From collection Eliot Elisofon Collection
Vinalhaven Scene and Lane's Island House
A lobster boat plys the waters off Vinalhaven Island, Maine. The historic house visible in the background on Lane’s Island was built by Timothy Lane in 1857. Timothy Lane had a successful cod fishing fleet. It was the Rockaway Inn when Eliot Elisofon took this photo in 1949.Rockaway, https://www.rockawaymaine.com/history-rockaway (accessed February 1, 2025)When Photographer Eliot Elisofon was not traveling the world taking photos for LIFE Magazine, he came to Vinalhaven, Maine to rest and recoup. Eliot bought a farmhouse near Crockett Cove on Vinalhaven in 1941, built by Joel and Mary Jane Philbrook in 1843.Daughter Elin writes, “My father always said his favorite place on earth was Vinalhaven and he meant it. Wherever he was, he was counting the days until he could return to the island. Here he would 'recharge his batteries' from grueling trips to Africa, Asia, the Pacific, or from battles with the publishers and editors he had to constantly prod into sharing his passion and understanding his vision. In Vinalhaven he could relax, soak up the beauty of the place, plant trees, flowers, and vegetables, paint in his studio, cook, and develop the lifelong friendships he treasured."Elisofon, Elin. FEAST. (Vinalhaven, Maine: April, 1992)These images are personal photographs taken by Eliot Elisofon on Vinalhaven and were not published during his lifetime.
