The Denkers Family

Exceptional Island Caretakers

Interests: Carpentry/stonemasonry, books, music, history.

Caretaking is a lifestyle for some; for the Denkers family it was a chance for a unique extended family vacation. They responded to an ad in The Caretaker Gazette for summer caretakers on Seguin Island off the coast of Maine and were accepted by the non-profit organization, Friends of Seguin Island.

The Denkers are a family of four from Florence, Ontario. Harry is a carpenter with an established clientele, and Lawrene works with Harry, writes for the local paper, and does some secretarial work. Rachel and Anna arranged to miss a month of school and were given work by their teachers for island home schooling.

The island is three miles from shore at the mouth of the Kennebec River, with a 201 year history of lighthouse keepers. The Friends of Seguin, incorporated in 1986, now maintain and preserve the island and buildings.

Their duties included cutting grass, greeting and giving tours to visitors, trimming trails, sweeping the tower, museum and quarters, making repairs, painting and shingling. They had plenty of time for the books they brought along. The girls practiced violin, explored, played, swam, and read.

“Three months is a long time to be away from ‘real life’ and it isn’t possible every year, but our Seguin experience put things into perspective. It was just as much ‘real life’ as is home.”