January 2009
click here for older issuesTraditions and Records:
Norwood Cove, Southwest Harbor, Greening Island, Manset, Seawall
Published by the Southwest Harbor Historical Society
POB 272, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
(207) 244-9264
Southwest Harbor Historical Society
Phil Whitney, President
Chris Rawls, Vice President
Rebecca Carlson, Secretary
Wayne Patton, Treasurer
Board of Directors
John & Becky Burnham
Bruce Komusin
Joe Marshall
Bernie Mauger
Janet Patton
Ralph Stanley
Can You Identify?
We have some of these named, but need help with the others.
Let us know if you can help us out.
Back row: ??, ??, Robena (Beal) Smith, ??, Virginia (Beal) Michaud
Front row: ??. ??. ??
These ladies were waitresses at the Oceanhouse in Manset - possibly in the 1920s.
Looking Back
From the Bar Harbor Times archive at the Jessup Library in Bar Harbor
January 25, 1922-MANSET TO HAVE A COMMUNITY HOUSE
Five Acres Of Land And 17,000 Feet Of Lumber Purchased For Work To Be Started In The Near Future: The citizens of Manset are showing splendid public spirit in making plans for a community house to be built there in the near future. Five acres of land near the white church have to be purchased by a committee appointed for that purpose and plans for the erection of a building 115 by 60 feet have been accepted.
The committee took advantage of an opportunity to purchase 17,000 feet of lumber from the United States government operations on the Penobscot river and the schooner Howard Russell, Capt. Hall of Sandy Point, was engaged to bring it to Manset. During a storm, the vessel sought shelter in a harbor at Swans Island and happened to anchor over the stakes of an old discarded weir. As the tide receded the vessel pounded on the stakes with such force that they penetrated her side and sank. A lighter from L L Snow of Rockland was summoned to get her off when the storm was subsided, but it was found that the stakes were so embedded in the craft that it was impossible to float her. The lumber was taken off and is piled there awaiting the time when conditions of weather will permit its being shipped to Manset.
The Village Improvement Society has been working for this object for some time and the Manset Library Association has made a liberal donation to the cause. Citizens and summer visitors have responded liberally with contributions and it is planned that building will begin in the spring. The committee in charge is made of Everett G Stanley, A F Ramsdell, Derby Stanley, L A Clark, Mrs. E. Stanley and Capt George Hamilton.
(collected by: Janet and Wayne Patton)
From the Archive Collections Committee:
If you have something that would help preserve the history of Southwest Harbor and can part with it, please let the Historical Society know:
Mail: P.O. Box 272 Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Telephone: (207) 244-9264
E-Mail: swhhistory@yahoo.com
Rebecca Carlson
Recent Activities:
The Historical Society recently concluded another very successful Summer Program season. The September program on "SWH Canneries" at the American Legion Hall was a huge success, attracting one of the largest and most vocal crowds we have had the pleasure to host. After thoroughly enjoying themselves during the program, many lingered afterwards for nearly an hour to exchange reminiscences. The last program of this season, "History of the Henry Hinckley Company'', was presented in October, also at the American Legion Hall. Guest speaker Robert Hinckley provided a time line of significant events and offered numerous (and often humorous) anecdotes about former employees and company activities. The lecture was supplemented by many photos from the photos Wayne & Janet Patton have collected, revealing the boats, buildings & people that comprised the Hinckley Company, which became the largest employer in SWH history (numbering over 500 during WWII), covering two boatyards on both sides of the harbor. Yet again, another fine evening of sentimental memories was enjoyed by everyone, and provided an appropriate conclusion to our fourth season of 'voyages' to discover the colorful & nostalgic past of SWH. Thanks to all who attended and participated. The information & stories you provided were invaluable in our efforts to gather the complete story of SWH and its people.
Phil Whitney
President
Upcoming Events:
This Winter will see our staff continue to meet every month for our monthly business meetings. The meeting dates have recently been changed. Business meetings are now held on the first Monday of the month at 7 PM at the Chamber of Commerce offices. Program presentations or workshops have been changed for the Winter Season to the third Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM at the Chamber of Commerce offices. We plan to continue work on preparing & publishing photo booklets of various historical topics involving SWH. These will be selected from the vast photo archives collected & preserved by the Pattons. We also anticipate, as time permits, to interview additional older residents of SWH and gather their remembrances of times past. Finally, we may host an occasional special repeat program from those presented this Summer, in case you missed the original presentation. All this takes time, energy & bodies. We are in short supply of all these resources. If you have any interest in participating in our work, just an hour here or there, your support would be most appreciated. The meetings are fun, because we often share little-known anecdotes from our personal memories around town. The work is fun, too, because we're helping to preserve our local history - people, places & things - which might otherwise be lost or forgotten forever. Your assistance can help us preserve that history- for you and yours.
Phil Whitney
Last Issue's 'Where and When?'
This is the building on Clark Point Road that was later The Lawler Paint Company and is now Coastline Construction.
Where and When?
The answer will be in the next issue of The Voyager
Membership Dues
This is the time to remind everyone that the membership dues for 2009 are due in January. Please check the dates written on your address label to see if you owe for any years other than 2009.
Thanks.
From the Collections Department:
Many thanks to Celia Dunham for the applehead doll she had made of a Jesuit Priest representing some of our first settlers. A group of women made several different dolls as part of a project during the late seventies. We wonder where there are others?? Also, thanks to Marty Lyons for several items found in the Lurvey House on Robinson Hill and to the Tremont School who donated the book and CD that they produced when they were interviewing the veterans from our area.
Web Site
Southwest Harbor Historical Society now has its own web site, with an easy-to-remember address: SWHHS.org (think SWH Historical Society organization.) The simple site offers a list of upcoming events, a sampling of historical photos, a partial archive of past newsletters, plus a mail-in membership form. It also includes a page of organizational details, such as the mission statement, telephone number, mail and e-mail address, Officers, Directors, and By-Laws. Bruce Komusin, a member of the Board of Directors, designs and hosts the site, at no cost to the society.
The Park Theater and Jim's Place are no more. If any of you have driven through town, you have seen that the block where the original Park Theater stood has been torn down and a new building is being erected. Les and Janet McEachern, owners of McEachern and Hutchins, a business originally started by Les' father, Archie McEachern, made the big step of tearing this building down and will replace it with a new, better space and much improved building. Because of the age of the building and how it was originally built, there was very little Les could do to update the building, so he decided to go this route. Best wishes go out to Les and we will keep you updated on this change in our town. Send us your memories of businesses you remember in these locations and we will print them in the next newsletter.
As Phil mentioned earlier, we are starting to put together our first photo history book. This one is focusing on Manset and Seawall. We have many pictures already, but are looking for new ones to add. Also, we are always looking for more history. Sources of history is in newspaper articles, pamphlets, stories, books, programs, as well as personal knowledge. If you think you can help, come to our work-sessions, email us, write to us or call. Any help will be appreciated.
Wayne & Janet
Island Telephone Company Statement dated February 1, 1908
We are saddened by the loss of several members of our community
In Memorium:
| Walter Higgins, Jr | Freda Daugherty |
| Hilda (Mitchell) Berry | Shirley (Berry) Soares |
| Tom Morris | Clyde Carter |
| Harvey Sawyer | Jeanette (Hamblen) Varnum |
Time Capsule
NOTICE: The Historical Society has a time capsule that we would like to have filled. We need to have two or three people that would take on this project.
The Society will be responsible for having it sealed and buried but we need some extra hands to gather information. Please respond to 244-9264 or SWH Historical Society, PO Box 272.
A reminder
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments about the newsletter please let us know at