The Seashells of Pencil Factory Island
“Little Mary Fagan went to town one day. She went to the pencil factory to get her little pay.” ~ Line from a ballad displayed at The Cedar Key Historical Museum. A Mary Fagan was listed on the Atensa Otie grave marker list from the late 1800s.
The first thing we saw upon landing our kayak on Atensa Otie Island, about a mile off the coast of Cedar Key, was a dead animal in the sand. Joe thought it was a raccoon, but I thought it too thin to be a raccoon and guessed it to be a coyote. The mystery was solved when a second animal resembling the first one strolled out of the woods while we were collecting shells and sniffed around our kayak looking for food. It was a scraggly, thin, and hunched over raccoon that had no fear of people. After one of the birdwatchers on the island told us it was rabid, we made sure to stay clear and kept an eye out for it while we stretched out on a blanket near the shore to watch the dolphins swim.
I’ve been having a hard time remembering the name “Atensa Otie,” which means “Cedar Island” in Timucuauan – the language of the area’s early Native Americans – so I’ve been calling it “the pencil factory island.” Following a long army history, in the late 1800’s the island was home to a pencil factory and had 297 residents living on it. After a hurricane destroyed most of the homes and the cedar trees used to make the pencils were depleted, the island changed hands a few times. More recently, it was slated for modern development, but conservationists objected and won. In 1998 it was designated a Nature Preserve.
The sand on Atensa Otie Island is as white as confectionary sugar. There’s a broke-down remnant of a brick foundation from the factory still there and a cemetery with memorable antiquated headstones. But what I’ll remember most about our Atensa Otie Island trip is the seashells, perfectly formed and plentiful; the kind I grew up thinking you could hold to your ear and hear the ocean.
I have to admit that I’m greedy for seashells. When we landed back on Cedar Key I spread the ones that I had collected in my knapsack onto the sand. While I was in the camper getting the camera that I was too nervous to take in the kayak, my shells drew the attention of some children on the beach. When I passed Joe on my way back to the shore he let me know that he had told some children they could each choose a shell to keep. I picked up my step, imagining a flock of children hovering around my bounty. But when I was reunited with the shell treasure, I saw that there were only three children interested in the collection. Each child was happy as a clam with the shell they picked to bring home. So was I.
February 18th, 2007 12:39 am
Those are beautiful shells which would look perfectly at home in my husband’s collection! (He’s a scuba diver). Michele sent me.
February 18th, 2007 9:32 am
I too love bringing home shells and rocks from far away places. My suitcase is always heavier on the way home. I look for heart shaped rocks to add to my collection in the jacuzzi room.
The rabid racoon would have scared me to death! Sounds like you guys have had a very nice time….I’m sure kayaking would be fun.
February 18th, 2007 9:33 am
Question…Did the little girl die going in to town to get her pencil pay?
February 18th, 2007 9:41 am
Your description of this lovely beach has me yearning for warmer times. How kind to offer one shell to each child. I bet that made their day. Your Joe is a wise man. 🙂
February 18th, 2007 3:36 pm
wow…those do look like beautiful shells! and a wonderful description of the island…i could see it in my head.
February 18th, 2007 5:27 pm
You’l be carrying back a heavy load for your shell collection! Beauties!
February 18th, 2007 6:46 pm
I’m sure you have left plenty of room in the vehicle to bring all these seashells back…. now to come up with creative things to do with them…. they are lovely.
February 18th, 2007 7:47 pm
How wonderful Colleen…I too, absolutely adore shells…And these look fantastic! I don’t think I could have parted with any of them—selfish wretch that I am…lol. That was extremely generous of you….Shelling is like looking for buried treasure, isn’t it? I always felt that nothing could be more precious than the shells I was able to find…especially if they looked like the ones in your picture…!
Here from Michele’s today and so happy to see all these “treasures”.
February 18th, 2007 9:04 pm
I’m imagining the waves coming in while I read this! Ahhhh… Those are great shells! I don’t think I’ve ever been so lucky when I’ve gone collecting. The beach sounds SO inviting right about now…
Michele sent me… Happy Sunday eve!
February 18th, 2007 11:16 pm
Every time I go to the beach, I put one shell in my pocket. I limit myself to one because our kids will doubtless bring me handfuls of their own, hoping that I’ll have enough room to carry them all.
Of course, I always oblige. The magic they see in this place is so much like the magic you describe in this entry. There’s a symmetry to your writing that’s beautifully reflected in the topmost kayak picture. It speaks of peace, and I wish I could be right there.
February 19th, 2007 6:28 am
Hi Colleen, I think I would have run a mile if I seen that Rabit racoon comming in my direction.
I also like to collect a few shells when on holidays,those 3 children must have been delighted to get a shell from your collection. take care
February 19th, 2007 2:27 pm
Kayakking is on my list of things to do during my 50th year! Sounds like you are having a ball.
Love the seashells. I grew up 15 minutes from the beach and I have jars full of them. They are special and some of them sing to you. 😉
I just came back from a retreat with some flat rocks, to help me remember. I’m going to paint significant words on them.
I’m so glad you are taking us along on your vacation, Colleen!
Susan
February 19th, 2007 7:52 pm
I love collecting shells. I grew up going to a beach one down from Daytona…New Smyrna. Lot of shells there.
The first time my dh took me to a mid-atlantic beach, I wanted to know where the shells were. And where the cars were! I was used to driving right on to the beach.
Thanks for sharing your trip. I’ve quite enjoyed it.
Sorry you returned to “treacherous beauty.” :0.
Kim