Lobsterland was a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall that burned on August 28, 1965. The building that became “Lobsterland” was bought by David B. Benson from Vera Rich (Vera A. (Beal) Rich (1918-1996), Mrs. Maurice Stanley Rich) who had used it as a playhouse when she took care of children. The original address of the building was 411 Main Street, Southwest Harbor. The house on the lot was built by Maurice and Vera Rich. It later became the Fiddlers Green Restaurant. Lobsterland Leveled The Bar Harbor Times, August, 1965 by LaRue Spiker "... Lobsterland, a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall, was leveled by fire August 28. David Benson, owner of the Lobsterland building, stated that the structure and its equipment were a total loss but partially insured. The cause has not been determined. A number of people reported the fire. Two boys are thought to have been the first to spot it. They said they first noticed fire inside the building; a few seconds later there was a muffled explosion and the whole roof was ablaze. Another person first noticed the fire concentrated at the far end of the dining room where the heater was located. Another person thought the fire was first heaviest in the center of the building where the trash cans were kept, raising the possibility that a live cigarette butt had been deposited in one of them. The property had been leased by Jesse Forbis [Jesse Lee Forbis (1915-1982)] this summer for operation of the restaurant and pound. Mr. Benson stated that he has no plans for re-building this fall but may do so next spring."
Description: Lobsterland was a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall that burned on August 28, 1965. The building that became “Lobsterland” was bought by David B. Benson from Vera Rich (Vera A. (Beal) Rich (1918-1996), Mrs. Maurice Stanley Rich) who had used it as a playhouse when she took care of children. The original address of the building was 411 Main Street, Southwest Harbor. The house on the lot was built by Maurice and Vera Rich. It later became the Fiddlers Green Restaurant. Lobsterland Leveled The Bar Harbor Times, August, 1965 by LaRue Spiker "... Lobsterland, a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall, was leveled by fire August 28. David Benson, owner of the Lobsterland building, stated that the structure and its equipment were a total loss but partially insured. The cause has not been determined. A number of people reported the fire. Two boys are thought to have been the first to spot it. They said they first noticed fire inside the building; a few seconds later there was a muffled explosion and the whole roof was ablaze. Another person first noticed the fire concentrated at the far end of the dining room where the heater was located. Another person thought the fire was first heaviest in the center of the building where the trash cans were kept, raising the possibility that a live cigarette butt had been deposited in one of them. The property had been leased by Jesse Forbis [Jesse Lee Forbis (1915-1982)] this summer for operation of the restaurant and pound. Mr. Benson stated that he has no plans for re-building this fall but may do so next spring." [show more]
"Beginning with the history of the houses of Somesville at the southern end of the settlement on the road to Southwest Harbor: there are several camps and cottages built in recent years around the shores of Echo Lake. Ernest Richardson has built two on the western side, Rolf Motz built a cottage close to the road on the eastern shore which he sold in 1935 to Mrs. O. C. Nutting. There are several others which have been owned by different people, and Ernest Richardson has a store and some overnight camps built in 1935-6 close to the road." – “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 257. For some time Ernest was in business with his friend Otto Clyde Nutting (1875-1972) [O.C. Nutting] with whom he went hunting and fishing. "There are several small houses on the right side of the road [on the eastern shore of Echo Lake], owned by people who have been employed by Nutting and Richardson in their lumbering operations. This firm operated a portable saw mill in this vicinity for a few years." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 258.
Description: "Beginning with the history of the houses of Somesville at the southern end of the settlement on the road to Southwest Harbor: there are several camps and cottages built in recent years around the shores of Echo Lake. Ernest Richardson has built two on the western side, Rolf Motz built a cottage close to the road on the eastern shore which he sold in 1935 to Mrs. O. C. Nutting. There are several others which have been owned by different people, and Ernest Richardson has a store and some overnight camps built in 1935-6 close to the road." – “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 257. For some time Ernest was in business with his friend Otto Clyde Nutting (1875-1972) [O.C. Nutting] with whom he went hunting and fishing. "There are several small houses on the right side of the road [on the eastern shore of Echo Lake], owned by people who have been employed by Nutting and Richardson in their lumbering operations. This firm operated a portable saw mill in this vicinity for a few years." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 258. [show more]
The building had previously been Ham Stanley's Cafe, but when the building burned it as Cuz' Cafe. On Wednesday, April 6, 1955 the Ellsworth American mentioned that the building was being rebuilt by R.M. Norwood.
Description: The building had previously been Ham Stanley's Cafe, but when the building burned it as Cuz' Cafe. On Wednesday, April 6, 1955 the Ellsworth American mentioned that the building was being rebuilt by R.M. Norwood.
Henry R. Abel moved his lobster pound from Tremont to Mt. Desert in 1938. Abel’s Lobster Pound still exists in 2017 where Henry built it in 1938 at the edge of Somes Sound on Route 198.
Description: Henry R. Abel moved his lobster pound from Tremont to Mt. Desert in 1938. Abel’s Lobster Pound still exists in 2017 where Henry built it in 1938 at the edge of Somes Sound on Route 198.
The gambrel roofed cottage just visible at the far right was the summer home of Paul Shields and his family. The cottage is at 41 Gunlow Road, Richtown, Maine - Map 3 - Lot 73 A.
Southwest Harbor Public Library Collection of Photographs
Description: The gambrel roofed cottage just visible at the far right was the summer home of Paul Shields and his family. The cottage is at 41 Gunlow Road, Richtown, Maine - Map 3 - Lot 73 A.
"We feature dinners from the bounty of Maine’s finest seafood caught in the Bay just beyond our window. Also American and Italian Cuisine. Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner – Cocktails – Open All Year – Bring your camera and snap the harbor view.” – from the back of the postcard.
Description: "We feature dinners from the bounty of Maine’s finest seafood caught in the Bay just beyond our window. Also American and Italian Cuisine. Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner – Cocktails – Open All Year – Bring your camera and snap the harbor view.” – from the back of the postcard.