I believe that Dr. Richard Gott died in the 1980s. I saw a reference to his estate in the provenence section of an antique furniture auction catalog. However, I read that the classical Arcadie Quartet that he founded and funded lives on in Bar Harbor in some form.
I was a student at Ecole Arcadie in l972,73 and 1974. I believe those were some of the last years the school was open. Actually I was only a student in 1972 and 1973, I was on the staff as a monitrice in 1974
I was at Ecole Arcadie during the summer of 1963. Loved every minute and have kept in touch with a few friends from that summer. There is an Ecole Arcadie page on Facebook. Best wishes to all, Tom Herman (rthomasherman@gmail.com)
J'ai passe l'etes de '68 et '69, pendant le mois d'Auot. Je me souviens il ya avait une famille, ,consistant des vielles parents ont travaille a MILTON ACADEMY. Leurs fils ont travaille la dans le waterfront, si je me souviens . Je m'appelle WENDY WERBEL. I cannot believe I still rememeber my french and had a blast those two summers.
Les colibris et les abeilles dans les buissons devant le "cottage" des garçons; le Bluenose qui arrivait le soir, les bons points et les mauvais, un homard sur le débarcadère dans le village, les pieds dans l'eau - le plus incroyable c'est que je me suis établi dans un pays francophone env. 20 ans après mes deux étés là-bas, grâce, en partie, à cette expérience. J'ai toujours mes Maugers I, II et III et mes romans (L'´Étranger, La porte étroite, etc.) copieusement annotés. Je n'aurais pas pu imaginer un tel débouché.
I spent the summers of 1971 and 1972 there. I learned French and sailing there! I hear it closed. Does anyone know what happened to the property and to Dr. Gott?
It closed in the 70s is true. Dr. Gott passed away.His house was demolished a few weeks ago. I fear another hotel will go up. It had such a history belonging to Lady Astor who stay there after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. I am sad that it was not on the national register and preserved. The other house is in good condition and a retreat.
I was there in 1968 and 1969. Learned to sail there and sailing was an important part of my life for many years there after. The teacher ailing instructor, whose name I hope someone will rememeber would always ;look out over the water and say, , “Un jolie petit vent, aujourd'hui”, even if it was blowing stink.
I was there in 1968 and 1969. Learned to sail there and sailing was an important part of my life for many years there after. The teacher ailing instructor, whose name I hope someone will rememeber would always ;look out over the water and say, , “Un jolie petit vent, aujourd'hui”, even if it was blowing stink.
I attended in 1968 and the experience includes some of my best summer memories. It was my first immersive introduction to the language and culture with which I fell in love completely that summer. I, too, still have my books with notes in the margins! The experience set my path to study and teach French language & literature. How lovely to read all of your remembrances.
I was there in 1969. Remember hearing about the moonlanding and Woodstock. Loved it. Went on to study in Montpellier France, thanks to what I learned at Ecole Arcadie.
I was there in the summer of 1973. It was a great foundation to build my fluency in French which I still maintain today. I remember water skiing a lot and the blue nose ferry leaving for Nova Scotia every morning. Would,love to hear from any classmates
I was there in the mid sixties, probably 1964 and 65. Because of this place I still speak French. Does anyone know what happened to Bobby Gott, Dr. Gott's nephew? Or whether there is any place like this in the United States today? Lynn Davidson
I attended in 1970. Not only did I become fluent in French (which is long gone now), I ate my first Maine lobster, and learned to sail. I was the only student who attended that summer who lived west of the Mississipp River. I remember explaining US geography to Northeasternets who thought I lived anong Indians, or on a farm!
Do you know James Taylor and brother Livingston Taylor attended Evolve Arcade? I was there 3 summers till 1973. I also met up with Dr Gotta in Boston for dinner
I think I was there in 1965 and 1966, maybe 1967. I remember having to memorize "Sur Le Pont Mirabeau" because I was caught speaking English. I loved those summers. I met my first love there. I wonder what happened to so many people who were there that summer. I know that James Taylor and siblings went there a few years earlier. I can almost remember the name of the family who taught at Milton Academy... My maiden name was Maggi Block.
