Red House First Built
January 1, 1800
(Earliest house; According to Sewall Smith) John Shorey lived there while constructing the Old Farm House.
Roque Island Purchased
June 1, 1806
Joseph Peabody of Salem, MA, and Joseph Fenno of Salem, MA, first purchase Roque Island for the primary purpose of timber harvesting. They jointly own the island 50/50.
Mill Dam & Shipyard Cove
January 1, 1814
Circa 1814. Many boats were built and repaired here between 1815 and 1840. The dam had a sawmill on the west end, which operated on the flood tide; the east end had a grist mill, which operated on the ebb tide. The millstone from the grist mill (or part of it) is still in the Big Barn. Shipyard Cove is at the northeast of Paradise Cove.
Joseph Peabody becomes the sole owner.
January 1, 1814
Joseph Fenno conveys his 50% stake in Roque Island to Joseph Peabody in satisfaction for debt, making Joseph Peabody the sole owner.
John Shorey Marries Margaret Wilkins
February 8, 1818
Middleton, MA. John Shorey marries Margaret Wilkins, daughter of Joseph Peabody’s sister, and they both went to live on Roque. They had 5 children. There are three documented ships built on the Island, the “Roque”, the “Hunter” and the “Jason”. John Shorey died in 1861. He is buried in the old graveyard.
Old Farm House
January 1, 1821
Total cost: $22,762. Originally called The New House; also known as Farm House (John Shorey), Old Farm House (J.P. Monks), Gardner House, and Homestead. The Old Farm House was renovated by G. Peabody Gardner in 1939.
Jonesport Splits
February 3, 1832
The town of Jonesport splits from the town of Jonesborough. Roque Island became part of the town of Jonesport. Legend has it that the Jonesborough residents found John Shorey too extremist in his Whig political views.
Joseph Peabody Dies
January 5, 1844
Joseph Peabody dies and leaves Roque to his three adult children, Francis, George and Catharine (who had married John Lowell Gardner in 1826). John Shorey continues to “rent” the island from the Peabody’s until his death in 1861. His son, John Jr., continues to rent the island until it is sold to him and Gilbert Longfellow in 1868.
The Great Head Burns
August 7, 1854
The Head burned over on 7th August 1854. There is some thought the fire might have been intentionally set in order to clear The Head for sheep grazing.
Roque Changes Hands Between Siblings
January 1, 1864
Catharine and J.L. Gardner buy out her brothers and became the sole owners of Roque. The brothers had never been to the Island; however, Catherine and John had cruised there several times.
Gilbert Longfellow Joins John Shorey
June 1, 1868
Gilbert Longfellow of Machias (7th generation descendant of William Longfellow) moves his family to the Island, having formed a partnership with John Shorey.
Roque Island Sold
June 1, 1868
The Gardners sell the Island to Longfellow and Shorey for $5,000 via installment notes. The deed passes to them on May 21, 1870.
Roque Island Repurchased
April 1, 1882
The two surviving sons of Catherine and J.L. Gardner Sr., George Augustus Gardner and John Lowell Gardner Jr. (husband of Isabella Stewart Gardner), repurchase the Island from Longfellow for $22,000. Herbert A. Long was hired as caretaker. He, his wife and baby lived in the Old Farmhouse where three bedrooms and a parlor were reserved for the Gardners.
Catherine Gardner Dies
September 21, 1883
Catherine Elizabeth Gardner (Peabody) was born on June 23 1808, in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, to Joseph Peabody and Elizabeth Peabody. Catherine had 6 siblings: Joseph Augustus Peabody, Francis Peabody, and George Peabody, three of whom lived to adulthood: Francis Peabody, Charles Peabody, and Charles Frederick Peabody. Catherine married John Lowell Gardner on October 4 1826, at age 18 in Salem. They had 10 children, 5 of whom lived to adulthood: Joseph Peabody Gardner, George Augustus Gardner, John Lowell Gardner II, Julia Gardner, and Eliza Blanchard Gardner. Catherine passed away on September 21 1883, at age 75 in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts.
Outer Islands Purchased
January 1, 1884
Anguilla Island was purchased for $75. Great Spruce was purchased for $2,000. Lakeman’s Island was purchased for $630. Little Bar Island was purchased for $100. Little Spruce was purchased for $1,000
J. L. Gardner Sr. Dies
July 24, 1884
John Lowell Gardner was born on February 8, 1804 in Boson, Massachusetts. He died on July 24, 18884 in Brookline, Massachusetts, after a final visit to Roque Island.
Chapel Grove
January 1, 1890
Originally named by Isabella Stewart Gardner The Grove of St. Roque. As ISG and JLG both stayed on Roque for extended stays in the summer, ISG wished to have the ability to conduct Sunday services. An area to the east of the Mansion House was cleared for that purpose.
Mansion House
January 1, 1898
Also known as Monks House, Yellow House, and the New House, as well as “The House that Isabella Built”. Architect was Willard T. Sears of Boston, who would later design and build her spacious home in Boston, now the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Builder was Andrew Gilson of Machias. Cost of construction: $10,264.35. Its furnishings were an additional $5,088.18
Spruce Launched
January 1, 1898
Spruce I Launched. Date Not Known. Photography 1898 J.L. Gardner 2nd.
