The LORDS OF MENANTIC ​

Learn more about the real history behind the original musical "The Lords of Menantic" by exploring this companion exhibit.
​View photos, artifacts, and listen to real Shelter Islanders recall this time period. ​

2016.239

Located on what is now known as Daniel Lord Road, The Menantic Grove House was originally owned by the L’Hommedieu family until 1798 when it was sold to Frederic Lewis Gock. Gock sold it to Frederick Herrshoff in 1801 and Herrshoff sold it to Samuel Lord in 1802. The Lord family established their shipbuilding business not far from where this house stood. Eventually, the house and land were inherited by the Rev. Daniel Lord (c. 1844) who became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in 1848.

---

---

According to Daniel M. Lord, " The name Menantic is an Indian name and was said to mean 'Chief of the Island.' In Menantic Creek, just east of the home was an Island at high tide. On this island, when the family moved there, lived an old Indian woman, the last of her tribe, whose name was Hagar! This lonely old woman lived in this island in a shanty in the middle of it, surrounded by trees [...] Hagar's Island was always kept as she left it and was a place where we as children made frequent pilgrimages and dreamed and wondered over the mysteries that were held in that little island Home." ​

---

Image Courtesy of Mariner's Museum & Park, Newport News, VA

"It is not generally known, even by those who have always lived on Shelter Island, that ship building was carried on here some 130 years ago, or about the beginning of the last century. Perhaps the term 'shipbuilding' is not strictly correct, although the vessels that were built here were large enough to cross the ocean with a fair-sized cargo, for those days. The location of the shipyard was on a small tributary of West Neck Creek, not far from the Menantic Grove House. The Inlet on which the boats were built has always been known as shipyard creek.'" 
​
- "History of Shelter Island 1652-1952" by Ralph G. Duvall 

---

THE STORY OF THE PARAGON
​(A True Story)

As told by Alice Tullis Lord Parsons ​

LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE LORD FAMILY
THROUGH THE WRITINGS OF
​ DANIEL MINER LORD

A BIT OF HISTORY OF THE LORD FAMILY AND THEIR MIGRATION FROM CONNECTICUT TO SHELTER ISLAND

INTERESTING REMINISCENCES
​OF DANIEL MINER LORD, VIII

---

ORAL HISTORIES ABOUT THE LORD FAMILY 

Learn more about the Lord family through the talks given by William Anderson Sr. and Jeanette Rattray

​Willam Anderson Sr. 

The Lord Family 

​Jeannette Rattray ​

(Ship Building/Lord Family/ The paragon starts around the 23:00 mark)