Rod Lucas

Rod Lucas sailing

Born in January of 1928, George Rodman Lucas has visited Mount Desert Island every year since. He first arrived in a cradle and he remembers the first couple of years through the stories he grew up with. His Mother's family owned property on the Jesuit Field side of Somes Sound. Her name was Frances Wharton Scott. She married Rev. Albert Hawley Lucas. 

Rod, as his friends call him, came to Chalet-du-Grand-Pre with his three siblings, Albert II, June, and Bess. All four children were encouraged to invite friends to spend the summers there. Family, friends and household support people travelled by train from Washington, DC each year as soon as school let out. They spent their days exploring Acadia's trails, off shore islands, Mount Desert Island's lakes and coastal salt water areas. 

Rod married Mary Durant and brought her to Grand-Pre. Mary only visited the family home for one year before it was sold out of the family. However, they continued to come to Southwest Harbor and eventually bought a rustic cottage in Seawall which is called "Adovancik". Once Rod retired from Electric Boat Division of General Dynamics in New London, Connecticut, they came for as long as the summer water was available in town. 

As Rod repeatedly would say, "I loved to come and hated to leave." 

Rod was the easiest person to interview. Once I introduced him, he spoke without prompting for multiple sessions. He would sit in his living room in his rocker, close his eyes and start talking in such detail I felt like he was watching his life story unfold in his mind. 

It was my privilege to spend time with him and I enjoyed our session so much I brought a friend to the next session. We hope you enjoy this first installment. 

- Anne Welles and Julie Fernald