receipts of the
financial conditions I doubt if I should want myself to spend
sales to you he had cleared up his indebtedness to the banks.
the money involved in their construction. If the under-passes
I can make no further comment on your review of the
could be constructed at this time without great cost, my
general Dorr plan. Your arguments are unanswerable. Just the
disposition would be to do nothing now about the construction
same I can not convince myself that we could accomplish
of the horse roads themselves. I will go into this subject further
anything by proceeding in the way you have outlined. I am
32
when 1 get home and write you again.
afraid the old gentleman wild just decide to wait.
I note with interest what you say about the Jordan Pond
I realize I am not being helpful in the least degree. As will?
road outlet to the motor road through Mr. Dane's property.
soon as I return, I will find out what has been done or can
This sounds good. I will take up at once the question of the
be done in Washington, and if you approve perhaps write Mr.
early construction of the new entrance to Mr. Dane's place,
Dorr that in my opinion his program will have to be modified
in line with your suggestion.
rather drastically.
What you tell me about Mrs. Rinehart is interesting and
With every best wish,
significant. Mrs. Rockefeller and I will make it our business
to meet her at the earliest opportunity.
Faithfully yours,
I am immensely pleased that the Colonial Historical Park
HORACE M. ALBRIGHT
bill has not only been passed by both Houses, but signed by
the President. I suppose this means that construction of the
road will be promptly entered upon. When do you expect to
get back home? I hope your stay on this side will be pleasant
and restful.
September 16, 1938
My cordial remembrances to Mrs. Albright and yourself,
and hoping for some word from you before 1 leave Paris,
Dear Mr. Albright:
I am,
I
have at length secured from Mr. Rodick and Mr. Hale
Very sincerely
a plan showing the ownerships of property involved at the north
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.
end in connection with the around the mountain road. From
178
179
WORTHWHILE PLACES
1934-1943
this plan it becomes clear that if it were possible to secure the
naturally, I find it difficult not to be a bit irritated to think
Dorr quarry lot which, bounded on the west by Y-Z, the purple
that with all Mr. Dorr's assurances about this property, now
line, contains under four acres and to get from Mr. Dorr a
that we really want it, he, the superintendent of the park,
right of way over the red line from C to D, also over the purple
is holding up the project.
line from D, to F, not only would the construction of the road
We are staying on here for two weeks and shall be in
around the north end be possible but the road leading to it
New York a few days thereafter.
and the temporary purple road D-F would also be made
available, the former permanently, the latter temporarily.
Very sincerely,
In discussing this plan Mr. Hadley points out that the
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.
entire Tract B, which contains 26 acres, really ought to go
to the park ultimately. With this I agree although the small
P. S. Since dictating the above I have received your letter
piece to the west of the red line C-D would not be necessary
of September 14th and note that after seeing Mr. Cammerer you
except a margin along the red line for protection. Aside from
have in mind to write Mr. Dorr perhaps sometime next week.
the quarry lot no further portion of the second Dorr lot,
I am interested in what you say about the Jackson Hole
marked Q and containing 22 acres, would be required for
situation, also in your friendly comment about David.
the around the mountain road. Mr. Hadley feels strongly,
however, that the whole area should go to the park.
A compromise measure would be that all of the Dorr
Benjamin Hadley. Superintendent of Acadia National Park.
owned property east of the dotted line H-F might be acquired
by the park the balance to the west not being included. At
the moment, however, whichever one of these alternates might
finally be best is more or less of an academic question. The
question is, will Mr. Dorr, on the basis of such a letter as
September 21, 1938
I suggested your writing him when I wrote you on August
31st, be willing to even consider the proposal therein outlined?
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
If so, we could then take up the question of how much land
he would be willing to part with and how much at its to
I have received and carefully read your letter of September
be appraised value I would be willing to provide the money
16th in reference to the Dorr quarry lot and other lands. 1
for in order that the property might be purchased from under
am not at all surprised by what Mr. Rodick says about Mr.
the mortgage if the bank could be induced to cooperate in
Dorr's probable attitude to any suggestions that are made that
such a plan. Mr. Rodick knows of no reason from his point
do not provide for one hundred per cent compliance with his
of view why such a letter from you to Mr. Dorr as I outlined
plan. This is exactly the view that 1 have held all along, and
might not be sent. He frankly feels, however, that there is
which I endeavored to convey to you in my letters to you from
little probability of Mr. Dorr being willing to even consider
London and Nuremberg.
any proposal at this time. If that were the outcome, it would
I have received letter from Mr. Hadley, which reads as
be the worst that could happen. You will know whether in
follows:
view of your relation with Mr. Dorr it would be unwise for
you to make him any such proposal. This is my best thought
"Mr. Dorr is beginning to look forward to
on the subject and in presenting it, I urge nothing although,
your return from Europe, and hopes that you
180
181
WORTHWHILE PLACES
1934 - 1943
will find it possible to come to Bar Harbor
November 12, 1938
around the first of October. The matters which
we discussed during your June visit have lain
My dear Mr. Rockefeller:
dormant during the summer. Mr. Dorr, being
aware of the uncertainty of human life, is most
anxious to get as much as he can into such a
Upon my arrival here at Carlsbad after a trip to California
state that there will be no likelihood of
I find a letter of November 1 from Mr. Dorr, which I am quoting:
complications in the future. He has asked me
"Thank you for your letter and the kind thought that you
to write with a view to learning from you when
have given to working out our problems here. I am anxious
you may be expected.
to get all the immediate problems that I can worked out while
"I shall be out of town from the 17th to
I am here to cooperate. I am entirely in sympathy with the
the 24th of September; hence the October 1st
plan you propose, which I think can be worked out to the
suggestion."
benefit of the public and the Park. The long-continued
[Economic
depression has placed me in a position of commitment to the
I have had to answer this letter by saying that it looks
bank which does not leave me free to do what otherwise I
quite impossible for me to go up to Maine this autumn. I have
would wish and dedicate the lands I have held so long to the
an accumulation of business to occupy my time for several weeks,
execution of the Government's plans.
and there is the annual meeting of my company to arrange
"The study of such a solution as you suggest may clear
for. Late in October I must make an inspection of our properties
the way and would be, I think, highly desirable. I am working
in New Mexico. There a law suit will be tried in which we
over this with those who are interested in it with me and with
are deeply interested, and it may be after the middle of December
whom I have planned to leave the disposal of my property,
before I return to New York. In other words, I will be here
which I may say in passing I plan to leave - such as it may
until perhaps October 25th, then away most of the time until
ultimately prove to be - to the benefit of the public. By the
December 15th or 20th.
time you return from your western trip I trust to know more
I have been endeavoring to get the latest views of the
fully what can be done."
!BD's
National Park Service on the Acadia land situation; then I will
It seems to me that I have made some progress, and I
write to Mr. Dorr. I still hope to get the letter off this week.
Pase
shall get in touch with Mr. Dorr again as soon as I return
I am lawfully sorry that this matter cannot be moved faster.
to New York November 21.
However, my experience over a period of twenty-five years has
been that Mr. Dorr is one man that cannot be moved very
I received a copy of Mr. Chorley's memorandum of October
fast under any circumstances.
31 to you referring to the language covering acquisition of the
right of way for Colonial Parkway which is proposed to be
included in the next Interior Department appropriation bill,
Sincerely yours,
HORACE M. ALBRIGHT
which will soon be discussed with the Director of the Budget.
I fully concur with Mr. Chorley in his observations. I hope
every effort is going to be made to secure the desired authority.
If it is secured there will certainly be no grounds left on which
to object to immediate resumption of work on the Parkway,
including the tunnel.
182
183
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine,
May 1, 1939.
Mr. Arno B. Cammerer, Director,
National Park Service,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Cammerert
I have given Mr. Hadley a brief statement
to enclose you in regard to Oldfarm, along with what he has
written in answer to your request for figures from the
Town Assessors' book and has just mailed you. I now write
a further word concerning this and on some memories the
question has brought up.
In 1878 we returned from Europe - my father, mother
and I - after a stay abroad unexpectedly prolonged by my
older brother's death in New York two years before in the
summer of 1876, while studying law in the office of an ol-
der friend, Mr. Louis L. Delafield, one of the leading law-
yers of the country at that time.
We had planned returning home ourselves the fall of
that year and building a permanent summer home at Oldfarm
on a site my father had already purchased a half dozen
years before. My mother was at work over plans for this,
studying some of the old English country houses, when a
cable reached us, telling of my brother's sudden illness,
followed immediately after by another informing us of
his death.
Bar Harbor, when we returned in the fall of 1878, was
just recovering from the effects of a typhoid epidemic two
years before, brought on by the rapid growth of the place
as a resort and lack of realization by its citizens of the
need or corresponding sanitary measures. It had learned
its lesson, however, and steps were in progress to correct
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
2. Director 5/1/39
the evil, but the effect on summer life, when we returned,
and commenced to build, still lingered; no land was being
aold, no houses built.
Ours at Oldfarmwas the first house to be built for
summer residence, spaciously and comfortably, on Mount
Desert Island and the reputation of it as the work went
on gave confidence to others, starting what was known
afterwards and long referred to as the &Bar Harbor boom.
,
The price of lands along the shore went up a hundred per
cent within six weeks that summer and building continued ac-
tively thereafter for years to come.
The Oldfarm house was built for the first storey up
of granite of a warm reddish have from the nearby Gorge
and above that was covered with shingles hewn out of Cali-
fornia Redwood, their tone blending well with the granite
and still remaining, after all the years, untouched by
decay.
We had for architect Henry Richards, one of the old
Gardiner family of Gardiner, Maine, who had married the
daughter of my mother's early friend, Julia Ward Howe.
Henny Richards was then a recent graduate from the archi-
tectural school of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and worked in well with my mother in the plans which she had
made, producing a house that has ever remained for me one
of the most attractive, home -like and best-fitted to its
setting built on our eastern coast.
The seale of wages at that time was low, one dollar
to a dollar and a quarter a ten hour day for ordinary labor;
two and a half to three dollars for skilled. The work was
done by the day and was sound throughout and good. My father
and mother were building for the future and spent liberally
upon the work.
When all was done, my father told me one day that the
house and the work done upon the grounds connected with
it had cost seventy thousand dollars, an amount far greater
than it would seem t oday.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
3. Director 5/1/39
But the work has long since justified its cost
in its enduring quality and the fitness and pleasantness
of the home constructed.
Yours sincerely,
[G.B.DORR]
GED-0
DORR
TO
Bar
Proves
Popular
over estimated, and any assistance
attending
given to the Club, either by play"
for the program, which is sched.
enjoyed. Thanks
uled to start at 8 o'clock
Bryant for her
ing at the card party or through
fahing music for
donations will be greatly appre-
Park Receives
ciated.
(Continued from, Page One)
Mission
B.H. Garden Club
(Continued fro
eritus Charles W Eliot of Har
(Continued from Page One)
vard a movement wast started
much to the bett
shortly after the turn 010 the cen-
tury to aqquire scenic lands on
conditions amon
attended meetings out of town.
the island for donation to the
with low and un
In May! the Garden, Clubs of
United States for national park its
growing impor
the St. Croix Region have been in
purposes.
in modern life m:
vited by the Bar Harbor Garden
The present area of the park,
interest as A sub
Club to hold their annual meet.
clusive of the pending acquiar
ing here when an enjoyable prom
tion, the 18,456.56 acres: In addi,
the public is
non to its scenic beauty and the
to
be presents
anticipated
opportunities it affords for refer
Following the bizsiness meeting
ation and recreation Acadia
:
Kodachrome picture called "And
tional Park which is the highest
Beauty Comes was shown by
elevation along the Atlantic Coast
Continued
Waldron Liscomb, representative
18 now doing its bit in the war ee
fort through permission granted
pleas Min Mar
for Swift and Company's Vigoro
the Army and Navy to use park
Mins Barbara
inswhich Came very beautiful gar
lands
tables: Mid N
dent were shown. Methods-of
Mrs. John
proving Towns, trees, shrubs and
Penley Named
Mrs. Albert Cu
flowers were also explained giving
(Continued from Page One)
Philip Bamling
many helpful ideas to garden and
Paul Favour (t)
flower lovers.
in each of the counties under Pen-
be enlarged
ley's direction to train for para-
year): Cochiert
transferred
chute, jumping and one woman if
land and Mine
(Continued from Page One)
needed 11: each country tostrain in Miss Ins
parachute tigeing. which 13. the trice Stewart
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Oldfarm and Compass Harbor
Oldfarm was the home of George B.
Dorr, the "Falher of Acadia." From 1901
until his death at ninety in 1944, Dorr used
his inherited fortune and influence with
friends in the right places to acquire land
for Acadia National Park.
A constant parade of well-known and
well-spoken guests kept Oldfarm a lively
place, especially during the summer. Dorr
stayed at Oldfarm throughout the year,
and went swimming in the cove regardless
of the season. He created a network of
paths that wandered throughout his es-
late, and connected il to nearby summer
collages, as well as to trails at Sieur de
Monts and the surrounding mountains.
Before he died, George Dorr gave his
beloved Oldfarm to Acadia National Park.
The 1947 fire passed close to Oldfarm, but
did not touch it. The house was torn down
in 1951.
The buildings are gone, but many clues
to Dorr's life here remain. It is possible to
trace the outlines of the house and gar-
dens, and follow many of the old paths on
the grounds. Some of the old garden
George B. Dorr's mother and father built Oldfarm in 1876 at a cost of about $50,000. According to
plants (or their progeny) survive, despite
Dorr, his mother loved gardening and entertaining, and was extremely good at both. He carried on
neglect and "poachers." The stalwart may
the family traditions, with events such as this play staged on the lower lawn.
wade in the ruins of the saltwater swim-
This photo was taken at location "A" on the sketch map (page 61), probably before 1920. The
ming pool. Dorr's neighborhood paths are
spruce in the center foreground, to the left of the main stairs, remains as a head-high weathered
now inaccessible on private land, but the
stub. The lawn where the playgoers gathered is completely overgrown. The sturdy spreading lower
trails located on land given to the park are
branches of the older trees, especially the pines, show that they spent their youth in the sunny open,
open to all, thanks to his generosity and
not in the shade of a forest understory. (Courtesy of NPS, Acadia National Park.)
foresight.
OLDFARM AND COMPASS HARBOR - 59
2.
The main house at Oldlarm was built to last. Naturally weathered granite, taken
outlines of the house have been erased almost completely. Il is possible to trace the
from (1 nearby quarry opened specifically for the purpose, formed the lower story.
foundation by locating the stairs and their associated thresholds. Presumably, the
Cut granite was used only around the windows and doors. The upper stories were
large stones that once made up the steps were taken for use elsewhere.
wood-framed with redwood shingles. The piazza and terrace were paved with
Most of the plants in the photo are still alive, and are much larger. From left to
bricks laid so well that they remain tight and nearly level after almost fifty years of
right: The cedar trees that lower overhead were once the large shrubs shown next
exposure. On the northern side of the house, granite stairs and graded paths lead
to the foundation and to the left. The somewhat ungainly pine, minus a couple of
to the water through a landscape that once was tended carefully, now gone wild.
branches, still grows to the right of the drive. The deciduous branches at the far
Rhododendrons thrive in the light shade of the woods just below the piazza.
right of the photo belong to a cucumber magnolia, Magnolia acuminata, a tender
This photo, taken in the early 1900s, shows the view from location "B" on the
species that miraculously has survived. (Courtesy of NPS, Acadia National Park.)
site map opposite. The terrace walls and piazza floor are easily seen today, but the
60 - BAR HARBOR
3
At first glance, Oldfarm appears to be a typical
TERRACE
popular park, with the usual enhancements: parking
lots, gateposts and well-worn trails. To find hints of
LIBRARY
PIAZZA
the estate that occupied these grounds for seventy-
SERVANTS
LAUNDRY
DINING
DINING
ROOM
ROOM
five years, it is necessary to look closely and consult
PARLOR
COVERED
ENTRY
TERRACE
the map. Even so, the smallest clues are important.
KITCHEN
Oldfarm offers botanical detectives plenty of
PANTRY
HALL
challenge. Many of the trees, shrubs and flowers
are non-native species planted by Dorr or his
LANDING
DEN
mother. Quite a few of these species grow wild else-
ENTRANCE
0
20
where in North America, since the Dorrs preferred a
Oldfarm
PORCH
FFET
"natural" landscape, but did not want to restrict
themselves to plants native to Maine. There are also
truly native plants, some that were part of the es-
NOTE
tate's landscaping, and others that sprouted later.
Swimming
Oldfarm has an
Pool
Generally speaking, most of the smaller trees
and Pier
abundance of old roads,
old paths and new
have grown up in the years since George Dorr's
trails that can be more
death. Some of the "trees" are in fact plants that
0
200
than a little confusing to
A
the landscape delective.
would have been kept trimmed to shrub size.
FEET
Lawn
This sketch map
Gardeners will find some old friends at Oldfarm,
Scule approximate
shows the major old
especially around the cutting garden.
roads and several im-
Servants' Quarters
portant trails. The best
It is not easy to find signs of Oldfarm's buildings.
and
Related Buildings
Oldfarm
way to start exploring
The structures were torn down, and their founda-
*
is lo walk along the
tions filled and flattened. The east terrace of the
former front drive from
Main Street to the re-
main house is probably the best place to start, since
mains of the main
B
its walls remain. To find the servants' quarters re-
house. Use the house
foundation as a refer-
quires real imagination, since the best clue is the
Barn
Outbuilding
ence point for investi-
large, unnaturally flat area covered by weedy young
*
*
gating the rest of the
trees, just to the west of the service drive. The barn
estate.
is a similar problem, but the landscape offers a sus-
Map based on
piciously rectilinear flat area, an exposed section of
sketch map courlesy of
NPS, Acudia National
water line and another flat rectangular area. A tangle
*
Park; 1903 map courlesy
of vines now climbing the trees may have once
Cutting Garden
and
of Bar Harbor Town Plan-
climbed the barn. The caretaker's cottage, or Super-
Tennis Courts
ning Office. Floor plan
based on original Dorr
intendent's House, as it is also known, is owned by
OLD ROAD
plan, courtesy of NPS,
the park. Its future is uncertain, but it may be reno-
TRAIL
Acadia National Park
Caretaker's
vated for offices and housing.
Cottage
OLDFARM AND COMPASS HARBOR - 61
4.
(Homans)
For wider working marters whether for the President
or members of his official household, the Cabinot, with
such executivas and secretarial staffs as might accompany
them, Re: Darr has comben lated throughout the use of
the Homans House. It was with the thought of such use
in miss that 11 was secured by him, President Eliot and
one or two other friends aiding.
ALL that this property now needs to make it serve
the purpose is the extension of quarters for the staff,
independent of the house which, spaciously planned as
& residents of its older time, supplies all else. Such
quartire may be very simply and attractively obtained
at relatively slight expense on sites close by the house.
The Homans House needs nothing save its present furniture,
supplied out of hia old family inheritance by Mr. Dorr,
which is valuable to him through family tradition and long
association and which, incase the plan proposed is carried
out, he will give, along with that of Oldfarm,
C
O
P
Y
August 1, 1940.
Dear President Roosevelt:
I write about a matter that is much in my heart
at this time and that I hope greatly you may look up- -
on favorably. I have devoted my life these last two
and thirty years, as its major work and interest, to
the creation of Acadia National Park, where scenery
on the New England coast is at its finest and the
climate at its best, invigorating and refreshing
through the summer heats.
The Park, proclaimed as a National Monument by
President Wilson on July 8th, 1916, became by Act of
Congress and the President's signature a National
Park during the single day and night President Wilson
spent at the White House during his first return from
the Versailles Peace Conference, on February 26th, 1919.
It has `steadily advanced since then till it now holds
all the mountains, with a single and minor exception,
in the Mount Desert Island chain, and extends across
the entrance to Frenchmans Bay to include the magnifi- -
cent rounded mass of Schoodic Head, looking down upon
Page 2.
Moose Island where the best opportunity for overseas
radio communication upon our Atlantic coast exists
and has been fully developed under expert advice.
The first gifts of land in which the Park orig-
inated, conveyed to a public service corporation
formed by President Eliot and myself for the recep-
tion and holding of such properties, began with a
gift from myself from an early grant of land ac-
quired by my father in 1868, before any summer resi-
dences existed on Mount Desert Island or the coast
about it. Upon this land, eleven years- later, we
built our home, Oldfarm, occupying it the following
year, it being one of the first and pleasantest of
the summer homes built upon the Island, which still
remains, my father and mother having long since passed
away, in my possession.
This old family home, which has been in its day
the scene of much generous hospitality, I would like
greatly to have become, while I yet live, the possession
Page 3.
of the United States, that it may serve the President
and his executive officers, who will plan the policies
of the Government in the critical, important times
that lie ahead, in maintaining health and vigor for
their work.
The acceptance of this gift, made directly to
the Executive branch of the Government, entails no
obligation other than that of using it in such fashion
as may best serve the purpose for which the property
is offered.
Acadia National Park can readily at this time
be brought to extend unbrokenly to entrance on this
property, opening directly to it its roads and trails
in all their beauty and variety, protected by an
efficient, well-organized ranger corps. Upon the
opposite side, the lands of the estate I offer, of
exceptional beauty in themselves, descend onto a
harbored shore where I kept my own sailing boat in
safety for many seasons.
Page 4.
The property offered is directly accessible
from Washington by air and water over distances that,
reckoned in terms of time, are rapidly and constantly
diminishing; while radio communication, rapidly im-
proving, is already of the best, as are those of
mail, telephone and telegraph, making a nerve center
of the site of the most direct and sensitive character.
The house I offer, simple in character but spacious
and most comfortable, stands out alone upon its site,
with ample space about it of garden grounds and lawns;
while executive offices for work, independent of the
house, could be added, unseen, in its immediate vicinity
and equipped with every facility for planning, discussion,
or the dispatch of business.
I may add in conclusion that the whole State, of
whatever party, would welcome most warmly the estab-
lishment of such a summer home for the National Execu-
tive, and do all that may lie within its power to promote
its purpose.
Page 5.
Hoping greatly that my offer and its purpose
may appeal to you, believe me to remain, with ever
high regard,
Sincerely yours,
GEORGE BUCKNAM DORR.
August 1st, 1940.
Page 6.
Postscript.
Should acceptance of my offer be made, I may
add, in view of the present wide-spread weather
conditions, that the house, prepared for re-rental
to a tenant friend who at the last could not return,
is fully equipped and furnished, and in order for
immediate occupation. The legal and other details
of the transfer could be arranged later, at leisure.
G. B. D.
C
O
P
Y
The White House
Washington
August 21, 1940
Mr. George B. Dorr,
Oldfarm,
Bar Harbor, Maine.
My dear Mr. Dorr:
I have received your letter of August 1, in which
you offer your old family home on Mount Desert Island,
known as "Oldfarm", as a gift to the United States so
that it may serve the President and his executive
officers in maintaining health and vigor for their work.
Your thoughtful and generous offer to donate this
property to the United States is very much appreciated
I know of no provision of law, however, which would
authorize me to accept it for the purpose you mention.
The property, of course, could be accepted by the
Secretary of the Interior as a part of Acadia National
Park. May I suggest, therefore, that you consider its
donation to the United States for the park, with the
understanding that it be made available for use by the
President and his principal executive officers, and
that, if he, or any future President, does not desire
to use it, it be available for whatever purposes the
Secretary of the Interior may deem desirable in con-
nection with the administration of Acadia National Park?
Sincerely yours,
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 21, 1940
Mr. George B. Dorr,
Oldfarm,
Bar Harbor, Maine.
