Books
Generations: 1891 -1940 Living on the Islands of Boston Harbor
August Reekast was a very well know lobster fisherman who lived and worked his trade off Outer Brewster Island; also was a boat Captain for Julia Arthur. Ms. Arthur (an actress in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s) and her husband Benjamin P. Cheney were the owner’s of Calf Island and a beautiful Mansion which overlooked the Harbor. In 1908 the Reekast family lost everything in the Chelsea Massachusetts Fire, having no other option, moved their eight children to the.....
Flames of Chelsea ~ 1908
The Year is 1908, Chelsea Massachusetts, Palm Sunday, April 12, the fire bells rang…a split second in time was all it took for my great grandparents, August and Christina Reekast and their eight children…August Jr, Nettie, Annie, John, Lillian, Lena, Ida and Teddy to lose everything. A Massive fire ripped through the City of Chelsea, Massachusetts, the flames, so intense, the glow was seen one hundred twenty miles away off the coast line of Maine. This monster was reported to.....
Julia Arthur Queen of Calf Island Boston Harbor
Julia Arthur Cheney, born Ida Lewis in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on May 3, 1869. The fifth of sixteen children, young Ida studied Shakespeare at home under her mothers guidance. By the age of eleven, Julia found herself leaving the comforts of her home traveling and performing all over the country on the American stage. She later left America for London to share the stage with, Sir Henry Irving to become one of the worlds most brilliant Shakespearian stage actresses of.....