Everybody brings you flowers, Mother…

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 12. This year I thought I’d bring you some of my mother’s past. First, though, I found this old hand-made card I must have made for my mother when I was about ten, judging by the level of artistic prowess I had at that time and my handwriting. I don’t remember where I came across it, but my mother saved such things and I suppose she put it into the “Sandra” pile when she was cleaning out stuff in the attic on Fulton Street. In any event, I’m glad she did.

I was probably ten or eleven when I made this card, which would make it around 1950 or so. I shortened the length of the front page of the card so that the border of bluebells going down the right side showed up for the cover and for the inside page. As roses were my mother’s favorite flower, I put one on the front cover.

The inside says “Everybody brings you flowers, Mother. So I’m just giving you just this card with a Rose in a vase on the cover. Your loving daughter, Sandra.”

My mother usually got shortchanged in May because both her birthday and Mother’s Day fell in that month. She never complained though. She always made as big a deal about the card you gave her as she would an expensive gift were we able to give her one.

Now for the past I promised you. This is a picture of her 1927 graduation from Rockland High School. Her name then was Evangeline Lana Winchenbaugh. I assume it was taken in a studio because of the branches behind her. That is not wallpaper because you can see a branch coming down over the wainscoting. It looks like she even has a twig in her hair. I can’t imagine what kind of bush it was. Did they have artificial flowers then?

I assume also the paper in her hand is either a fake diploma used for such pictures or she actually kept her own diploma to have her picture taken with it later. I wish the picture showed her feet. I’m sure she probably had on some kind of white nylon-type stocking and most likely white shoes with some kind of strap on them.

The other thing I wonder about is where the money came from to pay for this picture. Her family of eight children didn’t usually allow for such extravagances. She did start working at E.C. Moran early because she graduated early, although I expect she went through the graduation day proceedings. Therefore, she could have paid for it herself. It could also be that my grandfather, who was a scholarly man, albeit a self-made man, may have been very proud of his eldest daughter and insisted on having a memento of the occasion.

As graduation will soon be upon us again, I thought I’d mention the folks who graduated with my mother in 1927. I will bring you more of what is inside her Cauldron for that year at a later date. I’ve already given you a peak at the ads in that issue. Just glancing through the book I saw many last names that were familiar even in my own high school days. Names like: Merriam, Bicknell, Ames, Merrill, Crane, Flanagan, Stoddard, Small, Ladd, Bird, Cole, and Gay.

There were 77 graduating members of the 1927 Rockland High School class. How many of these names are you familiar with?

Lempi Anderson, Elizabeth Annis, Madeline Bubier, Bessie Blackwood, Leland Blackington, Bradford Burgess, Virginia Bisbee, Richard Bird, Myer Benovitch, Donald Cameron, Christine Curtis, Beulah Cole, Ruth Crouse, Catherine Critch, Albertina Creighton, Marian Clark, Raymond Cross, Arlene Chaples, Annie Dunn, William Davis, Wendell Emery, Walter Ellis, John Flanagan, Maybelle Fales, Cedric French, Kendall Greene, Marion Greene, Evelyn Green, Helen Glidden, Edna Gregory, Ida Harper, Hattie Hupper, Malcolm Hoxie, Elizabeth Hamlin, Margaret Hellier, Alice Hodgkins, Estelle Hall, Mervin Harriman, May Johnston, Ruth Koster, Frank Knight, Wilbur Kennedy, Oiva Lempi, Helen LaCrosse, Claribel Lowe, Florence Legage, Robert McCarty, Alice Merrick, Ruth Mealey, Alva Mears, Etta Mitchell, Louise McIntosh, Dorothy Maloney, Donald Merriam, Randall Marshall, Earle Moore, Kenneth Overlock, Francis Orne, Evelyn Perry, Peter Pellicane, Delia Parsons, Palmer Pease, Ethel Quinn, Ethel Rackliff, Evelyn Simmons, Ruth Stearns, Virginia Snow, Mary Sylvester, Samuel Smalley, Sydney Segal, Ethel Thomas, Luther Wotton, Robert Wallis, Frances Winchenbach, Evangeline Winchenbaugh,, Parker Young, Linola Young.