My dear Mr. Dorr:
I have received your letter of August 1, in which you offer
your old family home on Mount Desert Island, known as "Oldfarm",
as a gift to the United States so that it may serve the President
and his executive officers in maintaining health and vigor for
their work.
Your thoughtful and generous offer to donate this property
to the United States is very much appreciated. I know of no pro-
vision of law, however, which would authorize me to accept it for
the purpose you mention.
The property, of course, could be accepted by the Secretary
of the Interior as a part of Acadia National Park. May I suggest,
therefore, that you consider its donation to the United States
for the park, with the understanding that it be made available
for use by the President and his principal executive officers,
and that, if he, or any future President, does not desire to use
it, it be available for whatever purposes the Secretary of the
Interior may deem desirable in connection with the administration
of Acadia National Park?
Sincerely yours,
[F.D. Roosevelt.]
c. 1940
Concerning the gift of Oldfarm to the United States,
regarding which refer to letter to the President of
August 1, 1940 and his reply of August 21, 1940, to
which I have made as yet no answer, thinking it best
to wait until the uncertainties and tumult of the
National Election should be over and I should have
had opportunity to consider the question raised by
our correspondence from every angle:
I have now decided to follow the course he
suggests and outlines in his letter, that of making
the gift through the National Park Service, and have
written Mr. Horace M. Albright, former Director of
the Service, who offered to aid me in the matter when
he was here the past summer and to whom I showed my
letter to the President and his reply, asking him if
he would not run down and go over the details of the
matter with me SO that the original purpose of the
gift be carried out as fully and as well as conditions
may permit.
The gift of Oldfarm, the old family home offered
in my letter to the President, is freely made, without
condition, but with a written statement outlining the
purpose I hope it may be made to serve, placed, through
the National Park Service, in the hands of the Chief
Executive.
2.
Accompanying this gift and to be looked upon
as part of it, is that of the hill, directly connected
with it, at whose northern base is placed the old farm
house I now occupy, known as Storm Beach Cottage
which
I retain, together with the lands and buildings immed-
iately connected with it on either side of The Way road,
for my personal use and occupation and as a place of
work and study while I live and afterwards as I may
direct.
A study of the whole tract I am having drawn
out upon a map, to make clear the details of the gift;
and to this I now refer.
[G.B.DORR]
THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND THE PRESERVATION
OF HISTORIC SITES AND BUILDINGS
By Newton B. Drury
Conservation of historic and archaeologic sites, including histo-
ric and prehistoric structures, has been the subject of Federal legis-
lation and Presidential action for half a century. In 1889 an act of
Congress gave national park protection to the present Casa Grande Na-
tional Monument, a prehistoric ruin in Arizona. Growing consciousness
of Federal responsibility for historical conservation led to the Antiq-
uities Act of 1906. This gave the President authority to establish, by
proclamation, "National Monuments" on lands owned or controlled by the
Federal Government, provided the areas in question possessed historic
landmarks, historic and prehistorio structures, or other objects of
scientific interest. This Act gave real impetus to the preservation of
historic and prehistorio remains throughout the country, and many of the
outstanding cliff dwellings, Spanish missions, and pueblo ruins of
Southwestern United States, as well as Fort Marion National Monument at
St. Augustine, Florida, were thus preserved.
By 1933 approximately 80 historical and archaeological areas had
been acquired by three Federal departments and, as a measure of govern-
mental efficiency, all of these areas were grouped together for admin-
istration by the National Park Service which had been established in
1916 as a bureau of the Department of the Interior.
Greater public interest has made the period since 1933 a very
fruitful one for the acquisition of new historio areas. A study of
European experience with historical and archaeological conservation
showed the need for legislation which would consolidate the gains al-
ready made. This led to the passage of the Historic Sites Act of Aug-
ust 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666), which is today the basic national law gov-
erning the preservation of historic and archaeologic sites.
This Act declares that it is "a national policy to preserve for pub-
lic use, historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance
for the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States. IT
provides for a nation-wide survey of historic and archaeologic sites to
determine which sites are worthy of national recognition, and confers
upon the Secretary of the Interior broad powers for the development of
a national program of historical conservation. For guidance in execut-
ing this great work, it created an Advisory Board on National Parks,
Historic Sites, Buildings, and Montments, composed of eminent authori-
ties in the fields of history, archaeology, architecture, and human
geography.
Obviously it is not desirable that the Federal Government should
own or administer all of the nationally important historic sites in the
country, and assistance or recognition should be given to local groups
Newton B. Druty is director of the National Park Service.
Page 18
with preservation problems, Therefore the Act provides that the Secre-
tary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, may en-
ter into cooperative agreements with State or local groups, or even in-
dividuals, for the proper preservation, restoration, and use of historio
and archaeologic sites and buildings, regardless of whether title there-
to is vested in the United States, provided such sites are of outstand-
ing national significance and historical importance.
In the development of historical areas, the National Park Service
policy has been that "It is better to preserve than to repair, better
to repair than to restore, and better to restore than to reconstruct. 11
In
some cases, such as Old Bedlam at Fort Laramie, the state of dilap-
idation of a building may leave no choice but repair and restoration.
Established policy then requires that all resources of archaeological
and historical knowledge be exhausted to make the work authentic in
detail. A documented report summarizing all historical and archaeolog-
ical evidence and justifying every phase of the restoration must accom-
pany the building plans. Today these policies govern the preservation
of our great American heritage in historic structures, ranging from the
pueblos and cliff-palaces of the Southwest and the ruins of historic
Jamestown in the East to the Lee Mansion at Arlington and the Vanderbilt
Mansion at Hyde Park.
THE SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF NEW ENGLAND
ANTIQUITIES AND ITS WORK
By William Summer Appleton
When the writer was a boy, it was possible for the visitor to Bos-
ton to wander around the older streets of the city and have pointed out
to him some fifty interesting old structures, all of them worthy of in-
terest because of their architectural excellence, extreme old age or
connection with some historic event of importance.
This list of fifty has, within the writer's memory, dwindled down
to about ten, representing a loss of eighty per cent. Probably the
record of loss is rather worse in Boston than in many other cities, but
in Philadolphia, for instance, the situation is almost as bad. Although
in and near that city many interesting old buildings have been preserved
nevertheless a regrettable number have been lost. In New York very
little has been saved.
It is amazing how careless the public, as a whole, is to the value
of these assets, and their destruction in the case of Boston, which may
William Summer Appleton, founder S.P.N.E.A. in 1910, is the Society's
secretary and the editor of its Bulletin. The
general public, as well as all architectural historians, is in debt to
him for his initiative, wisdom, and success in preserving and making
accessible so many important houses of colonial New England.
Page 19
ANPA. f.10.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ADDRESS ONLY
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
September 27, 1941.
Mr. George B. Dorr,
Superintendent, Acadia National Park,
Bar Harbor, Maine.
My dear Mr. Dorr:
Since this Office has written you last regarding the transfer
of certain lands owned or controlled by you personally in Acadia Na-
tional Park, we have had an opportunity to gather more accurately
the attitude of the interested Members of Congress with respect to
the terms of the proposed transfer, which appeared desirable because
the transfer will be accomplished in a manner differing somewhat from
the procedure outlined to the House Subconmittee when the justifica-
tion of the appropriation was made.
Congressman Scrugham was concerned about the possibility that
the excluded portion of Lot No. 9 might at some future time be de-
voted to a use detrimental to the future welfare of the park. While
I know that there is little possibility of this eventuating as long
as title to the excluded portion of Lot No. 9 is vested in the Dorr
Foundation, or some other corporation or organization created to
carry out your plans, which I understand is your intention, it would
seem that the wishes of everyone could be cared for as to this parcel
under a slightly modified procedure.
I
suggest that title to the excluded portion of Lot No. 9 be
conveyed to the United States, reserving to the Foundation, or the
corporation or organization you may designate, the right to use the
tract as long as it is devoted to Foundation (or corporation or organ-
ization) purposes, but, in the event that the land ceases to be used
for such purposes, then the fee simple title thereto shall automatic-
ally vest in the United States as fully as if the aforesaid reserva-
tion had not been made. Such a provision would appear to permit your
intentions to be carried out and at the same time would overcome Con-
gressman Scrugham's fear, which we share, that criticism might result
in the future if we purchased park lands surrounding a small tract
which could be used adversely to the interests of the park if by some
unforeseen circumstance title to this outstanding tract became vested
in some third party. I believe that Mr. Rodick will be able to devise
a satisfactory clause to meet this suggestion, as well as your wishes
in the matter.
With reference to the 175-foot strip proposed to be excepted on
the north side of Lots Nos. 11 and 12, it is not clear just why this
exception is to be made. I suggest that, if this 175-foot strip is
to be used in connection with the excepted portion of Lot No. 9 for
Foundation (or corporation or organization) purposes, then the same
reservation clause as would be applicable to this lot be made applic-
able to the strip. In other words, it does not seem desirable to
exclude the complete fee simple title to this 175-foot strip from the
lands embraced in the sale.
In view of my report on acreage to the House Subconmittee, I do
not believe that it would be advisable to exclude Lot No. 3 from the
transfer. I hope that you will reconsider this point and include
this lot as part of the area covered by the sale.
The reservation of the parcel at the corner of Ledgelawn Avenue
and Park Street is not administratively obje ctionable, but I would
suggest that, here again, the reservation clause such as I suggested
for the excepted portion of Lot No. 9 and the strip across Lots Nos.
11 and 12 be made applicable to this reserved parcel because, as I
understand it, it is to be devoted to Foundation (or corporation or
organization) purposes.
I have carefully read your letter of September 18 and enclosures,
as well as the two memoranda you handed Director Drury, relating to
certain requests you hope this Service can fulfill now and in the
future. I can assure you that earnest consideration will be given to
each of your requests and, consistent with park developments, we will
be guided thereby. I know that you appreciate that we are unable to
make any commitments with respect to these requests. Moreover, pros-
pects of obtaining funds to do more than the essential maintenance
work required. to keep the park operating are extremely remote during
these troubled days when all available funds are needed for defense
purposes. Your experience in the park no doubt enables you to under-
stand that we will, for this reason, have to proceed very slowly in
doing the desired work on Old Farm and the surrounding lands.
We are holding the legal documents executed by you for the pur-
pose of effecting the gift and the sale until we receive the addi-
tional material above outlined or your comments in connection there-
with.
2
3
I want to thank you again for your kind cooperation in working
out the transfer of this property to the Federal Government. I know
of the deep affection you have for Old Farm and all of the things
that go with it, which you intend to transfer to the Government.
I
sincerely trust that this Service will prove to be a capable and ccm-
pletely satisfactory custodian of the things you treasure so much.
Confidentially, we understand that there is serious danger that
funds appropriated by the Congress for non-defense purposes may be
impounded and used for national defense projects. I hope that such
& move does not materialize before we have completed with you all
details relating to the transfer. At any rate, we will do everything
possible to expedite our handling of the matter so as to enable your
wishes to be carried out.
With kindest personal regards, I am
Sincerely yours,
Associate A. E. Demaray, Director.
APPROVED:
SEP 30 1941
charactery Director.
ANPA, B.3,t.10
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ADDRESS ONLY
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
December 11, 1941.
AIR MAIL
MEMORANDUM for the Assistant Superintendent,
Acadia National Park:
Reference is made to the proposed purchase by the United States
from Mr. George B. Dorr of 96.85 acres of land, more or less, situ-
ated in Hancock County, Maine, for the sum of $37,500, to be used
in connection with the Acadia National Park.
In order to avoid any delay in the consummation of this trans-
action, we have prepared the enclosed "Invoice" for execution by
Mr. Dorr after which it should be returned to this Office. It is
our understanding that clearance for the acceptance of title to
the above-mentioned land will be given in the very near future,
and we desire, therefore, to have all the necessary papers com-
pleted so that a voucher can be prepared for the issuance of a
check to cover the purchase price of 37,500.
Please give this matter your prompt attention.
A. a. Mooking
Chief Counsel.
Enclosure 2460162
11/14/02
ANPA 3,4.10
List of buildings included in Oldfarm transfer
(for office information)
Oldfarm cottage; stable, ice house, laundry building,
chauffenr's cottage, maids' cottage, small garage.
Storm Beach Cottage, with one wood shed, one laundry
building and one library building (with lifetime lease by
Mr. Dorr)
McIsaac House, Compass Harbor Cottage, with one garage and one shed.
Park Office Buildings.
96.85 acres of land.
Date of official transfer
Oldform property- Jan. 3, 194
You B2M)
Zeport on Old Farm House and Compass Harbor Cottags
Old Farm House
Old Farm Housa was built in 1880 - 1881 by Nr.
Charles 3. Dorr of Boston as 1 SUMMER residence for the Dorr
family. It Tas occupied during the summer by Lif. and irs. Dorr
during the remainder of their lifetime and thereafter by Hr.
Geor ge 3. Darr as 3 year round residence.
The house is 132 fast long and 52 fsat wide in its
greatest dimension. It consists of 2 main structure and a
servants' wing, the main structure being three stories high with
an attic and the ring two stories high.
1 basement extends under approximately two thirds of
the building.
The exterior wall of the lower floor is two feet thick
from interior plaster face to exterior masonry face. This wall
is made of local red granite with brick trim at openings.
Above the secord floor line the structure is framed and
finished in wood, the exterior finish being western red cedar
shinzlee.
The roof of the two gabled portion is covered with
local cedar shingles. Poor of porches and decic between gables is
covered with canvas. The gutters are wood and flashing, and down-
abouts are copper or galvanized iron.
The first Floor contains ten rooms, four of which have
fireplaces. The principal rooms are paneled as is the stair hall.
The second floor contains five bedrooms and five servants' rooms.
There are four Misplaces, some paneling, and 3ix bathrooms on
this floor.
The third floor contains one unusually large room (21 x 25 ')
with fireplace and book cases; two large rooms and one small room in
addition to one bath. This floor is heated by one fireplace and one
small hot air duot.
The house is structurally sound. Mechanical work is
obsolets and inadaquate, including heating system, electric wiring,
and most of the plumbing.
Poor condition.
ACROSS
2
Compass Farbor Cottage
Compass Harbor Cottage was originally a farmhouse built
zors than 100 years ago. The central portion of the cottage as
it now stands is the main portion of the original structure. Onto
this have been built two rinzs, one onto each side. One Ting
contains TWO bedrooms and a bath; the other wing contains laundry
space, a storage room and a pantri.
The central portion of the house is 21 H 26 feet, one
and one-half stories high. Seneath is a small basement large
enough only for 3 heating plant. The cellar walls are stone, the
floor, sement.
The ground floor is divided into two rooms with a central
hallway between. One room, 21 X 10, is the kitchen; the other,
21 X 12' 4" is a living room.
The central hallway, allows ingress from and agress to
the out-of-doors and access by a stairway to the upper half story.
A transverse hallway at the roar connects the kitchen and living
room.
The upper half story contains two bedrooms.
The bedrccm wing is 26' X 31' over all, part of which is
a screened porch 31' I 11' 3", The remainder is divided into 3
hallway, two bedrooms and of bath. One story only.
The laundry ving is 21' X 20' over all, of which 20' H 8'8"
is 3creened porch. The remainder is laundry space, pantry and
stererson. One story only.
The greatest over all dimensions of the Cottage are
26* M 30' . It is of frame construction, alapboarded exterior walls,
wood shingles on the roofs. Interior finish is lath and plaster.
Floors are .Food.
Poor condition.
ACADEM
BAR
Dorr Furniture
Inventory of remaining furniture from Oldfarm transferred to ANP
on September 16, 1941 by Bill of Sale from George B. Dorr. Re-
corded in Town Clerk's Office, Bar Harbor, ME, January 3, 1942,
12:00 in Book 42, Pages 343-349
Furniture was assigned a government property number which is noted
in the following inventory along with the original description
when available
(
) additional description by M.F.
Set of three Chinese vases, rose blue and green figures and flower
decoration; hexagonal shape. One 12 1/2" in height, two 9 1/2"
in height. Inventory indicates nos. 425-427. ( Taller oneis 425.
Still have original stickers on base with numbers. Condition still
good. Rose Medallion. ) Placed in storage in Vistitors Center, Hulls
Cove, April, 1988. Had been in Storm Beach since Dorr's death.
Bronze lamp base, gilded handles, 2 loop handles near base, chased
band, women figure decoration. Property number 428. Taken from
Storm Beach and placed in storage at Hull's Cove, April, 1988
Bronze lamp base, matches above. Inventory number 448. Storage.
Pair of Bronze figures on brass pedestals; height over-all 14".
Property nos. 429-430. Italianate figures, one male, one female,
probably symbolic, on acanthus leaf bases.) Placed in storage at Hulls
Cove, April, 1988
French Clock, onyx and marble. Height 10 3/4". Original property
number 434. (Face is white with black Roman numerals.) Removed to
Hulls Cove, April, 1988.
Seth Thomas Mantle Clock. Inventory no. 445. Removed to Hulls Cove,
April, 1988
Antique Iron Frame Mirror, scroll decoration; height 19", Inven-
tory number 447. Removed to Hulls Cove, April, 1988. Dimensions
closer to 20 1/2" X 13".
Bedside table, mahogany, 2 drop leaves; height 2'6"; top drawer and
bottom compartment, 4 ball and claw feet. Inventory number 449.
Storm Beach.
Mahogany bureau with mirror, brass pulls; height over-all 7'.
Inventory number 458. (42 1/4" wide. veneer.) STORM BEACH
2 chairs, walnut, oval backs with arm back supports, tufted blue plush
cover. (no numbers on chairs, possible nos. 465-466, except that
chair upholstery is green. Covering is velvet. Replacement of
upholstery may have obliterated numbers. Balloon-back chairs)
First sentence is original description of 465-466. May not be These chairs. See no, 462.
office
anp. curator files.
2
Walnut balloon-back chair like the two described above (possibly
465-466). Has original number 462. Does not appear to be on
inventory. Was discovered in attic and removed to Hulls Cove
storage, April, 1988
Secretary, Governor Winthrop style, serpentine front, mahogany,
oval brass pulls. Inventory number 446. Number not visible on piece.
One of rear ball and claw feet broken off as of April, 1988. At
least one brass keyhole piece is off (2 are off really but one was
discovered in drawer). Foot to be glued on and desk to be removed
to Hulls Cove storage.
Chest of drawers, walnut with marble top, round wood pulls, mirror
attached; height over-all 7'6". Original inventory number 468.
(Veneer. 42 1/2" X 80" approx.) STORm BEACH
(Lions?)
Walnut armchair, with dog head handles, carved front legs and arms,
gold colored upholstery. Original number 469. 35"hx25"w. Balloon
back.
Majolica lamp base, blue and yellow; height over-all 21". Original
inventory number 467. Storage at Hulls Cove as of April, 1988.
5 oriental rugs are at Storm Beach cottage. Three were downstairs
in the room with fireplace. One runner was in upstairs bedroom,
possibly no. 478 or 479. Numbers are now gone. One larger rolled
oriental in attic. see list of inventory of rugs from Oldfarm for
possibilities.
One bed (twin) in attic listed on inventory as one of a pair:
Twin beds, iron, painted brown. Original inventory number 450.
Brass fender in fireplace may be number 436 described as:
Brass fender, pierced fretwork, Was not checked as fireplace
was full of soot. Still at Storm Beach, along with two sets of
andirons, one with large ball finial, another taller set with
classical urns at top. Screen with brass handles. None to have
Set of 4 cream Ware and Copper Lustre Flower Pot and trays; Lion head
and ring handles; height 6 1/2" Listed on old inventory as numbers
437-444. Located in attic at Storm Beach. 8 pieces - Rs moved to Hurriscove,
April, 1988
One wood rocker, painted brown, no govt. mark but TPR Co./167.2 marked
on seat base, tooled leather seat with tacks, tall balloon-back with
turned spindles, carming on chair back. Possibly from Oldfarm.
One cabinet with no govt number. Key has tag marked "Cabinet in room
over hall. " 34 X 21w (inches), corner cabinet? Condition not good.
May have had a marble top at one time. Unstable.
have acorn pattern, dore-Vail April, construction 1988.
ball and in Acadia claw feet, wood oral work pulls shop to repair broken foot,
Discovered Later later as Walnut chair, oral back with arm described back supports, above.
was mored to Hulls core.
tuffed blue plush cover." Same Torn description w original as 465-466 horse hair filling exposed.
condition
of
upholstary
is
poor.
Page I of 0
Bar Harbor Town Hall Research: Epp
From
To
"wo Donald Lenahan"
Date Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:53:32 -0500
Dear Don,
Thanks for updating me on your plans. I think the documents should be held by the registrar of deeds. The
information I have is from Dorr's memoirs.
1. In 1896 Mr. Dorr opened the Mt. Desert Nurseries on land that he owned at the corner of Schooner Head Road
and what today is called Oldfarm Rd. The land may have been in his mother's name, Mary Gray Ward
Dorr. There may have been construction permits from a year or two earlier.
If there is a property listing by name, please check the year 1912 as well. At this time there was a major
expansion of the nursery and there might be permit requests that are still extant. Dorr employed a new nursery
manager by the name of A.E. Thatcher--indexing may be under his name or his precedecessor William Miller.
There was also a downtown sales shop on Main Street which closed at this time but I have no knowledge of its
specific location.
Finally, Dorr ran into financial problems in the late 1930's and efforts were made to sell the nurseries which were
owned by 1949 by E.B. Greenlaw, having bougvht them from C.E. Dow in 1945-46. The fire of '47 destroyed
much of the property.
If you could copy any documentation relative to the nurseries--or the items below--it would be much
appreciated. I'll reimburse you, of course.
2. In 1868 Charles Hazen Dorr--along with Thornton K. Lothrop--purchased the Oldfarm property which Henry
Higgens had acquired a century earlier. It had previously been owned by John Cousins. Dorr purchased the
eastern portion of the Higgens lot, the western portion being sold to the Mahan family. Please check the records
for 1872-73 when C.H. Dorr purchased this western property from Mrs. Mahan. Finally, in 1875, Dorr
acquired Lothrop's share of the original purchase. Good luck tracing this!
3. In January 1893 Dorr's father, Charles H. Dorr, died. Is there any indication in the property or taxation-
records that his wife, Mary, inherited the property rather than her son, George? I think an inquiry here will turn
up nothing. However, in October 1901, Mary Dorr died and the Oldfarm estate on lower Main Street passed to
her son. Is this documented, perhaps with a copy of the probate document?
Finally, does the Town Hall contain taxation and voter registration records from the early twentieth century? Dorr
never speaks of his political affiliation but I strongly suspect that he was a registered Republican who might have
switched affiliations with the coming of the New Deal.
This detective work will be quite a challenge. You may wish to do some before you leave and the remainder on
return. Let me know how things progress.
All the Best,
Ron
Quoting Donald Lenahan :
Ron --- Good to hear from you and thanks for the article. It's great you do this to remind us all
of the history of ANP. I'll be heading south for a month the end of next week. So, if you want
me to help you at Town Hall, you'll need to get the info to me quickly. Otherwise, it'll have to
wait until mid March.
Regards,
Don
https://webmail.myfairpoint.net/hwebmail/mail/message.php?index=33
2/11/2009
BIB[AND(fredsavage[1,1017,2,3,4,6,3,3,5,100]JAMC[1,5080,4,2])](3-1)
Page 1 of 1
Records 3 through 3 of 5 returned.
Note: oldform renovations in early
Author:
Savage, Fred L., 1861-1924.
years st 20 th century.
Title:
Fred L. Savage collection, 1899-1926.
Description:
36 linear ft.
Notes:
Architect, of Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor,
Me. i trained by Robert Swain Peabody in Boston; worked in
Tudor, shingle, and colonial revival styles.
