Description: A booklet written by Wini Smart about Sammy Sanford and Rachel Field's friendship through the years, which led to her writing the acclaimed God's Pocket. Published in 2011.
Description: A brief history of Great Cranberry between 1919 and 1950. Covering the businesses and activities of islanders. Including many of Betty Hartleys recollections.
Description: This quilt was made by Beverly Sanborn for the Cranberry Island Art Show for Great Cranberry Historical Society in 2021. Karin Whitney donated it to the Museum.
Description: Fishing gear, "Lilly Iron" (harpoon) from Wesley Bracy, Jr. with swiveling piece on the barb that folds flat for easy penetration, but opens crosswise for increased grip, thus preventing loss of the fish; Bruce Komusin inserted a wooden boomstick handle and secured it with rope for display purposes.
Description: Book, Great Cranberry Island History Project, College of the Atlantic, "Photography: Public and Private Language" Fall 1992, mostly photographs with some text.
Description: This bed was a feature of the schooner ‘Carrie M. Richardson’ and was used by the ship's namesake, celestial navigator and later owner Carrie Stanley Richardson. Island legend has it that Carrie didn’t like to sleep in the bunks as the rest of the sailors did and so when the schooner was stopped at a dock, she went hunting and found this unusual folding bed. After she passed away, it was left in the boathouse at the Lew Stanley boatyard. Bob LaHotan-who co owned the boatyard with John Heliker-would sleep in the very same bed! [show more]
Description: The Cranberry Club Rooster Division was a local spoof men's club to mirror the elite women’s Cranberry Club. The club house was behind Doc Haydock’s house and also included Arvard Savage, Charlie Rice, and Victor White. They would put on performances of music and ‘interpretive island dances’.
Description: Rations would have been stored in the lifeboat’s emergency kit. This one contains 8oz of dried biscuits. If a boat sunk in the middle of the Atlantic it could be many days before any lifeboats were found, so access to some food could be vital for survival.
Object, Water Transporation, Water Transportation Accessories
Subject:
Object, Clothing, Clothing Accessories
Description: Weighing about 5 pounds, this jacket is likely made of Kapok fibre from the Ceiba pentandra tree; which is lighter in weight than the original cork life jackets and much more comfortable and pliable. Unlikely to still float. Donor unknown, likely used in the early 1900s.
Description: Basket and lid, flat bottom, Indigenous American creation, made of braided sweetgrass and natural and green flat splint fiber, with a blue card inside reading "(printed) Smart Studio Antiques, Maine Street, Northeast Harbor Maine, 276-5152, (handwritten) Penobscot Indian Sweetgrass Basket, late 1800s", and on the back of the card "$145"
Description: On loan from Phil Whitney. This turtle shell, according to Whitney family legend, is suspected to be from an 1825 whaling expedition to the South Pacific. It was kept in the family home until 1928, when the Spurling house burned down, and was rescued from the flames by islanders trying to salvage their possessions. The shell is that of a Hawksbill sea turtle, larger than most found today, and you may notice an indentation on the left side. Turtles are adept at recovering from injuries but they can’t grow back bone, so this is likely an injury sustained from when this turtle was far smaller. [show more]
Description: Sewing Machine, hand/foot-operated "A & S" sewing machine on cast iron stand with three drawers and wooden work surface table and matching wooden box-like cover; the right drawer is loose and not attached to the base; all three drawers are filled with sewing notions; the sewing machine is from the Moorfield Storey household.
Description: Interview Transcript from an interview with Richard 'Chuddy' Alley. The interview was recorded in the 2000's (exact year unknown) by Jessi Duma and Jenny Matthews, who both lived on the island for a number of years. Chuddy came to GCI as a young boy, and recounts many memories of Great Cranberry in the early to mid 20th century. He talks about agriculture and fishing extensively with Jessi. He moved over to Islesford and his son Ricky Alley speaks about fishing with a fish trap, and Pursing. Jessi was a Cranberry Island Fellow and became the general manager for GCIHS for a few years. Interview with transcribed by Hannah Gower-Fox. She was the Archivist and Museum Curator for GCIHS in 2023. [show more]
Description: Photograph. Digital scan of the Fire Club (Cranberry Isles Volunteer Fire Department) members ca. 1951 -1953, with items B and C: two overlays identifying individuals in the picture. Firefighters.
