William Mitchell’s Fig

Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • May 3, 2021

I believe I have noted before that some of the plants that are located in the garden that immediately borders the Mitchell House on the south and east side has plants that were once supposedly found in William Mitchell’s garden. They were noted by his friend, John Quincy Adams. Yes, THAT Adams.


A “purple fig” was one such plant. And because of this, quite a few years ago, I purchased one. I had no variety to go on and I attempted to find something that was an older variety though it is not a “heirloom.” I diligently tend to it and bring it inside for the winter either to my winter office or my home, depending. It is planted up in a Guy Wolff pot – a Peale Pot – to be exact. It is inspired by a portrait by Rembrandt Peale of his brother, Rubens, titled “Rubens Peale with a Geranium” from 1801. So, it’s a historically inspired terracotta pot close to when the Mitchells were living at 1 Vestal Street. (Yes, I even put thought into t terracotta pot!) I am a fan of Charles Willson Peale’s art; he was an artist and naturalist who opened his own museum. And yes, he named his children after famous artists and scientists for the most part. And all of them pretty much went into art or the sciences – with a few holdouts. He had three wives and quite a few children with his first two wives. And, when you call to order a Guy Wolff pot, you get, Guy Wolff. He was quite lovely and helpful!


But I digress.


My Father was a BIG fig fan. Almonds, raspberries, and figs. He didn’t care if it was a fig tart, a Fig Newtown, or a bowl of fresh, whole figs eaten sitting on the sofa. I, myself, was never a fan of fresh figs. My father purchased two fig plants some twenty plus years ago when my parents moved to a new house. And, I didn’t realize how much he knew about figs until I bought the one for the Mitchell House. At that time, he told me all about how they were grown, and being Italian, how the Italian families would have them, even in the smallest paces in New Haven, CT (I hale from that area) and that they would plant them up against an apartment house/multi-family dwelling even in the smallest place. And then, before frost, bend them down to the ground and bury them to keep them safe, even covering them with blankets for the winter. My Father, a grandson of Italian immigrants, never talked much of his Italian heritage but it seemed to come out when he would recall certain plants, such as figs or even his grandmother- Mama Minnie’s – gardenia bushes.


The fig plant I bought never seems to fruit. I think once, maybe, it developed one fig, but it rotted and fell off. But just the other day, when I needed it most, and took a moment in this busy world to breathe, I realized it had developed three small figs! I sort of felt like my Father was sending me something. I’m hoping they continue to grow so that I can sit on my sofa, with a bowl of three fresh figs, and eat them one at a time.  I will thank William Mitchell and, of course, I will thank my Father.


JNLF

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Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 22, 2026
1875, June 20. A meeting of the Officers of Congress was called at the house of Mrs. Hanaford, 5 Summit Ave., Jersey City. The weather was intensely cold. I went to New York on the 19 th and stopped with my friend Mrs. Clapp, 100 W. 54 St . . . .It was a question who should preside. Mrs. Hanaford thought the Chairman of the Executive Committee should and I had been told that I should, etc. The question was decided by the non-arrival of the Chairman of Ex.Com. I called them to order at an hour after the time appointed. Of course I made many blunders, as I have never presided before, but I continued for 4 hours. We did a few good things . . . The thing most weighing on Maria’s mind at this meeting was the looseness of membership for the Congress. She felt people were not being vetted properly in some areas of the country and thus they may allow in “undesirables.” I would take this to mean women who were not entirely behind the cause of the Congress and the Association for the Advancement of Women. I am not surprised by her suspicions and likely she was correct – one could see naysayers gaining access to this group and trying to destroy it from the inside. The women’s rights movement would have many schisms within it as people disagreed and broke into smaller factions.  Another important thing to point out is that Mrs. Hanaford is Nantucket-born Phebe Coffin Hanaford. Raised a Quaker, like Maria, Coffin Hanaford would become the first woman Universalist minister in New England – among many other firsts. She grew up with Maria, attended and taught at the Coffin School here on Nantucket, and was a founding member of another women’s organization, Sorosis, which Maria was also a founding member of. It’s nice to see two sister Nantucketers continuing to work together as adults – far from home! JNLF

Pick A Picket

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • June 15, 2026
After many, many years of service, our picket fences are getting a much needed replacement. We are starting with the fence on the north side of Vestal Street along the front of the Maria Mitchell Vestal Street Observatory (MMO). This fence is being replaced with part of a grant from the Community Preservation Act. The grant was for the exterior conservation work and landscape issues related to the MMO. The current fence is approximately thirty-five years old so it did rather well. It had replaced a very old fence – one I wish we had kept! But it had been hit many times by cars and had so much paint on it, they decided to replace it. We have small part of that fence still and we will be reproducing it for all the fences we are replacing here on Vestal. The fence is not much different than a normal picket here on island – it’s a hair shorter but it also has a sort of rolled top – not this cut style. I am excited to have this fence back! The new fences are being built by Michael Gault – owner of Gault Woodworking and a Nantucket Preservation Trust Traditional Building Methods award winner. His work is incredible – and lucky for us – he loves building fences!  So keep an eye out – work has begun already. The south side where the MMA Research Center and Hinchman House are located will be done in the fall in the same style. JNLF

Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Welcomes Rich Sotell, CFP for “The Science of Money” For June Science Speaker Series

June 10, 2026
NANTUCKET, MA – On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium, Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, Historic Mitchell House, Vestal Street Observatory, Loines Observatory, and the Maria Mitchell Association Research Center will open for the 2026 summer season. The Historic Mitchell House, located at 1 Vestal Street, will be open for tours Monday–Friday, 10:00AM– 4:00PM, and Saturday 10:00AM–1:00PM. Built in 1790, this traditional Quaker house was acquired by the Mitchell family in 1818. The home became a museum in 1903 after the Maria Mitchell Association’s (MMA) founders acquired the House in 1902 to preserve the legacy of one of Nantucket’s most celebrated daughters. The House contains many stunning artifacts from the Mitchells’ daily life in the nineteenth century, including many of Maria’s personal items such as beer mugs, opera glasses, and her Dollond telescope. The House is well known for the remarkably preserved example of faux-wood grain painting in the kitchen from the 1850s. The Vestal Street Observatory, next to the Historic Mitchell House, will be open for tours Monday – Saturday, 11:00AM–1:00PM. Built in 1908, the Observatory’s original dome now houses an 11-inch research telescope. Public accessible spaces include the Astronomical Study which displays historic astronomical collections, including Maria Mitchell’s 5-inch Alvan Clark telescope from 1858, and the Pillar Room where changing exhibits are featured. The current exhibit, “The Mitchells: A Family Constellation” showcases members of the Mitchell Family. The MMA Aquarium, located at 32 Washington Street, will be open Monday–Friday, 10:00AM–4:00PM, and Saturday 10:00AM–1:00PM. Located on the waterfront of Nantucket Harbor, the MMA Aquarium displays local Nantucket species and offers an immersive place to learn about the amazing marine life of the island. Displays are consistently evolving and range from crabs and shellfish to fish and eels. All the hungry creatures at the Aquarium are fed daily during our “Feeding Frenzy” program, where attendees learn about and observe the unique feeding behaviors of our animal ambassadors. All ambassadors of the MMA Aquarium are locally collected and are re-released back into the wild at the end of the season during the annual “Release Day" event, scheduled for Saturday, October 10 this year. The Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, located at 7 Milk Street, will be open Monday–Friday, 10:00AM–4:00PM, and Saturday 10:00AM–1:00PM. An exciting space for inquisitive minds of all ages, the Natural Science Museum is a cross between a classic natural history museum and a science center. It is a beloved place to learn about the plants, animals, and birds of Nantucket. All the hungry creatures at the Museum are fed daily during our “Ravenous Reptiles” program, where one can learn about the unique adaptations of turtles, frogs, snakes, and more. The “Keeper for a Day” program, new this year, allows children and young teen participants to prepare diets, feed members of our living collection, clean and refresh enclosures, and learn how to keep the MMA animal ambassadors healthy and thriving. The Loines Observatory, located at 59 Milk Street Extension, will be open to the public for Stargazing Open Nights from 9:30-10:30PM Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through June 27. Beginning June 29 through August, Open Nights will be offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Please view our calendar at www.mariamitchell.org/calendar for up-to-date information as Open Night times will change throughout the summer. All Open Nights are pre-registered programs and are weather dependent. When a special natural occurrence is forecast in the night sky – such as meteor showers, a new comet, or a lunar eclipse – the Loines Observatory is the place to be. During Stargazing Open Nights, visitors can view a variety of astronomical objects in the night sky through our 8-inch Alvan Clark refractor and our modern 24-inch research telescope. MMA staff will lead constellation tours, and patrons can learn about the innovative research conducted by our astronomers and interns – a fantastic opportunity for all your astronomy-related questions to be asked and answered. The Maria Mitchell Association Research Center, located at 2 Vestal Street, will host “Biological Collections Open Hours” by appointment only. At Open Hours, visitors can learn about the biological collections and their importance to science, in addition to examining different specimens during each session. From specimens of birds and mammals to insects and plants, you never know what will be on display! Appointments can be scheduled by emailing programs@mariamitchell.org. MMA Property Passes can be purchased for the Aquarium, Hinchman House Natural Science Museum, the Historic Mitchell House, and the Vestal Street Observatory. A property pass includes admission to the four museum sites. The cost of a property pass is $24 for children and $42 for adults. Open Night admission at Loines Observatory is $17 for children and $27 for adults. Admission to MMA properties is free to MMA Members and Stargazing Open Nights and all programs are discounted 20% for members of the MMA as well. The Maria Mitchell Association was founded in 1902 to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. After she discovered a comet in 1847, Mitchell’s international fame led to many achievements and awards, including an appointment as the first professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Maria Mitchell believed in “learning by doing” and today that philosophy is reflected in the MMA’s mission statement, programs, research projects, and other activities. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages. ####
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