J. L. Gardner Jr. Dies
December 10, 1898
J.L. Gardner Jr. dies, leaving his wife, Isabella Stewart Gardner, but no children. He left his share of the Island to his brother G. A. Gardner.
Roque Bluffs Pier Property
January 1, 1900
Roque Bluffs Pier Property is purchased by GAG for $750. (needs date attribution?)
Big Barn
June 21, 1908
The original barn from Joseph Peabody’s time was struck by lightning and burned to the ground in July 1907. Cost of replacement unknown.
G. A. Gardner Dies
August 6, 1916
As sole owner, he left the Island to his son (George Peabody Gardner, with a like interest to John Lowell Gardner II and his daughter, Olga Eliza Gardner (m. George Howard Monks) along with a fund for the upkeep of the Island. G. A. Gardner’s eldest daughter, Ellen (m. Augustus Peabody Loring) did not inherit a share of the island (she was left property in the Adirondacks and the Loring family already owned Bartlett’s Island off Mount Desert).
Patten’s Cove Pier Built
January 1, 1926
The cove was named after Joseph Patten, a shipbuilder from Columbia Falls, who owned an interest in Roque Island just before Joseph Peabody’s purchase. First pier was built here in 1926.
Double Shot
January 1, 1932
Double Shot is purchased for $200.
Farmhouse Built
January 1, 1938
Approximate cost: $15,000.
“Roque” launched
January 1, 1938
Cost $8,500
J. L. Gardner II Dies
February 3, 1938
J.L. Gardner II dies, leaving no children. His life-tenancy is extinguished.
G. P. Gardner Dies
June 6, 1939
G. P. Gardner dies and leaves his half-share of the Island to his son, G. Peabody Gardner Jr.
RIGHC Formed
August 24, 1940
G. P. Gardner, Jr. and Olga E. Monks convey their interest in Roque Island to a new corporation – Roque Island Gardner Homestead Corporation – with G.P. Gardner, Jr. as President and Treasurer. Under Maine law, an old family homestead may be incorporated to ensure its perpetuation.
Sand Peep I Purchased
January 1, 1942
Cost $850. Sold in 1996
Olga E. Monks Dies
April 22, 1944
Olga E. Monks dies, leaving three children: G. Gardner Monks, John Peabody Monks, and Olga (Monks) Pertzoff. These three, along with their cousin “Peabo”, effectively ran the Island until 1976.
Sheep Barn
January 1, 1947
Approximate cost: $3,500.
Anguilla launched.
January 1, 1948
Cost $7,368
Red House Re-constructed
January 1, 1948
The Red House was re-constructed with a new cellar.
Apple Trees First Planted
January 1, 1948
Apple trees were planted in the picket-fence garden of the Gardner House. Varieties included Triple (a grafted variety that bears Macintosh, Kendall, and Cortland apples), Duchess, and Melba.
J.P. Monks Dies
March 3, 1956
J.P. Monks dies.
Spruce II Launched
January 1, 1957
$9,710
Television Introduced on Roque
June 1, 1957
First television on the Island (made to order by General Electric). It is purported to have run on a generator.
First Telephone On Roque
January 1, 1959
First telephone cable laid.
Electricity on Roque
January 1, 1961
Installation of a generator to provide electricity to the Farmhouse. The Red House was renovated; design by Constantin A. Pertzoff (husband of Olga Monks Pertzoff). Up until this point, the homes on Roque used candles and kerosine lamps for light.
Electric Cable Laid
January 1, 1965
First electric cable laid and all houses were wired for electricity.
Roque Bluffs Garage Built
January 1, 1966
The garage was built on the newly acquired land in Roque Bluffs.
Roque II Launched
January 1, 1967
$11,438. Sold in 1991
Roque Encounters Tax Issues
January 1, 1971
The Island encountered tax difficulties because of its unusual corporate standing. The original membership was defined as four Gardners and four Monks.
New By-Laws
January 1, 1973
New By–Laws were adopted defining the members of the corporation as descendents of Olga E. Monks and G. Peabody Gardner and providing for a Board comprised of five Gardners and five Monkses with elections by the membership every three years.
Spruce III Launched
January 1, 1974
Sold in 1991
Dock Destroyed
March 11, 1976
Dock at Roque Bluffs destroyed by heavy storm; rebuilt on RIGHC land at a cost of $61,500. G. P. Gardner dies in September.
First Committees
January 1, 1977
First Board-appointed committees: House, Resource and Finance.
G.G. Monks Dies
August 17, 1978
The Rev. George Gardner Monks, 80, canon of Washington Cathedral from 1947 to 1957, died Thursday at the Maine Medical Center in Portland after apparently suffering a heart attack. He had served in the Army in World War I in a machine gun battalion. He was born in Boston. He graduated from St. Mark’s School in 1917, and in 1921 received a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He then attended Union Theological Seminary in New York City and Balliol College in Oxford, England. In 1925, he graduated from the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass.