I attended the Premier session of 1967 and had a great experience there that furthered my interest in learning French. The following summer I participated in an immersion language learning experience on the island of Miquelon, a vestige of France d-outre mer off the coast of Newfoundland. I went on to double major in French and History at the College of Wooster, and did my PhD dissertation in the history of technology on a Fulbright research grant to spend a year (1978-79) in Paris. Subseqently I became curator of the Dittrick Museum of Medical History (Case Western Reserve University), and became Secretaire general of the European Association of Medical Museums, which conducted sessions in both French and English. So, my start in learning French at Ecole Arcadie was just a perfect springboard to using the language throughout my career. James Edmonson
I attended when I was 16 tears old. That would make it 1964. I remember the amazing sun rise. I also remember biking into town in Bar Harbor on Wednesdays. We would go to the Rexall Drug Store for ice cream. Many years later, in the 1980’s I went back yo visit, and Bar Harbor had become, sadly, very commercialized. But, the Rexall was still there! The soda fountain had been moved from it’s original wall to a different wall. I continued to study French through college and ultimately taught French.
Greetings All! I found this post prompted by my brother's request for information about Dr. Gott. We were the children of Mme Edith Arndt, who taught French at École Arcadie in the summers of 1966 and 1968. That made me, Jennifer, 10 and 13 and my younger brother, Mathieu, 5 and 8. The first summer, the three of us lived in a big room at the end of the hall in the girls' dormitory, and I started learning to play the guitar from "the big girls." In 1968, we lived in a small apartment in the low-slung new building between the two mansions. My many memories include: learning to sail in French; the pay phone in the closet; acting in Molière's Le malade imaginaire and other plays; seeing the striking films of Jean Cocteau in the barn; reading everything from Topaz to Huis clos; mealtimes in the big house, with the food, the long tables and singing "Bénicez-nous, Seigneur. Bénicez ce repas, ceux qui l'ont préparé, et procurez du pain à ceux qui n'en ont pas. Ainsi soit-il." (Wow! Who would think that would stick for so long?)
Question for MWB who wrote in August 2021: That family that taught at Milton Academy ... they had a daughter with long blond braids, right? And they lived in a house across the road, above the rest of the camp? Any more memories about them? Jenny Arndt-Briggs
I was there in August in ‘63 and ‘64. These were the coldest Augusts of my life. In 1963, I flew to Bangor from my home in Augusta, GA, rode a bus to the school. I was in a dorm room with 11 (!) other girls. Made friends with Midge (Margie) Sondheim, whom I would see again in 1965 when we found ourselves in the same dorm at Wellesley College. I loved everything about the school except for sports. I signed up for sailing both summers because there were two shifts, which meant I could recline on the lawn for 45 minutes while waiting my shift. Midge impressed me by doing handstands on the lawn, even when bees buzzed around her. “J’aime les abeilles”. Amazing what little tidbits of conversation you can remember. Took grammaire, lecture, conversation, la poésie du 18ème siècle. We didn’t lack for food. Le petit déjeuner, le casse croute, le déjeuner, le goûter, le dîner. The sung blessing was lovely. In ‘64 my best friend from GA, Sarah Vaughan Sayre, came with me. Because I was a returning student, I qualified for La Maison des Anciennes, where my friend and I dwelt in the untold luxury of a double room. The place had a refrigerator, which meant we could stock up on perishables from our Wednesday bus trip to Bar Harbor. We got an extra trip to Bar Harbor when we caught colds, and Mme Moore took us to le docteur for un sirop. I had la bronchite, so I had to take antibiotics. We were charmed by Roseanne Moore, who was six that year. Sarah invited her to look inside her fist “Peut-tu voir le petit ours qui demeure à l’intérieur?” Roseanne had an older sister Claire, who attended classes with us, and a teenaged brother Eric, who taught sailing. One summer I had to read the entire Bible, an assignment from my English teacher back home. I’d made little progress , so had to ask Docteur Gott if he had a French Bible I could read. He was very touched by my religious zeal, for which I accepted undeserved praise. French films, chansons folkloriques, concerts in the living room or at Blue Hill, so much more. What a gift it was to be there. Went on to major in French and taught for a year before I became a librarian. Thanks for helping me reminisce! Katharine “Weegie” Harding Wanderer
I attended the 2nd session in ‘67. Does anyone have any pictures or memories from that time? It was an excellent educational experience for me. Now I live in Boston.
What a pleasant surprise to discover this blog! I was at Arcadie from 1961 through 1966, two years a student and four as a moniteur/teacher. I was also quite active in theater and had the great pleasure of acting in and directing number of plays. I can’t act my way out of a paper bag in English, but in French it seemed very different. Arcadie was a wonderful experience. Not only did I acquire a second language, which has been with me all my life, but it was the sort of place that widened my view of the world, especially for a guy from Chicago, who was a bit of an oddity on the East Coast. I made some great friends and thoroughly enjoyed my time there. Thanks to Jennifer, daughter of Mme Arndt, for reminding me of a few things I had forgotten, and for the memories of the Moore family, who were very much part of the foundation of the school. Dr. Gott was always a helpful mentor, an excellent boss, and great company. He really knew how to put his stamp on a place. Of late I have been writing some memoirs and just recently, was writing about Arcadie. So this was a very timely find.
