Anyone interested in learning about the history of Marion will find a dazzling variety of photographs, newspaper articles, artifacts, books, letters, and journals at the Sippican Historical Society, both online and in our museum and bookshop. But there is yet another way to discover more about Marion – our oral history recordings. Over the years, Judy Rosbe and others have compiled an impressive collection of oral histories that provide unique, personal insights into the history of Marion through the eyes and memories of Marion residents.
Our most recent interview took place in the Golden Age Room of the SHS, which provided a sunny, late 19th century backdrop for the history of the Luther/Crocker family. While we usually interview one person, or at most two related people, this time we interviewed three sisters – Patricia Duane, Elizabeth Luther and Katherine Rule – and their aunt, Anne von Rosenberg. Anne spoke knowledgeably about her family, from William Crocker, the earliest Puritan member of the family who left England and settled in Marion in 1630, to her grandfather, G. Uriel Crocker. She also shared stories of the hurricane of 1954; in particular, a memorable account of the family piano being moved to the 2nd floor landing of their house to keep it safe from the water, and another of her mother wearing all of her jewelry, as well as her mink, in case the family needed to evacuate. The three Luther sisters joined Anne in sharing anecdotes and memories of searching for sea glass on Planting Island, enjoying a treat from Petersen’s ice cream shop, finding sea stars on the beach, racing in wooden sailboats, and finding the occasional whale beached on the shore. These engaging, informative stories were recounted with a sense of joyful nostalgia for idyllic summer times with family and friends in Marion. You can see and hear this oral history as well as many others on our website through the generous good work of ORC-TV, who made the recordings possible.
As we wrapped up the interview, Anne showed us the beautiful portrait of her mother, Josephine Crocker, seen above, which we were thrilled to see for the first time. The portrait was painted by Marion artist Cecil Clark Davis, and has hung in the Luther family home for decades. While the painting remains in the possession of a family member, we are grateful to have the digital image for our archives, adding to the images of Cecil Clark Davis paintings recently donated to the SHS on permanent load from Tabor Academy.
We are so grateful for the many Marion residents who have shared their stories and memories over the years in these oral histories, providing us with a deeper, richer knowledge of life in beautiful Marion. These first person interviews remind us that history is a continuum that connects the distant past with the present. Comprised of more than the political and economic headline-grabbing news of the day, history is also made up of stories, memories, and the precious, simple moments of our lives that bring us joy in remembering.
Click here for a link to our many Marion oral histories.