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.

Enjoy Rockland this Summer

I invite all of our summer travelers to visit Rockland and the mid-coast this summer and especially to enjoy one of our many special events. If you have an out-of-town friend who would like a schedule of events this summer, print this report out and send it to them or better yet, just email it to them.

For those of you who will come to us by boat and are mooring in our harbor, know that your mooring spot will most likely be within walking distance of these events.

Here’s a highlight of the many events we have planned for you this summer.

June

12^th Annual Summer Solstice Street Fair

June 22, 5-9 pm

Main Street

A street fair to celebrate the summer season, sponsored by Rockland Main Street, Inc., Main Street will be closed for the period from Park Street to Summer Street. Fun family activities center on food, sidewalk sales, entertainment and activities. There will be a “Whoopie Pie” eating contest.  Paul Benjamin, of the North Atlantic Blues Festival will bring music to Main Street featuring a wide variety of music for your enjoyment.

July

12^th Annual Summer Solstice Street Fair

June 22, 5-9 pm

Main Street

 A street fair to celebrate the summer season, sponsored by Rockland Main Street, Inc., Main Street will be closed for the period from Park Street to Summer Street. Fun family activities center on food, sidewalk sales, entertainment and activities. There will be a “Whoopie Pie” eating contest, Maine’s official dessert. Paul Benjamin, of the North Atlantic Blues Festival will bring music to Main Street featuring a wide variety of music for your enjoyment.

July-August

66^th Maine Lobster Festival

July 31-August 4

Public Landing and other sites

This 5-day event in Rockland is the biggest festival of the summer. This is the 66^th annual Festival. You will find it featured in many magazines and newspapers reporting on and advertising summer festivals. The event is known nationally and internationally as one of the prime festivals of the summer season and not to be missed.

The main attractions are featured in a midway at the Public Landing. There is something for everyone: from rides for the kids; to tours of Navy vessels in the Harbor; to every seafood and other scrumptious food you can imagine, including our famous Maine Lobster dinner which you can eat in a tent overlooking Rockland Harbor.

There is a Maine Sea Goddess coronation on the pier at the Landing and a big parade down Main Street on Saturday.

Shuttle buses travel between school parking lots and the Festival throughout the 5 days from both Rockland District Middle School on Broadway in the South End and Oceanside High School in midtown on Broadway.

People with the best accommodations will most likely be those lucky enough to moor their boats in the harbor near the Landing. They will have the best view of the goings-on and have easy access to everything. If you need motel or hotel accommodations, it’s best to take care of that now. There are also several camping areas in the mid-coast area you might want to take advantage of. See your favorite camping guide site to pick one close to the Festival.

Music

There will be live music at the North Tent and the Main Stage throughout the festival. On Saturday, August 2, there will be continuing music on the Main Stage:

2:00-4:00pm-Pete Kilpatrick Band from Portland, Maine

5:00-7:00pm-Lyle Divinsky Band, soul

7:00pm-Don Campbell Band

8:30pm-Jonathan Edwards and Band

Admission to the grounds are $5 for adults and $2 for children

August

11^th Annual Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show

August 9-11

Public Landing in Rockland

Fast becoming a favorite summer event, the show is presented by the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine, a national magazine whose offices are but a few steps away from the show in the South End of Rockland.

Here you will see every boat imaginable displayed in the water and out. It’s an event everyone can enjoy from boat builders, sailors, boat owners, artists, craftsmen and designers.

Along with the boat displays are home furnishings vendors who display some spectacular pieces of furniture along with marine-related décor.

Events during the weekend event include activities for children; a Stand-Up Paddleboard Jousting Tournament and the World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials.

Food vendors feature a delicious fish chowder and other seafood specialties. Music will be provided by musical groups along the midway. Admission is $12; kids under 12 FREE.

September 8-14

Rockland, Camden, and surrounding towns

Lobsterpalooza was the brainstorm of the four Historic Inns of Rockland (Berry Manor Inn, Captain Lindsey House, Limerock Inn, and Granite Inn) who then enlisted support from the Maine Lobster Promotion Council and the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce to raise enthusiasm for eating lobster and supporting Maine’s lobstermen.

In an effort to promote the Maine lobster and its lobstermen many lobsterpalooza events will be the specialty of this week.

Included are:

Lobster cash mobs at local fish markets

Special lobster dishes at local restaurants in the area including dishes for morning, noon and night.

Lobster and wine tasting tours.

Lobster and olive oil tastings

A chance to vote in the “Best Lobster Roll” Contest

A visit to the “Lobstacle Course”

A chance to pull traps with a real Maine lobsterman

A lobsterman’s talent show

Children’s events and activities

Discussions, workshops and learning opportunities

The climax of the week will be a “Lobster in The Street Party” complete with lobster tastings, live music, games and fun for the family, a lobster meat picking contest and much more!

Come and enjoy the fun.

I hope our summer visitors will have the chance to enjoy at least one of these events when they visit Maine. Have a good vacation everyone!

 

 

 

Sail, Power, and Steam Museum

 

 

 

Join the Museum

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Help build a sailing ship or a work building.

Call 701-7627

For more information