French School (1961)
In French was how things must be done, and I had none. Till words took root, I would be mute.
I found my fate just horrible, deplorable: no friends, alone and far from home;
but as I wrote this tragic song, fate proved me wrong. While I brooded, French intruded.
I was a student in 1967...and a monitrice in 1969. I would dread hearing Professor Marti declare "Un Jolie petit vent aujeudhui"because teaching sailing in Frenchman's Bay could be really cold if things went awry. I also was the sailing monitrice who would declare "international waters" to explain in English that the porpoises playing with the boat were not sharks!
Loved Ecole A and will be back up in Bar Harbor this fall! Charlie Brown McNitt-Murphy
I was a student at L’Ecole Arcadie in the second half of the summer of 1962, the four week session. My roommate had just arrived from a three week canoe trip in Canada that I had done the summer before. In December, 1962 a group of friends from the class got together in NYC for a mini-reunion. I was unable to attend because I had mononucleosis but did receive a very friendly phone call from the group.
I just discovered this blog and would love to connect with old acquaintances from the summer of 1962.
45 comments:
I was there in the summer of 1969 with my cousin.
...and I was there in '62 or '63.
Many memories!
If interestd please contact me at arthurb@artkraft.com.
I attended in 1963 and 1963. I was in Bar Harbor a couple of years ago...the school's houses have reverted to private residential use.
I was there in the summer of 1963 - played Monsieur Jourdanne in Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
A unique experience, to say the least.
Lyle Greenman
I was there in 65 or 66. I wonder if Dr. Gott is still around.
Steve Thomson
Attended the school in both the summers of 64 and 65. Those were the days. What a great experience!
I believe that Dr. Richard Gott died in the 1980s. I saw a reference to his estate in the provenence section of an antique furniture auction catalog. However, I read that the classical Arcadie Quartet that he founded and funded lives on in Bar Harbor in some form.
Bénissez-nous Seigneur
Bénissez ce repas
Ceux qui l'ont préparé
Et procurez du pain
À ceux qui en n'ont pas
Ainsi soit-il
I was a student at Ecole Arcadie in l972,73 and 1974. I believe those were some of the last years the school was open. Actually I was only a student in 1972 and 1973, I was on the staff as a monitrice in 1974
Donna Marie Lee
I was at Ecole Arcadie during the summer of 1963. Loved every minute and have kept in touch with a few friends from that summer. There is an Ecole Arcadie page on Facebook. Best wishes to all, Tom Herman (rthomasherman@gmail.com)
Was there in '62. Great experience
jbauer87@hotmail.com
Was there in '62. Great experience
jbauer87@hotmail.com
J'ai passe l'etes de '68 et '69, pendant le mois d'Auot. Je me souviens il ya avait une famille, ,consistant des vielles parents ont travaille a MILTON ACADEMY. Leurs fils ont travaille la dans le waterfront, si je me souviens . Je m'appelle WENDY WERBEL. I cannot believe I still rememeber my french and had a blast those two summers.
Les colibris et les abeilles dans les buissons devant le "cottage" des garçons; le Bluenose qui arrivait le soir, les bons points et les mauvais, un homard sur le débarcadère dans le village, les pieds dans l'eau - le plus incroyable c'est que je me suis établi dans un pays francophone env. 20 ans après mes deux étés là-bas, grâce, en partie, à cette expérience. J'ai toujours mes Maugers I, II et III et mes romans (L'´Étranger, La porte étroite, etc.) copieusement annotés. Je n'aurais pas pu imaginer un tel débouché.
I spent the summers of 1971 and 1972 there. I learned French and sailing there!
I hear it closed. Does anyone know what happened to the property and to Dr. Gott?
It closed in the 70s is true.
Dr. Gott passed away.His house was demolished a few weeks ago. I fear another hotel will go up. It had such a history belonging to Lady Astor who stay there after surviving the sinking of the Titanic. I am sad that it was not on the national register and preserved. The other house is in good condition and a retreat.
I was there in 1968 and 1969. Learned to sail there and sailing was an important part of my life for many years there after. The teacher ailing instructor, whose name I hope someone will rememeber would always ;look out over the water and say, , “Un jolie petit vent, aujourd'hui”, even if it was blowing stink.
