Friday, September 27, 2013

Island Stones

Some people and families come to this island and never leave. It's like there is some unidentifiable pull that no matter how hard the lifestyle they are fated to 'run' their course here. The island cemetery lies just below the lighthouse and is a solemn place that was basking in afternoon sunlight when we stopped. As we left, we passed the grave site of 'island institution' artist Fred Wiley. On our early trips to Monhegan, we always saw him set up and painting along the island roads or toting his easel and paints towards sunny fields. He ventured to the island many times, and on one of his trips a friend offered to sell the plein-air painter a house. The artist took him up on it, and his island fate was sealed.
He's here forever.

6 comments:

  1. Island inhabitants are interesting people! We have an island on Lake Michigan that we often visit and love. Washington Island off the tip of Wisconsin has residents whose families have been there for generations. There's something about an Island. . .

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  2. I bet he was happy to be there and still is.

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  3. guess there are worse places to end up. :)

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  4. Now am I to understand he had a house on the island and lived there till the end? Wonder what his house looked like if he indeed had one on the island? -- barbara

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