The Summer “Cottages” of

Mount Desert Island

From discover-acadia.com

In October of last year I brought you the story of the terrible fire at Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. October 17 was the 65^th anniversary of that terrible fire which changed the face of the area and the face of our Maine economy for many years to come.

As the summer season approaches us we will again see many visitors to the popular Bar Harbor area and Acadia National Park. I would like to give a short history of that area to our summer visitors to carry with them as they visit this historical site.

The mid 1800s saw the area of Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island and what was to become Acadia National Park turn into a rustic haven for the rich. Tourism was a booming industry.

The wealthy folks from out-of-state who became our first “summer visitors” chose to spend their summers in the area. Names such as Rockefeller, Morgan, Ford, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, and Astor eventually built immense “cottages” and followed a lavish summer lifestyle. Some of these “cottages” had 100 rooms. These folks came for “the season.” In the days before income taxes and before the Great Depression, they had a lot of money to spend and our state benefitted from their summer presence.

Whole families would relocate to the Bar Harbor area for the summer. When cars began to appear they were not allowed on Mount Desert Island. Therefore for this and other reasons, the summer residents referred to themselves as “rusticators” believing they were living a rustic life. No Mainer ever lived such a lavish “rustic” life.

Today we have other summer visitors to Maine. Not only to Mount Desert Island, but to other areas all over Maine. (See list at the end of this story.)

The first hotel on the island was built by Tobias Roberts in 1855. In 1868, Alpheus Hardy was the first person to build a summer home. It was called Birch Point.

The History of Acadia National Park

The Land:

The land, of course, has been here for many eons. The pink granite cliffs called Otter Cliffs were formed 350 million years ago. Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake and other bodies of water were formed when glaciers 3000 feet thick dug its way through the area. The glaciers also left behind huge boulders like “Bubble Rock,” which are called glacial erratic.

Early Residents:

The original settlers were Native American Wabanaki Indians. When the Europeans “discovered” Mount Desert Island, including the Jesuits, they were intent on converting the natives. Early explorers were Samuel Champlain and Sieur de la Mothe Cadillac, for whom Cadillac Mountain is named. For nearly a century and a half the English and French fought for control of the area.

By the end of the Revolutionary War, The United States took control and by the 1800s there were several settlements on the island.

Establishment of Acadia National Park:

The wealthy visitors to Maine in the summer did more than take from the area, they also gave. Some of the landowners saw a need to preserve Acadia for future generations. Men like George B. Dorr and John D. Rockefeller saw to it that many lands were donated and/or set aside…6000 acres by 1913. They were directly responsible for the establishment of Acadia National Park.

The name of the park started out as Sieur de Monts National Monument but the status and name changed to Acadia National Park in 1929. Today the park consists of more than 47,000 acres.

These pictures are from the National Park Service site. The first one is of Cadillac Mountain in the fall and the second one is of Otter Cliff.

Acadia National Park contains more than 120 miles of historic hiking trails. Many of these trails were established by local village improvement societies in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today many of the historic features, such as stonework, are still visible.

Today the park sees more and more visitors which is putting a strain on the over-burdened and underfunded national park system. Thanks to the dedication of federal employees and volunteers, Acadia continues to welcome its summer visitors.

The End of the “Cottage” Era

The Great Depression, tax problems and finally the great fire of 1947 saw the end of the “Cottage” era of the 1880s. Maine’s summer economy suffered for many years. A brick mansion called “High Seas” is one of the last remaining summer cottages in the area of the fire. It sits on a point overlooking Frenchman Bay. The mansion is surrounded by National Park land and is owned by Jackson Laboratories.

I remember when I was very little that I went on a boat trip with my parents along the area where many of the cottages were. Some abandoned cottages were pointed out along the way. It must have been just before the fire or else I wouldn’t have remembered it. Those places would have all been gone after the fire. It was a ghostly feeling to imagine how many people once called these places home in the summertime and who now were all gone.

