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]
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]
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]
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.
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.
Katherine Noble was born on April 10, 1880 to Palmer and Martha (Libby) Noble in Calais, Maine. She graduated from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in 1911 and spent six years doing private nursing. She then became District Nurse of Worcester, Massachusetts for about six years. She came to Southwest Harbor, Maine in September 1933 as Director of the Tremont / Southwest Harbor Nursing Service. She retired in May 1950 and died on March 18, 1971 in Calais, Maine.
Description: Katherine Noble was born on April 10, 1880 to Palmer and Martha (Libby) Noble in Calais, Maine. She graduated from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in 1911 and spent six years doing private nursing. She then became District Nurse of Worcester, Massachusetts for about six years. She came to Southwest Harbor, Maine in September 1933 as Director of the Tremont / Southwest Harbor Nursing Service. She retired in May 1950 and died on March 18, 1971 in Calais, Maine. [show more]
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
The white house on the right at 29 Clark Point Road is the Edwin Albert Lawler House The men listed on the back of one copy of this photograph as being in the picture are: Warren Norwood, probably Warren M. Norwood (1889-1927) Harlan Harper, probably Harlan Page Harper (1884-1951) Everett Carson Murphy (1879-1958) - William E. Murphy's brother William E. Murphy (1877-?)
Description: The white house on the right at 29 Clark Point Road is the Edwin Albert Lawler House The men listed on the back of one copy of this photograph as being in the picture are: Warren Norwood, probably Warren M. Norwood (1889-1927) Harlan Harper, probably Harlan Page Harper (1884-1951) Everett Carson Murphy (1879-1958) - William E. Murphy's brother William E. Murphy (1877-?)