Friday, June 29, 2012

Mary Barr Munroe

During 1886-87, a hundred years before I came to So. FL, Mary Barr Munroe decided to make Coconut Grove her winter home. Before long, she made her winter home a permanent home.  She stamped the Grove with distinctiveness that continues to this day.  The Grove was then called the Frontier in a virgin land.  She was the daughter of Amelia Barr, famous 19th Century novelist.

Mary Barr was ahead of her time.  Her kindness to everyone, including Indians, fishermen, and black families, made her one of the most popular women in the community. An arden ecologist, she was known to snatch egret feathers off the hats of popular ladies, making her most unpopular. She never had a child of her own, but she helped raise all the local children, regardless of color.  Her straw hat was her trademark.

Part of our So. FL history.
Blessings,
Janet
Visit Paint Party Friday to see other artists.

23 comments:

  1. This drawing is just lovely... it is hard to capture likeness but you have also managed to capture a real atmosphere... xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Loving the story and the portrait. Happy PPF, Annette x

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is nice, drawing real people with a history. Nice to capture their character in a drawing. I'm always planning to draw saints. There are some with some really strange stories! Patsy

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an interesting story! Thanks for sharing it. Your sketch is lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nice painting , nice tribute to Ms Munroe.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a fascinating woman she was. Wouldn't you have loved to have met her? You did a great job sketching her, quite a good likeness.

    ReplyDelete
  7. loved learning a little about Mary and seeing your lovely sketch of her.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The drawing is lovley. Mary Barr sounds like she was a inspiration. Happy PPF

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love to hear about the History of a place. You did a wonderful Tribute to her and a great drawing too. Happy PPF.

    ReplyDelete
  10. She must have been a great lady! thanks for the tip about the Dixie Truckers home, if I get back to Illinois again I will give it a visit! Valerie

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wonderful sketch and love the history ~~ thanks, ^_^ (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for sharing your piece of history! I'd be her friend....I have many friends similar to her! Lovely illustration!

    Hugs Giggles

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lovely sketch of an exceptional woman!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Cool history. She must have been quite a character

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love hearing all the background on your sketch. What an amazing woman she was!
    Catherine Denton

    ReplyDelete
  16. what a wonderful story! its so rare to be a person so ahead of one's time and of such character. Great drawing too!

    ReplyDelete
  17. an inspiring woman! You capture her well:)

    ReplyDelete
  18. Beautiful portrait of a great woman.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Jeanine, thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving such a sweet comment. I have reciprocated and am now following your lovely blog. Cheers, Chris
    http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Please forgive me, I meant Janet - was looking at the lovely portrait of Jeanine. Hugs, Chris

    ReplyDelete
  21. I always learn something here:-) You captured a great look with lots of character on her face.

    ReplyDelete
  22. fab sketch and thanks for sharing her story. And thank you so much for your kind words on my blog last week. So sweet!

    ReplyDelete