The Republican journal., 1905-07-13
THE SHEAS' SUMNER HOME
On the North shore, Northpor,

On the North Shore, NOrthport.
The Boston Sunday Globe of July End had
an Illustrated write-up of the summer home
of Thomas E. Shea. There were four illus
trations, the cottage, the entrance hall, the
rustic steps to the beach, and Mr. and Mrs
Shea and an automobile party. Following
is the article:
The summer home of Thomas E. Shea,
the actor, is on the north shore of Belfast
bay at East Northport, Me.
It is surrounded on three sides by green
fields and woods, and at the front the ocean
rolls in almost to the foot of the rustic
stairway, which leads up over the terraced
lawn.
Its exterior style of architecture is agree
ably lacking i'll display, and that of its in
terror is nOticeably designed for the pur-
pose of affording the greatest convenience,
comfort and pleasure possible to Mr.. Shea S
family and the many guests which they
entertain.
The lower piazza is 10 feet wide, carpeted
with mating and decorated and furnished
in true Japanese style. The piazza is
brilliantly lighted at night, as are also the
house and grounds, from Mr.. Shea's private
gas plant.
The upper of the two front piazzas,
though less elaborate in its furnishings, is,
however, the envy of every cottager of the
vicinity, for it affords an uninterrupted
view of II miles across the bay and from
one point to the other of the crescent which
the shore line forms, while Mt. Desert, Mt
Waldo, Bluehill and innumerable smaller
mountains make distant background.
The first floor includes the parlors, music
room, dining room and entrance hall, with
walls and ceilings freScoed in colorS which
harmonic with the furnishings. There are
no doors between these rooms, but the
narrow partitions which divide them are
outlined with elaborate grilleS which give a
strikingly oriental effect. especially when
lighted by the blazing logs in the fireplace.
The library is in the tower, and the style
of its sumptuOus furnishings make of it a
delightful den as we'll. There Mr.. Shea
spends the hours which he each day sets
apart for study and reading throughout the
contain, besides classics, many books in
tended to satisfy the varying moods of
any visitor.
The entrance to the grounds for carriages
and automobiles is through rustic gate
way, which includes in its decorations the
word "ferndale,' the name of this chaIm-
ing retreat, and at another side of the es-
tate rustic foot bridge affords the most de
lightful means of approach possible.
This bridge is built over natural ra-
vine, which divides Mr.. Shea's grounds
from those of his neighbors on one side,
anu Oh lie OppOSll0 Slu6 Is tue SdIll6 KIM OF
dividing line, though not as deep, which
gives the opportunity for a secluded nook
named the "bird's nest" The nest extends
out among the birches over brook border
ed with ferns through which the water
merrily sings on its way to the sea.
Mr.. Shea was born and educated in Cam
bridge, Mass, and has always retained a
residence in the city of his birth, where his
brother, eX-Representative James J. Shea,
still resides.
He is an indefatgable worker, an expert
autOmObiliSt and devotee of lawn tennis,
which he plays, if possible, each day from
4 p. m. until Interrupted by his dinner hour
He is director in the Belfast, Me-, ma
tlonal bank, three miles from his home, and
his advice and judgment are frequently So
llcited by public officials and private bust
ness men of that city.
His professional career was begun under
the direction of Rachael Noah, and for sew
eral seasons he supported her in the small
productions which she gave in Boston and
the neighboring cities.
His first departure from amateur work
was in repertoire under the management of
Harry j. Chapman. This engagement was
but for one year, and he then Joined Charles
AtkinSon's company, and remained men,
Der for three years. At the end of this time
ne assumed his own management and re-
tanned it until last season, when he relin-
4uished it to go out under that of Nixon IL
Zimmerman.
His repertoire for the coming season will
include "The Bells,' CDR. Jekyll and Mr..
HYDE ''The FOOLS Revenge "Othello,"
"Richelieu, Banished by the King" and
The Great Adventurer," a new play,
which will be given precedence.
The latter is a Napoleonic play, requiring
the most elaborate appointments, and fol-
lows closely the generally accepted depc-
ton of Napoleon which John S. c. Abbott
has so ably given in his history of this
much-discussed, but little understood ruler.
Better financial success than an artis-
tic beggar,' has always been Mr.. Shea's
motto, and while he has constantly worked
for the artistic side he has never lost sight
of the practical.
Mr.. Shea has just refused an offer for six
weeks engagement in Irish cities, beginning
IN Dublin and closing in Belfast, preferring
to devote the time to the perfecting of his
new play and to the rest which he believes
every actor should indulge in after win
ter'S work.