The house in the background is now the Nieman Foundation’s Walter Lippmann House at One Francis Street. It was built in 1836 by Ebenezer Francis, a carpenter and Harvard custodian. The street, of course, was named for him. In 1892, when Henry Lathrop Rand took the photograph while living at his mother’s house across Francis Street on the corner at 49 Kirkland Street, the Francis Street house was still listed on maps as the Eben Francis House. Harvard University bought the Francis property in 1974 and gave it to the Nieman Foundation. It was Christened as the Walter Lippmann house on September 23, 1979 with much fanfare attended by a raft of famous journalists and political persons. They celebrated by breaking a bottle of champagne on its front steps. Henry would have been fascinated.
Description: The house in the background is now the Nieman Foundation’s Walter Lippmann House at One Francis Street. It was built in 1836 by Ebenezer Francis, a carpenter and Harvard custodian. The street, of course, was named for him. In 1892, when Henry Lathrop Rand took the photograph while living at his mother’s house across Francis Street on the corner at 49 Kirkland Street, the Francis Street house was still listed on maps as the Eben Francis House. Harvard University bought the Francis property in 1974 and gave it to the Nieman Foundation. It was Christened as the Walter Lippmann house on September 23, 1979 with much fanfare attended by a raft of famous journalists and political persons. They celebrated by breaking a bottle of champagne on its front steps. Henry would have been fascinated. [show more]
"Fred Robbins had his house built by William H. Rea. During the years that Mr, Robbins was employed as a lighthouse keeper, the house was rented and so he built the small cottage to the south of his home as a place where he and his wife could spend their annual vacations." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 143.
Description: "Fred Robbins had his house built by William H. Rea. During the years that Mr, Robbins was employed as a lighthouse keeper, the house was rented and so he built the small cottage to the south of his home as a place where he and his wife could spend their annual vacations." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 143.
Sitting in the buggy in front of the house are Alton E. Farnsworth and his wife, Emily (Robinson) Farnsworth and their nephew, Christopher Wendell Lawler, son of Emily's sister, Caroline Robinson, Mrs. Allen Jacob Lawler. Emily's mother, Abigail "Argo" (Whitmore) Robinson, is standing in the doorway.
Description: Sitting in the buggy in front of the house are Alton E. Farnsworth and his wife, Emily (Robinson) Farnsworth and their nephew, Christopher Wendell Lawler, son of Emily's sister, Caroline Robinson, Mrs. Allen Jacob Lawler. Emily's mother, Abigail "Argo" (Whitmore) Robinson, is standing in the doorway.
"Mr. Lawler built his own residence about 1897." - Thornton, Nellie [Mrs. Seth]. Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine (Southwest Harbor Public Library, 1938, 1988 Reprint), p. 156. Allen's wife, Ina Caroline (Robinson) Lawler, is seated on the steps. Their son, Christopher Wendell Lawler, is standing on the lawn at the left. Photographer unknown.
Description: "Mr. Lawler built his own residence about 1897." - Thornton, Nellie [Mrs. Seth]. Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine (Southwest Harbor Public Library, 1938, 1988 Reprint), p. 156. Allen's wife, Ina Caroline (Robinson) Lawler, is seated on the steps. Their son, Christopher Wendell Lawler, is standing on the lawn at the left. Photographer unknown.
"The house on the left was the Eben Francis house at 43 Kirkland Street on the corner of Francis Avenue. The center house was the home of Jane Augusta “Jennie” Lathrop at 49 Kirkland Street. The house seen behind Jennie's house was the Helen L. Brooks house at 6 Francis Avenue.
Description: "The house on the left was the Eben Francis house at 43 Kirkland Street on the corner of Francis Avenue. The center house was the home of Jane Augusta “Jennie” Lathrop at 49 Kirkland Street. The house seen behind Jennie's house was the Helen L. Brooks house at 6 Francis Avenue.