August 1997 i am honored to have been asked in 1980 by harlan hubbard to help with the work of the hubbards home and land here at. My father wanted to read the harlan hubbard book, payne hollow, primarily because he owns property just across the ohio river on the indiana side, and the hubbards way of life has become local legend. I couldnt imagine asking them to pose for me or to take photos of them surreptitiously. It tells of harlan and annas voyage of explorations. Life on the fringe of society, his sequel telling of their life in a corner of rural kentucky after their return, won him a host of readers. At the beginning of this volume harlan hubbard writes, when we are away from payne hollow, that place does not seem real or possible. Life on the fringe of society provides an account of a selfmade alternative lifestyle in early 1950s payne hollow, ky. Harlan and anna hubbard removed themselves from 20th century industrial society to live a simple selfsufficient life on a shantyboat down the ohio and mississippi rivers and later in a home in payne hollow, kentucky, overlooking the ohio river. It was there that the hubbards lived lives that have been describedby whom. Shantyboat on the bayous by harlan hubbard overdrive. Anna and harlan hubbard died in 1986 and 1988, respectively. His book shantyboat in the bayous, which was published in 1990, completes the story. Life on the fringe of society, with the inscription. After their journey had ended, the hubbards settled down and built a cabin on a sevenacre property in payne hollow, a riverside valley located in trimble county, kentucky, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
Reading time from harlan hubbards payne hollow a secret. Payne hollow journal by harlan hubbard 2009, paperback. Payne hollow journal by harlan hubbard paperback, 2009 for. Shantyboat on the bayous by harlan hubbard, hardcover. Jul 17, 20 harlan hubbard was inspired by his injunction to go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life on the fringe of society provides an account of a selfmade alternative lifestyle in early 1950 s america. Life on the fringe of society 9780917788666 by hubbard, harlan and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Harlan hubbard was kentuckys thoreau, and his journals are int. Anna at their homestead as well as hubbards paintings in color.
The following column was published in the august 1997 friends of the hubbards newsletter. Theirs is a story of a harlan hubbard understood early on that there was a price to be paid for a rapidly mechanizing society, both to the environment and in terms of personal freedom and fulfillment. It tells of harlan and anna s voyage of explorations. Harlan hubbard stands in 1974 under the sign for payne hollow where the hubbards built their home along the ohio river in trimble county, kentucky. An intimate and inspiring testament by kentucky s own thoreau, hubbard s journals record a life lived in harmony with nature. Close to fine illustrated by hubbard stiff wraps with strong spine and clean text. Harlan was born january 4th, 1900, in bellevue, kentucky.
Shantyboat, hubbards recounting of their journey to new orleans, and payne hollow. The significance of this first meeting spot, however, is not lost on hill who says, the significance of the fact that the studio was built by harlan hubbard was something i grew to appreciate several years later at the urging of bill thomas when i first read hubbards book payne hollow and was later inspired by his artwork at the. Fort thomas hidden studio named to national register. He seldom reads for pleasure, but couldnt put this little book down, and it has already been passed among several family members, including me. Life on the fringe, harlan hubbard tells how he came to settle down in this nonfiction. But a visit to the hubbards home through the payne hollow journal is ample explanation for anyone who has ever yearned to lead a life of simplicity and purpose. Here harlan also shows how dedication to work that provides sustenance gardening, wood chopping, fishing, foraging, and raising goats can also be fulfilling.
Reflecting on harlan hubbards watercolors leo weekly. An intimate and inspiring testament by kentuckys own thoreau, hubbards journals record a life lived in harmony with nature. Payne hollow journal by harlan hubbard 2009, paperback for. Reading time from harlan hubbards payne hollow dangling my feet in the river while age casts fruitlessly in the dusk while the frogs and crickets provide the soundtrack. There is about harlans account of their years in the sleepy bayou country a dreamy, drifting quality, full of sunlight and dark water beneath overhanging trees draped with spanish moss. In payne hollow, you will read of 30 plus years of living by his own methods and means. Hubbard recounted their years of journeying the ohio and mississippi rivers to new orleans in his book shantyboat. In 1951, harlan and anna built a simple home at payne hollow on the shore of the ohio river in trimble county, kentucky. His father is frank gilbert hubbard, a house painter and inventor, his mother is rose. The story of harlan and anna hubbard, who started as shantyboaters on the ohio and mississippi rivers. Here you can read excerpts from harlan hubbards writings and learn a bit more about the beautiful life of anna and harlan hubbard, who lived a simple, elegant lifestyle at a place called payne hollow on the banks of the ohio river, just across from madison, indiana. Anna and harlan hubbard lived with independence, creativity and joy. A wonderful survey by his close friend and neighbor wendell berry. A river way of life, payne hollow journal, and the woodcuts of harlan hubbard.
Anna and harlan hubbard, refusing to adopt the industrial positioning provided, built a. The third and climactic volume, payne hollow journal, contains entries from the years he and his wife, anna, lived at their payne hollow home along the ohio rivers kentucky shore. Out of this journal grew harlan hubbards enduring classic, shantyboat, and his idyllic shantyboat on the bayous. It was there that the hubbards lived lives that have been described by whom. Their trips and payne hollow years, documented in his 12 books, have elevated his reputation for his commitment to living with nature. Shantyboat, hubbard s recounting of their journey to new orleans, and payne hollow. By turns poetic and practical, payne hollow journal celebrates nature s intense beauty and sometimes harsh realities as perhaps only an artist can see them. I walked up into the hollow where the hubbards home sat high on the left bank. Apr 11, 2012 anna and harlan hubbard lived life as few people in modern times have and in doing so accomplished at least two things that are very rarecontentment and freedom. Harlan hubbard continues his life story from shantyboat.
Payne hollow journal by harlan hubbard paperback, 2009. Both are buried below their home in payne hollow, which is now owned by paul hassfurder, a madison, ind. A book by harlan hubbard will be available in the museum store. Buy a cheap copy of payne hollow life book by harlan hubbard. I didnt take any photographs of the hubbards, just the photo of the house you see here. See more ideas about kentucky, artist and shanty boat. About the author harland hubbard 19001988 was a writer and artist. Harlan hubbard removed himself from 20th century industrial society to live a simple selfsufficient life on a shantyboat down the ohio and mississippi rivers and later in a home in payne hollow, kentucky, overlooking the ohio river. Anna and harlan hubbard lived life as few people in modern times have and in doing so accomplished at least two things that are very rarecontentment and freedom. Harlan hubbard was inspired by his injunction to go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life on the fringe of society provides an account of a selfmade alternative lifestyle in early 1950s america. The third and climactic volume, payne hollow journal, contains entries from the years he and his wife, anna, lived at their payne hollow home along the ohio river s kentucky shore. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
Payne hollow tells part of their story, their way of life and interaction with the small community nearby. His book shantyboat recounts the eightyear journey from brent to new orleans. Author wendell berry was a close friend of hubbards who wrote and lectured on the hubbards lives. The thoreau society, curious about these kentucky role models from payne hollow, last week invited filmmaker morgan atkinson to concord, massachusetts, for a screening of his documentary, wonder. His later payne hollow is a thoreauvian testament to the values embodied in the homesteading life the hubbards lived for four decades after they completed their epic river journey. Life on the fringe of society is a book written by harlan hubbard. People even refer to hubbard as the henry david thoreau of kentucky. Don walliss season by season arrangement of the payne hollow entries reflects the seasonal changes in harlan and his life as well as in the natural world around him. Shantyboat on the bayous is the middle chapter of the hubbard saga.
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