There are still visible areas that show where the fire was in the form of barren spots and new growth along the coast—65 years later! It takes a long time to grow a new forest.

Today’s Summer Visitors

Here are just a few of our more recent famous summer residents. There are many more. If you want a complete list there are several sites on Google to go to:

John Travolta and Kelly Preston, Islesboro: They have owned a house on Isleboro for decades now. We had to ask John not to fly his big plane into Knox County Airport, however. I believe he now flys into Bangor.

Glenn Close, Scarborough: lives part of her summer in the Cumberland County town.

Willem Dafoe, Otisfield: The “Spider-Man” star owns a winter retreat on Thompson Lake in Oxford County.

Stockard Channing, Georgetown: She summers here.

Genie Francis and Jonathan Frakes, Belfast: The couple — she known for her work on “General Hospital,” he as Commander Riker on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” — own a house and business in Belfast.

Patrick Dempsey, Harpswell: is a born and bred Mainer — born in Lewiston, grew up in Buckfield — now has property in the Cumberland County town of Harpswell.

Kirstie Alley, Islesboro: Though it appears she has now sold her home, the star of “Cheers” owned a palatial estate on the Penobscot Bay island, along with her friends John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

Susan Sarandon, Bar Harbor: The Oscar winner has spent a number of summers on Mount Desert Island.

Martha Stewart, Seal Harbor: The domestic goddess’ second home is in Seal Harbor, in a beautiful, well-kept estate.

George and Barbara Bush, Kennebunkport: The 41st president of the United States has summered in Kennebunkport for decades.

Our beloved State of Maine will always draw those people who love our special natural beauty. We welcome them all.

Thanks for listening.

Note: Next month I will try to bring you more on activities and special places of interest at Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. For an online guide to the park go to:

www.nps.gov/acad/guides-guide.htm

The Hilton Homestead

The Hilton Homestead, in Bremen Maine, is a blog I share with my cousin, Mary Sue Hilton Weeks. We hope to bring you some historical material and other facets of the Homestead in the months to come. Exciting things are about to happen and we are both excited to bring them to you here.

I am living on a 100-acre farm that has been in my family through my great-grandmother’s side for over 200 years. My great-grandfather, William Bainbridge Hilton, bought the farm from his wife Rhoda Little’s family, and from then on it was known as the Hilton Homestead. I live next door to the family home where I grew up in the one-room school house where I went to school grades 4-8. In 1998 my sister Diane ad her husband Lee retired from Washington, DC and took over the family home. They both passed away last year, and having no children, I acquired the family home. This blog is about my progress in trying to deal with it.

This month we’d like to catch you up on activities at the Homestead. Land has been cleared, lettuce planted; and some needed repairs were done. Here are some pictures we’d like to share of those activities and other pictures you might enjoy.

This is where the well was dug. The barn and the homestead house are in the background.

News Taken from The Well Facebook Page

Ryan and I (Michael) watered by lowering a bucket into the dug well and then pouring into a watering can last night. This is a HARD way to water several hundred row feet of lettuce and onions. It reminded me of how fortunate we are to have you all support us in our project! Running water by the end of next week? Fingers crossed!

 Here are some pictures of land clean up in preparation for Spring planting:

This historical photo of the farm shows us how they used to prepare the land for  planting.

Roof repair being done on the old Homestead House
by a group who uses the  house as a meeting place. More on that story later.

Farm Animals

This is Frankie, so-named by a contributor to the well project who won a raffle during the fundraiser.

Become a Member of Crescent Run Farm

If you would like to become a member of Crescent Run Farm, see details at:

http://crescent-run.com/csa

They also have different levels of participation. Choose the one that best suits you. Here’s what it says on the site:

Each week we will harvest, wash, and pack your produce to be picked up on the scheduled day. The CSA will run for approximately 17 weeks, between early June and late September, until the value of your share is met. Factors such as climatic conditions, season, and pests can influence the value of an individual pick-up, and the full value of your investment will be met over the course of your membership.