Chiefly architectural drawings from 75 projects
with 10-15 sheets per project on tracing paper and linen;
together with blueprints, correspondence, and building
specifications.
This collection was half of a collection owned by
Louis Gerrish, Jr., of Bar Harbor, Me. ; ; in the early 1980s it
was separated into a Bar Harbor Collection and Northeast
Harbor Collection. The Northeast Harbor Collection is at
Northeast Harbor Library; the Bar Harbor was originally
placed at the Jesup Library but has now been moved to the
Mount Desert Island Historical Society.
Unpublished list of drawings located at the
repository.
input 20040722 vm50 nucmc record
Subjects:
Peabody, Robert Swain, 1845-1917.
Architecture -- Maine -- Bar Harbor.
Architecture -- Maine -- Northeast Harbor.
Architecture - - United States -- 19th century.
Architecture -- United States -- 20th century.
Architecture
--
Designs and plans.
Architecture -- Specifications -- Maine.
Northeast Harbor (Me.) -- Buildings, structures,
etc.
Bar Harbor (Me.) -- Buildings, structures, etc.
Architectural drawings -- Maine. aat
Blueprints -- Maine. lcsh
Specifications - - Maine. aat
Architects -- Maine. lcsh
Location:
Mount Desert Island Historical Society (Mount
Desert, Me.
Control No. :
DCLV04-A2231
Tagged display | Previous Record Next Record | Brief Record Display | New Search
This display was generated by the CNIDR Web-Z39.50 gateway, version 1.08, with Library of Congress
Modifications.
http://www.loc.gov/cgi-bin/zgate?present+6975548+Default+3+1+F+1.2.840.10003.5.10+5+/cgi-.... 8/31/2005
"or ever the silver cord be loosed
"
On the morning of August 5 [1944], the immortal spirit of George Bucknam
Dorr returned unto God who gave it. So was closed the earthly pilgrimage of a
really great man, the creator of Acadia National Park, its first, and at his death,
its only Superintendent. He labored intensely to bring the park into being, he
nurtured it tenderly once it became real, he saw it increase in stature, and he
left it a monument to his work of nearly a lifetime.
He died as he lived, quietly and with great expectations for the future.
Funeral services were held at St. Saviour's Episcopal Church on Monday,
October 7 [sic], and were largely attended by friends and townsfolk. As a mark
of respect business places in town were closed for an hour. In accordance with
directions given during his lifetime, the remains were cremated and the ashes
were scattered in a woodland glade on the Oldfarm property.
George B. Dorr was born in Jamaica Plain, Mass., December 29, 1853, the
second son of Charles Hazen and Mary Gray (Ward) Dorr. His ancestors on
both sides of the family were prominent in the civic and commercial life of the
Massachusetts Bay region from the beginning of its settlement.
He was seven years old at the outbreak of the War between the States, and
eleven at its close. He was eighteen at the time of the Great Boston Fire of
1872, and told very interestingly of watching its progress and destruction of
property. He was forty years old at the time of the Worlds Columbian
Exposition, and visited Chicago to see its wonders. At fifty he was entering
actively upon the establishment of Acadia National Park, although through
reading and travel he had been, unconsciously perhaps, preparing himself for
that work. At sixty-five he saw his park efforts crowned when Congress enacted
legislation which established Lafayette National Park. Following his arrival at
the seventy-second year of his age he was annually named in law as the
Superintendent of the park.
He first came to Bar Harbor with his parents in 1868, when the village was first
becoming known as a summer resort. The family was accommodated at the
only boarding house in the village which was crowded to the eaves with
summer folk. Those not able to get into the house were quartered in tents in
the adjacent field. From 1868 to 1897 the family spent their summers, when
not abroad, in Bar Harbor, and in the latter years, having bought the land
previously, began construction of Oldfarm, into which they moved in 1881.
Oldfarm was a place of great hospitality. Beneath its rooftree have slept the
great and near great of America and Europe: The "Autocrat of the Breakfast
Hadley- 2
Table", Oliver Wendell Holmes; Sir William and Lady Osler; James, Lord Bryce;
writers, preachers, a veritable cross section of contemporary professional,
political and social life of a day now gone.
He traveled much. On his first trip to Europe he left Boston in a side-wheel
steamer, which when the harbor was cleared, spread sails to wind to increase
the speed beyond that capable of being made by steam alone. Egypt, the Nile
Valley, Italy, Greece, Palestine, France, Germany and England became, over the
years, familiar ground. In America he visited east, west, and south, covering
the ground leisurely on foot, bicycle and horseback, absorbing to the full the
history, customs, and products of the places visited, thereby gaining the
background for his later work in creating the national park on Mount Desert
Island.
He was a cultured gentleman, thoroughly versed in the classics, in history and
in science. His formal education was gained at Harvard, from which he
graduated in 1874. From time to time he did further work at the University,
interesting himself particularly in philosophy. For a time he was Chairman of
the Visiting Committee on Philosophy, and was intimately associated with
William James in committee work. But his real education was acquired from
reading, travel and contact with the scientific and social life of his time. Here,
apart from his park work, he found his greatest delight and took his greatest
reward. He was impatient with pretense and shallowness, but full of
admiration for soundness and real worth. His wide range of knowledge was
readily accessible to any who sincerely sought it but he gave short shrift to
those who sought from mere politeness or sheer curiosity.
He was one of the few remaining members of the so-called "gaslight era" of
society, as well as of the old "Boston aristocracy". Strong-willed, arrogant,
impatient with the little conventions, he was nevertheless a gentleman, a
scholar, a kindly advisor and wholeheartedly generous. We who knew him SO
well miss the cherry twinkle of his eye and his unfailing courtesy on all
occasions. Though he is gone, his works shall follow him."
Benjamin L. Hadley, August 1944.
The National Archives & Records Administration.
]
airo: i
CONTENTS OF SAFE IN CELLAR
Tercentenary DeMonts Settlement of St. Croix Island.
A pamphlet.
Letters:
Aunt Susan
Harriet J. Morse
Louisa D. Hunt (Mrs.William. lboris Hant]
A list of three letters which are in Mr. Lynam's vault.
Louis XIV to the King of Bohemia -- letter.
Letter from the King of France, Henry IV.
Letter from Lafayette to Richard Forest, Department of
State, Washington. Written in June, 1825.
Inventory of Furniture.
Letter from Mary G. Ward to Thomas W. Ward.
Intention of the will of Charles Hazen Dorr.
Letter from Mary Ward to Aunt Lucy.
Letter from main Gav Ward to Henry wain
original Y city
Letter from Mary Gray Dorr to Aunt Lucy Ann Ward -- original
and copy.
Benjamin Franklin's letter. Original only.
James Russell Lowell to Mrs. Dorr -- originals.
James Russell Lowell to Charles Hazen Dorr -- originals.
Morgan Papers.
NARA/OP/RG791CCF,7 ARCHIVES 1933-49/Acatea Box 791 File a Diagnol the
UNITED STATES
bold
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
and
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
December 16, 1944
MEMORANDUM for Associate Director Demaray.
I returned to duty yesterday morning after four days in Boston
undergoing a routine aheak-up at the hospital, an annual event on my
calendar as a procautionary measure. I found your memorandum of
December 11 awaiting me and I at once got busy to assemble the data
you asked for.
Attached hereto are two oopies each of the inventories of furni-
ture and furnishings in Old Farm and the Homans House. A study of
them will disclose shortages of essential items. At each house there
are no ornaments or pistures to relieve the bareness of the walls and
mantels. At Old Farm there is no linon for table use nor for the
beds, nor are there blankets or spreads, nor is there any table silver,
flat or service. At the Homans House there is no china for table use,
no dining room chairs, and no furniture for the large master's bedroom.
I have assembled hastily some figures obtained locally for the
essential needs at the Homans House. They are:
Dining Room chairs, walnut finish,
6 side chairs, two arm chairs
s 90.00
Rug for dining room floor,
either 12 x 15, or 12 x 18
150.00
Comfortable chairs for living room,
probably overstuffed, but with slip
covers of a material suitable to the
atmosphere of a summer home
90.00 each
(Not less than 2 nor more than four)
Occasional Chairs for living room
6.00 to 25.00 each
,NARA,CP/RE 199/CCF,193349/Acedia. box 191.
Furniture for large master's bedroom
including twin beds, maple, with box
springs and mattresses, bureau, dressing
table with seat, and two comfortable 00-
casional chairs
$225.00
An occasional chair, comfortable, for
each of the other two bedrooms, # 15.00
30.00
Bedroom Rugs, two for large bedroom
and one each for the other two
40.00
China, complete service for at least
six people, with the necessary vege-
table and side dishes
200.00
Silverware, flat and service, good
plated ware
300.00
Ornaments, floor lamps, table lamps,
coffee table, pictures and other small
articles to give the house a "honey"
atnosphere
300.00
Additional bed and table linen,
towels, etc.
100.00
Total, approximate
$1,750.00
In all probability the expenditures for filling in all the gape at
the Homans House would reach $2,000.00.
At Old Farm the greatest need is for linen, bad and table, together
with silver. A guess at the cost for equipping with these items is
$800.00
As at the Homans House, there is a complete absence of ornaments and
pictures, as well as a laok of floor and table lamps. There is need also
for a few comfortable chairs, particularly in the bedrooms. Again, a
guess at the cost of $500.00.
My figures come to a grand total of $3,300.00. In all probability
when actual furnishing took place the difference between my total and
the $4,000 suggested in your letter could be used to fill in with items
which I do not at the moment visualize.
2
1933-49 9/Aendea Box 7946
missing the
Maple furniture is the popular demand of the day. It is substan-
tial and good looking and fits in nicely with the finish in the Homans
House. It should be plain, however, to match that already there.
The dining room table and sideboard are not period pieces. Ao-
cordingly, any to cod walnut finish ohairs will be a suitable match.
The comfortable chairs, and the occasional chairs, for the living
room can be practically any of current design, and slip covers of suit-
able material will bring them into harmony with the finish and atmosphere
of the room.
I venture to suggest that, if possible, you discuss my suggestions
with Mrs. Ickes. She knows the Homans House and may be able to add
valuable assistance in planning for the needed furnishings. Mrs. Mag-
nusson, who kept the house last summer, may be able to offer suggestions
for needed improvements in and additions to the kitchen equipment.
I am going to Storm Beach Cottage this afternoon to make a survey
of work to be done. I will have the advice of a local contractor who
will make recommendations and give me approximate costs. he soon as I
get his data assembled, I will write you in detail.
B. L. Hadley,
Superintendent.
NARA ICP/ RC79/TCF,1933-44/ Acade a Box 791
UNITED STATES
auum
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
December 22, 1944.
MEMORANDUM for the Associate Director.
I enclose four copies of a report which I have prepared on the con-
dition of Storm Beach Cottage which is being considered for use as the
residence of the Superintendent of Acadia. I am sending all copies to you
because thus far all the suggestions concerning this matter have come from
you and are the outcome of the talk which the Secretary and I had about
it last summer. I leave the matter of distribution of the copies to you.
The estimates which I have included were made following an examination
of the house by local contractors qualified to give such figures. I offer
the suggestion that with respect to the carpenter work needing to be done
much, if not all of it, can be done by Mr. Atwood who is on our park staff
assisted by one or two laborers. It might be necessary to hire one car-
penter to assist. This phase of the work if handled in this way can be
done at a figure somewhat less than that given me by the contractor; or,
to look at the matter in another light, for the amount estimated by the
contractor, more work can be accomplished on a force-account basisusing
Mr. Atwood and our own laborers. The remainder of the work would probably
have to be specified and let out to contract, with the possible exception
of the electrical work. We might be able to do the electrical work with-
out the contract.
may
I/have gone to too great length in writing the report but lacking
an
architectural plan of the house the complete detailed description seemed
to be the only method by which I could adequately present the matter.
I await a decision on the part of the Director concerning the work
to be done before making any move to begin. The house is empty of furnish-
ings of any sort and I have had it swept and all rubbish removed.
(sgd.) B. L. Hadley
B. L. Hadley,
Superintendent.
Enclosure
C
0
P
Y
Note: the original of this memo, together with 2 extra copies, was sent
to Chicago with Mr. Demaray's memo of December 27/44.
1933-497 Acade Bax 791
Report on the Conditions of Storm Beach Cottage and Associated
Buildings, Acadia National Park
12/22/44
General Statement
Storm Beach Cottage, presently being considered for use as the
official residence of the park superintendent, was built in 1879 by
Mr. Charles H. Dorr, the father of George B. Dorr, for occupancy by the
Dorr family in the period during which Old Farm, the larger summer home,
was being constructed. In the years following the completion of Old
Farm, Storm Beach Cettage was used as a residence for the Dorr estate
caretaker. Later, after the death of Mr. Charles Dorr and his wife,
Mr. George Dorr used Storm Beach Cettage as his residence and headquarters
for his work in creating the park, Old Farm being in demand for summer
rental. Later still, from 1919 through 1929, he occupied Storm Beach
Cottage during the summer and lived at Old Farm in the winter. He occu-
pied Storm Beach Cottage exolusively, summer and winter from the spring of
1929 until September 1941, when he again took up residence at Old Farm,
where he remained until his death on August 5, 1944.
Aside from the occupancy already noted the only other people to live
in Storm Beach Cottage were the Rebichauds, husband, wife, daughter and
grandson, who were connected with Mr. Dorr in a domestic capacity for a
number of years, nearly twenty. On his removal to Old Farm in September,
1941, they moved into Storm Beach Cottage where they remained for about a
year and a half, when they moved to Portland, Maine. From their departure
until now the house has been uncoupied.
The Cottage
Storm Beach Cottage was built in the days when materials were of
good quality and low in cost, and laborers received low wages. Men
worked ten hours a day and were paid probably not over twenty cents an
hour. But they took pride in and did good work. It is 36 x 64 feet
on the ground, one and one-half storey, cambrel roofed, cellar under
the whole house, substantially built, and sound structurally, though
in need of certain repairs as will appear later.
The room arrangement is as follows: on the ground floor there is a
commodious ball whose length is the full width of the house. Entering
the front door, immediately to the left is the stairway to the second
floor. Second on the left is an aloove from which steps descend to a
second alcove and, turning sharply right, other steps descend to the
KA/CPIRC991 ecF, 1933-49 /Acade Box 791
cellar, Third left is a door Giving entrance to the living room or,
in Mr. Dorr's day, his library. Next left in the hallway is a fire-
place, then another door into the living room and, finally, a door
opening onto a small parah, of which more will be said later.
On the right, after entering the front door, is a door entering
into the kitchen, then a blank wall space, then a door opening into
the aining room. This door is approximately opposite the second door
left opening into the living room.
Back of the kitchen and dining room is a service hall through
which serv.co to the dining room is given. This service hall is also
designed for use as a butler's pantry. Immediately off the kitchen in
the southeast corner of the ground floor is a small dining room used
in early days by the one or two domestics employed by the Dorr family.
Back of the service hall is a toilet and lavatory, as well as a hallway
to the back door. From the kitchen a stairway descends to the cellar
and from the back service hall a stairway ascends to the second floor.
on the second floor, coming by the front stairs is, first, a hall-
way ten by twelve feet in size. Opening directly from this hallway is
a large bedroom in the northwest corner of the house, a small bedroom
on the north side and a bathroom on the south side.
In the north corner of the east wall of the hallway a door gives
into an alcove about three by five feet in size. To the left of the
aloove a door opens into a third, or northeast corner, bedroom; to the
right a door opens into a small sewing room, or den, out of which on
the north wall a door opens into the stairway ooming up from the rear
service ball on the [round floor. In the north corner of the east wall
of this sewing room a door opens into a fourth, or southeast corner,
bedroom. Baok of the north wall of this bedroom is a bathroom which
serves this and the third bedroom previously noted. A door from each
bedroom opens into the bathroom.
The space between the ceiling of the second floor and the roof has
been arranged for storage space and is reached by a cleverly arranged
set of sliding steps built into the three by five foot aloove.
h summary of the rooms, giving a number to each, seens desirable
for reference in discussing their condition and work needing to be done.
2
K674/CCF, 1755-441 ACKNA , ISSX TV.
Room No. 1 -
Main Hall, ground floor
# 2 -
Aloove and cellar stairway
3 -
Library or living rocom
4 -
Kitchen
5 -
Dining Room
€ -
Service Hall, rear
7 -
help's dining room
8 -
Toilet, and Hallway to back door
9 -
Stairway and well to second floor
# 10 n
Ball, second floor
# 11 -
Large Bedroom, northwest corner
n 12 -
Small Bedroom, north side
n
18 -
Bath, south side
M
14 -
Alcove, yi X 5'
#
15 -
Bedroom, northeast corner
#
16 -
Sewing Room or Den, south side
n
17 -
Bedroom, southeast corner
# 18 -
Bath for Rooms No. 15 and 17
"
19 -
Storage space under roof
The house is not one of nineteen KOMA. In current terms it would be
my own home in Bar Harbor is a nine room, one bath, residence.)
called an eight-room, two bath, residence. (As a medium for comparison,
3
NHICH! (P) / 1433-441
Condition of the House, exterior
I have already said that the house is sound structurally. I
qualify that conditionally by saying that there is evidence of possible
rot in a short section of sill on the southwest earner. This
could
be
determined only by removing some of the finish and examining the sill.
The southside bathroom on the second floor is in effect an over-
hanging dormer. The floor of this dermer forms the oatling of an open
porch at the front door. The dormer overhang in supported by two woodui
columns which are retted and must be replaced.
In arranging storage space under the roof, HR. Dorr anawisely had
skylight out into the roof. The pitch of the roof is se flat that leal:
age occurs around the skylight frame despite all efforte
to
stop
it.
91,
skylight serves no useful purpose and should be removed, the opening
boarded in and shingled over to put an and to the leakage, The leakagn
insidentally, has ruined the plaster ceiling in the northwest bedroom.
The description of the hall on the first floor contains reference
an outside porch on the northwest corner. This poroh is jour feet wide
and thirteen feet long. It is a portion of the overall shound dimensi
of the house, not a separate addition and is, in effect, saken out
of
M
living room. It has not been used for years and is so narrow that it
could not be comfortably used for sitting. It should be included into
the living room by setting the present north wall of that room into lina
with the rest of the north wall of the house. The contractor who look
over the house with me gave an off-hand estimate of $200 , ov this piece
work.
The exterior trim of the house presents n startling centrust.
Part
of the finish is plain pine corner boards, the rest is beary pine
blocks
The block finish should be converted into plain corner boards. uvor
each
of the lower floor windows there is a heavy overhanging trim. Several
are badly rotted and all should come off and be replaced WITH plain pine
head casings. This will result in lessened maintenance as time goes on.
The lower storey of the house, ground to eaves, is claptocarded. The
roof is wood-shingled. Clapboards and shingles seem to be #ound through.
out.
The clapboards are painted yellow and the trin is light green. The
last paint was applied about twenty years ago and its condition is very
poor. It is faded, weathered, and in many places is poelin madly. The
whole exterior needs soraping to remove loose paint, touchim MP, and
then painted two coats of good paint. The setting of the I among
soft-wood and hard-wood trees, indicates a white body and grease trim.
4
Acabia, box 79
Condition of the House, interior
A clear understanding of the scadition of the interior of the house
can be gained only by describing its use and occupancy for the past
thirty years. During that period its occupant was Mr. George Borr. He
lived alone and kept no servants, his needs being attended to as required
by Mrs. Robichaud who came in each day and did his cooking, washing and
monding.
The house was filled with furniture, books and pictures. Never in
y
the thirty years was the house given a thorough cleaning nor were the
interior walls and oeilings painted, papered or kalsomined. In fact, a
definite record tells that the lower hall was last papered on August 19,
1908. It is not difficult for one unable to see the house to imagine
the dincy, dusty, faded and cobwebby condition of the walls now that all
furniture and pictures have been removed and the walls bared.
The only major room in the house whose oeiling is sound is the
dining room. All others are hadly cracked and sagging and need replac-
ing. The plastered walls, strangely enough, are sound but show some
cracks. These can be filled without removing any plaster.
Floors
The floors in the first-floor rooms need only to be manded and
refinished, except the kitchen, small dining room and service hall.
These should be covered with linoleum, first being sanded to remove
roughness, which if not done would cause linoleum to crack or break
after continued use.
The floors upstairs present a different picture. They were covered
with old fashioned straw matting which was badly worn and filthy with
the accumulated dust and dirt of many years. These mattings were re-
moved and beneath them I found double floors of square edged spruce
boards. The top floor in every room had cracks varying in width from
one-eighth to one-half inches. The only exceptions to this condition
are in the south bathroom and the little three by five aloove where good
hardwood floors were laid some years ago.
I had hoped that the upstairs floors might be in such condition
that they could be either paint-finished or covered with lincleum. But
neither course is advisable. All the cracks would have to be filled,
which would cost $200 or more, to which would have to be added the cost
of painting, probably another $80.00, and no satisfactory result would
be obtained. Similarly, if linoleum were to be considered, the crack
5
Fex ' U
filling would have to be done, to which would be added the cost of
linolesm and laying. making a grand total (for covering 120 square
yards of surface) of about $550.00. And the flears could not possibly
be brought to a state of evenness suitable to receive linoleum.
The best solution to the floor problem upstairs is to take up the
top floors and replace then with hardwood at an estimated cost of $500
for all. They would be permanent and require only occasional waxing to
keep them in good condition.
Walls
All walls in the house are plastered and kalsomined, except the
lower hall, living room and dining room which are papered. The un-
papered walls should be thoroughly washed to remove dirt and kalsomine,
cracks filled and then painted. The walls now papered should be cleaned
and fresh paper put on.
Ceilings
All ceilings, except the dining room, are in bad condition. Two
possibilities exist for making repairs. One is to strip off old plaster
and replace with new. The other is to leave the old plaster in place
and cover with wall board in panels. The plastering would cost approxi-
mately $600. The wall board seilings would cost approximately $490. I
think that the wall board oeilings are to be preferred over plaster.
Heating Plant
The house has a good hot water heating system. It is fired by an
oil burning furnace which was installed about seven years ago. The
radiation from the plant needs re-arranging to achieve greater efficiency
and it is probable that two or three additional radiators will have to be
installed.
In addition to the hot water system there is a hot air furnace.
This can be used in late spring and early autumn for warming the lower
floor of the house before constant heat throughout the house will be
required. Coal or wood can be used for fuel.
6
17/100ara, BOX +71
Sewage Disposal
Easte water and sewage is emptied into a ess-peol some distance
from the house. The essapeol should be abandoned and a modern septie
tank installed in its stead. This is not a matter of immediate action,
however, and can be deferred for several years.
Water Supply
Rater is supplied to the house through connections with the main
line of the Bar Harbor Water Company. It is adequate and satisfactory.
Electricity
Electric current is supplied to the house over the lines of the
Bangor Hydro-Electric Company.
The current is metered at a main entrance switch located in a
building known as the laundry adjacent to the house. The metering point
should be changed to the basement of the house. The particular reason
for this change will be discussed later.
Outbuildings Associated with Storm Beach Cottage
These outbuildings are associated with and appurtenant to Storm
Beach Cottage. They are:
The Laundry
The Library
The Garage
The laundry is a frame building approximately 24 x 40 feet. It was
built for a small stable, large enough to stable a horse and store a
couple of wagons. Later, about twenty years ago, Mr. Dorr converted it
into a laundry and kitchen. Here Mrs. Robichaud did the laundry work
and prepared Mr. Dort's food, carrying it to Storm Beach Cottage to be
served.
