An Oriental Idol Returns

By Robert J. Dingley, Curator,

Naples Historical Society:

After being in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, for over 80 years, a legendary Oriental Idol is to be returned to Naples, where it will be on display in the Historical Society's Archives building.

Originally there were three of these idols in Naples, brought here by brothers --Charles and Reuben Hill, who were engaged in the China Tea Trade, in the 1800's. There are many legends about these Idols that have been locally known for several generations, and there are still a few that can remember when they were displayed at Bellevue Terrace, which was later known as the Hayloft, and more recently as Serenity Hill.

Perhaps the most intriguing, concerns a "curse" that supposedly was placed on the Hill property.  It is reported that Captain Reuben Hill's group, which owned property in Tientsin, China, looted a temple of its precious stones and gold, and along with the three Idols’ brought them to this country, and that his share amounted to around $300,000. This was at the time of the Boxer Rebellion, when there was much looting of temples, which was the source of much of the Asian art that found its way to America.

Captain Hill built a corn-modious house, near Skid hill and Mast Cove, Naples, which he furnished most luxuriously.

As the fortune dwindled, so the story goes, the Hills returned to the Orient, in quest of another; and visiting the temple, they were recognized by the Buddhist priests, captured and murdered-never to be heard, of again.  The idols disappeared, and it was reported that they were either thrown into Long lake, or buried on the property, bordering it.

One local resident recalls, that as a small child, she visited Bellevue with her parents, and was greatly impressed by the heavy furniture. Mrs. Hill presented her with a small dish, which she still has. Soon after this the property was sold to a family by the name of White, Mrs. Hill moved to Massachusetts, where she died in 1912, at the age of 74 years.

Until about a year and a half ago, only the legend survived; believed or doubted by those who knew it-but to many of the later generations, unheard of.

In the fall of 1970, the curator of the Naples Historical Society, Robert Jordan Dingley, was contacted by Clarence W. Russell, a grandson of Mrs. Reuben Hill.  He had photographs of the three idols, and Bellevue as it appeared upon completion.

The whereabouts of the two smaller idols-, remain a mystery, but in 1889 the larger was placed in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  After having been on display for many years, it was placed in storage. Upon hearing this, Mr. Russell sought to obtain it, he enlisting the aid of the NHS curator, as he wished to have it returned to Naples, as a memorial to his grandmother.

Where and when the Hill brothers died, and are buried, it is not known, but Mr. Russell  has a receipt, given to his mother,- Mary L. Wilson, signed by her stepfather, Reuben Hill, which was dated in Boston, Sept. 2, 1890.  It was for $21.50, her share in the stone for the late C. E. Hill.

Also, there are letters from the Portland law firm of Drummond and Drummond, dated in May of 1893, pertaining to the estate of Charles E. Hill, specifically, the sale of

the McClay property in Tientsin, which was sold by U. S. Consil's order for 130,000 Tientsin Taels, netting after expenses, a little over $12,000. These letters were signed by Josiah Drummond, who was the grandfather of Josiah Drummond who drew up the legal papers necessary in obtaining the idol for the Naples Historical Society.

As to Reuben A. Hill's death, nothing has been determined, but on July 2, 1906/7, Mrs. Jane" T. Hill, his widow, was granted a pension of $8 per month. The' original certificate list I ed Hill as a Captain, Co. K, lst Regiment, New Mexico Vol.  Inf.

Friends of Mr. Russell, who returned to Lovell, Maine, upon his retirement, a few years ago, have made an extensive research of Asian Art, with contacts in England and New York Museums, and are of the 'opinion that the idol is Tibetan, rather than Chinese.

It is probably one of a set of four Lokopala, who are guardians of the four directions as well as guardians of the Tibetan form of the Buddhist religion.

This idol does not fit precisely into this category because he does not have an attribute in his hands, but rather, the hands are in a prayerful position, but they differed from district to district, and quite possibly this particular idol may have been the Mahayana form of Buddhism in the Northern part of Tibet.

There is no need of alarm, for the idol carries no curse, and everything has been peaceful.

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