The things that made The Ford House stand out for us were its' proximity to the ocean and the sunniest side of the island, and its' history. Having done our homework on six time Oscar-winning director, John Ford, one of the only photos where we found him actually smiling was gardening on our front lawn as he faced the ocean! When we watch some of his films like How Green Was My Valley, or The Quiet Man, or Mogombo, we fancy we see images much like those on film from the front porch or nearby sea wall. We wonder sometimes if we are seeing some of his early inspiration. We've populated the house with posters from some of his films featuring the biggest stars of the day. Among the many DVDs we've purchased for the house is a section devoted to his films which span from the early 1900 silents through the 1960s. If you are a TCM lover, you'll have fun here.
If you are not into cinema, no worries. The cottage, itself, is a sweet gem with spaces for reading, writing, snoozing, cooking, entertaining, playing, sunning, etc., etc... you get the idea. Its' fabulous location makes it a great fit for people who like to walk, bike, or run in the sunshine. It is just as close to the open access, Maine protected forest behind where the hiker or lover of solitude can have a field day. Many visitors rent golf carts to "back country" around the island. Because the cottage is not more than a 20 minute stroll "Downfront," it is possible to rent one fairly easily. The grocery store, post office, library, many restaurants, gas station, churches, and other amenities are in the same area. While one certainly has the feeling of being "away" in our neighborhood, one is never actually too far from civilization!