Volume IX, Number 1 Spring 2004
Articles:
- President's Report-- History
- Documentary Film
- Snow Babies
- Eagle Island Birds
- Call for Volunteers
- New Docent Program
- Adventure Tours
- Thank You, Dolphin
July 4, 2004 , will mark the 100 th anniversary of the day that Admiral Peary and his family formally took ownership of the house on Eagle Island . During that time, the place has withstood natural phenomena of nearly every kind. There have been 21 Hurricanes that have made their way to this part of the world in the last 100 years. There was, in 1956, a "Tidal Wave" which washed boats and equipment ashore along the coast, damaged some wharves, and generally made a mess of the shoreline. There were Earthquakes, dreadfully cold winters, and impossibly hot summers. There have been soaking rains and lasting droughts. Still, Eagle Island and the house stand today.
History has happened in the last 100 years, too. Admiral Peary gained the North Pole; Shackleton made his now famous voyage to the bottom of the world. There were two World Wars and countless other military conflicts. Neil Armstrong and others walked on the moon, the New York Yankees won 26 World Championships, and our country survived the Great Depression. Oh, if the walls could talk! But then, they truly do talk, don't they? In every creaky floorboard, in every stain on a piece of woodwork, in every imperfect floor joint, every rusty nail, the house speaks to us. The voice is that of history talking in a subtle way. Just try and imagine what natural event caused the floor to be uneven; what was happening in the world when the second coat of paint went on the windows. What do you suppose was going on when the addition went on and the Igloo came into existence? History.
The Peary family will travel to Eagle Island from all over the world to celebrate the 100 th anniversary this July 4. They will come back to their heritage, their piece of living history, and eat lobsters and clams on the beach, talk and laugh with each other, and re-live the past in a way that only those intimately connected with the dwelling can. Still, we will all celebrate with them; at least I hope we will. Whether we're lucky enough to be on the island on their special day, or we're somewhere distant in another part of the world, the country, or the state, I hope we'll take a moment to reflect on what 100 years means. Moreover, I hope we all will take the time to visit those 100 years sometime this summer, mindful of the fact that we're visiting history.
Thanks to everyone for your continued support.
Bob York, President
As most of you know the Friends are in the midst of producing a documentary film on the epic journey of Admiral Peary, Matthew Henson, and the 4 Inuit to the North Pole along with an intimate view of how Eagle Island which was an integral part of the ultimate success of this incredible feat.
Peary and Henson spent many years learning survival techniques from the Inuit and studying their ability to travel successfully over rough ice at sub-zero temperatures in near blizzard conditions. However, Peary's brilliant planning and masterful execution made it possible to achieve this seemingly impossible goal. His legacy provides inspiration and guidance to young and old alike
We have raised nearly half the money needed to produce this extraordinary documentary film. Dr. John Davis has written an exciting script and the Film committee is seeking the best commercial producer we can find. We need to raise $37,000 more to complete the film. We are sending out grant requests to all those foundations believed to be interested in this type of educational program and expect to have a good response. However, we would be most pleased to hear from our readers of any charitable foundations that might like to ask us for a presentation. Some foundations pre-select the non-profit organizations that they support.
Please let Ned Dewey know of any potential donors either by mail to our address or by phone at 833-2310. Thank you!
The term "Snow Baby" has been around for more than 100 years. Literally millions of them have been made and sold since the late 1800's. Some of them were edible and are no longer with us; others were more enduring, being made of bisque, porcelain, cast iron, plaster of Paris, and various other compositions. They were often coated with porcelain chips to look like snow, and usually only the face was painted although some had hands and shoes painted as well.
Historically it is thought that they first appeared in Germany made of sugar and used as Christmas tree decorations, an early lollypop, so to speak. Later they appeared as decorations on cakes and pastries made from marzipan. Chefs all over Germany , France , and England were carried away with the idea.
In 1893 Marie Peary, daughter of Robert
E and Josephine Peary, was born in the Arctic . The news of the birth
of this white baby in the land of ice and snow traveled all over the
world and was the talk at every dinner table. The Inuit men, women,
and children came from hundreds of miles around, riding on their sledges
pulled by dogs, to see this curiosity. They wanted to touch her to
see if she was warm and not made of snow, she was so white. They gave
her the name, AH-POO-MIK-A-NINNY, which translates to "Snow Baby,"
and they brought her many presents. Josephine Peary's book "The Snow
Baby" shows pictures of Marie lying on reindeer blankets and in her
own fur snow suit. The stories and pictures of this beautiful white
baby born in the Arctic fascinated people world- wide. Children and
infants were even dressed in furry Eskimo-like parkas because of the
event . 
As the news traveled world-wide, manufacturers, particularly in Germany , saw the market for a more durable doll and started making them from bisque in much higher production. They came in many different poses and sizes from as small as 1" to as big as 12" and were exported all over the world. Needless to say, they have become collectors' items much prized today in thousands of private doll collections. It is thought that the larger Snow Babies were made to be used as displays in the show windows of stores, especially around Christmas time. Along with Santa Claus, the Snow Baby had become kind of a symbol for Christmas.