Description: Obituaries: A=Andrew Stanley 1969; B=Elisha Bunker and Edgar Bunker (father and son); C=Mrs. Winslow Bunker 1967; D=Leslie M. Rice 1966; E=Lena M. Stanley 1965; F&G= James R. Dwelley 1955 (father of Hugh Dwelley). Seven photographs: People H-L: H=Shirley Phippen (son of Leslie and Marjorie Phippen; I=Herbert and Florence Towns on sled; J="Brother Perley on boat, Stanley?, Addie Duren's brother". Houses K-M: K= Donald house; L= Reverend Nelson/Sherman Cottage which burned down ca. 1961 and the Wards built on this site; M= unknown house. [show more]
Description: Sidney Chadwick Hamor Bunker (1824-1918) Julia Bunker Spurling (Sidney's daughter) (1850-1919) Alta Spurling Bunker (Sidney's grand daughter) (1876-1969) Vincie Millicent Bunker (Sidney's great grand daughter) (1895-1993). (Perhaps ca. 1915.) Wilfred Bunker (1920-2012) Alta's son
Description: Photos and assortment of clippings. 21 photographs of people, boats, structures, from Addie Duren's time, given to GCIHS by her son Ron Mountain, some with IDs written on reverse: A=Adline Bunker; B= Ernest Stanley In Service, First World War; C=Alfred Ladd passed away in first world war by a bomb. D=Addie must be going someplace. All dressed up in my Brothers clothes. E=Winfield Stanley; F=Omer Mountain In USN; G=Eliza Stanley; H=Addie Duren. Photos I-M=people no IDs (except deerhunter photo is marked 1940. Photos N-R=boats have no IDs except N (upper right corner)=First boat Raymond B. ever built. Photos of buildings S=Aid building/barn; T=GCI Church; U=Velma Teel's house in the snow. V-ZZ=Newspaper clippings: improved lobster pot design 1956, witticisms, and children' games. AA-CC= handwritten songs and a note. [show more]
Description: Addie Ethel Duren WWII ID card issued by U.S. Coast Guard. Islanders were required to carry ID cards during WW II when transiting from islands to MDI, to prove they weren't spies.
Description: Game board, child, Board game, "Hats Off Bowling Game" with wooden pegs that swivel, bowling balls missing. Copyright MCMXLIV by Transogram Company, Inc. , from Montgomery Ward. Marjorie and Les Phippen's children were Paul, Louise, and one other. They were born on GCI and used to live on GCI year round.
Description: Painting, oil or acrylic, and pencil on cardboard of the ship Lusitania. Framed in wood with popsicle stick supports on damaged corners. Donor notes, "I bought it at a Cranberry Island Fair in the 1980s, and was told it came out of an Island House. I'm not sure if it was done by an Islander, but Isabel Storey would know."
Description: Quilt. Red and white (or beige) squares, 73" x 81" with solid white (or beige) reverse; filled with cotton batting. 14 5" x 6" squares long by 15 5"x6" squares wide. Each white square has a red embroidered flower, vegetable, bird, human figure, or animal in it. Donor states quilt was found in house when the property was bequeathed to the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation by Robert LaHotan's will and trust. Donor believes the quilt was made by Leah Stanley (Leah Jeanette (Sawyer) Stanley 1874-1944) who lived in the house with her husband Lewis Stanley. Quilt was displayed in 2006 GCIHS quilt exhibit. [show more]
Description: GCIHS Publication, created by Wini Smart initially to accompany the exhibit: Art of the Cranberry Isles, Past and Present. Compiles a list of and short biography of all the painters who made an 'impact here on our island and on the world'. With accompanying painter portraits and art.