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 pantry photograph essay reads:
"To the right, on this side of the wall are ceiling-high cupboards filled with glassware, and behind that wall a walk-in coat-closet with a window, and just beyond that a lavatory. One wall further west and we come to the old gun room. On the left side of the picture we would see a door into the kitchen living-dining room, and to the left of that door another set of ceiling-high cupboards. This cupboard held some treasures...the china left by the Byrams, a few pieces of Laura E. Richards’ wedding china, as well as the everyday china and tea and coffee cups. The copper sink with zinc top was put in for Rosalind, whose particular care was the flower garden. There had been a large vegetable garden along the west side of the lot; four large beds of beans, peas, asparagus, etc., each surrounded by a wide perennial border. The paths between these gardens were covered with a grape arbor and at the end of the east-west path were blackberries and a plum tree. In the 1920’s there was a hen house filled with Rhode Island Reds and Plymouth Rock chickens. If one was quiet and asked politely one could risk being pecked while helping collect the eggs. All the vegetable garden and environs were presided over by Frank…and before him, Andrew. And the raspberries! Each bush laden, the lanes between carpeted with straw, and all quite tall enough to hide one from sight…so one picked in peace."
About This Item
- Title: Pantry, 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 39/13
- Collection: The Yellow House papers, Laura E. Richards collection
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Authors, American
- Cupboards
- Flowers
- Food--Storage
- House furnishings
- Interior architecture
- Porcelain
- Tableware
- 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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