I was there in 1968 and 1969. Learned to sail there and sailing was an important part of my life for many years there after. The teacher ailing instructor, whose name I hope someone will rememeber would always ;look out over the water and say, , “Un jolie petit vent, aujourd'hui”, even if it was blowing stink.
I attended in 1968 and the experience includes some of my best summer memories. It was my first immersive introduction to the language and culture with which I fell in love completely that summer. I, too, still have my books with notes in the margins! The experience set my path to study and teach French language & literature. How lovely to read all of your remembrances.
I attended in 1965. It was a great experience. Learned how to sail and actually speak a little french.
I was there in 1972.
I was there in 1969. Remember hearing about the moonlanding and Woodstock. Loved it. Went on to study in Montpellier France, thanks to what I learned at Ecole Arcadie.
I was there in the summer of 65 or 66. I loved every minute of my time there.
Lydia Marin
I was there in the summer of 1973. It was a great foundation to build my fluency in French which I still maintain today. I remember water skiing a lot and the blue nose ferry leaving for Nova Scotia every morning. Would,love to hear from any classmates
I was there in the mid sixties, probably 1964 and 65. Because of this place I still speak French. Does anyone know what happened to Bobby Gott, Dr. Gott's nephew? Or whether there is any place like this in the United States today? Lynn Davidson
I attended in 1970. Not only did I become fluent in French (which is long gone now), I ate my first Maine lobster, and learned to sail. I was the only student who attended that summer who lived west of the Mississipp River. I remember explaining US geography to Northeasternets who thought I lived anong Indians, or on a farm!
Do you know James Taylor and brother Livingston Taylor attended Evolve Arcade?
I was there 3 summers till 1973.
I also met up with Dr Gotta in Boston for dinner
I was there for three summers--67, 68, and 69. Magical place. It's so moving to encounter this blog and be reminded. Julie Rivkin
I was there 71, 72. The whole experience was magical. Marie (Crompton) Robinson
I think I was there in 1965 and 1966, maybe 1967. I remember having to memorize "Sur Le Pont Mirabeau" because I was caught speaking English. I loved those summers. I met my first love there. I wonder what happened to so many people who were there that summer. I know that James Taylor and siblings went there a few years earlier. I can almost remember the name of the family who taught at Milton Academy...
My maiden name was Maggi Block.
I went there and later met up with Dr Gott in Boston. Had a lovely dinner.
Such a charming gentleman.
I attended the Premier session of 1967 and had a great experience there that furthered my interest in learning French. The following summer I participated in an immersion language learning experience on the island of Miquelon, a vestige of France d-outre mer off the coast of Newfoundland. I went on to double major in French and History at the College of Wooster, and did my PhD dissertation in the history of technology on a Fulbright research grant to spend a year (1978-79) in Paris. Subseqently I became curator of the Dittrick Museum of Medical History (Case Western Reserve University), and became Secretaire general of the European Association of Medical Museums, which conducted sessions in both French and English. So, my start in learning French at Ecole Arcadie was just a perfect springboard to using the language throughout my career.
James Edmonson
I attended when I was 16 tears old. That would make it 1964. I remember the amazing sun rise. I also remember biking into town in Bar Harbor on Wednesdays. We would go to the Rexall Drug Store for ice cream. Many years later, in the 1980’s I went back yo visit, and Bar Harbor had become, sadly, very commercialized. But, the Rexall was still there! The soda fountain had been moved from it’s original wall to a different wall. I continued to study French through college and ultimately taught French.
Greetings All! I found this post prompted by my brother's request for information about Dr. Gott. We were the children of Mme Edith Arndt, who taught French at École Arcadie in the summers of 1966 and 1968. That made me, Jennifer, 10 and 13 and my younger brother, Mathieu, 5 and 8. The first summer, the three of us lived in a big room at the end of the hall in the girls' dormitory, and I started learning to play the guitar from "the big girls." In 1968, we lived in a small apartment in the low-slung new building between the two mansions. My many memories include: learning to sail in French; the pay phone in the closet; acting in Molière's Le malade imaginaire and other plays; seeing the striking films of Jean Cocteau in the barn; reading everything from Topaz to Huis clos; mealtimes in the big house, with the food, the long tables and singing "Bénicez-nous, Seigneur. Bénicez ce repas, ceux qui l'ont préparé, et procurez du pain à ceux qui n'en ont pas. Ainsi soit-il." (Wow! Who would think that would stick for so long?)
Sorry - amendment to the above! Mme Arndt taught there in 1965 and 1968.
