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]
Couple in front: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Philip Frederick Morse Gilley - Dr. Gilley - dentist (1887-1961) - man in overalls on right
Description: Couple in front: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Philip Frederick Morse Gilley - Dr. Gilley - dentist (1887-1961) - man in overalls on right
Front row - Left to Right: Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986) Second row - Left to Right: Melissa C. (Farnham) Carroll - Mrs. Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1995) Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Daphne Forbis - Mrs. Avery Forbis Avery Forbis (1913-1985) Third row - Left to Right: Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) - Search Dolliver in the Fannie S. (Savage) Bennett - Mrs. Edward Harry Bennett (1894-1964)
Description: Front row - Left to Right: Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986) Second row - Left to Right: Melissa C. (Farnham) Carroll - Mrs. Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1995) Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Daphne Forbis - Mrs. Avery Forbis Avery Forbis (1913-1985) Third row - Left to Right: Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) - Search Dolliver in the Fannie S. (Savage) Bennett - Mrs. Edward Harry Bennett (1894-1964) [show more]
Front row - Left to Right: Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) Fannie S. (Savage) Bennett - Mrs. Edward Harry Bennett (1894-1964) Edward Harold "Harry" Bennett (1890-1965) Phyllis C. (Whitmore) Closson - Mrs. Lewis E. Closson (1914-2003) Lewis E. Closson (1912-1991)
Description: Front row - Left to Right: Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) Fannie S. (Savage) Bennett - Mrs. Edward Harry Bennett (1894-1964) Edward Harold "Harry" Bennett (1890-1965) Phyllis C. (Whitmore) Closson - Mrs. Lewis E. Closson (1914-2003) Lewis E. Closson (1912-1991)
Second row - Left to Right: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986)
Description: Second row - Left to Right: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986)
Left to Right: Alice J. (Carpenter) Berry - Mrs. Frederick K. Berry (1925-1999) Margaret Elizabeth (Tilden) Reed - Mrs. Raymond Wilson Reed, Jr. (1924-1995) Raymond "Junie" Wilson Reed, Jr. (1922-2004) Unknown
Description: Left to Right: Alice J. (Carpenter) Berry - Mrs. Frederick K. Berry (1925-1999) Margaret Elizabeth (Tilden) Reed - Mrs. Raymond Wilson Reed, Jr. (1924-1995) Raymond "Junie" Wilson Reed, Jr. (1922-2004) Unknown
Front man in overalls: Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Unknown couple Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) - Search Dolliver in the Phyllis C. (Whitmore) Closson - Mrs. Lewis E. Closson (1914-2003) Lewis E. Closson (1912-1991) Marjorie J. (MacFarland) Hamblen - Mrs. Stanwood Neal Hamblen (1925-) Stanwood Neal Hamblen (1926-1987) Man to the right in checked shirt and white trousers: Possibly Wendell H. Gilley (1904-1983)
Description: Front man in overalls: Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Unknown couple Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) - Search Dolliver in the Phyllis C. (Whitmore) Closson - Mrs. Lewis E. Closson (1914-2003) Lewis E. Closson (1912-1991) Marjorie J. (MacFarland) Hamblen - Mrs. Stanwood Neal Hamblen (1925-) Stanwood Neal Hamblen (1926-1987) Man to the right in checked shirt and white trousers: Possibly Wendell H. Gilley (1904-1983) [show more]
Couples in order after man in top hat: Eunice (Palmer) Gilley - Mrs. Philip Frederick Morse Gilley (1897-1987) Philip Frederick Morse Gilley - Dr. Gilley - dentist (1887-1961) Melissa C. (Farnham) Carroll - Mrs. Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1995) Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Daphne Forbis - Mrs. Avery Forbis Avery Forbis (1913-1985) Unknown couple Unknown couple Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) Unknown couple
Description: Couples in order after man in top hat: Eunice (Palmer) Gilley - Mrs. Philip Frederick Morse Gilley (1897-1987) Philip Frederick Morse Gilley - Dr. Gilley - dentist (1887-1961) Melissa C. (Farnham) Carroll - Mrs. Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1995) Philip Tracy Carroll (1904-1966) Daphne Forbis - Mrs. Avery Forbis Avery Forbis (1913-1985) Unknown couple Unknown couple Elsie May (Robinson) Dolliver - Mrs. Milton Haynes Dolliver (1903-1984) Milton Haynes Dolliver (1901-1996) Unknown couple [show more]
Center front couple: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Next couple: Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Next couple: Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986)
Description: Center front couple: Elsie M. (Phillips) Marshall - Mrs. Roscoe C. Marshall (1905-1988) Roscoe C. Marshall (1911-1968) Next couple: Myra "Midie" (Gilley) Stanley - Mrs. Burnham Manchester Stanley (1909-2001) Burnham "Ham" Manchester Stanley (1903-1970) Next couple: Chloa (Harris) Searls - Mrs. Thomas Searls, Jr. (1906-1982) Thomas Searls, Jr. (1908-1986)
Couple in center of photograph: Thelma Gwendolyn (Bracy) Hinckley - Mrs. Henry Rose Hinckley II (1913-2005) - with flower on her dress Henry Rose Hinckley II (1907-1980)
Description: Couple in center of photograph: Thelma Gwendolyn (Bracy) Hinckley - Mrs. Henry Rose Hinckley II (1913-2005) - with flower on her dress Henry Rose Hinckley II (1907-1980)
Left to Right: Unknown Marjorie Emma (Bunker) Robinson - Mrs. Davis B. Robinson (1909-1983) Irma Josephine (Gott) Symonds - Mrs. Thomas L. Symonds, Jr. (1916-2003) Eleanor (Hadlock) Gilley - Mrs. Richard W. Gilley (1908-1999)
Description: Left to Right: Unknown Marjorie Emma (Bunker) Robinson - Mrs. Davis B. Robinson (1909-1983) Irma Josephine (Gott) Symonds - Mrs. Thomas L. Symonds, Jr. (1916-2003) Eleanor (Hadlock) Gilley - Mrs. Richard W. Gilley (1908-1999)