The main electrical awitch which controls all the airduits in all
buildings is in this building, as are the meters. It is a heavy duty
switch of a capacity far beyond ordinary household needs, even for an
electric range. Mr. Dorr had all serts of high wattage appliances which
the ordinary family would not have. Accordingly, this min switch and
control box should be taken out and the meters relocated in the cellar
of Storm Beach Cottage.
7
50/bex 74
There are a not of laundry trays in the building which should be
taken out and relocated in the cellar of Storm Beach. The laundry
building cannot be used as such in the winter unless fires are constantly
kept to prevent the water pipes from freesing and coal stores are the
only possible source of heat.
After these changes are made the building should be taken down. It
would serve no useful purpose and would require some repairs to keep it
in a presentable condition.
The Library
This building is a frame structure approximately 20 x 40 feet.
Mr. Derr called it "The Park Library". True, it was well stocked with
books, but the books were his personal property and did not relate to
the park or to the Park Service. It has, too, a small photographic
dark FOOM built into it.
My suggestion is that this building be left standing. It may
serve some good purpose ultimately in connection with the occupancy of
fir.
Storm Beach Cottage, possibly for storage, as a work shop, or for other
use. It is in good repair at present and later, if lack of use no
longer justifies its retention, it could be taken down.
The Garage
The garage is a frame structure approximately 24 x 30 feet. It
will house two vehicles and is a necessary adjunot to the occupancy
of the sottage. It is in B good state of repair.
Summary of repairs needed at Storm Beach Cottage:
Carpenter work
Set out north wall of living room (#3) to
include porch within the room
$200.00
Remove the skylight from roof
30.00
Lay hardwood floors in rooms numbered
10-11-12-15-16-17-18
500.00
8
Box 795
Miscellaneous patching where needeu
New porch pillars
30.00
Changes in outside finish
75.00
New seilings in all rooms except
1-2-5-14-19
490.00
Plumbing and Heating
Relocate laundry trays from laundry
building to cellar of Storm Beach
75.00
Hearrange radiators and install two
additional
250.00
Per Painting
Sorape loose paint, touch up and paint
two coats entire exterior
Wash, fill cracks and paint all plastered
walls where not papered
Repaper all papered walls
Varniah and wax new floors
Sand and refinish other floors
Estimate for whole
1,200.00
Electrical Work
Relocate main switch and meters
75.00
Minor changes in interior wiring
50.00
Several new fixtures for walls and seilings
to replace broken ones
30.00
Floor Coverings
Lay linoleum on kitchen, small dining room
and service hall floors, 60 sq. yds.
180.00
GRAND TOTAL
$3,285.00
9
ATIONAL ARCHIVES
NARA/CP/R6791 CCF, 1933-49/Azalia, box 791
Conclusion
The contractors who locked over the house with me all declared
the house to be in good condition structurally and that the repairs
and renovations are fully justified. The building contractor told
me that the replacement cost would easily reach $15,000.00.
GBD
The condition of the house is due to no cause other than the
negleded
neglect of the former owner to keep it clean, painted, and otherwise
in good repair.
strom
Cottage
B. L. Hadley,
Superintendent.
December 22, 1944.
United States Courts
Judge's Chambers
Bangor, Maine
31st July, 1945.
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:-
Referring to your letter of July twentieth re-
lating to certain lands of Mr. Dorr that might be desirable
for the Park, I have conferred with other representatives of
the estate and we conclude that under all the circumstances
that have come to our attention we would not be justified in
donating these lands. We feel, as I wrote you, that it would
be agreeable to Mr. Dorr that the Park should have them at the
appraised value, but we also feel that if he had wished to give
them to the Park he would have done SO in his will which was
made not very long before he died. Mr. Dorr specified certain
projects of a rather large nature for which he wanted his
property used. The property, of itself, is not sufficient in
amount to carry out his projects, but the proceeds of it can
be used in connection with donations or arrangements made by
others looking toward the same end that Mr. Dorr had in mind
and outlined in his will; in fact, a project has already been
originated by some public-spirited persons along the lines that
Mr. Dorr specified, to which a contribution from Mr. Dorr's net
estate, although not large, would be helpful. In reaching
this conclusion, - that we would come nearer carrying out Mr.
Dorr's will by selling this land than by giving it to the
Park, - we have had the benefit of the knowledge of Mr. Dorr's
purposes by his private secretary who was with him for a number
of years until his death and who was in his confidence.
I trust that the delay in answering your letter has
caused you no inconvenience.
Very truly yours,
JOHN A. PETERS.
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
Seaside Inn,
Seal Harbor, Maine.
MEMORANDUM for the File:
This memorandum has reference to a meeting which I had with Mr.
Rockefeller in his office in New York on Monday, January 6, 1941 to
which Mr. Dorr's letter of December 13, 1940 and Mr. Rockefeller's
letters of December 18, 1940 and January 8, 1941 referred.
My discussion with Mr. Rockefeller was based on sketshes which I
had with me which showed the Oldfarm property and the property with
ownership data from the park office in Bar Harbor through the valley
of Crouwell Harbor Brook to the Great Meadow.
The conference was arranged by Mr. Dorr and authority for my
travel at government expense was given by the Director.
On Mr. Dorr's behalf I presented to Mr. Rockefeller the thoughts
which were in Mr. Dorr's mind relative to the ultimate acquisition of
these properties by the government for addition to the park. Mr. Dorr
was particularly anxious that the government should acquire what re-
mained of the Oldfarm estate, exclusive of that portion which was
owned by the Mount Desert Nurseries. The portion of the Oldfarm 68-
tate south and west of the Schooner Head Road had previously gone into
government ownership. He felt that to get the remainder of the Oldfarm
estate into park ownership would be a final achievement of his years
of effort to create the park. He felt that the passing of the property
into park ownership would accomplish two purposes: (1) His sentimental
attachment to his summer home which had grown with the years since his
father purchased the property in the middle 1870's and built the two
houses on it at the decades close would be perpetuated; (2) the property
would ultimately serve a particular purpose for the park by furnishing
in Storm Beach Cottage, the first and smaller of the two, a park
superintendent's residence, and that Oldfarm House would become a
guest house for government officials, particularly the President and
Cabinet members.
The land at the corner of Main Street and Park Road in the village
with the building thereon he felt should be continued in its present
use as park headquarters, adjoining as it did the land earlier given
to the government for the utility site and upon which had been erected
the park's automotive repair shop and storage building. The other land
extending from Park Road southward through the valley of Cromwell Harbor
Brook to the beginning of the park's Long Field Road he felt should be
acquired by the park for development as the principle highway approach
to the park from the village of Bar Harbor.
January 13, 1945
r
Rockefeller's lettor of January 8, 1941 comments on the
which be and I had.
Oldfarm acquisition, office site and building at the corner
Street and Park Road in Bar Harbor and other land southward
Road, including the triungle bounded by Cronwell Harbor
Crumwell Harbor Brook and Ledgelawn Extension was accomplished
to the government in January 1942. Details of this
will be found in office file No. 2.36.
remaining lands desirable for acquisition in the valley of
rbor Brook has yet to be accomplished.
B. L. Hadley,
Superintendent.
1945
UNITED STATES in
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR the cursicion veine -
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE local in
REGION ONE
No what senit in including
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA to Look men the utilities
.ind very whatever international
week Lines
then tone the veryoneer been
August 28, 1946.
Rich
8/2
MEMORANDUM for Regional Engineer 6 Neil.
A real early report is desired to permit Superintendent Hadley,
this office, and the Director to consider possible disposition of the
Old Farm buildings at Acadia National Park. These buildings consist
of a large old family home of the Dorr family and several related
structures.
It is desired that we have an estimate of the necessary rehabili-
tation cost of these buildings and the amount probably needed to main-
tain them for use under either of the following choices:
1. Adminis trative headquarters for Acadia National Park,
with a proportion of the space being allotted to a
public museum display on the park.
2. A Park Museum, either permanent or temporary in nature.
3. Use as a concession which would furnish lodging or meals
and lodging to park visitors.
4.
Estimate of possible return to the Government which might
be secured by having all or part of the buildings wrecked
by contract in order to furnish critical materials for new
construction elsewhere in Maine.
Someone should be sent to Bar Harbor immediately to compile a re-
port on these alternates. If it is necessary that an architect or
landscape architect participate, plans should be made accordingly.
FOR VICTORY
Thomas to Allen,
BUY
Regional Director.
UNITED
STATES
WAR
BONDS
AND
STAMPS
September 6, 1946
MEMORANDUS for the Superintendent,
Acadia National Park.
Following Regional Director Allen's recent visit to
acadia National Park he requested that technical personnel
from this office visit Acadia to asaist you in determining
upon recommendations to the Director for possible disposi-
tion of the buildings constituting the old Dorr family home.
It is his suggestion that estimates for rehabilitation.
remodeling and maintenance be prepared for possible use under
the following three alternates.
1.
Administrative headquarters for the park with 3
proportion of the space being allotted to a pub-
lic museum display on the park.
2. A Park Museum, either permanent or temporary in
nature.
3. Use as 1 concession which would furnish lodging
or meals or both to park visitors.
He also desires an estimate of the possible return to the
Government which might be secured by having all or part of the
buildings in mater wrecked by contract for the salvage of critical build-
elsewhere in Maine. You, no
doubt, can investigate this through local
building
materials.
Architect Higgins and Engineer Denniston will drive to Acadia
with Field Auditor Anderson for the purpose of assisting with this
work. They will leave here Tuesday and expect to arrive at Bar
Harbor on Wednesday evening, September 11. Please make reservations
for them.
(Sgd) W. E. O'Neil, Jr.
W. 3. O'Neil, Jr.,
Regional Engineer.
CC: engineering
general
day
WEO:flw
10-23
UNITED STATES
(June 1941)
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia
NATIONAL PARK
FILE No.
FIELD REPORT
by
Engineer Denniston
and
Architect Higgins
on
"OLD FARM"
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
September 16, 1946.
IMPORTANT
This file constitutes a part of the official records of the
National Park Service and should not be separated or papers
withdrawn without express authority of the official in charge.
All Files should be returned promptly to the File Room.
Officials and employees will be held responsible for failure
to observe these rules, which are necessary to protect the
integrity of the official records.
NEWTON B. DRURY,
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
10-22871
Director.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
FIELD REPORT
by
September 16, 1946.
Engineer Denniston
and
Architect Higgins
on
"OLD FARM"
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
through the Superintendent
"Old Farm", formerly the summer estate of George B. Dorr,
was acquired by the government in January 1942. The property
comprises 95.85 acres facing on Compass Harbor and includes the
following buildings.
1. Old Farm house - the former summer home of the Dorr
family, built in 1880-81.
2. Six outbuildings used in conjunction with Old Farm
house.
(a) Stable.
(b) Three car garage.
(c) Two servants' cottages.
(d) Laundry.
(e) Ice house.
3.
Compass Earbor Cottage - serving as an employee's quarters,
with shed presently serving as a one car garage.
4. Storm Beach Cottage - built in 1879.
5. Three outbuildings related to Storm Beach Cottage.
(a) Two car gerage.
(b) Laundry.
(c) Library - guest house.
The purpose of this report is to record our inspection of the
"Old Farm" house which was made to determine the relative feasi-
bility of various proposed dispositions of the building. These
Proposed dispositions are:
1. Conversion into a concession building
2. Conversion into an administrative building
3. Conversion into a park museum
4. Razing.
In addition to our analysis of these four proposals we have
included data on a fifth - a combination Administration - Museum
Building.
"Old Farm" house is 132 feet long and 52 feet wide in its
greatest dimension. It consists of a main structure and a servants'
wing, the main structure being three stories high with an attic and
the wing two stories high.
A basement extends under approximately two thirds of the
building.
The exterior wall of the lower floor is two feet thick from
interior plaster face to exterior masonry face. This wall is made
of local red granite with brick trim at openings.
Above the second floor line the structure is framed and
finished in wood, the exterior finish being western red cedar
shingles.
The roof of the two gabled portions is covered with local
cedar shingles. Roof of porches and deck between gablesis covered
with canvas. The gutters are wood and flashing, and downspouts
are copper or galvanized iron.
The first floor contains ten rooms, four of which have fire-
places. The principal rooms are paneled as is the stair hall.
The
second floor contains five bedrooms and five servants' rooms. There
are four fireplaces, some paneling, and six bathrooms on this floor.
The third floor contains one unusually large room (21' X 25 )
with fireplace and book cases; two large rooms and one small room
in addition to one bath. This floor is heated by one fireplace and
one small hot air duct.
The house is structurally sound. Mechanical work is obsolete
and inadequate, including heating system, electric wiring, and most
of the plumbing.
The following major exterior repair jobs are required as a
matter of maintenance.
(a) Rercofing.
(b) Reshingling walls.
(c) Repointing 10 per cent of masonry.
(d) Replacing considerable number of wood window sills and
exterior wood trim.
(e) Reglazing.
(F) Repainting.
(g) Gutter and downspout work.
2
On the interior repairs will be dictated by the use to which
the building is placed. For any use the minimum work will include
plaster work, painting, floor finishing, and mechanical installations.
Photographs of plans of existing building are attached.
Measurements were made. of the first floor rooms and notes were
made of all parts of the house.
Sketch studies were made showing possibilities of adapting
plan of house for use as concession and also for use as Administration-
Museum Building.
The estimates included in this report are based on current
prices and cover sufficient work to place the house in good condition.
The breakdown of the estimates is as follows:
A. Concession (use of all rooms)
1. Itemized estimate of cost of repairs.
2. Estimate of maintenance and upkeep.
B.
Administration-Liuseum Building
(use of first and second floors)
1. Itemized estimate of cost of repairs.
2. Estimate of maintenance and upkeep.
C. Administration Building or Museum Building
(use of first floor)
1. Itemized estimate of cost of repairs.
2. Estimate of maintenance and upkeep.
D. Razing.
1. List of types of salvagable material.
2. Estimate of their value.
E. Salvage.
1. Estimate of quantities and value.
Est. (A-1)
Repairs and Alterations to Fit Building for a Concession
1. Roof and exterior walls (shingles) walls 5000 sq.ft.
roof 6000 sq.ft.
$3,850
2. Gutters and downspouts
375
3. Renair exterior woodwork
500
4. Repoint masonry
100
5. Paint exterior ($1200), interior ($2100), canvas decks ($200)
3,500
6. Reglaze windows
150
7. Window screens
400
8. Storm windows
525
9. Provide exterior egress - third floor
120
10. Heating - on basis of all year use
7,200
11. Electricity - wiring $600; fuse box & panel $150
750
12. Light fixtures
100
13. Plumbing (Reusing 15 existing fixtures)
1,800
3
14. Replastering
$ 500
15. Refinish floors
1,000
16. Refinish walls
900
17. Reset hardware
200
18. Provide shades
250
19. Fire protection - hose, etc.
300
20. Change interior partitions
900
21. Insulation - attic floor 2400 sq. ft.
360
22. Sewerage (no additional required)
23. Water supply (no additional required)
24. Communication and fire alarm system
300
25. Approach road and gates
5,000
26. Parking
2,000
27. Landscaping
1,500
28. Kitchen sinks, garbage disposal
200
29. Fireproofing
500
30. Contingencies 15%
4,980
Total
$39,260
Est. (A-2)
Maintenance-Concession
Annual Charges
Depreciation of $40,000 in 20 years requires maintenance
per year of
$2,000
Fuel. - on basis of all year use
1,800
Light
200
Water
200
Janitor
1,800
Total
$6,000/yr.
Est. (B-1)
Alterations and Repairs for Combination Administration and Museum
1. Roof and exterior walls (shingles)
G 3,850
2. Gutters and downspouts
375
3. Repair exterior woodwork
500
4. Repoint masonry
100
5. Paint exterior and interior (Int. 1st & 2nd floors only) 2,700
6. Reglaze windows
150
7. Window screens
350
8. Storm windows
450
9. Heating
6,500
10. Electricity
650
11. Light fixtures
300
12. Plumbing
300
13. Replastering
400
14. Refinish floors
900
15. Refinish walls
750
16. Reset hardware
200
17. Provide shades
200
4
18. Fire protection
SC
300
19. Change interior partitions
100
20. Insulation
630
21. Approach road
5,000
22. Parking
1,000
23. Landscaping
1,500
24. Fireproofing
500
25. Remove end porches, except pavement and walls
250
$27,955
Contingencies 15%
4,194
Total
$32,149
Est.(B-2)
Administration-Museum
Maintenance
Annual Charges
Depreciation of $32,000 over 20 years requires maintenance
annually
$1,600
Fuel - first floor, partial heat, second floor, heated,
third floor, no heat
1,200
Light
100
water
100
Janitor - Caretaker
1,800
Total $4,800/yr.
Est. (C-1)
Repairs and Alterations for use, either as a Museum or as an
Administration Building
1. Roof and exterior walls (shingles)
$ 3,850
2. Gutters and downspouts
375
3. Repair exterior woodwork
500
4. Repoint masonry
100
5. Paint exterior & interior (ext.$1200, int. $800)
2,000
6. Reglaze windows
150
7. Window screens
200
8. Storm windows
250
9. Heating
4,000
10. Electricity
400
Il. Light fixtures
300
12. Plumbing
100
13. Replastering
250
14. Refinish floors
500
15. Refinish walls
400
16. Reset hardware
150
17. Provide shades
100
18. Fire protection
300
19. Change interior partitions
100
20. Insulation
800
21. Approach roads and gates
5,000
22. Parking
1,000
23. Landscaping
1,500
5
24. Fireproofing
13
500
25. Remove porch, leaving pavement and walls
250
$23,075
Contingencies 15%
3,462
Total
$26,537
Est. (C-2)
Administration or Museum
Maintenance
Depreciation $27,000 for 20 years requires maintenance per year $1,350
Fuel - all year use
1,000
Light
100
Water
100
Janitor - caretaker
900
Total $3,450
Est. (E-1)
Unit
Salvage
quan.
Price
Amount
Framing lumber
24 LIFE BM
$40.00
$ 950
Sheathing, sub-flooring, etc.
19 if BM
40.00
760
Copper - flashing, etc., and lead
Lump sum
50
Brick
20 M
10.00
200
Flooring (finish)
Lump sum
100
Doors
50 1
4.00
200
Door Frames
35
3.00
105
Windows (sash)
20
2.00
40
Hindow frames
10
5.00
50
Boiler - heating
1
25.00
25
Hot water heater - 100 gal. copper tank
Lump sum
25
50 gal. copper tank
25
Radiators
10
4.00
40
Pipe iron various sizes
500 LF
0.05
25
Pipe - brass
1000 LF
0.10
100
Valves and fittings
Lump sum
100
Electrical fixtures
Lump sum
10
Bath tubs
5
10.00
50
Lavatories
9
5.00
45
Linoleum
Lump sum
20
Trim, paneling, etc.
Lump sum
50
Stairs and rails
Lump sum
50
Mantels
10
5.00
50
$3,055
In case "Old Farm" becomes the administration-museum building,
the present temporary building now used for that purpose will be
vacated. It is estimated that its salvage value and the cost of razing
the temporary office will be about the same.
6
In case the present Administration-Museum building remains
as temporary quarters, it appears desirable to add another room
to the building to properly accommodate the staff and to overcome
a grave deficiency in the present plan - the unpreventable intrusion
of visitors into the Superintendent's office. It is estimated that
a one room wing constructed of materials salvaged from one of the
Dorr Estate outbuildings could be built for approximately twelve
hundred dollars.
In an analysis of the cost of operation and maintenance of
"Old Farm" used as an Administration-iuseum building it is of interest
to compare that cost with the cost of operating and maintaining the
present temporary Administration-Mus eum building. These costs are
as follows:
Heat -
$325
Water -
65
Electric power -
36
Maintenance (based on 15 yr. total
depreciation)
200
3626/yr.
If an additional room is added to existing temporary Adminis-
tration-Museum building, these figures would be increased about
twenty per cent, giving a total of $750.00 a year.
The Civilian Production Administration representative in
Bangor has been contacted in regard to issuance of necessary priorities
for repairs of "Old Farm" and for addition to present administration
building. His reply was:
"Authorization would be granted but no priorities could be
issued".
This means we would be in the market for unavailable materials
as far as necessary work on "Old Farm" is concerned, but not so on the
recommended addition to the present administration building.
Other pertinent factors to be considered in arriving at a
decision are as follows:
(a) If used, "Old Farm" may be considered a permanent building
not located on a site shown on the approved Easter Plan.
(b) The existing utility group in Bar Harbor will be approx-
imately a mile from the Headquarters Building.
(c) The number and size of rooms and their arrangement is limited
by the existing plan.
(d) The museum section will not be fireproof.
(e) Salvage materials probably are near a peak price at present.
(f)
Construction restrictions may prohibit construction of a
new permanent Ldministration-Luseur building for five years
or more.
7
Our reconmendations are:
A. Strip "Old Farm" of such shelvings, doors, or piping
and other similar materials as may be of use in the
Park in the near future.
B. Advertise for bids for razing building.
C. Construct one room wing to present building with
expectancy of use for five years.
D. Advertise for bids for razing as many of the other
Dorr Estate buildings as are not required in the
operation of the Park.
J. H. Denniston,
Engineer.
Aloysius / J. Higgins,
Architect.
THE
DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ADDRESS:
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
SERVICE
SEP 3 1948
SEP
MEMORANDUM for the Regional Director Bagion One.
This refers to Mr. Hadley's memorandum of July 13, a copy
of which was sent to the Region One Office, concerning the
disposition of the furnishings and furniture now in Old Farm
and conveyed to the Government by Mr. Dorr by Bill of Sale
dated September 16, 1941. It is suggested that the furnishings
and furniture be segregated into three olassifications as follows:
1. Items which it is desired to retain for use at Acadia.
2. Items which can be used advantageously in Service-owned
housekeeping quarters at Isle Royale. This Office has
requested authority from the Bureau of the Budget to
furnish Government-owned housekeeping quarters at the
park as this would be more economical for the Service
than the cost of transferring the employee's household
furniture to and from the Island twice annually.
3. All other items which should be disposed of by competive
bids on a lot basis as suggested in Mr. Hadley's memo-
randum of July 13. Invitations to bid should be sent to
all prospective purchasers, including Mr. Grover O'Neill.
If you concur in this proposal, please furnish the Region Two
Office with a list, including a brief description of each, of the
various items other than those included in the first classification
and which might be used advantageously in Service quarters at the
park. Superintendent Shevlin of Isle Royale can then designate the
items which should be transferred for use at the park. All other
items would fall in Class 3. Details as to the selection and
transfer of any items to Isle Royale should be arranged botween
Mesare. Hadley and Shevlin.
The disposition of property in Class 3, without declaration
to the Bureau of Federal Supply, is authorized by paragraph B. 1.
(o) in Circular Letter C-1, Revised, of July 29, 1948 from that
Bureau, which provides as follows:
"Property (other than stook items, as defined in Section E
hereof, and items appearing in the Federal Supply Schedule or
interchangeable therewith for the same purpose) having an
acquisition value of $500 or less and consisting of an item
or group of identical items normally constituting a single
line entry on the declaration form."
(BCD) BILLORY A. TOLSON
Assistant Director.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
September 21, 1948.
MEMORANDUM for the Regional Director, Region One.
Reference is made to Mr. Allen's memorandum of September 7 to
which was attached a copy of Mr. Tolson's memorandum to him of
September 3. both of which relate to the disposition of the furniture
and furnishings conveyed to the government by Mr. Dorr by Bill of
sale dated September 16, 1941.
