HIGH SEA'S, MEADOW BROOK AND THE TITANIC

From the April, 1917, Bar Harbor Times

The death of Prof. Rudolf Ernest Brunnow of Princeton University occurred at his home on Saturday morning of last week, after an illness of only two days with pneumonia. Bar Harbor was deeply shocked at his sudden death, the last in a series of tragedies that have seemed to befall the Brunnow home ever since the handsome villa was constructed here.

Prof. Brunnow was a German by birth and registered as a citizen of Germany. He held some of the highest degrees that it was possible for the German University to bestow and in his own department, that of Semitic lore, he was considered one of the leading authorities in the country.

For the last year or two he had done little active teaching and this season he had spent the entire year at his home in Bar Harbor, which was fitted for year-round occupancy. He was one of the favorite members of Bar Harbor’s summer colony and was deeply interested in the welfare of the town. He was an ardent lover of the walks and trails of his island home and spent many hours traversing the mountain paths here.

Prof. Brunnow’s fine home was built a number of years ago and he intended to bring his bride here. The house, one of the largest, at Bar Harbor, situated near Schooner Head and overlooking the broad ocean and the cliffs at its base, was constructed for their honeymoon. Before they were married, however his bride perished on the ill-fated Titanic, giving up her place to another and older woman. Two families of Bar Harbor’s summer colony were thrown into mourning by the ill-fated steamer.

Another tragedy in Prof. Brunnow’s life was the sudden death of his oldest son, Eric, last fall.

The boy, registered as a freshman at Princeton, left here to begin his studies. On his way he stopped for a night or two in New York with friends and was smitten with infantile paralysis, dying in two days, the grief stricken father having hardly time to reach his bedside.

Prof. Brunnow’s own death came as culminating chapter, owing to an attack of pneumonia which lasted but two days. Funeral services were held at the home, acting rector of Saint Saviour’s officiating.

A thoroughly likable, generous and respected man, Prof. Brunnow will be sincerely mourned by Bar Harbor people, with whom he had made his home, and who regret the dark cloud of tragedy that seems to have followed his last years.

That is pretty much what the local papers went with on the death of Prof. Brunnow, and the bride to be was said to be Edith Evans,  which a number of people claim was nothing more than a close friend of  Mr. Brunnow's and that the two never had plans to marry.  I can't say with any certainty one way or the other if the story is correct, but I will give my reasons for believing it may be wrong as far as Mr. Brunnow's getting married again.  First there is my gut instinct, which tells me the story is wrong.  Than there is the evidence, or lack of.  Where are the newspaper stories or chapters in books attesting to the fact that he was about to remarry, they simply aren't there.  Where are all the newspaper articles referring to the sorrow  Mr. Brunnow was struggling with at the loss of his soon to be bride ?  I searched and could not find one such account, and Mr. Brunnow was a man in high standing in the community, if in fact he had just lost his bride to be, the local papers would of been all over it like flies to honey, and they were not.  And all the people closest to Mr. Brunnow never once made mention of a pending engagement or marriage.  I am sure for one week, that story helped sell many a paper, but I have to conclude no such marriage was in the works.

WHAT IS KNOWN

He was an author of scientific books
He was a master when it came to designing trails
He was a professor
He had High Seas built
High Seas also went by the name Meadow Brook
High Seas was along the Schooner Head Road
His parents were Francis & Rebecca lloyd Brunnow
He was married to Marguerite Beckwith
His wife died in 1907
That same year his 17 year old son died.
Edith Corse Evans was the woman in question
Evans was on the Titanic
Evans was said to have been a good friend of Mr. Brunnow

In 1924, Mrs. Eva Van Cortland Hawkes purchased the mansion for $25,000. Following her death her descendent's gave High Seas to Jackson Laboratory, who continue to use it to this day.

HIGH SEAS - MEADOW BROOK
Prof. Randolph Brunnow
Bar Harbor, Maine

  Now on the debate of rather High Seas was ever called Meadow Brook, on that , I do have a bone in the debate, as it were.  I posted the question on another site and asked, are you certain High Seas was once named Meadow Brook?  The owner of site assured me it was, that if I went back and researched old newspapers, I would see the proof.  Than a family relative came on the site and replied that in fact, High Seas was once named Meadow Brook, and that the family had photos of the estate with the caption written under them, "Meadow Brook."  That should be enough to at least quiet those who insist it never was named that, but lets go back in time, as old newspapers allow us to do from time to time, and see what history has to say on the matter.

BAR HARBOR TIMES
Oct. 1, 1924

Meadow Brook, the estate of the late Dr. R.F. Brunnow, recently bought by Mrs. Morris Hawkes, is one of the large and thoroughly modern Bar Harbor homes.  The residence is of brick as is the garage.  The house was built by the late Dr. Brunnow for his own use and its construction throughout is of the highest type.  There is also a considerable acreage on both sides of Schooner Head Road and from the house one gets a magnificent ocean view.

BAR HARBOR TIMES
June 3, 1925

Mrs. Morris Hawkes of New York is at the Miller Cottage.  Mrs. Hawkes is having extensive alterations made at Meadow Brook, the former Brunnow estate, that she purchased last year.  Mrs. Hawkes will soon take up her residence at Meadow Brook.


BAR HARBOR TIMES
August 12, 1916

Brunnow, Prof. Rudolph E. and family, Princeton, N.J. - Meadow Brook, Schooner Head Road (listed under cottage directory of summer residents).


BAR HARBOR RECORD
August 5, 1914
Brunnow, Prof. R. E. and family - Princeton, N.J. - Meadow Brook, Schooner Head Road.  (listed in Bar Harbor cottage directory)

Now I could of copied dozens of directory listings from month to month, year to year, all stating Mr. Burnnow and family were staying at their cottage  at Meadow Brook on the Schooner Head Road, and there are just as many referring to that same cottage as High seas,  the property, while owned by Mr. Brunnow, went by two names - that much is pretty clear.