Wendell Beckwith, Best Island recluse

A Globe and Mail story (Oct. 11, 2005) about Wendell Beckwith, an amateur scientist who lived a reclusive life on Best Island, Ontario (Canada). American-born Beckwith hand-built an elaborate home in the woods, conducted scientific observations, and entertained a stream of visitors before his death at 65 in 1980. The Ministry of Natural Resources is mulling over whether to refurbish the isolated place or let it take its course in the wild. Concludes the article:

Ernie Nichols is a float pilot who lives in Armstrong and is one of the few locals to remember Mr. Beckwith. “He was a very intelligent man, but he was, at heart, a recluse,” he said. “He would have wanted it all just to go back to nature.”

URL: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/
TPStory/LAC/20051011/RECLUSE11/TPNational/TopStories
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Noah John Rondeau in NYT

A fine travel article entitled “Following a Hermit’s Footsteps” in The New York Times (October 7, 2005) describes the Adirondack Mountains of New York State, the Northville-Placid Trail, and the vicinity where hermit Noah John Rondeau lived in the forests until 1950. There are details of his life as well as details for potential travelers. An entry about Rondeau was made in this blog on December 16, 2004. URL: http://travel2.nytimes.com/2005/10/07/travel/escapes/07hike.html.
Brought to our attention by a friend of Hermitary.