Reef Point was the coastal “cottage” of Mary Cadwalder Rawle and Frederic Rhinelander Jones, the parents of landscape architect, Beatrix Farrand (1872–1959).
Wide verandas from which to view the sea were embroidered by vines of clematis and honeysuckle while the structure itself was shielded from the strong ocean winds by red and white spruce trees.
This property played an instrumental role in Beatrix Farrand’s life and her dedication to the estate with particular attention to the grounds was a lifelong and heartfelt endeavor.
Conversely, groupings of numerous types of azaleas demonstrated how seemingly exotic plants could survive the severe Maine climate.
A devastating fire on Mount Desert Island in 1947 wiped out much of Bar Harbor's tax base, and the town badly needed its few taxpayers to assist with the cost of recovery.
The main house at Reef Point was dismantled; however some fixtures, materials, and architectural elements were salvaged for reuse in the construction of Farrand's extension and addition to the Garland farmhouse.
Charles Kenneth Savage, local innkeeper, garden designer and board member, conceived of bold plan to rescue Farrand’s plants from the estate.