Category: United States

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“The Hermit of Manana” film

Filmmaker Elisabeth has just finished “The Hermit of Manana,” a documentary film described as

the true story of Ray Phillips, a New York City dropout who lived alone on a tiny isolated island [Manana Island, Maine] for fifty years. The film traces his journey, pieces together the stories of those who knew him, and sifts through the myths which engulf his legacy. While the hermit lifestyle seems outlandish to most, this film shows the value in a life of simplicity and survival.

The film will premiere in New York City on May 30 and be available as a DVD sometime in June (and can be reserved via e-mail now). A trailer is available on the web site Harris has established for the film, plus stills, history, and other information.

Elisabeth Harris has worked on projects for major media firms, including Discovery Channel, PBS, and CBS. She early communicated with Hermitary about the project. The film is a captivating historical documentation with a humane and personable approach.
URL: http://www.thehermitofmanana.com.

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Henry Stuart, “Hermit of Montrose”

“A Hermit’s Refuge Is Now a Writer’s Muse” is a New York Times article about an eccentric in Mobile Bay, Alabama, named Henry Stuart. Stuart was called the “Hermit of Montrose,” and built a concrete hut in the 1920’s where he wove rugs for a living. Local resident Sonny Brewer has published a novel about Stuart entitled The Poet of Tolstoy Park, so named because Stuart had an interest in Tolstoy. Brewer is trying to have the unusual hut declared a national landmark in order to preserve it. Meanwhile, Brewer uses the hut for meditation. His guestbook shows over two thousand visitors to the hut, many interested in communicating with the spirit of Stuart.
URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/07/fashion/sundaystyles/07AUTHOR.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.

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Kenny Salway, Wisconsin hermit & river rat

Kenny Salway lived the hermit life of a “river rat” on a swampy Mississippi River floodplain in Wisconsin. His story became a BBC/Discovery Channel documentary film screened earlier in 2005. Wisconsin Public Radio interviewed Salway in June. He is promoting a new collection of his adventures and also appealing for environmental educational programs. URLs: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/state/minnesota/13316344.htm and http://www.wpr.org/hereonearth/archive_050611j.cfm.

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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.