In order to comply with Mr. Allen's instruction that the matter
be handled at my earliest convenience, I made an attempt to separate
the material into the categories which Mr. Tolson outlined. I got
into trouble at the outset, because there are several items which may
or may not be suitable for the superintendent's residence at Isle
Royale, and, not knowing the size or character of that residence, I
don't know whether to include them in the Isle Royale list or not. It
seems to me desirable, if not necessary, that I discuss this matter
with Mr. Shevlin at the Grand Canyon Conference with the inventory in
hand. I can describe the items to him, and he can decide if they
are suitable. When I return from the conference, it will be a matter
of but a few minutes, relatively speaking, to prepare the three liats
and send them in.
B. L. Eadley,
Superintendent.
ANPA,3,f,10
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ADDRESS ONLY
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
THE DIRECTOR. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
RECEIVED
MAY 21 1948 PARK
May 18, 1948.
AIR MAIL
ACADIA
NATIONAL
MEMORANDUM for the Superintendent,
Acadia National Park.
On May 12, Mr. Grover O'Neill, of 20 Exchange Place, New York
City, called at this Office in connection with the continuing desire
of Mrs. O'Neill, a distant relative of former Superintendent Dorr,
and himself to procure for reasons of sentiment certain items of
family furniture and household equipment located in the "Old Farm"
home of the late superintendent. Mr. O'Neill stated that the matter
was not of sufficient importance to them to warrant special legisla-
tion to authorize the disposal of the desired items to himself and
Mrs. O'Neill as mentioned in our letter to him of September 25, 1947.
He indicated, however, that he should like to purchase such of the
desired items as were not needed by the Service if appropriate ar-
rangements for their sale could be worked out.
Mr. O'Neill left with us a list of items prepared from notes
taken by him when he visited the Park last fall. A copy of the list
is attached, and you will observe that the items have been classi-
fied to show those in which they are "mostly interested, 11 #inter-
ested, # and #not particularly interested. #
Please go over the list carefully to determine whether any of
the items desired by the O'Neills are of such a nature as could be
disposed of at this time. In addition to the suggestions for the
disposition of the "Old Farm" furnishings contained in your memoran-
dum of October 8, 1947, the thought occurs to us that some of the
items may possess historic or antique values, and while they might
not be suitable for use at Acadia, they might be utilized at areas,
such as Salem Maritime, Adams Mansion, Vanderbilt Mansion, Colonial,
or Morristown. You, of course, are familiar with the type of fur-
nishings and equipment involved and doubtless are in a position to
evaluate their adaptability and usefulness at Acadia and elsewhere.
Our thought is merely that we might accommodate Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill
with respect to such of the items desired by them as can be clearly
demonstrated to have no further use to the Service.
If, after studying the list of items, you conclude that there
are a number that might well be disposed of, please furnish us with
a general description of each item and its approximate value. It
ANP3,f.10
may later prove necessary to have qualified appraisers set a value
on each of the items selected for disposal prior to their actual
sale.
Should any of the items selected for sale still be desired by
Mr. and Mrs. O'Neill, consideration can be given to their sale pur-
suant to the authority contained in the act of January 24, 1923 (42
Stat. 1215, 16 U.S.C. sec. 9), as supplemented by section 8 of the
act of August 2, 1946 (Public Law 600, 79th Cong. ), the proceeds of
sale to be held for application toward the eventual purchase of
similar equipment.
In considering this matter on this occasion and previously, we
have been unable to locate in our records a copy of the Bill of Sale
under which the furnishings and equipment in "Old Farm" were trans-
ferred to the United States by Mr. Dorr in 1941. When submitting
your report, please furnish us with a copy of the Bill of Sale.
Acting Assistant Director.
Enclosure 536.
Miller
cc: Regional Director, Region One,
with a copy of Mr. O'Neill's list.
2
ANFA=
Copy- 2
copy
Personal
20 Exchange Place
New York
September 4, 1947.
Mr. Newton 3. Drury, Director
National Park Service
Marahandist Mart
OCT
Chicago 54, Illinois.
Dear Mr. Drury:
I take this occasion of expressing to you the
gratitude of the family of George B. Derr for the signal honor
which the National Park Service has paid him in eresting to his
monery a tablet in Acadia National Park. My son, George Dorr
O'Maill, who was present at the unveiling ceremony, has just
told us how impressive the ceremony was. The inscriptions on
the tablet show careful thought and are very approprite.
You know, as well as w do, that something of this
nature was very close in George Dorr's mind. He wanted to be
remembered in connection with the Park, which he loved dearly
and to which he deveted all of his energies. The Sieur de
Months Spring was in his opinion the heart of the Park. And
I an sure that his spirit will be glad to know that this tab-
let is erected there.
We visited Mount Desert Island last week; in fact,
we arrived the day you departed; but we did not know about the
prospective unveiling until after we had completed plans for
our return. But my son reasined for the ceremony.
We had a very nice visit with Mr. Hadley, and are
glad to know that he is in charge of the Park. He worked very
closely with Mr. Derr for twenty-five years, and I am sure that
the Park will greatly benefit from his interested and devoted
supervision.
Our talk with Mr. Hadley turned on the subject of
the furniture in the Dorr house. We are of course most arricos
to obtain anything that w can of the family furniture, entire-
ly for sentimental reasons. As time goes on, all of us learn
to value the furniture which comes down to us more and more.
Mr. Dorr gave us a lot of ideas about what we were to have,
but the exigencies of his situation to some extent prevented it.
Almost all of the furniture that was in the house
has been removed, and Mr. Hadley tells us that what is left is
of no further use to the Service and that he wants to get rid
of it. This includes a few family pieces which we want, and
some furniture in the servants' end which of course is of no
special value to us. The pieces that are left are for the
ANP 3, , 1.10
20 Exchange Place
New York
2.
Mr. Newton B. Drury, 9/4/47.
most part, in Mr. Hadley's opinion, in the nature of secondhand
furniture, and of no special value, although of course they would
have many associations valuable to us. We would like to acquire
then on any basis that is satisfactory to you. Mr. Hadley tells
us that none of this furniture has been inventoried as government
property.
like will be glad to remove all of the furniture, shipping
to New York the pieces which - want, and disposing of the others
to the Maine Seascast Missions where it can be of practical use.
Also, we want to see that Mr. Hadley receives one
item as a memento of his twenty-five years' association with
George B. Dorr, and expressing the mutual admiration which they
had, one for the other.
Mrs. O'Neill weats me to tell you how very much
indeed she appreciated your thoughtful letter several years
ago after Mr. Dorr's death.
Expressing our appreciation of your friendly can-
sideration of these-matters, I am, with kind regards
Very sincerely yours,
(sgd)
Grover O'Neill
ar/e.
"Property (other than stook items, as defined in Section E
hereof, and items appearing in the Federal Supply Schedule or
interchangeable therewith for the same purpose) having an
acquisition value of $500 or less and consisting of an item
or group of identical items normally constituting a single
line entry on the declaration form."
(AZD) BILLORY A. TOLSON
Assistant Director.
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
September 21, 1948.
MEMORANDUM for the Regional Director, Region One.
Reference is made to Mr. Allen's memorandum of September 7 to
which was attached a copy of Mr. Tolson's memorandum to him of
September 3, both of which relate to the disposition of the furniture
and furnishings conveyed to the government by Mr. Dorr by Bill of
sale dated September 16, 1941.
In order to comply with Mr. Allen's instruction that the matter
be handled at my earliest convenience, I made an attempt to separate
the material into the categories which Mr. Tolson outlined. I got
into trouble at the outset, because there are several items which may
or may not be suitable for the superintendent's residence at Isle
Royale, and, not knowing the size or character of that residence, I
don't know whether to include them in the Isle Royale list or not. It
seems to me desirable, is not necessary, that I discuss this matter
with Mr. Shevlin at the Grand Canyon Conference with the inventory in
hand. I can describe the items to him, and he can decide if they
are suitable. When I return from the conference, it will be a ratter
of but a few minutes, relatively speaking, to prepare the three lists
and send them in.
B. L. Badley,
Superintendent.
ANA, f. 10
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Barbor, Maine
July 15, 1948
MEMORANDUM for the Director.
Reference is made to It. Aller's memorandum of May 18, 1948, rela-
tive to Hr. Grover C'teill's desire to obtain certain items of furniture
and equipment now in Oldfarm and conveyed to the government by Mr. Dorr
by Bill of Sale dated September 16, 1941.
I enclose a copy of the Bill of Sale. So far as I know the original
document was sent to your office with the abstract and deed to the property.
To the Bill of Sale and its attached inventory is a second copy of the
inventory bearing certain markings which are explained on four lists which are
also enclosed.
I have broken the inventory into four lists as follows:
tist No. 1 - Items taken from Oldfarm to Homans House by
Mrs. McReynolds. All destroyed by fire
October 23, 1947. These items ara marked
with of red "B" on the inventory.
List No. 2 - Items on this list are at present in the
Superintendent's residence, Storm Beach Cottage.
They are marked with a blue "S" on the inventory.
List No. 3 - Items on this list are those enumerated on the list
submitted by Mr. Grover O'Neill, May 12, 1948. They
are marked with a green "0" on the inventory.
List No. 4 - Items on this list are now in Oldfarm House. They
are marked with a red "X" on the inventory. They
are the remainder of the inventory items not accounted
for on lists numbered 1,2 and 3.
To list number 3 I have attached copies of Mr. O'Neill's list to which
I have added property record numbers and values.
I think you will have no difficulty in relating property record numbers
and items on the four lists to those on the marked copy of the inventory.
In each case the numbers on the lists follow in sequence those on the
inventory.
ANP 3 ,fold
The values given on the lists to the items are, with few exceptions,
my own. They are subject to correction by appraisers should an appraisal
be made. My figures are probably quite conservative.
Every item on the inventory could be sold. There are two ways of
doing it under government procedure which, so far as I know, can only
be done by advertised sale and bid. The two ways are (1) advertise and
call for bids on the entire inventory or (2) segregate the items into
lots based on appraised values and advertise for bide on the lots. The
second method would, I believe, bring the greatest money return and be
the nest satisfactory.
There are really no items of historie or antique value, barring the
Governor Winthrop desk and two or three bureaus and stands. They have
fair money value as pieces of good furniture, not as antiques.
The items in which the O'Neilla are interested wouldn't be of use
to the Service in any area, se far as I can see. The O'Beills probably
regard them purely from the standpoint of sentimental attachment through
Mrs. O'Neill's relationship to Mr. Dorr.
Before reaching a final desision on the disposition of the furniture,
I venture to suggest that consideration be given to retaining some of the
items now in my care in Stora Beach Cottage. They do not comprise even
a minor part of the furnishings of the house and should not be looked upon
as such. They do however, constitute a visible link between the park and
Mr. Dorr. They reflect his occupancy of the house they are now in and to
a degree reflect his personality. For the sake of perpetuating that
association for a time, at least, I think those pieces should be kept.
For your information. the O'Neille are not aware of the fact that
the items on-the Storm Beach list are where they are.
B. L. Badley.
Superintendent.
In duplicate
se: RegDirRegOne
Enclosure
2
ANF 3, +110
OF
THE
DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
ADDRESS:
WASHINGTON
THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
SEP C 1948
MEMORANDUM for the Regional Director Region One.
This refers to Mr. Hadley's memorandum of July 13, a oopy
of which was sent to the Region One Office, concerning the
disposition of the furnishings and furniture now in Old Farm
and conveyed to the Government by Mr. Dorr by Bill of Sale
dated September 16, 1941. It is suggested that the furnishings
and furniture be segregated into three olassifications as follows:
1. Items which it is desired to retain for use at Acadia.
2. Items which can be used advantageously in Service-owned
housekeeping quarters at Isle Royale. This Office has
requested authority from the Bureau of the Budget to
furnish Government-owned housekeeping quarters at the
park as this would be more economical for the Service
than the cost of transferring the employee's household
furniture to and from the Island twice annually.
3. All other items which should be disposed of by competive
bids on a lot basis as suggested in Mr. Hadley's memo-
randum of July 13. Invitations to bid should be sent to
all prospective purchasers, including Mr. Grover O'Neill.
If you concur in this proposal, please furnish the Region Two
Office with a list, including a brief description of each, of the
various items other than those included in the first classification
and which might be used advantageously in Service quarters at the
park. Superintendent Shevlin of Isle Royale can then designate the
items which should be transferred for use at the park. All other
items would fall in Class 3. Details 8.5 to the selection and
transfer of any items to Isle Royale should be arranged between
Messrs. Hadley and Shevlin.
The disposition of property in Class 3, without declaration
to the Bureau of Federal Supply, is authorized by paragraph B. 1.
(o) in Circular Letter C-1, Revised, of July 29, 1948 from that
Bureau, which provides as follows:
ANP 3,filo
"Property (other than stock items, as defined in Section E
hereof, and items appearing in the Federal Supply Schedule or
interchangeable therewith for the same purpose) having an
acquisition value of $500 or less and consisting of an item
or group of identical items normally constituting a single
line entry on the declaration form."
(ACD) SILLORY A. TOLSON
Assistant Director.
In duplicate.
CC: Regional Director, Region Two.
6.x3
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
March 30, 1949.
Mr. Robert W. Shankland,
417 East 86th Street,
New York 28, New York.
Dear Mr. Shankland:
Mr. Dorr was born in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, on
December 29, 1853, and died at Bar Harbor, Maine, on August 5,
1944. He was a few months lacking of 91 years of age.
Mr. Dorr was of Boston-Salem ancestry; his father's people
tracing their origin through the Boston records to about 1635,
his mother's people representing the Salem influence to practi-
cally the same early date. His mother's people were the Wards
and Grays of Salem who were prominent in the East India and China
trade in the days when Salem had so many ships sailing to all the
ports of the world. It was the fortune on his mother's side thus
accumulated which, combined with that of his father's people who,
I understand, were importers of foreign goods, gave Mr. Dorr his
financial background.
Mr. Dorr's own personal background was cultural rather than
financial although it was the family money that permitted him to
build the Park. It was his cultural background and a natural
love of nature that prompted him to build it. As a boy he
attended Mr. Eppes Dixwell's private school in Boston. His formal
education was completed at Harvard from whose classic halls he
graduated in 1874. The conclusion of his formal education was
but the beginning of his real education. He traveled widely in
Europe, the Middle East and Egypt as well as this country. He
read and studied the classics, not only in the English language
but in French, Italian, and Greek. This cultural background was
probably the greatest factor in influencing him in later life to
engage in his Park work. The second factor undoubtedly was his
mother's enthusiastic love for gardening. In the early days of
Bar Harbor fame as n summer resort the Dorr gardens were among
the most extensive and best kept.
One of the ohief practical factors in his success as a Park
builder was his social position. Coming as he did from the top
level of New England aristocracy, every door of the socially elite,
the wealthy and the influential in public life was open to him.
2.
You probably gained that impression when you read the first of
the two volumes. I have always held the opinion that if Mr.
Dorr had chosen to become a politician, he would have outshone
any and all the great political figures of his time.
If any specific question comes to your mind respecting his
Park work, I shall be glad to answer it if I have the information.
Sincerely yours,
B. L. Hadley,
Superintendent.
Salem Massachusetts - Salem Tales
Page 1 of 3
Welcome to
SALEM,
MASSACHUSETTS
The City Guide
About Salem
Calendar
Community Message Board Salem Tales
Web Guide
Salem Tales
SALEM GARDEN CLUB
One of the more delightful new publications available to local lovers of history and horticulture
is the Salem Garden Club's recently reprinted booklet, "Old Salem Gardens."
This charming 71-page pamphlet was written by Mable C. H. Pollack and was originally
published by the Salem Garden Club.in May, 1946. The booklet grew out of a number of
papers given by club members at the organization's tenth anniversary celebration in 1938. It
was later expanded by Mrs. Pollack and her committee to include brief articles about historic
gardens, personal remembrances, illustrations, and even a poem, all related to local
horticulture lore.
"Old Salem Gardens" received rave reviews in a
OLD SALEM GARDENS
number of important horticultural and botanical
journals. The edition of 500 copies was quickly sold to
individuals and institutions across the country. Among
the purchasers were the Metropolitan Museum of Art in
New York and the Franco-American Museum in
Blerancourt, France.
The publication, which won awards from both the state
and national federations of garden clubs, is only one of
the many contributions made by the Salem Garden
Club's to the community. For nearly three quarters of a
decade the organization's members have worked for
"the advancement gardening, the development of
Kalam slee
home grounds, civic beautifying, and aiding in the
protection of forests, wildflowers, and birds."
http://www.salemweb.com/tales/gardenclub.shtml
7/20/2004
Salem Massachusetts - Salem Tales
Page 2 of 3
The Salem Garden Club was organized in January, 1928 and by its second meeting had
already reached its limit of 60 members and 25 associate members. The following year the
club joined the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.
The organization's first decade was one of intense activism. In 1930, at the suggestion of local
architect Phillip Horton Smith, members rebuilt (and subsequently maintained) the garden at
the Brookhouse Home on Derby Street. For a few years in the 1930s the club also sponsored a
garden contest for children who were active in the Salem summer playground program. Cash
prizes were awarded to the youngsters in each of the city's wards who were deemed to have
grown the best home gardens.
The Old Willows
Salem Willows
Beginning in 1929, the Salem Garden Club began participating in the annual spring Flower
Show in Boston. By 1938 the organization felt secure enough to hold its own horticultural
show in historic Hamilton Hall on Chestnut Street. To raise money for the event, the club
sponsored the city's first garden tour in the summer of 1937. More than 300 people visited the
ten gardens, some on Chestnut and Federal Streets and others in the Salem Common
neighborhood, that were open to the public.
A second, smaller garden tour was held in 1941 to celebrate the opening of the Gardner-
Pingree House on Essex Street. The Salem Garden Club had taken on the responsibility for
the replanting of the garden at this magnificent Federal mansion which had been designed by
the great Salem architect, Samuel McIntire.
The beginning of World War II forced the Salem Garden Club to curtail many of its activities.
During the course of the conflict, Mrs. Willis Ropes, the group's conservation chairperson,
provided advice and assistance to citizens wishing to plant their own war gardens.
The activism of the Salem Garden Club's first decade gradually reappeared after the war and
escalated in the 1970s and 1980s. During that period the organization was involved in
planting and beautifying efforts at Lappin Park in Town House Square, Winter island, the
Salem Common, and Shaughnessey Hospital. Club members also planted and maintained
gardens in traffic islands on either end of Washington Street and flower boxes at Salem City
Hall and the Bowditch House on North Street.
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7/20/2004
Salem Massachusetts - Salem Tales
Page 3 of 3
In 1978 the organization began offering an annual scholarship to a student who planned to
study horticulture, the environment, or a related field.
A few years later, the Salem Garden Club began a tradition of participating in the annual
"Christmas in Salem" house tour initiated by the Salem Visiting Nurse Association and now run
by Historic Salem, Inc. The club also took on the yearly task of decorating a room in the
House of Seven Gables for the Christmas season.
In addition to these projects, and to serving as guides and participants at the Topsfield Fair
and the annual "Art in Bloom" show at the Museum of Fine Arts, club members also built or
helped to build gardens at Camp Naumkeag and at the Custom House at the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site.
The Brookhouse garden, July 2001
(photo: David Hart)
In 1991, the Salem Garden Club "returned to its roots" when it replanted the long-abandoned
gardens at the Brookhouse that its former members had SO lovingly cultivated 60 years
earlier.
Jim McAllister
All rights reserved
About Salem
Calendar
Community Message Board Salem Tales
Web Guide
Last Updated July 20, 2004
http://www.salemweb.com/tales/gardenclub.shtml
7/20/2004
OF
THE
DEPARTMENT
UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
September 30, 1954
Personal
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York 20, New York
Dear Mr. Rockefeller:
I hope you will pardon my delay in replying to your letter
of September 17, which was caused by a very crowded schedule, including
a trip to New York.
Your letter was most thoughtful and generous. I hope you will
pardon me if I comment just a little on the question of the future of
the interpretation of the national parks because your point regarding
Mr. Dorr is part of a problem to which my associates and I have given
a great deal of thought.
We have been working for some time on an approach to the
interpretation of the national parks, both natural and historic. Twenty
and thirty years ago our rangers, ranger naturalists, and historians
were able to meet most of the people who came into the parks. They had
many opportunities to talk to most of the visitors at campfires and
elsewhere, and help them better to understand the great scenic, scientific,
and historic treasures with which this country has been blessed. How-
ever, today our actual manpower to do this type of work is less than it
was before the war, yet visitation to the national parks is over a
hundred and twenty percent greater. I doubt whether we ever shall have
the personnel on our interpretive force to give the visiting public the
service that we gave them years ago. It was this type of service that
contributed greatly to the inspirational values and the understanding
that the visitor enjoyed. While it is regrettable that these opportuni-
ties do not exist today, we must not lose that spirit. We must, above
everything else, protect the national parks and historic areas and give
these ever-increasing crowds of our fellow citizens the opportunity to
get the modern equivalent of that type of inspiration and enjoyment that
those who preceded them received from these parks. We can't stand still,
we must meet the challenge of the present day.
With this thought in mind, the Service is exploring every
possible means of further developing a sound interpretation program.
Visual-aids are being used. Self-guiding tours are being provided in
many areas. We are constantly trying to develop these and other modern
approaches into a complete package for each area and yet keep them uniform
for the System as a whole. We believe that park interpretation offers a
wonderful opportunity that becomes better and more valuable in direct
proportion to the effort put into the program. At the present time, we
are approaching interpretation in three main fields; one might be called
the "Research and Analysis" part of the program; the second part might be
termed the "Training" part of the program, and the third, the "Adaptation.
While the suggestion that you made about Acadia falls in the
field of "Adaptation", I cannot enlarge on that without giving you a brief
outline of what we are trying to do in the first two parts of the program.
Because of the long and very helpful interest in the concept of our national
parks that you have possessed and fostered for many years, I feel that I
will not be imposing upon you by explaining the entire picture.
As to the first, we have, with what funds we have been able to
assemble, gone quite a way SO that now we are in a position to put our
research material into a simple but effective statement of the basic
principles of interpretation. We want this basic statement to have great
human interest appeal. We want it to stimulate and guide our own naturalists
and historians and their counterparts in State parks, as well as anyone
else who may be interpreting the natural and historic sites of America.
It will encompass methods for presentation of the story, both in talking
and in writing; the making of directional and explanatory signs; and the
use of visual presentations as well as other mechanical devices for
interpretations. We have not completely exhausted the field, but we have.
reached a point where we must put our present knowledge in writing and
move forward. Because of his fine style of writing, we hope to be able
to get Mr. Freeman Tilden to do this for us.
The second part is a training program. We have definitely in
mind establishing a training center in the West and one in the East, each
of them preferably in a park. These training centers would provide places
where we could better train our personnel in the techniques of presenting
our natural and human history. This is going to take a little doing and
we are not quite ready for it. However, just the other day, an area
outside of Washington, called "Stronghold", which takes in Sugar Loaf
Mountain in Maryland, was brought to our attention. Mr. Strong, who is
deceased, left it in the hands of Trustees, with a trust fund of several
hundred thousand dollars, requiring that "Stronghold" be :kept in its
natural condition and used by the people for the enjoyment of the natural
scenery for at least fifty years. There are several buildings on it that
might be used for classrooms and rooming purposes. The funds left in the
Foundation, however, are barely enough to maintain the property with the
2
large number of people now using it. We feel that "Stronghold" would
be an excellent place to establish our school. The Trustees seem
willing. It would be a combination school and clinic. We would not only
bring in many of our permanent personnel for training periods, but would
invite States to send in their people and in this way help pay the
expenses. This is still in the dream stage but we will work it out some
way soon, I hope.
