Southwest Harbor lifelong summer resident Andrew McInnes sailing Venture in the 1930s. The sailboat, co-owned with his brother Robert, was a B.B. Corninshield B Boat. Andrew didn't know that Mr. Ballard had taken the photograph until he happened to be in Grand Central Station in New York City and saw an enormous print or projection of the image advertising Maine as a tourist destination. Mr. Ballard gave him the 8x10 glass negative when they next met.
Description: Southwest Harbor lifelong summer resident Andrew McInnes sailing Venture in the 1930s. The sailboat, co-owned with his brother Robert, was a B.B. Corninshield B Boat. Andrew didn't know that Mr. Ballard had taken the photograph until he happened to be in Grand Central Station in New York City and saw an enormous print or projection of the image advertising Maine as a tourist destination. Mr. Ballard gave him the 8x10 glass negative when they next met. [show more]
In this interview, Laurence talks about being born and raised in Manset. His grandfather has a store there, though his grandmother was the one who really ran it. She also worked at the Post Office in Manset. She talks about the "Prussian Women," and Capt. Samuel Hadlock's relationship with her. He would sail into the Northern waters and bring back mementos for her; he once brought back Eskimos with sleds and dogs. Capt. Hadlock died on one such voyage and was found frozen onboard his ship. Laurence's father was a fisherman, and Laurence stayed in that line of work, even as he wont off to MIT for school. He met his wife at a dance that he was playing saxophone for. After a long time working as an engineer in Connecticut, he moved back to Southwest Harbor to be a fisherman again. He tells many stories of his time fishing; great catches, salting and drying the fish on the beach, and selling to processors. He would run fishing parties on the weekends for people, and had people booking their spots a year in advance. He preferred going out in the dense fog, as others would not venture out and he got all the good spots to himself. Laurence laments the overfishing and destructive techniques (gill netting and bottom trawling) that caused the collapse of the cod fishery in New England.
Description: In this interview, Laurence talks about being born and raised in Manset. His grandfather has a store there, though his grandmother was the one who really ran it. She also worked at the Post Office in Manset. She talks about the "Prussian Women," and Capt. Samuel Hadlock's relationship with her. He would sail into the Northern waters and bring back mementos for her; he once brought back Eskimos with sleds and dogs. Capt. Hadlock died on one such voyage and was found frozen onboard his ship. Laurence's father was a fisherman, and Laurence stayed in that line of work, even as he wont off to MIT for school. He met his wife at a dance that he was playing saxophone for. After a long time working as an engineer in Connecticut, he moved back to Southwest Harbor to be a fisherman again. He tells many stories of his time fishing; great catches, salting and drying the fish on the beach, and selling to processors. He would run fishing parties on the weekends for people, and had people booking their spots a year in advance. He preferred going out in the dense fog, as others would not venture out and he got all the good spots to himself. Laurence laments the overfishing and destructive techniques (gill netting and bottom trawling) that caused the collapse of the cod fishery in New England. [show more]
This interview consists of Mildred Hill talking about her life. She was born in Hawaii after her father was "imported" to the Dole plantation for his canning knowledge. Some of her mother's family came from Germany. Her family moved back from Hawaii to Southwest Harbor while she was two years old and lived at Seawall and then Manset. She talks about having well water, but using "town water" in the summer. The main industry in Manset was fishing or processing fish, as well as hotels and ice storage. He also talks about the Seawall radio station around World War One which communicated with ships and mainland Europe. Many sailors stationed there married local girls or stayed in the area after the war ended. Mildred's husband Carleton worked as a civilian for the Coast Guard, in the houses of Summer People, and in local hotels. She also recounts stories about issue with the mail and how boys made pocket money baiting trawl lines after school.
