Local Artist and His Wife Moved to Maine

      Recently, while perusing some historic postcards in a local antique mall, I came across a brief note on stationery postmarked on May 26, 1948, from Eastport, Maine. The card depicted a beautiful lighthouse print by Robert Craig. I was drawn to the card because it was sent to an Irvington address. Soon, I fell into several rabbit holes while researching the people who sent the note and the "folks" who received it. I was even more intrigued when I realized that the card was actually sent by Robert and Winifred Craig. There were clues in the text as well.

Robert Craig sketched the East Quoddy Lighthouse located on Campobello Island, New Brunswick most likely from a boat. 

The Craigs mailed this note in 1948 to the Winslows at Maplewood Court in Irvington.

Both the Craigs and the Winslows lived in the Maplewood Apartments at 37 and 47 Johnson Avenue shown here in winter of 2017.

     Dear Folks,

     School is almost out and soon you will be starting Maineward. Wonderful new road from Portsmouth north to Portland done. Come to see us when you can--our latch string is always out.  Craigs

     Robert Craig taught at Arsenal Technical High School for many years. In fact, he headed the fine-arts department. Born in Spencer, Indiana, Mr. Craig later learned his craft at the Pratt Institute and at Columbia University. He also studied under William Forsyth. He and his wife Winifred moved to Irvington and lived at 37 South Johnson Avenue at Maplewood Court. When he retired from Arsenal Tech in 1941, the school named a gallery for him on the third floor of Stuart Hall. During his summer breaks the couple began to go to Maine where he found many beautiful scenes to paint. He preferred painting or sketching outdoors rather than in a studio. He often exhibited his works with other Irvington artists or in one-man shows. 

     In 1945, art critic and Irvington resident, Lucille Morehouse, featured Mr. Craig's one-man show at Lieber's Art Emporium in downtown Indianapolis in her column during the winter of 1945. He displayed many pieces for sale including 29 watercolors, six oils, two lithographs, and one etching. Most of the subjects were of Maine although he did include a few Indiana scenes. In 1947, he exhibited more work at Herron Art School including nine pieces of coastal Maine. Lucille Morehouse noted that besides Forsyth, he also studied under George Ennis in Maine. He reached his peak much later in life in 1964 when the Lynn Kottler Galleries in New York City featured his oil paintings and watercolors. A critic in the Manhattan East wrote of Mr. Craig that, "here is a realist who sees with clear vision and an unerring sense of color." 

Robert Craig was head of the Art Department at Arsenal Technical High School for many years. He is standing in the center of the bottom row. Flanking him were Thelma Adams and Ruth Kothe. In the middle row: Chelsea Stewart, Ione Hirsch, Sara Bard, Edmund Schildknecht; Top Row--Oakley Richey, Elizabeth Jasper, and John Simpson (Arsenal Canon, 1937)

     With that background, one can now begin to understand the text of the note. Harold and Harriett (Hattie) Winslow received the letter from the Craigs just as school neared an end in Indianapolis. Mr. Winslow taught music at both Manual Training High School and at Arsenal Technical High School, which is where Mr. Craig and Mr. Winslow might have met. Mrs. Winslow taught history at both Shortridge and Howe High Schools. They also lived at Maplewood Court in Irvington. The Craigs lived at #16 while the Winslows resided at #7. Mr. Craig had already retired by 1948, but the Winslows were wrapping up the school year.  School is almost out.  

     The Winslows, like the Craigs, had no children and traveled extensively on summer breaks. They had been to Europe and the Middle East. They also drove across the United States so it was not surprising to learn that one of those sojourns might be to Maine to visit their friends, the Craigs, who had made Eastport their permanent home by 1945. For Mr. Winslow it also might have been like coming home since he had been born in Maine. 

Harriett or Hattie Winslow taught Social Studies at Howe High School for many years. She can be seen at the far right in profile. Others in the image include (l to r): Lewis Gilroy, Wade Fuller, Russell Curtis, Dorthea Kirk, Hartwell Kayler, and Mary Diaz (Hilltopper,  1946)

Harold Winslow taught music for many years for the Indianapolis Public Schools and with many church choirs. (Ellen Manual, Find-a-Grave)

     Two years after the Craigs mailed their note to the Winslows of Maplewood Court, Mr. Winslow died in 1950. Did Mrs. Winslow ever see her friends again? We do not know as of this writing. Both Mrs. Winslow and Mrs. Craig died in 1968. Robert Craig died in 1971 at the age of 87. 

     Before purchasing the simple note on the lovely stationery, I had never heard of these interesting and talented Irvington couples. Come see us when you can--the latch string is always out. 

The subject of Mr. Craig's wonderful sketch still stands on Campobello Island, New Brunswick (Britannica) 

Sources:  Craigs--Lucille Morehouse, "Water Colors Feature One-Man Show," Indianapolis Star, February 25, 1945, 21; Lucille Morehouse, "Art of Mattison and Craig Exhibited at Herron Museum," Indianapolis Star, March 2, 1947, 70; "Eastport Artist Has 1-Man Show," Bangor Daily News, January 6, 1964, 26; "Robert Craig, Noted Painter Dies in Eastport," Bangor Daily News, May 11, 1971, 15; Federal Census and City Directories; Winslows--Obituary for Harold Winslow, Indianapolis Star, December 26, 1950, 16; Obituary for Harriet Winslow, Indianapolis News, September 18, 1968, 44. 

     Thank you to Paula Schmidt at the Irvington Historical Society.