The third phase, and the area which directly involves your
letter, is this. We have had one of our naturalists and one of our planners
in Acadia this summer for the purpose of making a study of the interpre-
tation of Acadia National Park. We hope within the next few years to
bring the Acadia National Park development up as near tc completion as any
park will ever get. As you know, we have sufficient funds programmed for
the next two years to finish up our roads in Acadia, provided we can buy
the Palmer property. We just received authority to buy lands in Acadia
and then Congress took away our power of condemnation and as you know, we
can't buy that property without condemning. We hope that this coming
session, Congress will restore that power to us, certainly for buying those
lands in Acadia that are necessary.
Along with the completion of the roads, we should look forward
to the complete interpretive program of Acadia. I do not mean that it will
require a great deal of additional personnel, nor do I mean that we would
put in many new and costly structures. However, we would expect to make
better arrangements to meet the public and tell them about the park, and
give them the necessary material for a self-guided visit to the park. These,
combined with proper road and trail signs and exhibits, would make their
visit more worth while and enjoyable. The story would begin with a history
of Acadia National Park, and while you very generously refer to Mr. Dorr
Tr.
as the Father of Acadia, we all know, as did Mr. Dorr, that the Acadia
National Park would not have been possible without your understanding and
assistance.
Acadia National Park is the only park of the National Park
System in which it can be said that all the land was purchased with private
funds and given to the people of the United States, for national park
purposes. It is true that a small amount of land on the west side of the
park was purchased in the 30's with some relief funds; however, the main
part of the park is the result of the belief, vision, and public-spirited
efforts on the part of Mr. Dorr and yourself. We hope to have, within
the next six months, a complete program for telling the story of Acadia-
on which to base our estimates.
3
Your very kind offer to supplement our funds to the extent of
$3,000 appreciated and accepted. As- soon as we get a the at along, Mr.
to $5,000, to better care for Mr. Dorr's property little is, further I assure
you, shall write you further and let you know just what much program of the
Dorr's-place I would cover and its estimated cost, and how out the
$3,000 to $5,000 that you offer we would need to carry program.
I fearful that my letter has been too long, but the interpre- close
and presentation am of our parks to the American people program is very to
tation heart. I feel that without some definite approach or of my
meet the present and especially the founders such as Steve through Horace the
to my day conditions much of the accomplishments Mather and
Albright, predecessors, and the citizens support of that period and down
years as exemplified by yourself, will be lost.
apologize for taking SO much of your time, but I would mentioned most
sincerely appreciate I any reactions you might have to the things
in this letter.
Sincerely yours,
Conrad L. Wirth
Director
au
4
RAC
III 2. F. 83,821
natl pack
September 18, 1954
Dear Mr. Albright:
opy
corp.
I am enclosing a letter to Mr. Wirth in a stamped
randia
but unsealed envelope. Blease read this letter and if you
farm
think there is anything in it that would be better not said or
what it contains is expressed in a way that might be better
expressed, I shall greatly appreciate your suggesting the changes
that occur to you and returning the letter to me at my New York
office since we reach New York this coming Tuesday. On the other
hand, if you feel the letter is all right to send as it is, kindly
mail it.
I shall hope to see you, perhaps for lunch, some day
during the next month for there are many things about which I
would enjoy taking with you.
Very sincerely,
JOHN D. ROCYEFELLER, JR.
SEAL HARDOR, BE.
w
Mr. Horace M. Albright
30 Hoarefeller Plaza
New York City 20
An alongies replied
that Eiad was led the
lite
2'55
May
Bail Park
September 17, 1954
Dear Mr. Wirth:
with Mr. Sivens Mrs. Rockefeller and I have visitad
Mr. George Dorr's old homestead property in Bar Harbor which, in
line with his wishes, now belongs to the National Park Service.
As you of course know, the building has been wrecked.
The cellar and basement, with walls of the first floor in some
places at least half way up, still remain. Mr. Givens tells me
that it is planned ultimately to fill in the cellar and basement
with the standing wreckage, level off the whole area where the
house now atands and seed it. There are a number of trees down
on the property and some of them in the last storm had fallen
across the roads. Mr. Givens says it is part of the lan to clean
up these fallen trees both on the roads and where visible adjacent
thereto.
The plan for the use of the property seems to be for
hikers only. The upkeep of the roads, that people who could not
walk might drive into it, is apparently not contemplat d and pos-
sibly not felt to be justified because the on y view of the sea
is from the point, where Mr. Givens says if as many as helf a
dozen automobiles were parked at once, the place would be over-
crowded.
Because Mr. Dorr was the father of Acadia National Park,
having given a vast amount of his time, as well as of his resources,
to its organization and development; because he was one of the out-
standing personalities for many years on Mount Desert Island; and
because the place which contained his old home meant so much to him
and he would so appreciate its being adequataly cared for, as would
also those of his friends who are left - in order to help in the
early and adequate putting in order of the property, I will be
happy to supplement any funds which the National Park Service had
planned or expected to devote to that purpose, to such an extent
as may be necessary up to $3,000 or $5,000 as you may suggest.
If this pledge is availed of, should you think it ap-
propriate information for me to have I shall be interested to
know how much the Park Service devotes to the project.
I am sure you will not misunderstand this letter. It
is written both because of BY high regard for Mr. Dorr and the
-2-
own deep interest in the National Park Service and its splendid
great service he rendered Acadia National Park and because of my
achievements.
Very sincerely,
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER.
SEAL HARBOR, ME.
Mr. Conract I. Wirth, Director
X National Park Service
Washington 25, D. C.
P. S. I am returning to New York the end of this week.
Email from Robert Pyle, Director of
Page 1 of 3
Northeast Harbor Public Labrary.
Ronald Epp
From:
"Robert R. Pyle"
To:
"Ronald Epp"
Sent:
Monday, March 10, 2003 2:43 PM
Subject:
Re: Query From Ron Epp
Dear Ron,
The anecdote was from a man named Maitland Murphy, who is now deceased.
Maitland had been one of the truck drivers. Many years ago I lamented when
some locally important archival papers were thrown in the trash. This was
when Maitland was our local police chief. He commiserated with me and told
me the story of seeing papers blow out of the truck in front of his, and
then told me that one had been picked up by a bystander who found that it
had been signed by a famous person. Another (perhaps apochryphal) story
was about someone coming across a letter at the roadside - on White House
paper and signed by Calvin Coolidge.
I do know that as chief naturalist Paul Favour did not regard human
history as essential to the park's mission. The museum at Islesford was
founded by my grandfather. It was given to the park 9 years after his
death, and my family waged a running battle with Paul to get attention paid
to it.
I don't know who from among those who emptied Old Farm may still be
living.
At 12:41 PM 3/7/03 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear Bob,
>
>I hope you are faring well since my visit several weeks back.
>
>As I said in the letter I sent last week, I do appreciate your assistance
>but one anecdote that you shared with me keeps bouncing around my head and I
>hope you might be able to provide some background for your claim.
>
>You mentioned that after Mr. Dorr's death there was a so-called
>"housecleaning" of Old Farm. I remember quite clearing your most disturbing
>remark about dump trucks leaving Old Farm with stationary and paper lifted
>by the wind and scattered along the road enroute to the landfill.
>While I don't expect to excavate any landfill, I would be very interested in
>the source of this anecdote; that is, if you can recall or point me in the
>direction of someone who might.
>
>With best wishes,
>
>
>Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D.
>Director of the Harry & Gertrude Shapiro Library
>Southern New Hampshire University
3/17/2003
CARETAKERS HOUSE
Form 10-768
(7/60)
U.S. DEPARTMENT
THE INTERIOR
Building Name
Bldg. No.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
Storm Beach Cottage
11
INDIVIDUAL BUILDING DATA
Location in Park
Old Farm Road, Bar Harbor
Prepare in quadruplicate. Retain one copy in park office. Send origin al
and two copies to Regional Office for review and distribution. Regional
Park, Monument, Etc.
Office send original to WASO, one copy to EODC or WODC, retain one.
Acadia National Park
1. GENERAL
Use and Occupancy
Owned By
Operated By
Residence
National Park Service
National Park Service
Maintained By
Constructed By
Year
Drawing No.
National Park Service
Charles H. Dorr
1879
Remodeled By
Year
Drawing No.
2. VALUE
3. TYPE
4. SIZE (Sq. Footage)
Original Cost
Present Value
No. Stories
No. Rooms
Basement
Overall
Basement
1st Floor
2nd Floor
$ 25,000.00
$25,000.00
Two
Fourteen
Cement
2,154
350
803
1,001
5. CONSTRUCTION
Construction Type
Foundation
Walls, Exterior
Walls, Interior
Floor
Roof
Frame
Concrete
Clapboard
Lath & plaster
oak
Cedar shingle
6. INTERIOR FINISH
Walls
Floors
Ceilings
Trim
Wallpaper & paint
Varnish
Paint
Paint
7. UTILITIES
Water
Electric Bangor
Gas
Sewer
Telephone
Other
Bar Harbor
Hydro Electric
None
Bar Harbor
Yes
None
8. MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Plumbing
Heating
Fuel
Electric
Hot Water
Other
3-bathrooms
Hot air furnace
Cil & wood
None
of EXISTING CONDITION (Indicate Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor - If New Building Leave Blank)
As of (Date)
Structural
Mechanical
General State of Repoir
10. FIRE PROTECTION
Extinguishing Equipment
No. Hydrants
Size
Distance
Mechanical
Hand 1-15# CO2 &
Other
one
6nd
250
None
2-1qt. carbon tet.
None
11. PHOTOGRAPHS. Furnish 8 x 101/2" photographs or smoller photographs mounted on 8 x 101/2 sheets. Attach to photograph:
Name of park, location in park, and name and number of building.
12. SKETCH PLAN. Furnish legible sketch on separate sheet including over-all dimensions, names and sizes of rooms, scale,
and date drawn. Use double line to indicate walls of building.
13. REMARKS (Furnish any other pertiment data to complete record)
like buid Stand also Beach n
Prepared By
Date
Approved By
Date
Anthony Menzietti
JAN 68
Thomas B. Hyde
Chief of Maintenence
Superintendent
76057
001
DATE March 5, 1951 LOCATION IN PARK Former George B. Don't Estate
BUILDING NAME Storm Bason Jobtaze
No.
11
1. USED AS
Residence Superintendent
Owned by
National Park Service
Operated by
National Park Service
Maintained by
National Park Service
Charles H. Dorr
Constructed by
2. YEAR BUILT
1879
REMODELED
3. DRAWING No.
OCCUPANCY Permanent
(2 persons
4. ORIGINAL COST, $
Present value, $ 25,000
5. NUMBER STORIES
2
NUMBER ROOMS
14
6. CU. FT.
SQ FT, Basement
850
Ist floor
10,488-803 2d
floor
9,095,1001
Other
7. CONSTRUCTION TYPE Frame on stone masonry foundation
Walls, exterior
Clapboard
Walls, interior Lath and plaster
Floors Oak and western fikoof ,Fire resisting and pedar shingles
SKETCH PLAN
(Designate original and later additions, when constructed)
8. INTERIOR FINISH, Walls Paper in halls and dining room
remainder plaster
Floors Oak and western firceilings Plaster
REMARKS:
9. UTILITIES Water
x
Electric
Date Acquired 1941
Sewer
x
Phone
XII
0. MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT
Sanitary
3 bathrooms
011 Furnage
Heating Hot air furnase
Fuel
011 and wood
Electric Refrigerator
HEW
1. EXISTING CONDITION OF BUILDING
Structural
Good
Mechanical
Good
FIRE PROTECTION:
Hydrant size
6"
Distance
2501
drinklers
No
nguishing apparatus 15# CO , Foam type (2 gal. ), two 1-qt. carbon tetraohloride
Oldfarm Project Fall 2015 Narrative
Kristin Dillon
Museum Aide
Schoodic Institute
Acadia National Park
March 17, 2016
In the William Otis Sawtelle Collections, Accession ACAD-00295, "Furnishings from Old Farm
and Storm Beach Cottage", contains an estimate of fifty items which were thought to have
come from George Dorr's Oldfarm estate and its associated buildings. However, it is possible
that not all of the items that made their way into Acadia's archives under ACAD-00295 were
from Oldfarm, as well as that items from Oldfarm came into the collection under a different
accession number. Using the original Oldfarm inventory list from 1948, correspondence,
letters, lists, and notes ranging in date from the 1940s to present day regarding the transfer of
Oldfarm to the National Park Service, I compiled a list of items that are both in Acadia's
collection and came from Oldfarm.
The original Oldfarm inventory from 1948 groups the list of furniture and objects by room and
has descriptions for each item, including measurements and colors, which proved to be helpful
when identifying objects in the wos Collections. In the margins of the inventory are hand
written notes and markings, indicating where certain items may have been moved to. To
capture all of this information, plus details the objects would currently have, I developed a
spreadsheet, titled "Oldfarm Inventory Project", with the following categories:
Inventory number
O/S/B/X
(Color pencil letters on original inventory indicate where items were dispersed to: green
O= list #3: "those enumerated on the list submitted by Mr. Grover O'Neill May 12,
1948", blue S= list #2: "at present in Superintendent's residence, Storm Beach Cottage",
red B= list #1: "items destroyed in fire October 23, 1947 at Homans House", red X=
"now in Oldfarm house - remainder of the inventory items not accounted for on lists 1-
3". Descriptions found in July 13, 1948 letter from Superintendent Hadley to the
Director.)
Original room
Description
ICMS#
Current location
Other marks from original inventory 1
Original marks from original inventory 2
Keyword
Notes 2015
1
2.
Inside house (can the item be identified in interior photographs of the house)
As I went through the list of items under accession ACAD-00295, I took measurements of
objects, deciphered descriptions from the 1948 inventory, compared original government
numbers on the physical items and listed in the inventory, examined interior Oldfarm
photographs, and determined that almost all of the items in ACAD-00295 were from Oldfarm.
As I matched up physical objects to descriptions in the 1948 inventory, I recorded in the
"Oldfarm Inventory Project" spreadsheet current information for the objects, including
Accession #, Catalog #, location listed in ICMS, and the actual location of the item.
However, there were a handful of items that were not originally from Oldfarm, including a set
of four chairs, a wooden digital clock, and assorted fireplace items. A clock, accessioned under
ACAD-00001, was determined to have originated from Oldfarm and needs to be added to the
list.
2
Oldfarm: Select Bibliography
R. Epp, November 2015
All references are from my personal collection except one item
(*) This document is for limited distribution until May 2016,
restricted to those involved with the Cultural Landscape Inventory
and Assessment for Oldfarm.
1. The Dorr Papers. Bar Harbor Historical Society. These memoirs are
frequently fragments, lacking title information and so recorded here by the
lead sentence and the box and folder numbers. A Guide to the Dorr Papers
was prepared by R. Epp, housed in the BHHS Museum.
"History of Oldfarm land titles...' " B. .2.f1.
"Opposite Oldfarm " B.3.f7.
"Frenchman Bay is the last. "B.3.f7.
"The gift of the State of Massachusetts "B.2.f3.
"The Father of Admiral Mahan "B.2.f3.
"Oldfarm as its name tells.. B.1.f19.
"The Site my mother, father, and I..."
"On our return from our winter on the Nile "
"The Oldfarm house was built "B.1.f14
David Ogden Papers. BHHS. A recent acquisition that may have useful
content.
Oldfarm: an interactive [physical] model. Suzanne Martin.
A digitized version: www.archives.org/details/oldfarminteracti00suza
Oldfarm Guest Registry. Also Oldfarm Guest Book Alphabetical Listing.
Ronald Epp.
2. Acadia National Park. Park History Archive. These are keyed to the
old system not the 2012 finding aid.
GBD. "Summit of Champlain Mountain."
GBD. "Some Thoughts Concerning ANP, Planning for its Future." B.2.f2.
GBD. "Detailed History of the Zacheus Higgins Lot," B.3.f19.
Ben Hadley memo 1/13/46 @ 1/6/40 meeting with JDRJr. B.3.f.10
GBD to FDR. 8/1/40 and 8/21/40 reply. B.4.f1.
"To the West of Dorr Point," B.2.f.7.
A.E. Demaray to GBD. 9/27/41/ B.3.f10.
Old Farm Field Report. J.H. Denniston & A.J. Higgins. 9/16/46.
GBD to A. Cammerer. 5/1/39. B. 4.f24.
"Old Farm Inventory." Many versions.
Acadia National Park Resource Management Records Finding Aid (2012).
B.2.f5-6; B.2.f10; B.4.f6-8,10-12; B.34, f7-8; B. 38.f10; B.53 im passim;
B.74-76 im passim; B.79 im passim; B.96, f34-35; B.98,f5-10 im passim;
B.102, f3-5 im passim; B. 115,f26-33 im passim.
3. Rockefelller Archive Center, Tarrytown, NY
JDRJr to Albright. 7/12/38. RAC III.2.I. B. 114.f1152
R.B. Fosdick to JDRJr. 4/7/30. RAC....B.85.f839.
Worthwhile Places. Correspondence between H.M. Albright & JDRJr. Ed.
Joseph W. Ernst. 1990. See 6/7/1938. Pgs. 166-182.
John A. Peters to JDRJr. 7/31/45. RAC....B.98.f668.
Howard R. Stegner. "Interpretative Plan for Acadia National Park." 2/8/55
naturalists' plan for the Dorr site. RAC ...B.85.f871.
4. Serials
"President Coolidge Considering Bar Harbor [Oldfarm] as a Summer Home,"
Bar Harbor Times [BHT] 4/11/28.
"The Gardens at Oldfarm BHT 4/18/28.
5. Miscellany:
Oldfarm Floor Plans. Preliminary Drawings. Interior Dept. 9/1/1946.
Etic.nps.gov
Denver Service Center. Oldfarm Floor Plans. 1946.
Fred Savage Architectural Drawings of Oldfarm. 001.784.790. Fifty items in
the collections of the Mount Desert Island Historical Society.
"The House at Mt. Desert [Oldfarm]," American Architect and Building News
Vol. 2, pg. 221. 1/20/1877. Often misidentified plan developed by C.F.
Oakey before Charles H. Dorr chose Henry Richards of Gardiner, ME
Roger G. Reed, "Henry Richards 1848-1949," A Biographical Dictionary of
Architects in Maine. Vol. 1, #7, 1984. Maine Historic Preservation
Commission, Augusta, ME
Louis C. Zahner, "Henry Richards 1848-1949," privately printed. Copy in the
Yellow House Papers. Maine Historical Society.
Henry Richards. Ninety Years On: 1848-1940. (Augusta: Kennebec Printing).
Pp. 314-315, 344-347. Note: Becky Cole-Will was instrumental in securing
the 2005 acquisition of the canoe owned by Henry Richards for the Abbe
Museum.
"Money Use to Go Further," Downeast Dilettante website. 2/23/2011.
"Mary Ward Door," Yellow House Papers. Laura Richards Collection. Maine
Historical Society. ZColl. 2085. RG9B. f 11.
Robert R. Pyle to Ronald Epp. Email 3/10/2003 on truck driver Maitland's
account of transport of Oldfarm content to local landfill. See also personal
recollections of Raymond Strout.
M.F. Sweetser. Chisholm's Mount Desert. Pgs. 24-25.
The Secret Diary of Harold L. Ickes. (N.Y. Simon & Schuster, 1954). Vol. 2.
Pp. 202-203.
National Park Service. "Albright & Dorr at Mather Plaque Dedication. Acadia
NP, 1932." Horace M. Albright Collection. Personal b & W film footage taken
from Oldfarm living room of Dorr & Albright with Dorr Point behind them.
Letters from Josiah Royce to Mary Dorr, 1889-1898. Contact R. Epp for
copies from the Harvard University Archives. Similarly, see narrative about
Royce and William James on Oldfarm in Creating Acadia National Park.
Ben Hadley to A. Cammmerer. 12/22/44. National Archives and Records
Administration. RG79. CCF. 1933-49. Acadia. B. 791. See also at NARA the
Oldfarm Photo Collection mistitled "Seawall Naval Radio Station, 1928-32" in
RG 79. CCF. 1907-49. Box 201. *
Inventory of Personal Estate of GBD. John A. Peters Collection. Copy in
possession of R. Epp.
Beatrix Farrand. Book of Gardening. 1893-1895. U of California, Berkeley.
Description of Oldfarm gardens. 10/12/1893.
Kathryn Harmon. "Writing the History of Oldfarm." COA senior project.
Spring 1994. See archive.org/details/treasuresofoldfa00kath. "Treasures of
Oldfarm" on the Internet.
Donald Lenahan. GPS image of Oldfarm property with exacting detailed
identifiers. 2012. See R. Epp collection or contact Don at:
dplenah@roadrunner.com [410-336-0580] See also his blog "Acadia
Memorials"
Robert S. Yard. An Analysis of Acadia National Park, 1925 im passim.
Map of Property of George B. Dorr. June 1938. Richard W. Sherman,
Engineer. 33 X 15 inches b&w working copy. Doug Chapman Archive. NOTE:
The Douglas A. Chapman Esq. Archive in Bar Harbor contains hundreds of
finished and working maps from the mid-19th-century to the end of the 20th,
many of these bearing the markings of GBD and JDRJr., and most
unavailable elsewhere. Contact William Horner M.D. or myself about both
content and access issues.
Margie Coffin Brown. Pathmakers. 2006.
Ronald H. Epp, Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George B.
Dorr (Bar Harbor, ME: Friends of Acadia, forthcoming April 2016). Drafts in
the possession of Becky Cole-Will and Margie Coffin Brown.
Copyright. Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 2015.
Dorr Archival Consulting
532 Sassafras Dr. Lebanon, PA 17042
717-272-0801 Eppster2@comcast.net
1/1/03
NARA
R679 , PPS , CCF,
1907-49
Box 201 ,
Include l 3 Old Fam Photos
encased in caddoard.
T. thed u Seawall Naval Radio Statran,
1228-32 Donation
Lt.Daly in
Old Farm garden
HWG # 275
Box 74, En. 4 1 I. 253
DSC 8611 A
Sawtelle Archive
THE GARDEN AT OLDFARM MANOR
A border of old-fashioned Hardy Perennials
Old Farm: An Interactive Model : Suzanne Martin : Free Download & Streaming : Interne.
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Old Farm: An Interactive Model (1995)
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Treasures of Oldfarm (1994)
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Author: Kathryn Harmon
Subject: History Acadia National Park
Language: English Lyrasis Members and Thorndike Sloan Foundation Library
Digitizing contributor: sponsor: College of the americana Atlantic,
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Notes: No TOC. Some text runs
3/1/2014
Received
from Jack Resect
Statement on Some Pond Center Gift
10/27/15
to Acadia National Park
The Somes Pond Center is pleased to announce that it has raised $30,000 to make
a gift to Acadia National Park (ANP). The gift will enable ANP to commission a
professional cultural landscape assessment of the park's property at Compass
Harbor, in Bar Harbor. The site is the former estate of George B. Dorr, a founder and
the first Superintendent (1916-1944) of park. Known as Oldfarm, the Dorr estate
property, with extensive shoreline on Compass Harbor, has historic significance for
its association with the man who is known as the founder of Acadia. The Oldfarm
estate is now gone, but the property passed to ANP, as Dorr wished, soon after his
death in 1944. Oldfarm was the first grand estate built on the shores of Eden (now
Bar Harbor) and was an anchor of summer colony society. Many leading artists,
intellectuals, businessmen, and politicians were guests of Mr. Dorr and his parents
at Oldfarm. Many believe that his Oldfarm environment inspired Mr. Dorr's vision as
a founder and builder of Acadia National Park. Mr. Dorr was a devoted
horticulturalist and gardener who helped establish the grand MDI tradition of garden
design and landscape architecture resonant with the conservation of Acadia.
