In November, the Southwest Harbor Public Library holds a lantern walk as an observance of the changing season and a celebration of the darkening days. Participants meet at dusk in the High Road parking lot and a walk down Causeway Lane to Causeway Bridge, where a seasonal story is told. A lantern making event occurs prior to the walk. After the walk, participants are invited to go to the library around for a simple meal of soup and bread.
Description: In November, the Southwest Harbor Public Library holds a lantern walk as an observance of the changing season and a celebration of the darkening days. Participants meet at dusk in the High Road parking lot and a walk down Causeway Lane to Causeway Bridge, where a seasonal story is told. A lantern making event occurs prior to the walk. After the walk, participants are invited to go to the library around for a simple meal of soup and bread.
Main Street in Southwest Harbor was devastated by fire on March 27, 1922. Newspaper accounts of the fire reported estimated losses of $150,000 and that the Southwest Harbor Volunteer Fire Company, “did remarkable work, considering the limited equipment with which they had to work.” Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor firemen also responded, but the roads were considerably different from today and it took the Bar Harbor department, “four hours over difficult spring roads.” Apparently their “combination truck…was making some 40 miles an hour near Burns’ Corner when it was stuck in a bad hole in the muddy road” and “between Somesville and Southwest they were mired time after time and horses that were sent to assist them…had to drag the big steamer” [weighing almost six tons] out of the holes in the road. In spite of these delays the truck arrived finally…in about three hours, too late to do any good. “Had the roads been in anything like fair condition it is the unanimous opinion that the truck from Bar Harbor would have been able to save the Odd Fellows building.”
Description: Main Street in Southwest Harbor was devastated by fire on March 27, 1922. Newspaper accounts of the fire reported estimated losses of $150,000 and that the Southwest Harbor Volunteer Fire Company, “did remarkable work, considering the limited equipment with which they had to work.” Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor firemen also responded, but the roads were considerably different from today and it took the Bar Harbor department, “four hours over difficult spring roads.” Apparently their “combination truck…was making some 40 miles an hour near Burns’ Corner when it was stuck in a bad hole in the muddy road” and “between Somesville and Southwest they were mired time after time and horses that were sent to assist them…had to drag the big steamer” [weighing almost six tons] out of the holes in the road. In spite of these delays the truck arrived finally…in about three hours, too late to do any good. “Had the roads been in anything like fair condition it is the unanimous opinion that the truck from Bar Harbor would have been able to save the Odd Fellows building.” [show more]
The annual Harbor House Flamingo Festival is whimsical, lighthearted and decidedly pink, this fun filled family festival truly has something for everyone. The four day festival celebrates the plastic flamingo lawn ornament and features flocks of residents and visitors decked out in pink. The event kicks off with a lobster dinner on Friday evening. Saturday starts with a pancake breakfast prepared by volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard followed by the Flamingo Parade down Main Street. Other activities include a craft fair and kids carnival, open house at the Coast Guard Station, and a 4 mile fun run.
Description: The annual Harbor House Flamingo Festival is whimsical, lighthearted and decidedly pink, this fun filled family festival truly has something for everyone. The four day festival celebrates the plastic flamingo lawn ornament and features flocks of residents and visitors decked out in pink. The event kicks off with a lobster dinner on Friday evening. Saturday starts with a pancake breakfast prepared by volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard followed by the Flamingo Parade down Main Street. Other activities include a craft fair and kids carnival, open house at the Coast Guard Station, and a 4 mile fun run. [show more]
"Landing The Prize… Scott Worcester of Southwest Harbor receives congratulations from Sallie Hinckley of the Southwest Harbor [Public] Library after winning an acre of land in the recent fund-raising effort of the library and the Harbor House. The 20-year old business administration student at University of Maine at Orono says he plans to hang onto the land, which was donated by Conley Worcester of Southwest Harbor. Margo Stanley, at left, holds the copy of Thornton’s History of Somesville and Southwest Harbor that was won by the Southwest Harbor branch of the First National Bank of Bar Harbor. The second prize, a free, round-trip on Bar Harbor Airlines was won by Vaughn Marshall of Machias. The raffle raised $9,400 to be divided between the Harbor House and the library." – The Bar Harbor Times, Thursday, September 8, 1983, Sec. 1, p. 13.
Description: "Landing The Prize… Scott Worcester of Southwest Harbor receives congratulations from Sallie Hinckley of the Southwest Harbor [Public] Library after winning an acre of land in the recent fund-raising effort of the library and the Harbor House. The 20-year old business administration student at University of Maine at Orono says he plans to hang onto the land, which was donated by Conley Worcester of Southwest Harbor. Margo Stanley, at left, holds the copy of Thornton’s History of Somesville and Southwest Harbor that was won by the Southwest Harbor branch of the First National Bank of Bar Harbor. The second prize, a free, round-trip on Bar Harbor Airlines was won by Vaughn Marshall of Machias. The raffle raised $9,400 to be divided between the Harbor House and the library." – The Bar Harbor Times, Thursday, September 8, 1983, Sec. 1, p. 13. [show more]
The east side of Main Street looking toward the west side of the street. Shows the Southwest Harbor Public Library in the background, just to the left of the scaffolding
Description: The east side of Main Street looking toward the west side of the street. Shows the Southwest Harbor Public Library in the background, just to the left of the scaffolding
The Hall had been badly damaged in the 1922 fire and rebuilt, but the 1939 fire destroyed it. The Park Theater then on the corner across Clark Point Road is visible on the left.
Description: The Hall had been badly damaged in the 1922 fire and rebuilt, but the 1939 fire destroyed it. The Park Theater then on the corner across Clark Point Road is visible on the left.
The Southwest Harbor Band is visible on the right. The photograph was taken from the window at the peak of the roof of the house on the northwest corner of Main Street and Seal Cove Road - Tax Map 9 - Lot 8, 196 Main Street, Southwest Harbor. "…the house on the corner…was built by Marshall Lurvey, sold to Capt. Thomas Milan, who sold it to Ezra D. Lurvey, whose son, Ezra W. Lurvey, now owns it." - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 140 - 1938.
Description: The Southwest Harbor Band is visible on the right. The photograph was taken from the window at the peak of the roof of the house on the northwest corner of Main Street and Seal Cove Road - Tax Map 9 - Lot 8, 196 Main Street, Southwest Harbor. "…the house on the corner…was built by Marshall Lurvey, sold to Capt. Thomas Milan, who sold it to Ezra D. Lurvey, whose son, Ezra W. Lurvey, now owns it." - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 140 - 1938. [show more]