From collection Eliot Elisofon Collection
Ginn Memorial at John Carver Cemetery Vinalhaven Island
A memorial to George P. Ginn (1848-1917) and his wife Mary Elizabeth Smith (1843-1881) stands in John Carver Cemetery on Vinalhaven Island, Maine. Made of limestone, a carved urn sits atop a decorative pedestal, spotted with lichen. Other graves are visible in the cemetery looking out over Penobscot Bay. This photo was taken in 1953.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.