During the tenure of retiring Acadia National Park Superintendent Sheridan Steele,
ANP has placed a wayside interpretive panel at Oldfarm and developed "The
Missing Mansion," a summer ranger interpretive walk there. The gift from the
Somes Pond Center will provide an inventory of the remaining features of the
landscape, including the foundation, paths and roads, and remnants of the
extensive gardens and plantings for which Oldfarm was famous. The park and
partners will use the information from the landscape inventory to documents any
intact elements of the landscape to assure its protection. This project is a Somes
Pond Center contribution to the Acadia Centennial in 2016, in recognition that this is
a landscape of great significance to many Acadia lovers
The Somes Pond Center supports research and education on and celebration of
the landscapes of the Mount Desert Island region created by nature and conserved
and enhanced by human design. SPC fundraising for this project was conducted
with the gracious participation of the CEOs of three MDI-based institutions that
were supported by George B. Dorr at their birth: Dr. Edison Liu of the Jackson
Laboratory, Dr. Kevin Strange of the MDI Laboratory, and Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko
of the Abbe Museum and the collaboration of Friends of Acadia.
Final October 27, 2015
ATTACHMENT A: OUTLINE
Draft Outline
Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment for Oldfarm: George B. Dorr Property, Acadia National
Park
I. Introduction
A
description of the project setting, purpose, and methodology, followed by an overview of the site
history, existing conditions, landscape significance, and treatment summary.
1. Introduction
a) Project setting, purpose, management summary
b) Historical overview and context
c) Scope, methodology, study boundary, and existing conditions overview
d) Analysis and evaluation overview
e) Summary of findings and recommendations
II: Site History
A description of the key developments, physical relationships, patterns, features, and important
individuals and events relating to the changes that have taken place on the Oldfarm property. As
necessary, research will include relevant primary and secondary sources and possible interviews with
knowledgeable individuals. The information will be synthesized into a narrative report supported by
historical photos, historical maps, and other supporting graphics. The chapter will include a period plan
showing the appearance of the property in 1944 at the time of George Dorr's death.
2. Early History to Oldfarm property acquisition (Before 1868)
a. Native American inhabitants and European contact
b.
European settlement, colonization, and independence (1760s to 1830s)
C.
Early industries, Hudson River School artists, growth of tourism (1830 to 1868)
3. The Dorr family and Oldfarm (1868 to 1944)
a. The Dorr family and Rusticators, Bar Harbor VIA, Hancock County Trustees of Public
Reservations (1868 to 1916)
b. Establishment of Sieur de Monts National Monument, Acadia National Park, and role of
Oldfarm, (with 1944 plans at 1:250 or 300, and 1:60 to 100 as needed)
4. National Park Service management of Oldfarm
a.
National Park Service Management 1944 of Oldfarm to present (with existing conditions
plans at 1:250 or 300, and 1:60 to 100 as needed)
Final October 27, 2015
2.
III: Existing Conditions
A description of the existing conditions with narrative text, an accurate site map, and photographs, and
plant inventory. Documentation will be based on GIS map layers and site investigations involving
research and field survey to describe and illustrate the current boundaries, appearance, and condition of
the landscape, site access, and defining landscape characteristics and associated features.
Contemporary site functions, visitor services, interpretation, park operations, and maintenance will be
described to the degree they influence the appearance of the landscape. Depending on the distribution
of cultural landscape features, the property may be described as one or several management zones.
5. Existing Conditions
a. Spatial organization and land use
b. Topography, manipulated topography
C. Response to natural features and systems
d. Water features
e. Circulation
f. Buildings and structures
g. Vegetation (with an associated table in the appendix)
h. Views and vistas
i.
Small-scale features & utilities
j.
Site plan (1:250 or 300, and 1:60 to 100 as needed)
IV: Analysis, Evaluation, and Condition Assessment
The analysis and evaluation of the landscape will draw on a comparison of historic research and existing
conditions to document cultural landscape features that convey the history of the property during the
Dorr period of ownership. The analysis will include a condition assessment and analysis of the historical
integrity of the landscape features to document the degree to which these continue to convey
significant attributes from the Dorr period of ownership. The discussion of contributing and non-
contributing landscape features will be structured using a narrative format that lists each feature's
historic condition and existing condition to make the determination of its contributing status. Impacts to
cultural landscape features will be identified including deferred maintenance, erosion, improper
drainage, neglect, pests, diseases, succession, flooding, compaction, invasive plants, and related
impacts.
6. Analysis, Evaluation, and Condition Assessment
a. National Register status
b. Areas of potential significance considered
C. Integrity of the historic landscape
d. Evaluation of landscape characteristics and features
e. Condition assessment
f. Summary of landscape characteristics and features and condition
9
Final October 27, 2015
3.
V: Treatment Considerations
The analysis and evaluation of the landscape will draw on a comparison of historic research and existing
conditions to document cultural landscape features that convey the history of the property during the
Dorr period of ownership. The analysis will include a condition assessment and analysis of the historical
integrity of the landscape features to document the degree to which these continue to convey
significant attributes from the Dorr period of ownership. The discussion of contributing and non-
contributing landscape features will be structured using a narrative format that lists each feature's
historic condition and existing condition to make the determination of its contributing status. Impacts to
cultural landscape features will be identified including deferred maintenance, erosion, improper
drainage, neglect, pests, diseases, succession, flooding, compaction, invasive plants, and related
impacts.
A treatment approach will be outlined in conjunction with the park management guidelines. The report
will describe alternative treatments and provide a recommended treatment approach. Issues will be
identified at a cursory level to inform a future treatment plan.
7. Treatment
a. Relationship to Existing Planning Documents and review of treatment approaches
b. Identification of Treatment Issues
C. Treatment Alternatives (preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration) and Implications
8. References (Bibliography)
9. Appendix
a. Plant species present during the Dorr period of ownership
b. Plant species present in 2015-16
10
10/12/2016
CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT
FOR OLDFARM
GEORGE B. DORR RESIDENCE AT COMPASS HARBOR,
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
BAR HARBOR, MAINE
"If the woods be open, one
should walk in them, under
and among the individual trees
to realize their beauty, gran-
deur
23
George B. Dorr, Personal Papers,
October 15, 1895
SITE HISTORY, EXISTING CONDITIONS, ANALYSIS AND
EVALUATION, MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
Prepared by
Ericka B. Duym, Landscape Architect
Contributors
Margaret Coffin Brown, Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation
Rebecca Cole-Will, Acadia National Park
Gail Gladstone, Acadia National Park
Elizabeth Igleheart, National Park Service
Judith Hazen Connery, Acadia National Park
Jesse Wheeler, Acadia National Park
Funding provided by
Somes Pond Center, Mount Desert, Maine
Friends of Acadia
Bar Harbor, Maine, 2016
Final October 27, 2015
4.
SCOPE OF WORK
Prepare a Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment for Oldfarm, the George B. Dorr Property,
Acadia National Park, Maine
BACKGROUND
Oldfarm is the former home of George B. Dorr, the first superintendent of Acadia National Park.
The property is approximately 58.5 acres, located at Compass Harbor, in Bar Harbor, Maine. The
Oldfarm estate was originally owned and built by Dorr's parents. Geroge Dorr lived there most of his life
(1855-1944) and donated the property to the National Park Service in 1942. During Dorr's life, the
estate included a large shingle-style cottage ("Oldfarm"), numerous outbuildings (barns, garages,
caretakers cottage), expansive English-style gardens (at least one of which was designed by noted
landscape architect Beatrix Farrand, also of Bar Harbor), a nursery and other gardens and plantings, a
pond, circulation systems (roads and trails), and a salt water swimming pool in Compass Harbor.
The National Park Service at Acadia National Park did not redevelop or use the property and in
the mid-1950s, the mansion was torn down. Today, the property is largely managed as a natural area.
There is a small parking lot off Route 3 for visitors and several informal, visitor-created trails wend
throughout the property. Visitors use Oldfarm to gain access to the shore at Compass Harbor and hike
the trails. The area is well used by locals and treated almost as an "urban" park as it is in close proximity
to the town of Bar Harbor. There are a variety of resource issues that complicate management
decisions, including invasive exotic vegetation (many of which were introduced by Dorr as specimen
plants), European red ant infestation, shoreline erosion, and deterioration of the remnants of the
cultural landscape and former structures.
Neighbors, town residents, and other park stakeholders have voiced their concerns about the
degraded condition of the property. The NPS has not actively managed the site, and the resulting
"neglect" has resulted in loss of integrity of any remaining features. The property is not managed as a
cultural resource, e.g. a historic site, archeological site, or cultural landscape, because the loss of historic
integrity makes it ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places and as such, it does not fit within
the guidelines for management and funding for cultural resources. In order to understand the possible
range of management actions that would be appropriate, NPS and partners need an inventory that
provides baseline documentation of remaining landscape features and their associations, and provides
recommendations for treatment alternatives that could be implemented.
SCOPE OF WORK
The final product would be a cultural landscape inventory and assessment, in accordance with
guidelines described by the Olmsted Center for Landscape Cultural Landscape Inventory Professional
Procedures Guide (http://www.nps.gov/oclp/CLI%20PPG_January2009_small.pdf)
Final October 27, 2015
The Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment will document and evaluate the landscape features
and qualities that make the landscape significant, including: geographic setting, development and
evolution, materials, construction, and use. The report will include a condition assessment of the
landscape to identify impacts that have a negative effect on the significance and integrity of the
property, and for which some form of mitigation or preventative action is possible. While NPS
landscape architects have already determined that the property is ineligible for listing to the National
Register of Historic Places, this CLI will evaluate the landscape in order to guide management of extant
cultural landscape features and inform decisions for potential treatments.
The project would entail the following activities:
1. Document the existing conditions through text, photographs, and graphic plan(s). 6. Fully map the
landscape and its associated features using GPS and GIS. Prepare an existing conditions map of the 58.5-
acre study area using GPS and GIS, CAD, and Adobe Illustrator. Identify extant cultural remnants from
the Dorr period of ownership including buildings, foundations, roads, paths, steps, other circulation
features, foundation plantings, remnant nursery plantings, remnant orchards, walls, fence lines, and
other estate features. Compile geo-referenced photographs of features identified on the property and
link to the site map. Prepare a preliminary condition assessment including erosion, invasive plant
species, and safety hazards (See CLI Methodology 8-3 to 8-4). Prepare a narrative description of existing
conditions of the landscape including: spatial organization, land use, topography, manipulated
topography, response to natural features and systems, water features, circulation, buildings, structures,
vegetation, views, vistas, small-scale features, and utilities.
2. Assemble historical documentation from a variety of primary and secondary sources including historic
maps, photographs, correspondence, and narrative accounts. Research would be conducted using the
park's archives (administrative files and museum collection); the National Archives; local historical
societies, museum and library resources; and private research resources to be identified mutually with
input from NPS and project partners.
- Historic maps and photographs: Scan historic images (site plans and photographs) at 300 dpi or
higher and in .tiff and jpeg format. Write a caption for each image that describes its location,
date or approximate date, reference number, and repository. Also describe the contents of each
photograph with respect to the landscape characteristics listed in step one above. Images and
captions are imported into Adobe InDesign.
- Correspondence and narrative accounts: Compile into an annotated chronology the key events
that were integral to the physical development of the property. Include the year the event
began, the year it ended, the type of major event (see CLI Methodology, 6-6 to 6-7), a narrative
description of the associated individuals and organizations, their actions, and the resulting
event. Each entry should include the source of information and research files should include a
photocopy or photograph of the source of information. Also compile a bibliography of sources.
2
Final October 27, 2015
3. Provide a description of the landscape through every historic period up to the present, and identify
and describe the historic context(s) and any potential period(s) of significance associated with the
landscape. See Attachment A: Outline.
4. Based on historic maps, plans, photographs, and narrative research, create a period of plan of the
Dorr property as it appeared in 1944, the year of Dorr's death. Identify and describe the landscape's
characteristics and features. For comparison with existing conditions, prepare drawings of the property
as it appeared in 1944 and as it is in 2015-16 at scales of 1 inch=250 to 300 feet (and possibly 1 inch=60
to
100 feet for selected areas.) Prepare a narrative to accompany the period plan that compares
existing conditions to the findings from the site history.
5. Provide a botanical analysis of the existing condition and compare to the findings from the site
history. Create a table of plant species present on the property in 1944 (and location if known) and
existing plant species.
6. Develop an initial list of treatment alternatives that would allow NPS and community stakeholders to
evaluate the challenges and opportunities for managing the property. The suite of management actions
must be based on the treatment philosophy of NPS policy and the Secretary's Standards (e.g.
rehabilitation vs. restoration), and park management objectives.
The report shall include the following contents:
1. Cover Page
2. Table of Contents
3. Introduction.
The introduction includes five sub-sections: (a) a management summary describing the purpose of the
project; (b) a historical overview that provides a brief historical context for the landscape; (c) a
description of the scope of the project and methodology for completing it; (d) a description of study
boundaries; and (e) a summary of findings.
4. SITE HISTORY, EXISTING CONDITIONS, ANALYSIS, AND EVALUATION
Site History.
This section provides a historical description of the landscape and its historic characteristics. The text is
based on research and historical documentation, with enough support material to illustrate the physical
character, attributes, features, and materials that contribute to the significance of the landscape. This
section identifies the historical context within which the landscape developed, including the period
before, during, and after Dorr ownership (see Attachment A).
3
Final October 27, 2015
Existing Conditions.
This section contains a description of the landscape as it exists today including the documentation of
landscape characteristics including spatial organization, land use, topography, manipulated topography,
response to natural features and systems, water features, circulation, buildings, structures, vegetation,
views, vistas, small-scale features, and utilities. It is based on both research and site survey, including
on-the-ground observation and recordation of significant features. A condition assessment is completed
to determine the age, material, composition, and integrity of significant components, and existing and
potential impacts to landscape characteristics and features.
Analysis and Evaluation.
This section compares findings from the site history and existing conditions to identify the significance of
individual features in the context of the landscape as a whole. Historic integrity is evaluated to
determine if the characteristics and features that defined the landscape during the historical period are
present. A statement of potential areas of significance for the landscape is included, and the analysis
and evaluation are summarized.
5. Potential Management Actions-Treatment Alternatives
The landscape has been determined ineligible for the National Register but it is managed as a cultural
resource. This section describes the approved landscape treatments for the site and potential
management alternatives that could be implemented. The study will identify if there are intact
elements of the landscape that could be rehabilitated and interpreted.
6. APPENDIX, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND INDEX
This section contains supplemental drawings, illustrations, maps, photographs, technical information, or
other support documentation; a list of sources used in preparing the document; and references to
material in the document, respectively. This section will include a table of plants species known to be
present on the property during the Dorr period of ownership and plant species present today.
DELIVERABLES
1. A Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment following the Chicago Manual of Style to be
delivered within 44 weeks of issuance of the notice to proceed. Twenty-five printed copies of the final
report shall be prepared and one electronic version.
2. Draft copies of the report shall be delivered as follows:
25% draft (within 11 weeks of commencing the project) to include documentation of existing
conditions using GIS, GPS, CAD, Adobe Illustrator, geo-referenced photographs, and narrative
description of landscape characteristics in Attachment A. List of plant species present in 2015-16
in table format. Site plan produced with GIS, CAD, and Adobe Illustrator with 11 x17" map at
1:250 or 300 scale, and insets of 1:60 to 100 scale as needed. Preliminary condition assessment
4
Final October 27, 2015
identified including deferred maintenance, erosion, improper drainage, neglect, pests, diseases,
succession, flooding, compaction, invasive plants, and related impacts.
50% draft (within 22 weeks) of scans of all historic photos and plans plus descriptive captions;
complete annotated chronology including review of materials at repositories and photographs
or photocopies of research material cited; period plan of Dorr property as it appeared in 1944
and a draft table of historic and existing landscape characteristics and features.
75% draft (within 33 weeks) of draft narrative site history, existing conditions, analysis and
evaluation, and proposed treatment approach and associated drawings and tables in
accordance with Attachment A: Outline
95% draft (within 42 weeks) to include revisions to all of the above.
100 % final (within 44 weeks) to include final edits and research files.
3. Graphics shall include all of the following necessary to fully document the history and existing
conditions of the landscape: diagrams, photographs, maps in a 11" X 17" format based on GIS data and
metadata. NPS standards for GIS data and metadata will be used. Consult with ACAD GIS specialist prior
to delivery.
4. All original research notes, field notes, photographs, maps, and drawings.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
Project scoping/site visit
November 16, 2015
Begin project/ /field documentation and assessment
November 16, 2015
Site map, photo documentation, narrative description
December 2015 to January 2016
First submittal (25%)
January 29, 2016
Archives, annotated chronology, draft narrative site history
January to April, 2016
Images, chronology, narrative submittal (50%)
April 15, 2016
Period plan, analysis, treatment narrative submittal (75%)
July 1, 2016
Complete draft (95%)
September 2, 2016
Final
September 16, 2016
Submission of research materials
September 16, 2016
BUDGET SUMMARY
Personnel ($16/hr)
$28,160
Travel
1,000
Supplies
340
Printing & Reprographics
500
Total
$30,000
5
Final October 27, 2015
a.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Friends of Acadia:
TBD
Acadia National Park:
Rebecca Cole-Will, Chief of Resource Management, will provide project oversight in the park and
review and approve draft and final products.
Gail Gladstone, Cultural Resource Specialist, will serve as the park contact for the researcher and
facilitate researcher activities in the park, participate in meetings, and review and edit all draft
and final products.
Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation:
Robert Page, Director, will provide project oversight and review and approve draft and final
products.
Margie Coffin Brown, Senior Project Manager, will provide project oversight, prepare the project
agreement, participate in meetings, and review and edit all draft and final products.
6
Cultural Landscape
Inventory and Assessment
FRENCHMAN BAY
Oldfarm Property
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, Maine
1942 Period Plan
Sols Cliff
SOURCES
1. ACAD GIS Files
Cedar Hedge
2. 1944 Aerial Photo
Storm Beach Garage
Darpoint
Garden
3. 1938 Map of Property of George B. Dorn
Outbuildings
4. 1942 Park Map
Birch planting/
Shrub
C
5. Site Visits November 2015-June 2016
Orchard site
Massing
Storm Beach
6. Historic Photographs
Cottage
7. 1946 Oldfarm Field Report
Pool/
Tennis Court
Dock
O
DRAWN BY
00
Ericka Duym, 2016
AutoCAD Map 3D. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator CS6
Arc GIS 10.2
LEGEND
Compass Harbor
Asghalt roads
Complass Harbor
Nursery Fields
Cottage
Existing Buildings (Dorn owned)
Nursery Fields
Unpaved road
Champlain Mountain Road
1942 Donation Boundary lines
Footpath
Compass Harbor
S Feet contour
Pond
Cultivated garden plots
Decidious and Evergreen trees
Mount Desert
Nurseries
Nursery Fields
Nursery Field
Nursery Field
NOTES
Mcisaac
1. All features shown in approximate scale and location
House
2. Contemporary names are shown in parenthesis.
3. Illustration shows core parcels included in George 8
Don's 1942 approximately 98-acre donation to Acadia
National Park.
U
150
3001
GOO
DRAWING 1.2
A vintage photograph of Old Farm, the estate of George B. Dorr. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANP
(Printed from url=http://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/george-dorr-estate-rehab-eyed)
George Dorr Estate rehab eyed
July 22, 2016 by Dick Broom on Environment, News, News-Featured
G+
P
in
http://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/george-dorr-estate-rehab-eyed
1/3
7/22/2016,
George Dorr Estate rehab eyed - Mount Desert Islander
ACADIA NAT'L PARK - A "cultural landscape assessment" of the former Compass Harbor estate of
George Dorr, often referred to as the father of Acadia, suggests the property should be "rehabilitated," but
not restored or reconstructed.
Dorr donated the 58-acre property in Bar Harbor that he called Old Farm to the park in 1942, two years
before his death. It included the main house - now referred to as the Manor House - the Storm Beach
Cottage, a barn and several other outbuildings. Only the cottage remains; the other structures were
demolished in the 1950s.
Acadia officials last year commissioned a comprehensive inventory of the property's historic features
"because we've never had the baseline documentation to help us decide what an appropriate level of
treatment or management should be," said Rebecca Cole-Will, the park's chief of resource management.
The park contracted with the Olmstead Center for Landscape Preservation, a unit of the National Park
Service, to conduct the inventory and assessment. Ericka Duym, a landscape architect who lives in
Trenton, headed the project for the Olmstead Center.
Duym summarized her findings and recommendations in a recent presentation at park headquarters.
"The primary goals were to document the landscape features that are still there and to evaluate the condition
of those features and whether they really contribute to the historic character of [Old Farm] and Dorr's
influence on the landscape," she said.
She studied the various categories of landscape features including topography, driveways and walking
paths, water features such as streams and ponds, archeological features, vistas and vegetation. The
vegetation inventory included the remnants of the orchard at Dorr Point and the giant cedars that were
planted within the former circular drive.
Duym said all of those features "help tell the story of George Dorr at Compass Harbor."
She said the Department of the Interior lists four management options for historic or culturally significant
sites: preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction.
"It would be very unusual for the park service to do a restoration or reconstruction of [Old Farm] because
we are not trying to freeze this place in time and create a false idea of what historic authenticity is," Cole-Will
said.
"For example, we're not going to rebuild the Manor House. It's gone. It's an archaeological site now, and it
needs to be managed in that way."
Duym said rehabilitation is probably the best management approach for Old Farm.
"That allows for flexibility in continuing to manage the site for the future," she said. "It allows for such things
as the repair of cultural features, invasive species management and trail enhancements."
Repairing wobbly stone steps to make them safe, stabilizing the foundation of the Manor House and
removing trees that have fallen across paths are examples of interventions that can be part of a program of
rehabilitation.
Cole-Will said the park will maintain Old Farm as a natural area, respecting the fact that it is in a residential
area. So, there are no plans to expand the small parking area.
"We don't necessarily want this to become a high-use area because we want to manage it for the ability of
people to appreciate it in solitude and quiet," she said.
She characterized rehabilitation as "applying a light touch that respects the existing conditions, identifies the
http://www.mdislander.com/maine-news/george-dorr-estate-rehab-eyed
2/3
7/22/2016
George Dorr Estate rehab eyed - Mount Desert Islander
period of historic significance of the place and, where appropriate, manages for that time period."
She said the period of historic significance for Old Farm is from 1868, when the Dorr family bought the
property, to 1942.
A National Park Service publication describes George Dorr as "the father of Acadia National Park,' who
spent most of his adult life "bringing the park into being, caring for the park and expanding it."
Dorr served as Acadia's first superintendent, from its founding in 1916 to 1944.
The cultural landscape assessment was paid for with a gift of more than $35,000 from the Somes Pond
Center, which supports research and education on the landscapes of the Mount Desert Island region.
: Bio
Latest Posts
Dick Broom
Reporter at Mount Desert Islander
Dick Broom covers the towns of Mount Desert and Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert Island
High School and the school system board and superintendent's office. He enjoys hiking with
his golden retriever and finding new places for her to swim. dbroom@mdislander.com
SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES
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7/4/2018
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Re: Epp Edits of Site History. Oldfarm Cultural Landscape Inventory/Assessment: Draft
From Ronald Epp
Mon, Jul 04, 2016 05:33 PM
Subject : Re: Epp Edits of Site History. Oldfarm Cultural Landscape Inventory/Assessment: Draft
1 attachment
To Ericka Duym
Cc Ericka Duym
Bcc Jack Russell
Hi Ericka,
I am so very impressed! Congratulations on the Site History piece which unfortunately is the only
section beyond the Introduction that I was able to complete before my departure tomorrow a.m. for MDI.
