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Spring has arrived and things are warming up for a busy season on the grounds and in the museum (even if the weather has not yet made up its mind). As we are moving forward following Evan’s departure, Trustees Roz Rea and Andy Matthews are working diligently to support all of the programs and events at Woodlawn as Acting Co-Directors.
We are excited to announce that we will begin our search for a new Executive Director in partnership with an executive search firm. We will update you on this vital aspect of Woodlawn's future through this newsletter.
Woodlawn has begun the very important work of updating our strategic plan for guiding our organization to be even bigger and better! As part of this process, we want to hear from you! If you would like to provide input or be involved as part of our planning team, please reach out to acting.director@woodlawnellsworth.org.
Woodlawn is such a wonderful asset to the Hancock County community! Our amazing staff works tirelessly to expand our education and programming opportunities and, if you haven’t yet had the opportunity, you’ve got to check out our barn facilities available for private rentals!! Whether you are interested in the history of the Black family and their historic home, love to walk the trails, have always wanted to learn to play croquet, need a beautiful venue to host an event, or have a real thirst for learning, Woodlawn is the place for you!
See you at Woodlawn!
-Roz and Andy
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Now is a great time to become a Woodlawn volunteer! We are happy to announce several volunteer opportunities at Woodlawn. Whether you have an occasional hour to give, or are looking for something more regular, consider partnering with the Woodlawn staff for fun and meaningful engagement.
This spring and summer we invite volunteers to help us maintain the gardens and trails, assist with programs and events (registration, setup and cleanup, parking, family friendly activities, serving food and beverages), work with the museum collection, greet guests visiting the museum and assist with tours, or support the croquet program.
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Orientation and training will be provided.
Email acting.director@woodlawnellsworth.org to learn more about the many exciting ways to become involved at Ellsworth’s unique public park, historic estate and event center.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank You!
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As with the weather, the condition of our trails is ever changing.
Right now they are bumpy, muddy and have lots of frost heaves.
Please use caution while using them.
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Granite at Woodlawn
By Roz Rea, Trustee
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Granite, the topic of Woodlawn’s history lecture this month, is a common building material found in abundance throughout coastal Maine. An extremely successful granite industry developed in the nineteenth century resulting in the Maine product being used in building projects across the nation. To learn more be sure to sign up here for Steve Haynes’ presentation at Woodlawn on April 21.
Granite is such a common building material that it sometimes goes unnoticed. At Woodlawn the red brick and white trim of the mansion eclipses the granite used in its construction. Around campus granite gate posts and the granite faced family tomb blend in with the surrounding stone walls and general landscape.
| Granite is incorporated in the mansion from the bottom up. The house sits on a foundation of dressed granite slabs, the entrance steps and door sills are granite blocks, all windows and doors have granite sills and splayed flat arched lintels above. In the basement an artesian well is partially framed by large granite lintels set flush with the brick floor. | | |
The Woodlawn archives reference John Black’s purchase of granite.
“June 6, 1825: cash paid Jedediah Darling for 11 Stone caps [lintels] & sills brought from Blue Hill for $30”
“September 7, 1825: paid Joseph Treworgy for Door Steps for new house pr. Agreement $45”
“May 15, 1826: paid Calvin Macomber, mason, for 34 1/2 days work hewing [also called dressing] stone for New House”
Twenty years later, on June 18, 1843, while in Boston, John Black wrote about looking for granite for the tomb he planned to build on his estate:
“Went to Ellis & Mayo’s about granite for the tomb…They charge $.55 to $.65 per foot for faced stone.”
He eventually placed two orders with Ellis & Mayo totaling $251.20 for granite and $37.80 for transportation.
Next time you are at Woodlawn, be sure to observe the granite in the buildings and on the landscape.
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Erik Jackson and chef Jesse Steiger of Conscious Cafe will be hosting an informational and delicious Ayurvedic Community Dinner at Woodlawn on Friday, April 4 at 5:00pm. Learn the principles of Ayurveda and enjoy a multi-course meal designed to welcome the coming of Spring.