Note for the Family: If you have pictures of the farm to share, especially one of the family reunions, please email them to me at southendstories@aol.com. Thanks.

A Maine Maritime Vacation

If you enjoy being on the water, it’s not too early to plan your Maine maritime vacation. If you would like to experience how it was to travel by windjammer in the old days, the Maine Windjammer Association invites you to consider a trip on one of their vessels. The windjammer here, the Victory Chimes, is one of the ten ships in the Association’s fleet. Please visit the MWA site for more details: www.sailmainecoast.com.

The fleet includes ten traditional Maine tall ships from 46-136 feet on deck. Seven are National Historic Landmarks. All are privately owned and operated. They can carry from 20-40 passengers with a crew from 4-10. Cruises are appropriate for all ages. If you are able-bodied, you can even help sail the ship. Cruises are from 1 and 3 day trips to 6-day trips.

The ships are based in Rockland, Rockport and Camden in mid-coast Maine. Here’s a list of the ships and a number to call to book a trip to remember sailing on the Maine coast.

American Eagle, 800-648-4544

Angelique, 800-282-9989

Heritage, 800-648-4544

Issac H. Evans, 877-238-1325

Lewis R. French, 800-469-4635

Mary Day, 800-922-7245

Nathaniel Bowditch, 800-288-4098

Stephen Taber, 800-899-7352

Timberwind, 800-759-9250

Victory Chimes, 800-745-5651

If you have your own sailing ship or other sea-worthy ship, we invite you to moor at any of our beautiful mooring spots. We hope you will consider our broad Rockland Harbor from Jameson Point to the South End. The picture above is of South End moorings. Here’s a list of the top 6 mooring spots according to Maine magazine.

Top 6 Mooring Places in Maine

1)    Jewell Island, Portland

At the island, anchor in Cocktail Cove, the appropriately named hangout for sailors and cruisers alike. Follow wooded trails and climb one of the World War I-era towers for incredible watercolor views, stretching from Cape Small to Cape Elizabeth.

2)    Tenants Harbor, St. George

If you ask Harbormaster Dave Schmanska about his favorite place to tie up, he'll answer without hesitation: "Smack dab in the middle of Tenants Harbor—it's beauty at its finest." If you can, visit for St. George Days in July to take in a stunning fireworks display over the inner harbor. While you're there, be sure to look for Southern Island Light, the lighthouse painted by the Wyeths.

3)    Upper and Lower Torry Islands, Brooklin

President of Brooklin Boat Yard, Steve White, is partial to a small, unnamed harbor, located just down the road from his business. "There's a spot I love, between Upper and Lower Torry islands," says White. "The islands are connected by a sandbar at about half tide—a perfect view for a beautiful moonset." Private and secluded, you'll rarely find anyone else around.

4)    Jameson Point, Rockland

Rockland Harbor's charm lies in its size and accessibility, its buzz of activity. If you anchor off in the lee of Jameson Point, you can watch it all at a distance—the barges, ferries, cruise ships, and fishing boats weaving in and out. Harbormaster Ed Glaser agrees: "There's no better sight than a windjamming schooner skimming the horizon past the breakwater and the lighthouse."

5)    Ellsworth Harbor, Ellsworth

This pocket harbor is as quaint as the town of Ellsworth. Mooring here is best enjoyed at sunset, when the water reflects the inky silhouettes of pine trees and bobbing docks. Harbormaster Randy Heckman likes to anchor in the waterfront's outer edges. "If you get out farther," Heckman says, "that's where the eagles are. It's pretty neat to have an eagle for a neighbor."

6)    York Harbor, York

The York Harbor shoreline is a microcosm of historic architecture. Commodore of the Agamenticus Yacht Club, Doug Tuttle, prefers to moor underneath it all by the marina docks. "From this vantage point," says Tuttle, "you have a front-row view. For a grand vista, row ashore and follow the Cliff Walk, a beach rose-lined path high above the surf.