The publication of Josephine's book the "The Snow Baby" in 1901 precipitated a resurgence in production of Snow Babies in a wide variety of poses. They could be sitting in a sledge, sliding on a sled, snowshoeing, waving, or patting a dog. Later, in the 20's, whole displays of Snow Babies in groups performing different activities were made for display in the home on tables, mantelpieces, or bookcases. Production of Snow Babies came in surges throughout the 20 th century. During World War I the supply from Germany ceased, but it was soon replaced by manufacturing in England . The Japanese also entered the market from time to time. Mail order stores like Sears Roebuck did a high volume in Snow Babies during the Christmas season. Many of those early Snow Babies survive today because they were used only at Christmas time and put safely away the rest of the year.
Snow Babies ultimately were made by many different manufacturers, most of whom did quality work, but the buyer should be aware that some were made so hurriedly that they deteriorate rapidly and often suffer from pealing paint improperly fired. Some were made as bisque shoulder head dolls with stuffed cloth bodies.
Snow Babies are a delightful collector's item and seem to undergo
periodic rebirths and reissues. Many collectors prize them so highly
that they are quite rare and often expensive. New Snow Babies are
still made and are of good quality but somewhat hard to find.
Excerpts taken from an article written by Jean Grout (with her permission) in "Doll News" summer 1998.
Kissing Snow Baby
In 2003 we completed our fifth year of surveys of the birds nesting on or visiting Eagle Island . In May we concentrated on nesting Common Eiders. In June we focused primarily on gulls and land birds, many of which could still have been migrating. In July our attention was on the remaining land birds, most of which presumably nested there. The results differed from year to year, but how much was due to real differences in numbers of birds present, how much to differences in the observers, and how much to other factors, including weather, tides, and chance is uncertain.
Our estimates of Common Eider nests on the island, based on nests seen within 1.5 meters of trail center-lines, varied widely, due mainly to varying skills of the counters, but averaged 350. In general, the population seems to be fairly stable. The numbers of Herring Gulls (230) and Great Black-backed Gulls (24) seen on shore or nearby water show no radical changes.
Including the Eiders and gulls, we have seen 69 species, but no more than 35 in any one year. The 15 species which we have seen in all five years are: Double-Crested Cormorant, Common Eider*, Laughing Gull, Herring Gull*, Great Black-backed Gull*, Mourning Dove*, American Crow, Gray Catbird*, European Starling*, Yellow Warbler*, American Redstart*, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow*, Common Grackle, and American Goldfinch. (*Starred birds plus Great Blue Heron and Osprey were all confirmed breeders in at least one year. Great Crested Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Yellowthroat, and Common Grackle were probable breeders).
Chuck Huntington
This year the Friends will sponsor the annual "Volunteer Day" on Eagle Island July 10 th . This will be an expanded effort in that we will be using on-island wood chippers to make our own mulch for trail maintenance, so we need a bigger crew to manage this equipment. We also will be doing window puttying, some carpentry work, and some clean-up of fallen trees which may require the use of chain saws. A letter has been sent to all our members who we hope will fill all the needed slots, but perhaps there are other readers who may wish to help. If so, please call Harry Rich at 725-8510. We wish this work did not have to be done in the heat of July, but we have to wait until the nesting season is over. Join us for a day of camaraderie. Lunch and cold drinks will be provided.
Volunteers interested in having fun and doing something new this summer may wish to join our docent program. We are starting small and will only have 2 people in the house four Saturdays in August, the 7 th , 14 th , 21 st , and 28 th .
Hours 10 AM TO 3:30 PM. Transportation will be provided, but you will have to bring your own lunch. Saturdays are the busiest days and the most difficult for the Park Rangers to handle.
A training session will be held in mid-July. If interested, call Edna Harrison, program coordinator, at 725-2346.
Harry Rich
ADVENTURE WITH US TO EAGLE ISLAND
Come aboard on our Eagle Island Adventure conducted by the grandson of Admiral Robert E Peary, America 's artic explorer and first to the North Pole.
Visit this fantastic home ( celebrating its 100 th anniversary ) and island in Casco Bay with Cdr. Edward Peary Stafford ( grandson ) and learn why it was called " The Promised Land ".
The boat will be leaving on Tuesday July 13,20,27 and August 3,10,17,24, & 31 from Dolphin Marina at 9:30 am returning at noon . The cost is $ 35.00. Rain/day will be the following Wednesday. Reservations can be made by check to P.O. Box 70 , Bailey Island , ME 04003 or through our web-site www.pearyeagleisland.org . Each trip is limited to 26 persons so sign up early. Information available at Bath Brunswick Chamber of Commerce and Homes and Harbors Real Estate, 1624 Harpswell Islands Road Orr's Island, ME. Tel 207-833-0500
Barbara Tucker
Thank You Dolphin Marina & Restaurant
The Friends of Eagle Island would like to thank the people at the Dolphin Marina and the Dolphin Restaurant for their help and generosity for the designated parking area. This will make our trip shorter to Eagle Island , which will be very helpful to our volunteers and state employee's. It will enable us to have extra time after the Ed Stafford tour of the Admiral Peary house to spend walking the trails, enjoying the flowers, the birds, or just relaxing on the lawn in front of the house on the shore.
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Published by the Friends of Peary's Eagle Island, PO Box 70 , Bailey Island, ME 04003 President: Bob York, Treasurer: David Stuntz; Secretary: Connie Henry; V.P. Projects: Harry Rich; V.P. Education: John Davis; V.P. Fund Raising: Ned Dewey; Journal Editor: Jim Davis; Tour Director: Barbara Tucker; Bird Study: Chuck Huntington; Marine Study: John Davis; Bowdoin College Coordinator: John Cross; President Emeritus: Oliver Brown
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