From my earliest years here in Maine, Monhegan has held an almost mystical fascination for me and ultimately my family. Every summer or fall someone in our circle of friends, members of our family or visiting guests makes a restorative visit to the island. It’s an almost imperative day trip, overnight, or longer stay.

My visits in the 1970s mixed well with the island residents. There were a lot of fishing families then, reminding me in a funny way of people I had known as a younger person in the work a day world of coal. Something about the manual labor set that shares a common thread, regardless of the product sought or the payday revealed. The tools were different but the energy and techniques similar. 

Back then there were the Odoms, the Murdocks, the Stanleys, Courtney Day, Lexi Krause, Cundys and others. Some came from the mainland to work during the “season” which then started Jan. 1. I recall local friend Martin Page who was sternman for Steve Rollins. The winter season was tough but lucrative for all who dared. The price of lobster was good in winter and the island lobstering territory was well guarded. 

In more recent times, our family gathered in August to rent a house for a week. There is less lobstering now, the season has changed, and there are more “day trippers” visiting from three different ports. Things change and things remain the same. The island magic, though more observed, remains. Art classes abound. Easels are us! But, if you know the island and have the time, Monhegan is still a special place. For us, it was an opportunity to relax, fish a little, swim, annoy Lisa Brackett, hike to the cliffs, consider the shipwreck and shower less frequently! We cherished our time together. Wood walks, cookouts, porch time, reading and power naps – ah, the power naps! 

Our first house rental adventure was with the Wik Wak cottage. June Elderkin shared some interesting stories with us. She and her daughter Jen had the real scoops about the island’s goings on. We, obviously, had little to add but much to gain from their delicate details. We loved Wik Wak and rented there for several years. Not sure if it is rentable now. The family owner of the cottage has done a great deal of work on the cottage and may have decided it's more fun to be there than to rent. If you’re visiting the island on the Balmy Days from Boothbay Harbor, and didn’t make the turn around Manana to the dock, you’d run smack into the shore at Wik Wak.   We had a good view of boating traffic and frequently waved to new arrivals.

We rented the Jenney cottage after Wik Wak. It was sort of next door. That’s where today’s photo came from on the glassed-in porch. The hammock. Power-napping central and a fun feature for revisiting my black and white photo obsession. I even dug out my old Hasselblad film camera and pumped through some film. What’s old is new again. Next to the Leicas, this is one of my favorite cameras, which was a real workhorse back in the day.   

This year, we are postponing Monhegan with a new baby in Maine and one on the way in Brooklyn. But one day we will resume our wonderful visits and share the magic with a new generation. I hope the hammock will still be there!