I came to the island as a visitor when I was a child (with my artist mom), and I was at that young age when I was determined to live here as an adult. After commuting bi-weekly while in college, I moved to the island in the early 80s and have been part of the community for over 30 years now, having built this house in 1995. Because the island has a high cost of living, I rent out my home during the summer months and move to a modest apartment. I enjoy meeting new people and sharing my beautiful home with others who are experiencing the island for the first time. I have it filled with art, books, plants, and creative ventures. I am a silkscreen printmaker and crafter, and also work with databases as the Content Systems Manager for IBP, a non-profit organization that helps undergraduate minority students find graduate work in the sciences.

My home on Monhegan Island is a very special place, and I hope to be able to share it with others for a long time to come! I feel everyone that stays here is paying it forward to allow me to continue to be part of this unique community.

Cynthia Charles purchased this house in 1995

This is a special and unique property on the island for many reasons... the first is that it's located in a great spot - halfway between the village and the high cliffs. It is literally a 5 minute walk from the house to get to either one.

The second is that it's on a quiet road, in a quiet spot, with trees around the property. My guests do not have to contend with the noise of the trucks on the road, the tourist activities and noise in the village, the lights, and the 'hustle and bustle' of the busy summer islanders - they can relax in peace, look out the windows at birds at the feeders, watch the lighthouse beacon make it's way around the island/sea, and enjoy the quiet of island life.

I also feed the birds on this property - which on Monhegan is extra special because the island is a migratory stop-off for many species of birds that fly the eastern flyway. The spring and fall migrations bring many birdwatchers, photographers, and Audubon groups to observe many species unseen in this part of the country. Many of these can be seen from my windows or sitting on my deck.

and...I can't help but mention too that there is an ice cream/pizza shop right at the bottom of the hill!

This house has many unique benefits because it's not a cottage rental, but is my home for most of the year.

I will start with the first most important benefit, and that is that I have my own drilled well and my water is good fresh clear drinking water from the faucet. There are not many homes on the island that offer that, most cottages and homes have 'town water' - that has been pumped from a large meadow in the center of town (it is a sole-source aquifer, with well points sunk), and pumped into large holding tanks at the top of a hill, and then it's gravity-fed to the houses on the island. The water is treated occasionally, and is tested ... but it does not compare to the quality of the well water at this house.

Another benefit is that my house includes the option of using heat if you come in the off season and need to take the chill off. The majority of island rentals do not offer heat.

Because my house is a not a typical rental cottage, it's filled with artwork, plants, rugs, books, DVD/TV, wireless internet and many other amenities that are not included in most rentals.

I will mention again that my house sits in a quiet and private spot - there are very few houses that can be rented on Monhegan that have that benefit... which I find important for people that are coming to the island for a peaceful vacation, or to watch birds, or have a retreat after a long busy day hiking and taking in what the island community has to offer.