Bar Harbor captured Gilded Age

J.P. Morgan, Joseph Pulitzer, Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr. – they all visited Bar Harbor this summer a century ago, part of the parade of fabulously rich and powerful seeking relaxation, congenial companionship and lavish entertainment at one of the nation’s premier summer resorts. Even Mark Twain, author of “The Gilded Age,” a novel satirizing the excesses of the era, made an appearance that summer.

People loved to read about celebrities and their social frivolities back then just as they do now. Bangor’s two daily newspapers tried not to disappoint their readers. If you were keeping a scrapbook on the lifestyles of the rich and famous, here are a few of the items you might have included:

“As the social season at this resort generally commences shortly after the Fourth of July it is to be expected that the usual round of gayeties will soon be inaugurated … Alexander J. Cassatt, president of the Pennsylvania railroad [and brother to Mary Cassatt, the Impressionist painter] arrived here Saturday to join his family at the cottage.” – July 7, Bangor Daily Commercial.

“The steam yacht … belonging to Morris K. Jesup of New York … is at her moorings in the harbor … [Jesup played a major role in financing Robert Peary’s polar expedition then under way] … Mr. Joseph Pulitzer and family of New York came Monday morning for the season and went to Chatwold, his summer cottage here … The Boston Symphony Orchestra played their first concert of the season at the Swimming Club yesterday morning.” – July 10, Bangor Daily News.

“A handsome white steam yacht of fine proportions was a noticeable figure in the harbor Wednesday. It was the North Star, the palatial yacht of Cornelius Vanderbilt Jr.” – July 12, BDC.

“The first real evening of social gayety that the resort has enjoyed this season was Saturday evening when the initial hop of the summer was given at the Swimming Club … there was no lack of dancing men for the yachts of the Eastern Yacht Club furnished a number of partners … .” – July 16, BDC.

“Miss Annie Oakley attracted a large number to Bar Harbor yesterday afternoon [with] an exhibition of plain and fancy shooting.” – July 17, BDN.

“Edwin G. Merrill of Bangor, president of Merrill Trust Co. , accompanied by Mrs. Merrill and their guests, Countess Spottswood-Macken of Paris and Mrs. John L. Nisbet of Yonkers … were in town Sunday … .” – July 23, BDC.

“With nearly every cottage … occupied and with the hotels either full or very near it, Bar Harbor certainly enters upon an August full of promise. Socially there is a lot ahead … A very delightful musical was given at Eden Hall, the home of Mrs. Musgrave, where a particularly enjoyable program was rendered by Gustav Borde of Paris … .” – Aug. 4, BDC.

“MANY YACHTS IN THE HARBOR,” announced a headline. They included the Corsair, the Maine-built oceangoing steamer of famous financier J.P. Morgan; and the Machigonne, belonging to Cyrus H.K. Curtis, Maine native and publishing tycoon. – Aug. 14, BDC.

Gemma, a Great Dane owned by Forest J. Martin Esq. of Bangor, won four first prizes at the Dog Show. Her photograph appeared in the Commercial. “Mr. Martin’s English mastiffs and Great Danes are some of the best in the country.” – Aug. 18, BDC.

“Probably the most looked forward to event that comes at the Pot and Kettle Club at Hulls Cove is the annual reception given by Capt. Thomas Bush of Lexington, Ky. … carriages to the number of 200 were there and it is estimated that he had approximately 500 guests during the afternoon.” – Aug. 20, BDN.

“The week just opened – Horse Show week – is the most important of Bar Harbor’s summer. The Horse Show is always the one great function, and grant pleasant weather, the show of this season is certainly to materially surpass the efforts of the past … .” – Aug. 21, BDC.

“Dis’t Att’y William T. Jerome of New York arrived Saturday to be the guest of Mr. And Mrs. Arthur C. Train [Arthur, a well-known writer, was assistant district attorney] of New York at Ingleside.” The crusading Jerome, who was said to be running for governor, reportedly was consulting with others influential in New York politics including Joseph Pulitzer and Seth Low, former Columbia University president and mayor of Brooklyn. – Aug. 27 and 29, BDC.

“A summer at Bar Harbor … would be far from complete without a trip to the Jordan Pond House and a sample of the superb chicken dinners … On Saturday there were over 100 to dinner … Among the visitors was Bishop Satterlee of Washington … .” – Aug. 27, BDC.

“One of the most attractive of Bar Harbor homes is its newest cottage, the delightful villa that has been built at Hull’s Cove by Frank T. Howard of New Orleans.” The entrance to this spacious home was through a two-story “palm room,” which had a glass roof and was surrounded by a gallery “affording a most splendid opportunity for the display of palms and flowers.” – Aug. 29, BDC.

The country’s most famous writer, Mark Twain, dressed all in white in “strenuously intellectual contrast to the ‘flannelled fools’ of smart society,” topped off the celebrity parade. “[T]he advent of Mark Twain in the flesh on a sizzling Sunday morning at the swimming pool and his apparition in a buckboard … was regarded with almost superstitious awe by the members of the younger generation and with due respect by his elders,” wrote a reporter for the Boston Herald whose story was reprinted in the Commercial on Aug. 31. The author of “The Gilded Age” held his own in the glitter of a Bar Harbor summer.

Wayne E. Reilly can be reached at wreilly@bangordailynews.net.