Description: This interview consists of Mildred Hill talking about her life. She was born in Hawaii after her father was "imported" to the Dole plantation for his canning knowledge. Some of her mother's family came from Germany. Her family moved back from Hawaii to Southwest Harbor while she was two years old and lived at Seawall and then Manset. She talks about having well water, but using "town water" in the summer. The main industry in Manset was fishing or processing fish, as well as hotels and ice storage. He also talks about the Seawall radio station around World War One which communicated with ships and mainland Europe. Many sailors stationed there married local girls or stayed in the area after the war ended. Mildred's husband Carleton worked as a civilian for the Coast Guard, in the houses of Summer People, and in local hotels. She also recounts stories about issue with the mail and how boys made pocket money baiting trawl lines after school. [show more]
David Spurling interviews Irma Gott and discusses her parents. Earl Williams Gott was her father, and her mother came to Southwest Harbor one summer to work in the sardine factory and never got around to leaving. Irma was married three times, outlived them all, and eventually changed back to her maiden name. After high school, she went right to work at the post office where her father was the Postmaster. After her father passed away, she took over as Postmaster and retired in 1975. She talks about her pets that keep her busy in retirement-cats and dogs and birds. During the Great Depression she learned to play the piano, and later the organ. She would play at churches and local events, and even for the USO during World War Two. Music was a big theme for her, as her father and uncles played in the Southwest Harbor town band who played at the Blue Hill Fair, 4th of July events, and the retirement of steamship "JT Morris"
Description: David Spurling interviews Irma Gott and discusses her parents. Earl Williams Gott was her father, and her mother came to Southwest Harbor one summer to work in the sardine factory and never got around to leaving. Irma was married three times, outlived them all, and eventually changed back to her maiden name. After high school, she went right to work at the post office where her father was the Postmaster. After her father passed away, she took over as Postmaster and retired in 1975. She talks about her pets that keep her busy in retirement-cats and dogs and birds. During the Great Depression she learned to play the piano, and later the organ. She would play at churches and local events, and even for the USO during World War Two. Music was a big theme for her, as her father and uncles played in the Southwest Harbor town band who played at the Blue Hill Fair, 4th of July events, and the retirement of steamship "JT Morris" [show more]
Ralph Warren Stanley and Wilbur Wolf would play together, Ralph on the fiddle and Wilbur on the piano, after Ralph's band the Country Strummers disbanded.
Description: Ralph Warren Stanley and Wilbur Wolf would play together, Ralph on the fiddle and Wilbur on the piano, after Ralph's band the Country Strummers disbanded.
Left to Right: Cora Bragg, Cad Spurling, Maud Annis, Manda Richardson, Nora King, Susie King, Kate Carroll, Lou Mayo, Cara Haynes, Annie Lawton, Edith Gilley Mrs. Jones Tracy, Laura Haddock, Unidentified Woman, Linnie Wilson
Description: Left to Right: Cora Bragg, Cad Spurling, Maud Annis, Manda Richardson, Nora King, Susie King, Kate Carroll, Lou Mayo, Cara Haynes, Annie Lawton, Edith Gilley Mrs. Jones Tracy, Laura Haddock, Unidentified Woman, Linnie Wilson
This photograph was taken from the back shore of Clark Point just up the shore from the Claremont Dock. It shows the large boulder on the shore which is marked by a marker on the top of the boulder to keep boats from hitting it when the tide is high and the boulder is submerged. The Fernald Farm is visible at Fernald Point and to the left is the Fernald barn. "The barn has been gone for quite some time but the foundation is still visible as of 2020. Will Herrick and his family once lived on this farm and kept cows in the barn where they also stored hay. They sold their milk at Northeast Harbor, carrying it there by boat across the Sound. To the right of the photo you can see the herring weir off the end of Fernald Point at the entrance to Fernald Cove." - Ralph Stanley 10/12/20. "The farmhouse was built in the early 1800's. In 1842 it was remodeled and made into a two family dwelling for Eben and Daniel Fernald. The brothers lived there and worked the farm for many years." - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p 138 and 9 - 1938.
Description: This photograph was taken from the back shore of Clark Point just up the shore from the Claremont Dock. It shows the large boulder on the shore which is marked by a marker on the top of the boulder to keep boats from hitting it when the tide is high and the boulder is submerged. The Fernald Farm is visible at Fernald Point and to the left is the Fernald barn. "The barn has been gone for quite some time but the foundation is still visible as of 2020. Will Herrick and his family once lived on this farm and kept cows in the barn where they also stored hay. They sold their milk at Northeast Harbor, carrying it there by boat across the Sound. To the right of the photo you can see the herring weir off the end of Fernald Point at the entrance to Fernald Cove." - Ralph Stanley 10/12/20. "The farmhouse was built in the early 1800's. In 1842 it was remodeled and made into a two family dwelling for Eben and Daniel Fernald. The brothers lived there and worked the farm for many years." - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p 138 and 9 - 1938. [show more]
The buildings behind the reservoir include the Deacon Clark's Island House complex at the far left of the photograph. To the right of the complex is the Joseph Gilman Parker Jr. House, the structure with six windows on the side. The Lawton Canning Factory is the building along the shore. There is a grounded schooner visible next to the factory. A large canoe can be seen to the right of the photograph tied to the mud flats.
The buildings behind the reservoir include the Deacon Clark's Island House complex at the far left of the photograph. To the right of the complex is the Joseph Gilman Parker Jr. House, the structure with six windows on the side. The Lawton Canning Factory is the building along the shore. There is a grounded schooner visible next to the factory. A large canoe can be seen to the right of the photograph tied to the mud flats.