THE BUILDING OF THE ARTS

BUILDING OF THE ARTS - BAR HARBOR MAINE

The Building of the Arts was built with the summer population in mind and had the backing of some of Bar harbor's wealthy citizens, including George B. Dorr, who is often called the Father of Acadia National Park, Mr. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Rober Abbe. along with over a dozen others.    One Mr. Guy Lowell of Boston Massachusetts was the architect charged with the task of designing the building.  The building was said to have cost "a good  many thousands of dollars."  The structure was completed in the years 1906 - 1907.

BUILDING OF THE ARTS _ BAR HARBOR MAINE

If it were not for old photos, it would be hard today to imagine just how beautiful the building was.  It's roof had red tiles that were designed just for the building.  It featured ten columns that were said to be the largest columns ever turned in Maine, with each column being 24 feet high and three feet in diameter.
The base of the building is of concrete and is on the plan of a Greek temple with steppe base very carefully carried out.  The auditorium was said to be small for that time,  70 feet by 33 feet, and had a total seating capacity of 300.  Large windows allowed the daylight to flood in while giving those seated inside great views of the outside.
When the Building of the Arts opened its doors to the public for the first time on June 13, 1907, the show featured Emma Eames, who was at that time one of the world's leading lyric sopranos.  Over the next 35 years the Building of Arts held concerts and shows by Ernest Schelling, Paderewski, Walter Damrosch, dancer Ted Shawn, Josef Hofmann, and many others, including celebrated stars from Hollywood and Broadway.
The Surry Players often put on shows there, and one show included a young actor named Henry Fonda.  The building also hosted many serious lectures and art exhibits, and was home to the than well attended Bar harbor Sweet Pea competition.

VIEW TOWARD MOUNTAINS - BUILDING OF THE ARTS - BAR HARBOR MAINE

 The photo above gives us  some what of a view one would of seen from the Building of the Arts site.  Back than I am pretty certain many of the now large tree's would not of been blocking much of the view as it now does. 
Perhaps one of the most famous people at that time to make use of the building of the Arts was the renowned dancer  Vaslav Nijinsky, who had been sent to Bar Harbor to spend the summer here at the Malvern.  He would often go to the Building of the arts to practice his dancing.  No record has ever been found of him actually performing here, though.
Once World War 2 came along, the building fell upon hard times, in part because of gas rationing, which saw the stream of summer visitors dry up.  For some time Rockefeller tried to keep the shows going, but by 1944 he decided to sell the building to Consuella de Sides, though on a second account it lists  Earl D. and Charles A. Holt as purchasing the building for a sum of $305.24.  Four years later they are said to have sold it to Consuella de Sides,  whose stated goal was to once again restore the building of the Arts back to the glory of its hey days.  That dream ended in October of 1947 when the Great fire raced through the area, leveling the building.

BUILDING OF THE ARTS FOUNDATION - BAR HARBOR MAINE

Kebo Valley Golf Club in Bar Harbor was founded in 1888 and is the eighth oldest club in the United States. Among the celebrities who have graced its fairways are President William Taft, Hall-of-Fame golfer Billy Casper, and the legendary Walter Hagen. Hagen’s score of 67 stood as the course record for 50 years, and he called the signature eighth hole “one of the toughest par 4’s I have ever played.”  And while on vacation here President Obama played golf here.
The nearby Kebo Golf Course in those days featured golf, horse shows and tennis.  The golf club itself attracted many a famous person, one being President Taft.  It was at the "Elbow Hole" where President Taft  carded a 27 in the shadow of the Building of the Arts.  The "Elbow Hole" today is the 17th hole.

Cromwell Harbor Road - Bar Harbor Maine 

 To the right of the cross walk is a large stone with the words Stratheden Path which marks the original starting point of the Stratheden path.  Today that trail begins along the One Way section of the Park Loop Road, just past the Kebo Mountain Trail.  The section of the trail between the Cromwell Harbor Road and the Park Loop Road was abandoned many years ago, most likely because the Kebo Golf Course was expanded, or perhaps they just didn't like a path cutting through the course any longer.

Stratheden path. - ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

 
Once you know where to look for the location of where the building once stood, finding it is fairly easy.  Turn off of the Eagle Lake Road - route 233, onto the Cromwell Harbor road near the Kebo Golf course.  Continue down Cromwell Harbor Road until you get to this cross walk, to the left you can see an old wooden fense and a subdivision sign touting house lots for sale.  Just to the right of the paved road leading into the subdivision is a small field where you can see piles of debris, which is what remains of the building of the arts.  as you get closer you can see the entire foundation with dirt piles in it.
Sadly, as we were taking photos today, several people were standing higher up the banking overlooking the site, with what appeared to be a set of blueprints they were looking at.  Some where in the near future they may well be a house built on this site, which means the remains of this once historic building will be carted off and the site leveled - I hope that's not the case, but as they say, you can't stop progress.

BUILDING OF THE ARTS - BAR HARBOR MAINE

President Taff with Building of the Arts in background