Imagine a young girl from Portland, Maine, sailing for France in 1909 when she was barely 19 years old, a student of such promise that her teacher, Miss Wheeler, of Miss Wheeler’s School in Providence, Rhode Island, invited her to spend the summer at her cottage in Giverney, right next door to Claude Monet.

Mildred Burrage was that young lady and her years in France and Italy, until she returned to Maine in 1914 just before World War I, were beautifully documented recently in a fascinating show at the Portland Museum of Art. On display were more than 70 paintings and drawings and some wonderful letters, transcribed by her friend, Maine State Historian and co-curator Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. Illustrated with tiny watercolor sketches, they oozed with enthusiasm and delight –“All the little children are there with their bonnes (nannies) – darling little boys in their little sailor capes with hoods – and their dear little bare legs and round caps – and gardens full of dahlias and chrysanthemums and geraniums – grass perfectly green, sky like April at home – and altogether too perfectly lovely for anything.”

My favorite, and that of many who are not able to discern some of the finer points of technique, was “Souper a Deux” (supper for two) – clearly showing Burrage’s fascination with color, patterns and designs. A little girl, attired in a blue and white checker board dress, a pink bow in her hair, her tiny feet in white socks and black Mary Janes, sits at a small apple green table in her garden eating soup from a white bowl with a pink rim. Colorful red and yellow flowers fill the background, while a spotted black and white wooden pull toy pony in the foreground, looks up at her as if wanting to share her meal. Unfortunately this exhibit was at the PMA for only a few months, but more information about Mildred Burrage is available on the web.

Patrons of Scarborough Public Library were pleased to attend a lecture by Reuters’ correspondent Richard Valdmanis, who was visiting his family in Scarborough. The topic, “The Evolution of Democracy in West Africa,” was of great interest to the large audience, some of whom had either lived in the area or had relatives there. Valdmanis, chief deputy correspondent for Reuters’ West and Central Africa bureau since September 2009, gave a broad picture of the political situation in the area, from Senegal to Gabon. Particular attention was paid to the recent elections in Liberia, Senegal, Guinea and Congo. He pointed out that because the area was under colonial rule for so many years, and because country boundaries were drawn for political reasons rather than the wishes of ethnic groups and tribes, it was difficult to make democracy and capitalism succeed. Although the short term looked messy, the long-term outlook for the area was positive, with strengthening institutions, a youthful, more educated population and a wealth of natural resources. Questions from the audience concerned increased activities of the United States Army under the newly formed Africa Command, Chinese involvement in the development of natural resources, and the future role of France under its new president.

Local lighthouses

Grandparents entertaining grandchildren this summer may want to investigate visiting the South Portland waterfront. The Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., depending of course on the weather. There is a height restriction – kids have to be at least 55 inches tall – and they have to be accompanied by an adult. But the walk out the breakwater (900 feet long and made from 50,000 tons of huge granite blocks) is fantastic and the tour of the lighthouse is incredible. Of course, one must negotiate two tricky ladders, but attentive docents stationed at trouble spots help the novice along the way. Once inside, the furnished kitchen and bedrooms enable you to imagine how the keepers lived -and the view from the cupola is awe-inspiring – Fort Preble. Fort Gorgeous, and Fort Scammel, the Portland skyline and the Observatory, and right down the channel to Portland Headlight and Fort Williams. If you are really lucky, a tanker might pass by – it will be so close you will feel as though you could reach out and touch it.

Another attraction on the South Portland waterfront is city owned Bug Light Park, the home of the most elegant of all Maine lighthouses – Portland Breakwater Light, affectionately known locally as Bug Light. Rarely open to the public, it is nevertheless a fun light to visit – easy to reach and walk around, with enticing views of the channel. Benches are everywhere and there is always something to watch – sailboats, ferries, lobster boats, tugs, tankers, container ships, and even enormous cruise ships that look like floating hotels. The four acres of grassy field are perfect for flying kites and weekends bring out a variety of shapes, sizes and colors for quite a show. Off to the right of the parking lot is the Liberty Ship Memorial, a structure designed to resemble the bow of a liberty ship. Inside are several informative panels, listing the names of all the ships built here and describing the shipyard and its workers.

The South Portland Historical Society is located immediately before the entrance to Bug Light Park. Open every day this summer and early fall from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the handsome brick Cushing’s Point House, it offers a gift shop (buy your kite here) and a museum with excellent exhibits. Find out how many liberty ships were built right on this spot during World War II – or see how the automobile changed one of the local neighborhoods. Did you know that South Portland was the location of a large training camp for soldiers during the Civil War? When a regiment was finally formed and ready to go, they marched across the bridge into Portland to move south by train. Admission is free, docents are on hand to answer questions and there is a research library available by appointment.

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