Tickets are required and can be purchased by reaching out to Erik at erik@ayurvedawitherik.com
Take a peek at the menu below!
| | Join us to Celebrate Spring! | | |
Maine's Granite
Industry
April 21st at 6PM
Steven Haynes, founder and curator of the Maine Granite Industry Historical Society and Museum will speak about the history of the Granite Industry in Maine.
Granite quarrying began as early as 1830 in Maine and is still a large industry today with quarries operating in several areas around the state.
The Maine Granite Industry Museum works to collect and preserve any type of material pertaining to this important industry.
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New England
Stone Walls
May 5th at 6PM
Cheryl Laz, Maine Master Naturalist will speak about the history of stone walls in New England.
In Maine, and New England more generally, stone walls are one of our most enduring reminders of the past. They line country roads, border cemeteries, mark edges of fields and wind through the woods. Sometimes stone walls seem to be in the middle of nowhere. We'll explore stone walls through the lenses of natural history and human history, paying attention to geology, glaciation, and patterns of human settlement and land use.
At the end of the talk we will venture outside to explore some of the stonewalls found at Woodlawn.
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Woodlawn's History Lecture Series is sponsored by:
Legacy Properties of Sotheby's International Realty.
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Amphibians
April 5th
10AM-12PM
$10 per person
Join Maine Master Naturalist, Judy Walker and Woodlawn Education Director, Kelly Lunt to learn about amphibians and visit the Woodlawn pond.
In the event of bad weather this event maybe cancelled or postponed.
This is a family friendly event and children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Beginner
Bird Walk
with Maine Audubon
May 17th
8-9:30AM
FREE
Want to get into birding this spring migration season?
If you’re new to birding or have never been on a bird walk before, this is a great opportunity to get introduced to the hobby and learn some of the more common species around us, alongside folks who are just as new as you are!
Participants should bring binoculars if they have any, but we’ll have extras to loan out and can give lessons on how to use them.
Leader: David Lamon, Maine Audubon Director of Northern Programs & Operations
This event is family friendly. In the event of bad weather this event maybe cancelled or postponed.
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The Nature Awareness Workshop will be led by Martina Dittmar who is a Registered Maine Guide and a Shinrin Yoku guide.
This FREE workshop will take place on the trail system and will be a combination of writing, mindfulness and nature. Spend about two hours in the forest learning to be fully present while experiencing the silence and peace that nature has to offer.
If the weather is bad this workshop maybe cancelled or postponed.
This workshop is for ages 12+. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
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Come make a cute little felted squirrel! Using a special barbed felting needle we will roll, fold and poke wool to sculpt a 5-6" squirrel.
All materials needed to make the squirrel will be provided.
Students will learn all the basic needle felting skills including how to correctly hold the needle, best ways to blend wool and how to fully felt your squirrel. This workshop is fast-paced but beginner friendly!
Space is limited. Ages 12+
This workshop needs a minimum of 6 participants to occur. If we don't have six people minimum the instructor will refund your ticket.
Click the link below to register.
https://walshfinefelt.com/products/squirrel-workshop-2025
| | Woodlawn's Winter Craft & Farmers' Market | | |
Woodlawn's Winter Craft & Farmers' Market series will come to a close with our "mud season" market on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00am - 1:00pm. Come purchase fresh bread, veggies, treats, and handmade gifts
just in time for Easter.
We will be baking up something sweet again, too!
To celebrate the end of our first market season, Scott Cleveland will be sharing his talents as a jazz pianist with us, so stop by between
10:30am - 12:30pm to catch some live music.
We have had such a blast hosting this market, and would like to extend a huge 'thank you' to everyone who has stopped by (in all kinds of rain, wind, and snow!) to support Woodlawn and all of the wonderful farmers, artisans, nonprofits, and small businesses who have joined us since November.
For questions about the markets, please reach out to Venue Coordinator, Lesley Clisura at lesley.clisura@woodlawnellsworth.org
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Woodlawn's newsletter is created by
Kelly Lunt, Education and Community Engagement Director.
If you have any questions about the newsletter please email: kelly.lunt@woodlawnellsworth.org
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Please consider making a gift to Woodlawn
today
Your support makes our mission possible,
where history connects people to place
Thank you!
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Woodlawn
P.O. Box 1478
Ellsworth, Maine 04605
(207) 667-8671
For general questions, click here
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