About Greater Light
Greater Light, located at 8 Howard Street, was the summer home of Gertrude and Hanna Monaghan, two independent, educated, unmarried Quaker sisters from Philadelphia. Gertrude (1887–1962), a professional artist, and Hanna (1889–1972), an actress and author, first came to the island in 1923 at the suggestion of their friend Violet Oakley, renting a small studio near the harbor.
The house was originally built around 1790 as a livestock barn. The sisters discovered the building in 1929 when they followed a herd of cattle up Main Street. Enthralled, they purchased it and set about transforming it into their summer retreat, adorning it with salvaged architectural elements, decorative objects, and eclectic furniture. Their personal aesthetic blended art and whimsy with an appreciation of the handcrafted—whether woven, carved, forged, or painted—creating a strongly expressive environment suited to their tastes.
The garden, once a barnyard, was a key feature of the sisters’ vision for Greater Light. Imagined as an extension of the interior living space, the patio and garden formed a venue for meals and gatherings and connected the house to Lesser Light, the Monaghans’ rental cottage next door.
