The Hinckley Company started in 1928 as the Manset Boatyard in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Henry R. Hinckley’s focus was on servicing the local lobster boats as well as the yachts of summer residents on Mt. Desert Island. Today Hinckley builds boats at its production facilities in Trenton, Maine, but the original Manset yard is at the heart of the Hinckley legend. Today it ranks as a world class service facility.
Description: The Hinckley Company started in 1928 as the Manset Boatyard in Southwest Harbor, Maine. Henry R. Hinckley’s focus was on servicing the local lobster boats as well as the yachts of summer residents on Mt. Desert Island. Today Hinckley builds boats at its production facilities in Trenton, Maine, but the original Manset yard is at the heart of the Hinckley legend. Today it ranks as a world class service facility.
J.L. Stanley started the fishery in 1874. He expanded it and made his sons partners as they came of age. “J.L. Stanley has commenced to cut ice on his Lily pond and has put in one day’s hauling, in his ice house, of very superior quality and about ten inches thick.” – Bar Harbor Record, Thursday, January 19, 1888. "The ice dealers have nearly finished filling their ice houses. The weather of the last week was exceptionally good for their work, and the opportunity was improved. Three houses are filled by sluicing direct from the pond. John L. Stanley & Sons put up about 1,300 tons. They have about twenty five men employed cutting and sluicing. W.H. Ward put up about 1,000 tons, and has twenty men employed." - The Ellsworth American, Wednesday, February 12, 1902 - Manset news. Stanley had his own ice pond for the Fishery. There are several photographs of the ice harvesting operation at the pond. Part of the fishery was destroyed by fire in 1918, shortly before J.L. Stanley was prepared to retire. He continued the business to recoup the loss. The business was sold in 1928 after his death to C.W. Marion. The business was sold again in 1944 to William Sklaroff and again around 1955 to four brothers. J.L. Stanley Fisheries was completely destroyed by fire on April 12, 1967.
Description: J.L. Stanley started the fishery in 1874. He expanded it and made his sons partners as they came of age. “J.L. Stanley has commenced to cut ice on his Lily pond and has put in one day’s hauling, in his ice house, of very superior quality and about ten inches thick.” – Bar Harbor Record, Thursday, January 19, 1888. "The ice dealers have nearly finished filling their ice houses. The weather of the last week was exceptionally good for their work, and the opportunity was improved. Three houses are filled by sluicing direct from the pond. John L. Stanley & Sons put up about 1,300 tons. They have about twenty five men employed cutting and sluicing. W.H. Ward put up about 1,000 tons, and has twenty men employed." - The Ellsworth American, Wednesday, February 12, 1902 - Manset news. Stanley had his own ice pond for the Fishery. There are several photographs of the ice harvesting operation at the pond. Part of the fishery was destroyed by fire in 1918, shortly before J.L. Stanley was prepared to retire. He continued the business to recoup the loss. The business was sold in 1928 after his death to C.W. Marion. The business was sold again in 1944 to William Sklaroff and again around 1955 to four brothers. J.L. Stanley Fisheries was completely destroyed by fire on April 12, 1967. [show more]
The Way Back Balls were held between 1948 and 1957, and possibly before. SWHPL #14597 shows a ticket to the Way Bak Ball in 1928 - note the different spelling. The twenty-five Sou'Westers held a Way Back (gay nineties) ball in the spring of each year during the 1950's at the VIA (Village Improvement Association) hall in Manset (the Thibodeau home in 2006). Miles Grindle talks about Wayback Balls in his recount of growing up in Northeast Harbor in the 1930's: “’Wayback Balls’ were held, when everyone dressed in old fashioned clothes, tux and top hats, long dresses, or overalls with plaid shirts. These dances were by invitation only, restricted to voting age, by a member of chartered ‘Waybackers’. The main snack, provided during intermission, was dry fish. Probably most people reading this journal have not experienced the joy of occasionally eating a piece of dry fish. The local fishermen would catch small codfish, and let the wind dry them on their boats, then strip the fish off the skin, and put them in jars. Alcohol was not allowed on the premises, but those who indulged kept their bottles in their cars.” - “The Local Boy: Growing up in Northeast Harbor, Maine in the 1930’s” by Miles Grindle, p. 29 – n.d. [2006] – Privately published – in the collection of the Southwest Harbor Public Library.
Description: The Way Back Balls were held between 1948 and 1957, and possibly before. SWHPL #14597 shows a ticket to the Way Bak Ball in 1928 - note the different spelling. The twenty-five Sou'Westers held a Way Back (gay nineties) ball in the spring of each year during the 1950's at the VIA (Village Improvement Association) hall in Manset (the Thibodeau home in 2006). Miles Grindle talks about Wayback Balls in his recount of growing up in Northeast Harbor in the 1930's: “’Wayback Balls’ were held, when everyone dressed in old fashioned clothes, tux and top hats, long dresses, or overalls with plaid shirts. These dances were by invitation only, restricted to voting age, by a member of chartered ‘Waybackers’. The main snack, provided during intermission, was dry fish. Probably most people reading this journal have not experienced the joy of occasionally eating a piece of dry fish. The local fishermen would catch small codfish, and let the wind dry them on their boats, then strip the fish off the skin, and put them in jars. Alcohol was not allowed on the premises, but those who indulged kept their bottles in their cars.” - “The Local Boy: Growing up in Northeast Harbor, Maine in the 1930’s” by Miles Grindle, p. 29 – n.d. [2006] – Privately published – in the collection of the Southwest Harbor Public Library. [show more]
“The school house was built in 1901, replacing one built on the same site about 1860.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 183.
Description: “The school house was built in 1901, replacing one built on the same site about 1860.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 183.
The original Stanley House, Captain Sans Stanley, proprietor, was built circa 1875 "and was very popular as a summer hotel and patronized by many Harvard professors." It burned on July 10, 1884 and was rebuilt. The Stanley House was finally destroyed by fire on March 18, 1927. - See Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 192-3 - 1938.
Description: The original Stanley House, Captain Sans Stanley, proprietor, was built circa 1875 "and was very popular as a summer hotel and patronized by many Harvard professors." It burned on July 10, 1884 and was rebuilt. The Stanley House was finally destroyed by fire on March 18, 1927. - See Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 192-3 - 1938.