Contributed by Maine Historical Society
Description
In 1985, photographer Elijah Cobb photographed the "Yellow House," also known as the Laura E. Richards House, a historic home in Gardiner. Built around 1810, it was famous for its connection to the Pulitzer Prize winning author who lived there for the majority of her writing career.
Cobb's mother and aunt, Rosalind Cobb Wiggins and Laura E. Putnam, authored a series of essay-length labels to accompany his portfolio. The south parlour photograph essay reads:
"Here tea was served every day at about 4:30. The tray was put before L.E.R., (or Rosalind or Betty); sparkling silver, and a charming collection of delicate cups collected over the years by John and Rosalind. Then the Curate’s assistant, or muffin stand, was brought in; Yellow House cookies on the top shelf, strips of cinnamon toast on the second, and cake on the third. And Henry, (or Patsy or Bear) the family dog, sat as close as allowed, tail thumping. The stove was a late-comer, installed in the seventies as oil prices skyrocketed.
There were always flowers from the garden - roses in Betty Wiggins’ time, annuals and perennials in Rosalind’s time. The rocker was L.E.R.’s favorite, as was the Queen Anne chair (with green seat and back), the Skipper’s. That came from the Cove, the original Richards family home on the River Road. The bench at the bottom left was given to John on his retirement from Saint Paul’s School, carved by his dear friend J.G. Wiggins, 'Greg,' or 'Gregger.'
L.E.R. and Alexander Woolcott sat on the sofa opposite the fireplace, she leaning toward him listening intently through her speaking tube - the hearing aid of that day. Woolcott, not quite sure of its function, picked it up and called, 'Yoooo Hoooo!'
It was, as L.E.R.’s poem explains, the pleasantest room.
The South Parlour
Did I say this room was pleasant?
Well, I say it again.
Bright by high-light, soft by twilight,
Gay in snow and rain.
Lips have smiled in it, songs beguiled in it,
Laughter echoed clear.
Love has blessed it and peace possessed it
Many and many a year.
So it was in the long ago,
And so it is in the present;
Skipper sits in it, Rosalind flits in it,
How could it not be pleasant?"
About This Item
- Title: South Parlour, Yellow House, Gardiner, ca. 1985
- Creator: Elijah Cobb
- Creation Date: circa 1985
- Subject Date: circa 1985
- Location: Gardiner, Kennebec County, ME
- Media: photographic print
- Dimensions: 35.6 cm x 27.9 cm
- Local Code: Coll. 2085, RG 39/7
- Collection: The Yellow House papers, Laura E. Richards collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- House furnishings
- Interior architecture
- Living room furniture
- Living rooms
- Photographs
- Portraits
- Rocking chairs
- Rugs
- Stoves, Wood
- Tea
- Women authors, American--Maine--Gardiner
- Yellow House (Gardiner, Me.)
People
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Historical Society485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
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