Ralph Stanley, boat builder, sailor, raconteur, genealogist, historian, musician, violin maker and beloved mentor to all who share these interests, has been recognized by the government of the United States, the State of Maine and the citizens of Southwest Harbor as a veritable Living Treasure.
Description: Ralph Stanley, boat builder, sailor, raconteur, genealogist, historian, musician, violin maker and beloved mentor to all who share these interests, has been recognized by the government of the United States, the State of Maine and the citizens of Southwest Harbor as a veritable Living Treasure.
After earning an associate's degree from a college in northern Maine, Stanley returned to Southwest Harbor. Not sure what occupation he wanted to pursue, he decided to try to build a boat. So he earned the money he needed to buy wood and other construction materials and, during the winter of 1951-1952, he built a 28-foot lobster boat. The boat turned out well and a local person bought it. This led to orders for other boats. "I've been building (boats) ever since," he said. Stanley learned how to build boats not by apprenticing himself to another boatbuilder but mainly by keenly observing and using boats and by observing the activities of several professional boatbuilders who specialized in the Mt. Desert Island version of the Maine lobster boat.
Description: After earning an associate's degree from a college in northern Maine, Stanley returned to Southwest Harbor. Not sure what occupation he wanted to pursue, he decided to try to build a boat. So he earned the money he needed to buy wood and other construction materials and, during the winter of 1951-1952, he built a 28-foot lobster boat. The boat turned out well and a local person bought it. This led to orders for other boats. "I've been building (boats) ever since," he said. Stanley learned how to build boats not by apprenticing himself to another boatbuilder but mainly by keenly observing and using boats and by observing the activities of several professional boatbuilders who specialized in the Mt. Desert Island version of the Maine lobster boat. [show more]
The term "Lobster Yacht" denotes a pleasure boat built on the lines of a working lobster boat. The term is more commonly used "away" than on Mount Desert Island. This name describes the look of these boats in a world where so many working and pleasure boats resemble each other. Boat builders on MDI would probably not use this term so this database generally uses the term "pleasure boat" and leaves the viewer to make his or her own distinction. The following publications and many others use the term Lobster Yacht: - National Fisherman, Volume 70, 1989 - Understanding Boat Design by Edward S. Brewer and Ted Brewer, published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 1993 - The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: 2,000 Essential Terms for Sailors & Powerboaters by John Rousmaniere, W. W. Norton & Company, 1998 - Wooden Boat, Wooden Boat Publications, 2005 - Sorensen's Guide to Powerboats, 2 by Eric Sorensen, published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2007
Description: The term "Lobster Yacht" denotes a pleasure boat built on the lines of a working lobster boat. The term is more commonly used "away" than on Mount Desert Island. This name describes the look of these boats in a world where so many working and pleasure boats resemble each other. Boat builders on MDI would probably not use this term so this database generally uses the term "pleasure boat" and leaves the viewer to make his or her own distinction. The following publications and many others use the term Lobster Yacht: - National Fisherman, Volume 70, 1989 - Understanding Boat Design by Edward S. Brewer and Ted Brewer, published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 1993 - The Illustrated Dictionary of Boating Terms: 2,000 Essential Terms for Sailors & Powerboaters by John Rousmaniere, W. W. Norton & Company, 1998 - Wooden Boat, Wooden Boat Publications, 2005 - Sorensen's Guide to Powerboats, 2 by Eric Sorensen, published by McGraw-Hill Professional, 2007 [show more]
The business started when Jimmy moved an old building he had been using to house chickens from his property on Clark Point Road, to the end of Clark Point and began to sell lobsters from it. He then expanded it in to a lunch room and installed gas pumps out front.
Description: The business started when Jimmy moved an old building he had been using to house chickens from his property on Clark Point Road, to the end of Clark Point and began to sell lobsters from it. He then expanded it in to a lunch room and installed gas pumps out front.
"There were several brickyards on the island. Deacon Clark made bricks from clay on his land and between the houses of Richard Carroll and F. A. Birlem on the Clark Point Road the depression from which the clay was taken may yet be seen." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 89. According to Ralph Stanley the clay was dug from the stream coming down the hill between what are now two properties and the bricks were made across the road on the shore. – Ralph Stanley 2015.
Description: "There were several brickyards on the island. Deacon Clark made bricks from clay on his land and between the houses of Richard Carroll and F. A. Birlem on the Clark Point Road the depression from which the clay was taken may yet be seen." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 89. According to Ralph Stanley the clay was dug from the stream coming down the hill between what are now two properties and the bricks were made across the road on the shore. – Ralph Stanley 2015. [show more]
"In 1888 Capt. Robie M. Norwood of Seal Cove built a house south of where the electric power construction is now. This house was destroyed by fire in 1921.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 140.
Description: "In 1888 Capt. Robie M. Norwood of Seal Cove built a house south of where the electric power construction is now. This house was destroyed by fire in 1921.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 140.
Charles Wallace Birlem and Ben Conley Worcester Jr. built Smuggler's Den Campground on Carroll's Hill, eventually carving out 110 lots. It was sold to Annabellle Dam Worcester after Charles Wallace Birlem’s death 12/6/1976.
Description: Charles Wallace Birlem and Ben Conley Worcester Jr. built Smuggler's Den Campground on Carroll's Hill, eventually carving out 110 lots. It was sold to Annabellle Dam Worcester after Charles Wallace Birlem’s death 12/6/1976.