Question for MWB who wrote in August 2021: That family that taught at Milton Academy ... they had a daughter with long blond braids, right? And they lived in a house across the road, above the rest of the camp? Any more memories about them? Jenny Arndt-Briggs
I was there in August in ‘63 and ‘64. These were the coldest Augusts of my life. In 1963, I flew to Bangor from my home in Augusta, GA, rode a bus to the school. I was in a dorm room with 11 (!) other girls. Made friends with Midge (Margie) Sondheim, whom I would see again in 1965 when we found ourselves in the same dorm at Wellesley College. I loved everything about the school except for sports. I signed up for sailing both summers because there were two shifts, which meant I could recline on the lawn for 45 minutes while waiting my shift. Midge impressed me by doing handstands on the lawn, even when bees buzzed around her. “J’aime les abeilles”. Amazing what little tidbits of conversation you can remember. Took grammaire, lecture, conversation, la poésie du 18ème siècle. We didn’t lack for food. Le petit déjeuner, le casse croute, le déjeuner, le goûter, le dîner. The sung blessing was lovely. In ‘64 my best friend from GA, Sarah Vaughan Sayre, came with me. Because I was a returning student, I qualified for La Maison des Anciennes, where my friend and I dwelt in the untold luxury of a double room. The place had a refrigerator, which meant we could stock up on perishables from our Wednesday bus trip to Bar Harbor. We got an extra trip to Bar Harbor when we caught colds, and Mme Moore took us to le docteur for un sirop. I had la bronchite, so I had to take antibiotics. We were charmed by Roseanne Moore, who was six that year. Sarah invited her to look inside her fist “Peut-tu voir le petit ours qui demeure à l’intérieur?” Roseanne had an older sister Claire, who attended classes with us, and a teenaged brother Eric, who taught sailing. One summer I had to read the entire Bible, an assignment from my English teacher back home. I’d made little progress , so had to ask Docteur Gott if he had a French Bible I could read. He was very touched by my religious zeal, for which I accepted undeserved praise. French films, chansons folkloriques, concerts in the living room or at Blue Hill, so much more. What a gift it was to be there. Went on to major in French and taught for a year before I became a librarian. Thanks for helping me reminisce!
Katharine “Weegie” Harding Wanderer
I attended the 2nd session in ‘67. Does anyone have any pictures or memories from that time? It was an excellent educational experience for me. Now I live in Boston.
What a pleasant surprise to discover this blog! I was at Arcadie from 1961 through 1966, two years a student and four as a moniteur/teacher. I was also quite active in theater and had the great pleasure of acting in and directing number of plays. I can’t act my way out of a paper bag in English, but in French it seemed very different.
Arcadie was a wonderful experience. Not only did I acquire a second language, which has been with me all my life, but it was the sort of place that widened my view of the world, especially for a guy from Chicago, who was a bit of an oddity on the East Coast. I made some great friends and thoroughly enjoyed my time there.
Thanks to Jennifer, daughter of Mme Arndt, for reminding me of a few things I had forgotten, and for the memories of the Moore family, who were very much part of the foundation of the school.
Dr. Gott was always a helpful mentor, an excellent boss, and great company. He really knew how to put his stamp on a place.
Of late I have been writing some memoirs and just recently, was writing about Arcadie. So this was a very timely find.
French School (1961)
In French was how things must be done,
and I had none.
Till words took root,
I would be mute.
I found my fate just horrible,
deplorable:
no friends, alone
and far from home;
but as I wrote this tragic song,
fate proved me wrong.
While I brooded,
French intruded.
I was there in the summer of 1964.
I was a student in 1967...and a monitrice in 1969. I would dread hearing Professor Marti declare "Un Jolie petit vent aujeudhui"because teaching sailing in Frenchman's Bay could be really cold if things went awry.
I also was the sailing monitrice who would declare "international waters" to explain in English that the porpoises playing with the boat were not sharks!
Loved Ecole A and will be back up in Bar Harbor this fall! Charlie Brown McNitt-Murphy
My sister and I were there in 1962 - same year as James and Kate Taylor
I was a student at L’Ecole Arcadie in the second half of the summer of 1962, the four week session. My roommate had just arrived from a three week canoe trip in Canada that I had done the summer before. In December, 1962 a group of friends from the class got together in NYC for a mini-reunion. I was unable to attend because I had mononucleosis but did receive a very friendly phone call from the group.
I just discovered this blog and would love to connect with old acquaintances from the summer of 1962.
Chuck Woodard
woodardcc@gmail.com
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