Name/Title
Photograph of Painting of Le Baron Cooke by Harley PerkinsDescription
Photograph of the painting was taken in 1979 at the home of Anne Mathews, 41 Washington Street, Lubec, Maine. Anne Mathews was a cousin of Le Baron Cooke and had in her possession the painting as well as several books of poems written by Le Baron Cooke and several books that came from his library.
Notes from an interview by Hugh French with Mrs. Anne Mathews, 41 Washington Street, Lubec, Maine
August 22, 1979.
Wednesday, early afternoon. Mrs. Mathews was Le Baron Cooke’s cousin. The interview took place in Mrs. Mathews’ living room which was quite a small room. I sat on a soft chair opposite a sofa where Mrs. Mathews sat. A large oil painting (about 3 feet by 2 feet) of Le Baron Cooke done by Harley Perkins (a long time close friend of Le Baron’s) hung on the wall behind. Mrs. Matthews faced me. The library books of Le Baron’s (given to Mrs. Mathews by Harley Perkins) occupied part of the shelves of the two bookcases in the room. Mrs. Mathews currently lives alone in a well-kept fairly small house. She is about 65-70 years old, a woman of slight build and white hair. She is retired now after several years of teaching and office work. Her husband died about 15 years ago. An extensive flower garden by her house keeps her busy.
Mrs. Mathews was born on Deer Island, New Brunswick, grew up at Lubec, worked many years away, and returned to teach at Lubec for a couple years (about 1965 to 1974). When living away, Mrs. Mathews returned to Lubec every summer.
Mrs. Mathews said she didn’t know Barry, but that her sisters did. Barry used to come to Deer Island occasionally. He had an aunt there. In their thirties (Barry and Harley?). They came to this section: Deer Island, Campobello, Grand Manan. Harley would sketch.
Anne Mathews' father and her people were from Deer Island, New Brunswick. She was born in Deer Island. At 9 months of age, she and her family moved to Lubec. She attended Lubec Schools and then Machias Normal School. She taught school for two years in Vermont and then taught school for two years in Maine. She was in Lubec during the Depression. She then married and went to Boston, late 1930s? She lived in Boston, then lived in New London, Connecticut and then moved to Ohio. She spent most of her life in Ohio and worked in an office. She came home every summer to Lubec. Her husband, a master plumber, died four days after they returned to Lubec. She worked as a maid for Sumner Pike and then went back to Machias to finish her degree.
One year, she taught at Perkins School for Special Children in Lancaster, Massachusetts. 41 Washington Street in Lubec was her family home. She taught at Camden, Maine, a regular class. She taught at Stoneham, Massachusetts for 7 years. She went to night school at Boston University for Master’s Degree. In 1965-66, she returned to Lubec and taught there for nine years.
Le Baron Cooke had studio apartment on the Fenway. Harley Perkins was married. He was friends for years with “Barry.” Anne Matthews lunched with Perkins quite often when she was going to Boston University. She met him when there was notice of his exhibit. His exhibits were in mid-west and Boston. “Barry” never really made it as a poet. He did critiques and reviewed books for the Christian Science Monitor. Le Baron Cooke was born in Eastport. His mother died in childbirth. There were just the two boys, Anne’s father and “Barry’s” father. “Barry” never had any family life. “Barry’s” father married again. He never paid any attention to “Barry,” ignored him. “Barry’s” step-mother was cold and selfish. “Barry’s” father made much money, but never gave any to “Barry,” Anne didn’t know where “Barry” grew up, he was quite young when he went to Boston. There is a painting of Le Baron Cooke by Rosamond Smith called Poet and Pierrot at the Portland Museum of Art in Portland, Maine.
Le Baron Cooke in group which painted and wrote and did reviews, also chamber music. They used to meet. “Barry” had a dog. Anne lost touch with “Barry” after going to Boston. “Barry’s” father went to California. Anne’s father didn’t even know that “Barry’s” father had died. “Barry” never really had a home or affection.
Harley’s people were wealthy. They helped “Barry” a lot. “Barry” also did sketches as well as book reviews. Anne says life of “Barry’s” always seemed lacking in warmth. George Barry[Cooke?] was “Barry’s” father. Harley died in about the early 1960s.
Someone who knew “Barry” in Boston were Eunice and Frederic Langenbach, Riverholm, Skowhegan, Maine 04976. They knew Harley as well. “Barry” died in Boston. Anne thinks he was buried in Boston? At least not Eastport.
Le Baron Cooke would come back to this area occasionally in the summers with Harley. They would go to Cape Cod and to Europe together.
Harley gave “Barry’s” library of books to Anne. The library books include: Adelaide Crapsey, Amy Lowell, Sara Tisdale, T.S. Eliot, a romantic, Keats, Walter Scott, Mansfield, Browning, Kipling, Harriet Monroe. Harriett Monroe gave “Barry” a copy of her poems, The Difference and Other Poems in July, 1924. “Barry” lived such a haphazard life.
Harley painted seascapes, pastels and his latest were abstract. He was a prolific painter. Harley didn’t teach at the Eastport art school. He didn’t teach.
Among the books in “Barry’s” library was one by Kate Gannet Wells. She founded the Campobello library. “Barry” was a friend of hers. “Barry” also had a copy of the book, History of Eastport and. Passamaquoddy, by William Henry Kilby. Perhaps he was still interested in his background. This was the only book he had other than poetry in his library.
Another friend of “Barry’s” was the painter, Harriet O’Brien.
“Barry” was 10-15 years older than Anne.
402 Fenway Studio.