Olga M. Pertzoff Dies
November 21, 1980
Olga M. Pertzoff died (the last of the original corporators).
100 Years of the Guest Book
January 1, 1982
Celebration at the Chilton Club honoring 100 years of the guest book.
18′ Privateer “The Buzz Boat” purchased.
January 1, 1983
De-commissioned in 2006.
New Septic System
January 1, 1987
New septic system and new water lines were installed. ($136,600)
Jos. Peabody Launched
January 1, 1991
$106,783
Electric Cable Severed
January 1, 1991
Electric cable severed in September; the farmhouse and barns were powered with a generator all winter. The cable was replaced in the early summer of 1992. ($94,743 — cost of the cable alone was $79,980)
New Pier at Shorey Cove
January 1, 1992
The pier at Shorey Cove was torn down and a new one, using oak and pressure treated woods, was built in its place complete with ramp and float. Design and construction was by Art Tibbetts Marine of Thomaston, Maine. ($62,706)
New Vision for Roque Island
January 1, 1992
In the fall, members convened in Newport, R. I., at a two day retreat led by a mediator from Boston. It quickly became apparent that there were many diverse visions of Roque, its management and its future. The budget was escalating, the membership was growing and all systems needed to be re-evaluated. Various goals were decided upon, and a new commitment was made to support RIGHC and its Board. A long-range planning committee worked hard; new by-laws were adopted. The by-laws specified five year terms, with two years off the Board before running for re-election; the first terms were staggered
Barge Purchased
January 1, 1993
Canadian military-issue steel barge purchased ($26,500)
The Thoroughfare, Issue #1
January 1, 1993
“The Thoroughfare” sent out its first issue in the winter of ’92-’93.
New Pier at Roque Bluffs
January 1, 1993
The pier at Roque Bluffs was torn down and constructed anew by The Steeple People of Machias, Maine. ($79,112)
New Long Range Plan
January 1, 1994
Long Range Plan was presented.
Loon
January 1, 1996
Loon purchased from the estate of Alexander Pertzoff ($8,000); sold in 2007
Sand Peep II
January 1, 1996
Sand Peep II purchased ($16,397)
Patten’s Cove Pier Completed
January 1, 1996
The pier at Patten’s Cove was completed. This construction, begun in 1993, was by Island staff. ($28,686). Fire alarm systems were installed in all the houses ($13,500).
Mansion House Reconstruction
January 1, 1998
Major re-construction of the Mansion House included a greatly improved and expanded kitchen.
New Manager’s House
January 1, 1999
With the help of our staff and portable sawmill, most of the wood used to construct this house was Island spruce. The stones used on the hearth are from Popplestone Beach. Total cost: $187,611.
Roque Bluffs Cottage
January 1, 1999
$199,680
Roque Bluffs Purchase
January 1, 1999
Bought house and land at Roque Bluffs, adjoining present property except for a town right-of-way ($199,680). Built Manager’s House on the Island, using Island spruce sawn on the Island and stones collected from Popplestone Beach for the hearth ($187,611.)
Red House Kitchen
January 1, 2001
Red House kitchen was renovated ($31,565).
New Family Burial Ground
January 1, 2002
The Family Burying Ground was completed and consecrated. ($33,620)
Bluffs Property Settlement
January 1, 2005
A survey of the Roque Bluffs Cottage property finally allowed for a boundary dispute with the neighbors to be settled. The Scott Family agreed to this settlement, 11/04.
Deed with Town of Roque Bluffs
January 1, 2005
As a result of negotiations with the Town of Roque Bluffs, RIGHC signed a 20-year renewable lease for the “buffer zone” between the pier property and the cottage property. In exchange for the use of this 20-yard wide section, the Town has the right to use the property between the rear of the garage and the public road.
Independent Staff Housing
January 1, 2007
The first independent staff house (“ISH”) was constructed back of the farm buildings. Total cost was $129,721. The first residents were Amy and Doug Dodge. At (roughly) the same time, a 2-floor apartment was constructed as “ISH #2” out of the 2nd and 3rd floors of the main part of the Farmhouse. The first residents here were Dave & Kate Watts. At this point, our staff – comprised of 3 couples – each has their own living quarters. Constructed by Chris McCormick, using as many island materials as possible, in back of the farm buildings. This small house cost $183,440.
The Polly
January 1, 2007
The Polly, a 18’ Parker, purchased ($25,534)
Parker
January 1, 2009
23′ Parker purchased (used)
New Family Room
January 1, 2009
The Family Room was moved downstairs to the front southeast room of the Farm House.
Solar Panels Installed
January 1, 2010
After several years of discussion about alternative energy, we installed solar panels on the Big Barn roof. On Friday the 13th (8/13/10) at 13:59 we started to produce our own electricity.
New Tractor Shed
January 1, 2011
The old Ice House (a.k.a. Tractor Shed) was torn down and on its footprint a new building was constructed to be used as an all-season maintenance & welding shop. Master carpenter was Chris McCormick.
New Metal Shop
January 28, 2020
The old Metal Shop was torn down and a new one was erected in its place. Jay Traynor was the builder.
