Lydia Stories: The Carroll Family History from Borrisoleigh to Southwest Harbor – 1761-1917
Now available for purchase at the library. $60 for Hardcover. $35 for Softcover.
Lydia Stories is published to honor the 200th anniversary of the Carroll family in Southwest Harbor and their 1825 Homestead that still stands as originally constructed. Drawing from letters, diaries, documents and recorded memories compiled by Nell Carroll Thornton in 1933, Lydia Stories invites us to hear the Carroll family history as told in a creative narrative by a unique storytelling cloth doll named Lydia Carroll. Lydia tells us of the Carroll family roots in Ireland, the plight of young John Carroll charged with treason, his escape to the New World, his settling on Mt. Desert Island, and of his inheritance of courage, wisdom, and courtesy given to each Carroll descendant. For 20 years Lydia has been telling her remnant stories at the Carroll Homestead now owned by Acadia National Park. With this book, she brings her stories alive in print for the first time.
“What I am going to tell you about our family heritage, Evelyn, is true. I know because I was there with all our ancestors who came before us.”
With this claim, a cloth doll named Lydia Carroll begins to tell her human soul-mate Evelyn Kittredge stories of their shared Carroll family heritage.
From Borrisoleigh, County Tipperary, Ireland to Southwest Harbor, Maine, family Carroll comes alive in Lydia’s narration.We meet six generations of Carrolls each with a story to tell of their life and times. Lydia finds the voice of each ancestor and their unique way of carrying the Wisdom of Lydd, Promise Time, and a love of learning new things. The exploits of John Carroll and his wife Rachel’s father Jacob Lurvey set a high bar for excitement, hardship, perseverance, and devotion for all who come after.Lydia’s ultimate mission is to actually visit these ancestors with Evelyn in a place called “Under the Ice.” Very few people know the way or the overseer there named Diddihayden. With Lydia, though, most things are possible.
Joan Jordan Grant is a native of Bar Harbor, Maine, daughter of Evelyn Kittredge, grandniece to Nell Carroll Thornton, and a 4th generation descendant of John Carroll. She is a year-round resident of Mount Desert Island, pastor, teacher, and spiritual director. As a volunteer for Acadia National Park, she has helped Lydia tell her stories at the Carroll Homestead in Southwest Harbor since 2002.