An Eden Out of a Country Farm: Purity and Progress in the Landscapes of The Poland Spring Resort

Abstract

For the Ricker Family, proprietors of the Poland Spring Hotel, Maine’s landscape was significant because its richness translated into riches. Scenery conveyed powerful images and metaphors that appealed to urban elites. The various overlays of meaning - geological, aboriginal, agricultural, Arcadian, and industrial landscapes - suggest the evocative appeal of Maine’s countryside for urban travelers escaping the perils and frustrations of urban, industrial life.