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The Inspiration for the Series
The Isle of Hope Series was painted to commemorate the homestead of my husband's family. The McIntosh house was located at 35 Island Drive, Isle of Hope, Georgia. It's original owner was my husband's namesake and grandfather - Olin Talley McIntosh, Sr. He raised his family there and the house remained in the family until 2002 when it was sold and later demolished.
It was my pleasure to visit there and the series reflects some of the
wonderful memories of those experiences in watercolor. During my visits, my father-in-law, John Mohr McIntosh, Sr., shared many of his fondest Isle of Hope memories with me. He stated that he grew up in the depression and many of his friends would ride the trolley to Isle of Hope to stay with him as long as his mother would feed them. They would go out on the river and catch their supper each day. At that time, they had a football field, a mini golf course, a baseball field, acres of gardens, and too many water toys to mention. Due to the size of his family, he and a brother slept on the porch until the older siblings moved out of the house.
What a grand life...
This excerpt from an article written in 1945 will give you some insight to the flavor of the McIntosh homestead
" The McIntosh family lives on Demere Point at Isle of Hope.
Their dock is usually surrounded with various craft, for they have four sailboats there and one powerboat. The dock has been referred to as the Isle of Hope Navy Yard, and when the whole family, with the grandchildren and other relatives, gets down on the dock it is a scene of activity almost unparalleled in these waters. Strangers have been reported to spend half the afternoon getting to the end of the dock just because they meet so many McIntoshes."
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