Celebrating Pride at Sarah Orne Jewett House

In a celebration of love and community, Sarah Orne Jewett House in South Berwick, Maine, welcomed the LGBTQ+ community and allies for an enchanting evening at its third annual Pride Garden Party. 

Last week, Historic New England partnered with Seacoast Outright to host the Pride Garden Party on the grounds of Sarah Orne Jewett House. Jewett is best-known as a prominent Maine author (the 1896 novel, Country of the Pointed Firs, is her most famous work), this event celebrates her enduring romance and partnership with Annie Fields. Jewett took inspiration from many areas, including her home community of South Berwick, but it’s fair to say her favorite muse was Annie. In the past, the voices of LGBTQ+ community were hidden away, their stories never heard. Now in its third year, the Pride Garden Party is held as a celebration of their love story and the love stories of the LGBTQ+ community today and in the future. 

A highlight of the celebration was the opportunity to meet Sarah, Annie, and their close friend Sarah Wyman Whitman. Sarah and Annie mingled with guests who were eager to learn more about them and encouraged visitors to tour the first floor of the marvelous home that was an inspiration for many of Jewett’s works. Whitman, who designed the covers for many of Jewett’s books, wandered about the garden, sketching garden blooms and guests. Sarah and Annie delighted their visitors by reading poetry that each had written, inspired by the other. 

Musicians from Full Circle Violin and Fiddle performed at the Pride Garden Party for the third year. The soft sounds of their acoustic guitar and fiddle created a romantic, yet energetic, soundtrack for the evening. Guests nibbled on refreshments provided by Julie Dunfey Catering and sipped seasonal cocktails mixed by DeeLuxe Bartending as they walked through the gardens.

This year, we added a new element to the party: a tarot card reader. Jewett and her circle of friends were Spiritualists, and they often invited mediums to hold seances at their parties. To honor Jewett’s traditions, we invited Jezmina Von Thiele, a tarot card reader who follows her family’s Romani traditions, to interpret spiritual messages for guests through card readings. 

As the evening wrapped up, Sarah and Annie waved goodbye to their guests, commenting on how lucky they were to be surrounded by this beautiful community. While the evening may have started off as a simple garden party, it was clear to all that attended that it was a celebration of love, endearment, and being true to oneself. 

Sarah Orne Jewett House is open for tours Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays May 31–October 15. To learn more about Sarah Orne Jewett and Annie Fields’ enduring romance, join us for Dear Fuff: Sarah Orne Jewett Pride Tour, on July 7, August 4, or September 8, 2024.

Written by Alyssa Sweet, Site Manager, Southern Maine