And I learned much from your findings and analysis. wish perversely that your study had been done a
year earlier so that I could have incorporated your findings into my biography.
I've again have done a light edit through the last of the endnotes. See attachment.
A couple of minor items:
1. Shoreline topography. As one moves from Reef Point to the south, the shoreline height and contour varies
greatly. I expected to see some attention to it as a physical barrier above Compass Harbor, for use
of the landscape along that terminus with the Bay varies quite a bit, especially along Sols Cliff, which I do not recall being mentioned. Similarly, you mention several
times
the
ledges
on
the
property but I failed to discern
what role they played--if any--in siting the Mansion or the steps down to Dorr Point; this "peninsula" named
after Dorr's father is mentioned but is it not worth stressing how it historically served as a visitor destination to view
Frenchman Bay before erosion took its toll? Finally, in terms of contour did your research disclose whether any heavy equipment was used to modify the landscape as part of an overall design
plan? Lastly, Dorr mentions two of his boats (The Dorothy and The Wren) that he harbored at Oldfarm. Anything related?
2.
Regarding your discussion of Henry Richards as the architect of Oldfarm. I wondered why mention was not made
of an earlier design that Charles Dorr had considered. The design principles of A.F. Oakey were developed in a book titled Building a Home published in 1881 by D. Appleton & Co.
The
architect's
elevation drawing of Old Farm has
been reproduced in many printings of Tom St. Germain's A Walk in the Park: Acadia Hiking Guide (10th ed., pg. 12) but I've seen copies of this reproduced elsewhere, frequently ignoring the fact
that the Henry Richards plan was preferred and selected by Charles and Mary Dorr.
3. You mention that Fred Savage effected Oldfarm alterations in 1919. I wasn't aware of this. Since no source is noted, where was this fact uncovered? I know that the MDIHS has more than
40
Fred Savage architectural drawings for changes and modifications to Oldfarm(I've inventoried them). But when these are dated, all the dates fall around the years immediately after (1901-
)
after the death of his mother.
4. In referring to Dorr's development of Oldfarm you mention his cousin Charles S. Sargent but not Dorr's interest in the Arnold Arboretum and his serial Garden & Forest as seminal sources for
his personal and professional botanical and horticultural development. I strongly think that these resources deserve mention if not expansion for they clearly shaped his design thoughts about his
property. I have one undated letter in Dorr's hand that I secured from the Gray Herbarium Archives inquiring about a plant he could not identify flowering in his own nursery; another surviving
letter in typescript (7/1/1902) is a donation to the herbarium with a request for advice about print resources that would "aid me in studying the flora and forest growth of Arizona and
Utah
Oregon, Washington and the Canadian Rockies," where he will be headed on a field trip with Harvard's physical geography professor William Morris Davis. Other letters ask the herbarium
authorities to identify plant specimins that he found along the Charles River and in Lenox. I was not able to research thorough enough the extent of his extant communication on such matters.
Hope this is helpful. I'll return to the remainder of your draft when I'm back home on the 12th even though that will be too late to be useful for you.
Again, much praise for the high quality of your work which will be the definitive site history and more for present and future generations of researchers.
https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=378841&tz=America/New_York&xim=1
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Cultural Landscape Inventory and Assessment for Oldfarm
By Ericka Duym, Landscape Architect
Acadia National Park HQ
June 21, 2016 1pm (Training Trailer)
Presentation Overview
Join landscape architect Ericka Duym as she discusses her recent work to complete a
landscape assessment for Oldfarm, the former home of George B. Dorr. Once part of an estate
that covered over one hundred acres, the NPS retains approximately 58.65 acres of the estate
by Compass Harbor. The purpose of this study was to complete a landscape assessment that:
identifies important landscape features that are still extant, document historic features that are
no longer in existence, and provide a comprehensive overview of the entire landscape, using
GIS and historic research. A goal for this project has also been to begin an initial dialogue
about preservation and management alternatives that will guide future stewardship of the
property, both by the park and interested stakeholders.
6/30/2014
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Re: Ron Epp (Follow Up)
From Ronald & Elizabeth Epp
Mon, Jun 30, 2014 02:40 PM
Subject Re: Ron Epp (Follow Up)
To : Anne Kozak
Cc : Rebecca Cole-Will
Anne,
Since I have not heard from you since I last emailed, I've been somewhat ill at ease with my statement regarding Dorr's
involvement in what later became the Wild Gardens. I've uncovered the source of my discomfort and want to share a portion
of
a letter I uncovered several years ago in the archival files of attorney Doug Chapman. In a letter to Harry Lynam dated
9.18.1930, Dorr refers to his recent agreement with JDR Jr where he offered the philanthropist the "Sieur de Monts Spring and
Great Meadow properties for a national park development.
11
On a separate attached one-page and undated ANP memorandum he refers to the "Delano Wild Gardens [which] stretch from
the Spring entrance road and lawns to include the wooded valley of Trout Brook, which they follow to the Tarn and thence to
the Town road, coalescing with the Kane Path entrance to the road. In accordance with Mr. Lynam's desire to keep concise and
brief the deed by which the Wild Gardens of Acadia transferred to the United states their right and duty to maintain and
develop these gardens as an exhibit of the native woodland flora, full description of the locus was omitted as not necessary
and the brook valley as its central feature alone was mentioned [Transferred was the duty] to maintain, develop
and
extend the footpath system of these gardens in accordance with the adopted Wild Gardens plan and to create along these
paths favorable opportunities for representative, educational and attractive growth of our native woodland plants, adding to
the soil as needed, and maintaining, and in due course replacing as replacement shall be required, their piped irrigation system
from the Tarn, which waters also the Museum and Sieur de Monts Spring lawns." (Chapman Archive, 351. Wild Gardens and
Government. Bar Harbor, ME)
I stand by my original statement that Dorr did not cause the current gardens to come into being. He secured the legal
groundwork, articulated the concept, and clearly envisioned a series of gardens on a scale much larger than the present
garden. Once the aforementioned property was transferred to Mr. R., its development for the last fifteen years of Dorr's life
was out of his hands.
Please check with Doug Chapman before you made any reference to the source of the information that I supplied.
Hope this helps.
Ron
Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D.
532 Sassafras Dr.
Lebanon, PA 17042
717-272-0801
eppster2@comcast.net
From: "Anne Kozak"
To: "Ronald & Elizabeth Epp"
Sent: Thursday, June 26, 2014 12:16:27 PM
Subject: Re: Ron Epp
Ron, thanks for getting back to me. Becky was trying to connect us. a
I don't know if you remember me, but we have talked before. I teach at COA and write for the Mount Desert Islander. I am
a
member of the executive committee of the gardens and also co-chairing an endowment to fund the head gardener at the Wild
Gardens. Last year when I was touring the gardens with a prospective donor, she asked why no one had written about the
founders of the Wild Gardens, and so I am. While initially I intended to begin with the predominantly women who founded and
continue to nurture the Wild Gardens, I realized that Dorr played a greater role in terms of displaying native plants than the
committee members were aware of.
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Chebacco 19 (2018).
The Desk That N(Ever) Was: Oldfarm, a Secretary,
and Other Misplaced Furnishings
By Marie Yarborough
Locals still mourn the razing of
The mahogany, slant-top desk sits forty-four
Oldfarm, the family home of Acadia
and a half inches high, forty-two inches wide, and
National Park founder George B. Dorr-
twenty-two inches deep, with a serpentine front.
but what happened to the objects that
It boasts four drawers with oval, Hepplewhite-
were left behind? The winding path of
style brass pulls adorned with an acorn-and-leaf
George Dorr's "Governor Winthrop
motif, which is typical of the late-eighteenth and
Secretary" shows us how Dorr's successor
early-nineteenth centuries.¹ It stands on ball-and-
fought to create and maintain a tangible
claw feet and the woodwork shows the hallmarks
connection to Dorr through objects from
of hand-planing and dovetail joints. Although it
Oldfarm. Yet, by digging deeper, we may
has been described as "Governor-Winthrop style,"
find that the connection between the
that characterization is not likely helpful, as that
desk and the park's founder is less than
tag-line has been erroneously assigned to many
intimate, if not mistakenly imagined.
varieties of slant-lid desks from the Colonial Revival
Oldfarm, the family home
of Acadia National Park
founder, George B. Dorr,
was demolished in 1954.
Courtesy of the National Park
Service, Acadia National Park
85
Period. 2 Based on these elements, historic
furnishings expert Rosamond Rea suggests
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
that the desk is Chippendale style, and is
from between 1790 and 1800. According
to the earliest inventory of Oldfarm
furnishings, the desk was situated near one
of the public entryways to the house, in
the "Lower Front Hall, (On Landing). "3
How is it that a slant-top, mahogany
"secretary" and a few other Oldfarm
furnishings escaped daily use by park
staff and eventually made their way to
the park collections? To what extent
is it correct to call this piece "George
Dorr's desk," and to imply that it was
a desk of great personal value to Dorr,
at which he may have worked while
creating Acadia National Park?
By the time the National Park
Service razed Oldfarm in 1951, Dorr's
most intimate and personal furniture,
housewares, and small possessions had
long been distributed according to his
instructions, among his close confidants, as
Superintendent Benjamin Hadley, Dorr's successor,
laid out in his "Last Will and Testament,
assured the survival of furnishings from the Dorr
1943." In contrast, the other Oldfarm
family home. Courtesy of the National Park Service,
Acadia National Park
furnishings, supplied earlier to the
National Park Service by a 1941 bill of
sale, were eventually dispersed to neighbors
and amongst the park service's units and
buildings. The National Park Service's
property record numbers marked items
that remained within Acadia, and much
of the furniture outfitted park buildings
such as the superintendent's residence
at Storm Beach Cottage, the Ranger
Station at Schoodic, and the Jordan
Pond and Brown Mountain Gate Lodges.
Over the years, park staff inventoried
these items yearly by physically locating
86
them in various storage buildings,
his will: 'First: Such relatives as I have are
offices, and residences, attempting
either sufficiently provided for in their own
to preserve both their provenance-
estates or so remote that I intentionally
Oldfarm--and their association with
omit them
as beneficiaries
Accordingly,
Acadia's most eminent figure-Dorr-
the O'Neills got nothing by bequest. 4
in the government property records.
Later in the memo, Hadley suggests that the
Hadley V. O'Neill: The Struggle for Oldfarm
remaining property should either be distributed
Furnishings
among park buildings or "sold by advertisement
Between 1947 and 1948,
in the customary manner."5 His third suggestion
Superintendent Benjamin Hadley, Dorr's
remains the most personal, and it is probably the
successor and close confidant, sought
reason why these items exist in the collection
the appropriate method of dispersing the
today: he submitted that Acadia should keep
government-owned furnishings collected
certain items of value to be displayed in a future
from Oldfarm. Hadley attempted to decide
park museum. Referencing the memorial in Dorr's
what was useful to the service, what should
name at Sieur de Mont, Hadley conceded: "I'll
be sold, what should be offered for sale to
admit, in some respects my
suggestion has a
distant relatives and, finally, what should
very personal angle
The park should keep these
remain in his care as a reminder of Dorr's
mementos of its first superintendent. he and
his
connection to Acadia and Oldfarm.
connection with the park is worthy of more intimate
On October 8, 1947, Hadley put
and personal memorabilia than a slate tablet on
forth his wishes to the director for certain
a
piece of granite. 16 Hadley went on to say:
furnishings to remain in Acadia, rather
There are now certain items of Oldfarm
than being offered for sale to the public
or to distant relatives. His memo recalls
furniture [in the Storm Beach Cottage]
there for both use and safe keeping
As
the several requests and repeat petitioning
by Mr. Grover O'Neill on behalf of Mrs.
long as I remain superintendent of Acadia
O'Neill (a "distant relative of Dorr")
and occupy that residence I'd like to retain
to acquire some of the furnishings not
those few visible reminders of my association
needed by the park for sentimental value:
with him. My sentimental attachment
for them is, and the park's should be, far
They both [Grover and Mrs.
greater than that of a remote cousin.7
O'Neill] played the 'Cousin George'
angle for all it would stand
On July 13, 1948, Hadley wrote a memo to the
Director of the National Park Service, Newton B.
they hoped, if not expected, that
on his death they would be the
Drury, outlining the status and updated locations of
principal beneficiary under his will.
the items. The memo divided the property into four
lists: items removed from Oldfarm and moved to
Great was their surprise therefore
when they read the first clause in
the Homan's House (all of which were subsequently
87
destroyed by fire on October 23, 1947), items
A final attempt by the O'Neills to
removed from Oldfarm and remaining in his care at
purchase items from Oldfarm came on
the Superintendent's residence at the Storm Beach
March 2, 1949 in the form of a letter from
Cottage, items that remain in the Oldfarm house,
Grover O'Neill to Hadley. O'Neill writes
and items that Grover O'Neill has expressed interest
that he has been informed "that you have
in, including but not limited to the "Secretary,
been authorized to dispose of the items
Governor Winthrop" listed by Hadley as having a
of furniture not needed by the Service
potential value of $500, which was well over the
I would like, for sentimental reasons,
value of all of the other items enumerated. Hadley
to acquire as many of these items as I
summarizes that "every item on the list could be
can, provided the price is reasonable and
sold
There are really no items of historic or
fair." As if to try to sway Superintendent
antique value, baring the Governor Winthrop desk
Hadley's decision to release items to them
and two or three bureau stands. They have fair money
by suggesting Hadley might profit from
value as pieces of good furniture, not as antiques."
the arrangement, O'Neill states "...I
Hadley concluded by advocating for
told Mr. Drury [Director of the National
safeguarding some of Dorr's furnishings by
Park Service] and Mr. Tolson10 that you
keeping them, including the desk, in the Storm
had undoubtedly been promised some
Beach Cottage where Dorr spent his final years
memento by Mr. Dorr, and I hope that
and where Hadley had moved the items following
in the process of acquiring these things I
Dorr's death in 1944. This list included forty-
would obtain the desk which could then be
four pieces, such as ceramic flower pots, a Seth
presented to you as coming from him. "11
Thomas clock, some rugs, Chinese vases, the desk,
and other mahogany furniture. Hadley wrote:
From Storm Beach Cottage to McFarland Hill
Before reaching a final decision on the
Clearly, Hadley's convictions were
disposition of the furniture, I venture to
not altered by the O'Neills' conspicuous
suggest that consideration be given to retaining
suggestion that Hadley might receive
some of the items now in my care in the
the desk if the O'Neills purchased it.
Storm Beach Cottage. They do not comprise
That letter was the last documented
even a minor part of the furnishings of the
request from the O'Neills about the
house and should not be looked upon as such.
furnishings, and, in 1951, Oldfarm
They do, however, constitute a visible link
was razed. According to government
between the park and Mr. Dorr. They reflect
property records in a 1977 card catalog
his occupancy of the house they are now in
inventory, the desk remained assigned to
and to a degree reflect his personality. For
the superintendent at the Storm Beach
the sake of perpetuating that association for
Cottage in 1958, 1959 and 1960.
a time, at least, I think those pieces should
It is inventoried as: "Desk (Secretary)
be kept. For your information, the O'Neills
Governor Winthrop Style, serpentine
are not aware of the fact that the items on the
front, mahogany, oval brass pulls;
Storm Beach list are where they are now.9
on charge to Storm Beach Cottage;
88
DI-100
According to a 1977 card
(APPROVED APRIL (MA)
catalog inventory, the
ITEM
Desk (Secretary)
desk remained assigned
to the superintendent at
DESCRIPTION Governor Winthrop Style,
serpentine front, mahogany oval
(PROPERTY NUMBER)
the Storm Beach Cottage
through 1960. Courtesy of
brass pulls
the National Park Service,
Acadia National Park
ON CHARGE TO:
R. R. No. AND DATE
Attic
Storm
Beach
o. No. AND DATE
Supt.
5-27-58
VOU. No. AND DATE
ACTIVITY
01 Acadia N. P.
COST
$100.00 (neai nal value)
Acquired from Geo. 8. Dorr on
of Sale dated 9/16/41
18-28237-1 GFO
Property Number 446; Cost $100.00
Hadley first suggested the park keep certain items
(nominal value) Acquired from Geo. B.
associated with Dorr, the remaining furnishings
Dorr on Bill of Sale dated 9/16/41. "12
from Oldfarm had made it to their final destination.
We can likely assume that the desk
Over the years, the lore surrounding some of the
stayed in the Storm Beach Cottage through
Oldfarm furnishings intrigued local people and
the next few Superintendents' residencies,
even inspired local researchers and professors to
but the path of the desk between 1960
arrive at Park Headquarters in person, asking to see
and 1988 is unclear. In 1988, it is listed on
"George Dorr's desk." And, although it is true that
an inventory as "removed to Hulls Cove"
this piece of furniture was owned by Dorr, the idea
following a repair to one of the rear ball
that it was an intimate or cherished piece, one that
and claw feet.13 Over the next two years,
Mr. Dorr may have worked at daily in his creation
most of the items were slowly removed
of Acadia National Park, does not ring true.
from Storm Beach Cottage to a storage
room in the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. 14
Dorr's Sea Room and his Most Valuable Secretary
In 1990, thirty-seven items originally
What can we assume about the importance of this
from Oldfarm, including the desk,
desk as it functioned at Oldfarm? Was this a valuable
were accessioned into Acadia's Museum
or "personal" piece of Dorr's and, if so, why was it not
collection and stored in a climate-
bequeathed in his will to any of his close confidants,
controlled, secure facility.1 Forty-three
as similar items of his had been? According to Dorr
years after Superintendent Benjamin
biographer Dr. Ronald Epp in his book Creating
89
Entrance foyer at
Oldfarm, 1922. Courtesy
of the National Park Service,
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park, Dorr's third-floor Sea Room,
On August 13, 1943, Dorr's will
with wall-to-wall bookshelves and small swinging
named his personal secretary of many
windows that opened to the landscape and seascape,
years, Phyllis Sylvia, as one of his trustees,
was where "[Dorr's] reflective activity took place
in
and bequeathed to her a number of
this study, surrounded by books."16 Epp writes: "there,
furnishings, including but not limited
atop an oriental rug, Dorr placed a writing table, an
to a Tip Top Table, a Louis XVI library
eight-sided pedestal table, and several walnut rocking
table, all his articles of silver, a mahogany
chairs." The Sea Room, with a large fireplace and a
bedside table "listed as being in Storm
window seat, was adjacent to both his bedroom and
Beach Cottage, but being used by me
a side porch overlooking the mountains. The Sea
in my bedchamber at Oldfarm,"19 and a
Room was an intimate space for Dorr, tucked away
"Seth Thomas Clock, with Westminster
on the third floor, far away from the public spaces
Chimes, now at Oldfarm on the desk
below, where he so often entertained. Therefore,
on the Front Stairs "20 It is telling that
it would make sense that the furnishings in that
Dorr bequeathed to one of his most
intimate space-the pedestal table, the writing
trusted confidants such valuable and/
table, and the rocking chairs-may have been more
or seemingly personal furnishings, such
thoroughly incorporated into Dorr's daily life as
as, for example, his bedside table, and
he reflected and worked, than the desk was. 18
also the clock that sits on top of the
90
desk in question, but not the desk itself. So, the
desk remained in Oldfarm, as a decorative piece,
in the lower front hallway, suggesting it was not an
intimate, sentimental, or valuable piece for Dorr,
but rather a more public furnishing, one unsuitable
for gifting to his close confidants and friends.
By 1948, Benjamin Hadley had moved the
desk and the other selected furnishings to the
Superintendent's Residence at the Storm Beach
Cottage for safe-keeping under his watchful eye.
It was clearly Hadley's desire to retain some small
personal association between Oldfarm, Dorr, and
Acadia that drove him to secure remaining items
from Oldfarm that that he deemed potential
heirlooms or that looked valuable, even though he
knew these objects did not have intimate connections
to Dorr. Likely, the O'Neills' continued interest in
the desk strengthened Hadley's resolve to retain that
piece in particular. Without Hadley's unwavering
desire to safeguard certain items, they likely would
have been sold at fair market value or worn-out
from use in general park buildings. Although it is
now clear that the desk does not have the personal
George B. Dorr, age 90, at the Storm Beach
Cottage, C. 1942. Courtesy of the National Park
association to Dorr that Hadley had hoped he was
Service, Acadia National Park
preserving, and that many others since Hadley had
envisioned and even embellished upon, the desk
remains a solid reminder of the grand manor that
once stood at Compass Harbor-and of the man who
worked tirelessly to create Acadia National Park.
Marie Yarborough trained as a Cultural Anthropologist at
Wheaton College and went on to earn an MA in New England and
American Studies at the University of Southern Maine. She has
worked in libraries and museums since the age of fifteen. In 2010,
she became the Writer-Editor at Acadia National Park, managing
multiple indoor and outdoor exhibit projects over the following
four years. Since 2015, she has been the Curator at the William
Otis Sawtelle Collections and Research Center, where she manages
Acadia's natural, cultural and archival collections.
91
Acknowledgments: Many thanks to Kristin Dillon and Rebecca
18. The pedestal table was moved to the Homan's
Cole-Will who made it possible for me to find the time to research
house and burned in the fire of 1947; the writing table
and write this article, and for Gail Gladstone's enthusiastic
was inventoried as "left" in Oldfarm and consequently
support. Any article I could have written related to George Dorr
never showed up in later inventories; and the rocking
would never have been possible without the tireless, thorough, and
chairs were moved to Storm Beach Cottage, where
generous research and writings of Dr. Ron H. Epp, whose 2016
they eventually disappear ftom the property records.
book Creating Acadia National Park has a permanent spot on my
19. Codicil to George B. Dorr's Will, August 13,
desk.
1943, Chapman Archive, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Papers, B13, F05.
20. Author's emphasis. Codicil to George B. Dorr's
1. Rosamond Rea, email communication to Marie Yarborough,
Will, August 13, 1943, Chapman Archive, John Dr.
Rockefeller, Jr. Papers, B13, F05.
December 2, 2017.
2. David Williams, email communication to Rosamond Rea,
December 2, 2017.
3. Inventory of Oldfarm furnishings, no date but associated with
the 1941 Deed of Oldfarm and furnishings filed in Bar Harbor
(presumed lost in fire of 1947). Acadia National Park Resource
Management Records, Box 4, folder 10.
4. Hadley letter to Newton B. Drury, October 8, 1947, Acadia
National Park Resource Management Records, Box 4, folder 10.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Hadley letter to Newton B. Drury, July 13, 1948, Acadia
National Park Resource Management Records, Box 4, folder 10.
9. Ibid.
10. Hillory A. Tolson, Assistant Director of the National Park
Service from 1940-1963.
11. O'Neill letter to Benjamin Hadley, March 2, 1949, Acadia
National Park Resource Management Records, Box 4, folder 10.
12. Government property record from a 1977 card catalog entry,
Acadia National Park Museum Collections, Bar Harbor, Catalog #
ACAD56014.
13. Inventory notes with handwritten comments, in hanging files,
1988-1989, Curator's Office, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor.
14. A small private storage room in the lower level of the Visitor's
Center building at Hulls Cove, Acadia National Park, where
historic objects were stored before museum storage was built.
15. Accession record ACAD_295, 1990, hanging files, Curator's
office, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor.
16. Ronald H. Epp, Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography
of George Bucknam Dorr (Bat Harbor, ME: Friends of Acadia,
2016), 53.
17. Ibid.
92
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Old Farm Estate-Growth and Development 1929 to 1960
Details
1929 - 1960