HITTY HOOPLA, A RACHEL FIELD DAY by Wini Smart arrangements, or call the museum at 207- T his August 10th will be an exciting day for Maine history and Hitty 244-7800. enthusiasts. On that day the Great The Cranberry Isles command Cranberry Island Historical Society will host breathtaking views of the sea and the mountains of Mount Desert. Rachel Field HITTY HOOPLA, A Rachel Field Day to honor Rachel Field, poet, playwright, artist wrote: "Big Cranberry meant roots and and author. background to me." She added, "and that I Festivities will include talks and suppose it, more than any one other thing activities about Rachel and Hitty, the doll in my life, has helped me with my writing.' heroine of Rachel's most famous Newbery As soon as you set foot on Great award-winning book, "Hitty, Her First Cranberry, you'll see why Rachel set Hundred Years". several of her books and poems on these The original Hitty which resides at the The day's events will include: a boat beautiful islands. "God's Pocket", "Hitty, Her Stockbridge, Massachusetts Library. ride past Rachel's former summer home on First Hundred Years", "Calico Bush", and Sutton Island; a new exhibit on Rachel Field the poems, "Cranberry Road", "If Once You circus. A widower, he left his three children and Hitty at the museum; three talks on Have Slept on an Island", and "North of with his sister on Cranberry Island and Hitty, Rachel Field, and Rachel's Maine Time" all have an implied or explicit toured England and Europe with a display connections; a Hitty lobster picnic; a Cranberry connection. of northern artifacts and curiosities, stuffed historical re-enactment at Sammy Sanford's "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" is arctic animals, and an Eskimo couple to cabin; island tours with Hitty stops for book perhaps the most loved book of Rachel demonstrate hunting, kayaking and readings; a visit to the Preble house and Field. It is printed yearly and often used as harpooning. He performed at country fairs, cemetery; and a short movie about Rachel a classroom study. Hitty clubs still are active and royal palaces. Europe loved his little and Hitty. and many club members have visited the show and Capt. Hadlock was quite museum in Maine. successful. Special boats will leave from Rachel's other downeast Maine book, In March of 1825 he fell in love, Southwest Harbor, Manset and Northeast Harbor, in addition to the regular ferries. "God's Pocket", is the true story of the life courted, and married Dorethea Albertina of Captain Samuel Hadlock, Jr. of Great Wilhemina Celeste Russ of Prussia Transportation will be provided on the island. You must order tickets in advance Cranberry Island. The book is dedicated to (Germany). Unable to say all those foreign for Hitty Hoopla, the special boats, and the Samuel C. Sanford, Hadlock's grandson, names, the captain simply called her lobster picnic. All are offered separately. who told Rachel of Hadlock's interesting life, Hannah Caroline. They moved to Paris and inspired her to record it. where he rented and exhibition hall. Not as We look forward to providing this experience and sharing our wonderful Sammy Sanford is the man who successful there, particularly after George island with all our Hitty friends and Rachel startled Rachel when she was picking wild the Eskimo died, he sold his show at Field fans. There are many other museums raspberries in a secluded spot near Preble auction. Their child, Matilda, was born in and activities on Mount Desert Island if a Cove. To calm her he said, "Don't be Paris in March, 1826. That spring the family frightened, you're as safe with me as if you crossed the Atlantic to return to Great visitor wishes to stay for a few more days in the area. was in God's pocket." Cranberry Island, Maine. Please view our web page, That remark intrigued Rachel, and their Here the captain, with help from his www.gcihs.org, for details and travel friendship grew when Sammy told the brother-in-law, Samuel Spurling, built a imaginative young woman the fascinating large house for his bride. The islanders story of his grandfather, Captain Samuel were in awe of the pretty foreigner, calling Hadlock, Jr. It was a unique story: his arctic her "The Prussian Woman". traveling show taken to Europe, his After a few years, and not satisfied to courtship and marriage there to his second merely be a fisherman, the restless captain wife, their daughter (Sammy's mother) decided to collect materials for another being born in Paris, their return to Cranberry show. He set sail on the Minerva, on a Island, Maine, and finally the disaster when sealing and whaling trip up north, with his he sailed again to the north where all were eldest son, nephew, and a crew of 19 local lost in the ice off Labrador. men. They never returned. Later reports Sammy's grandfather, Capt. Samuel from Labrador confirmed that the captain Hadlock, Jr., created his "North American was found dead, frozen on the ice. There Exhibition" show in the early 1800's. He was was never any news of the ship or the other Rachael Field's drawing from a poem. a forerunnen of wild west shows and the men on board. 34 Doll Castle News celebrating 50 years America's original Doll Collector Magazine