In 1940 Southwest Harbor Motor Co. was the only AAA filling station in Southwest Harbor. Their phone number was 51-2. The brick building was converted to offices to rent in 1986-1987. The U.S. Post Office opened in the building on June 2, 1987. Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021) attended school in the elementary school on the present ellipse (behind the Gilley Plumbing building on the left of this photograph) before it was moved across the street to become a fire station and now [2011] the police station/town office. When the bank was housed at the Southwest Harbor Motor Co. Ralph would take his penny bank there to be unlocked and have the money deposited in his bank account. The lady in the bank would show him the big safe where is money would be kept. – Ralph Warren Stanley 01/17/11 Marion E. Newman (1890-1976), Mrs. Frederick Walter Wescott at the time, owned a yellow Stutz Bearcat that was destroyed in the fire. Marion was known for having invested in Coca Cola stock and holding on to it when others thought it worthless and sold their stock. – Ralph Warren Stanley, 03/31/14
Description: In 1940 Southwest Harbor Motor Co. was the only AAA filling station in Southwest Harbor. Their phone number was 51-2. The brick building was converted to offices to rent in 1986-1987. The U.S. Post Office opened in the building on June 2, 1987. Ralph Warren Stanley (1929-2021) attended school in the elementary school on the present ellipse (behind the Gilley Plumbing building on the left of this photograph) before it was moved across the street to become a fire station and now [2011] the police station/town office. When the bank was housed at the Southwest Harbor Motor Co. Ralph would take his penny bank there to be unlocked and have the money deposited in his bank account. The lady in the bank would show him the big safe where is money would be kept. – Ralph Warren Stanley 01/17/11 Marion E. Newman (1890-1976), Mrs. Frederick Walter Wescott at the time, owned a yellow Stutz Bearcat that was destroyed in the fire. Marion was known for having invested in Coca Cola stock and holding on to it when others thought it worthless and sold their stock. – Ralph Warren Stanley, 03/31/14 [show more]
Description: The original William Henry Ward Store on the Manset shore. This photograph was taken before the expansion of the wharf by William H. Ward.
"The Selectmen of the Town of Tremont, upon the application of William H. Ward of said Tremont for license to extend his wharf into the tide-waters of S.W. Harbor, within his limit of said Town, having given lawful notices of their meeting to examine the premises and give a hearing to all parties interested therein, and having met at this time and place appointed and for the purposes named in said notice, and having decided that the extension asked for would not be an obstruction to navigation nor an injury to the rights of others, in accordance with the Statutes of this State, do hereby issue this license unto the said William H. Ward authorizing him to extend his wharf into the tide-waters of said SouthWest Harbor; said extension not to exceed one hundred feet in width and three hundred feet in length, in a northeasterly direction from the pier now standing on said Ward's Shore, on the southwesterly side of said S.W. Harbor. Given under our hands at said Tremont this 29th of Sept. A. D. 1884" Signed: William Heath Perry W. Richardson Caleb H. Sawyer Selectmen of Tremont
Description: "The Selectmen of the Town of Tremont, upon the application of William H. Ward of said Tremont for license to extend his wharf into the tide-waters of S.W. Harbor, within his limit of said Town, having given lawful notices of their meeting to examine the premises and give a hearing to all parties interested therein, and having met at this time and place appointed and for the purposes named in said notice, and having decided that the extension asked for would not be an obstruction to navigation nor an injury to the rights of others, in accordance with the Statutes of this State, do hereby issue this license unto the said William H. Ward authorizing him to extend his wharf into the tide-waters of said SouthWest Harbor; said extension not to exceed one hundred feet in width and three hundred feet in length, in a northeasterly direction from the pier now standing on said Ward's Shore, on the southwesterly side of said S.W. Harbor. Given under our hands at said Tremont this 29th of Sept. A. D. 1884" Signed: William Heath Perry W. Richardson Caleb H. Sawyer Selectmen of Tremont [show more]
The photograph shows Gilley Plumbing Co. to the left of Moore's Garage, and an early location of the Bar Harbor Banking & Trust Company in the right portion of the building.
Description: The photograph shows Gilley Plumbing Co. to the left of Moore's Garage, and an early location of the Bar Harbor Banking & Trust Company in the right portion of the building.
"Ped" Sargent's house is just visible to the rear of the gasoline station. The filling station was located in the space occupied by the Post Office parking lot in 2017.
Description: "Ped" Sargent's house is just visible to the rear of the gasoline station. The filling station was located in the space occupied by the Post Office parking lot in 2017.
"The Cheese House was part of the Cheese House chain which had 18 cheese-shaped locations in New England. Apparently, there are only … two buildings left. The stores were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were constructed of wood with a cut-out wedge for the entrance and windows. They are 9' tall and 40' in diameter. In the late 1970s, the chain disbanded due to financial problems." - “Giant Food: Misc. Food” by Debra Jane Seltzer, Roadside Architecture.com, Accessed online 11/12/13; http://www.agilitynut.com/food/other.html The postcards for all the Cheeses Houses appear to be the same photograph. The store in Trenton was owned by Alex A. Albin and Bernice E. Albin. It closed in 1984 and the building has been for sale almost all the time since. Collectors of architectural oddities are always looking for such buildings, originally built as cheese wheels, hot dogs, clam boxes or loaves of bread.
Description: "The Cheese House was part of the Cheese House chain which had 18 cheese-shaped locations in New England. Apparently, there are only … two buildings left. The stores were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s. They were constructed of wood with a cut-out wedge for the entrance and windows. They are 9' tall and 40' in diameter. In the late 1970s, the chain disbanded due to financial problems." - “Giant Food: Misc. Food” by Debra Jane Seltzer, Roadside Architecture.com, Accessed online 11/12/13; http://www.agilitynut.com/food/other.html The postcards for all the Cheeses Houses appear to be the same photograph. The store in Trenton was owned by Alex A. Albin and Bernice E. Albin. It closed in 1984 and the building has been for sale almost all the time since. Collectors of architectural oddities are always looking for such buildings, originally built as cheese wheels, hot dogs, clam boxes or loaves of bread. [show more]
The Motel, named the "Southwest Motor Inn," was built in 1970 and ran until 1980. New Motel Planned For Area "Southwest Harbor - Three businessmen here have combined resources to build a new 32-unit motel on Route 102 overlooking Norwood Cove. Foundation work is now being done and the motel will be ready for occupancy by June 1, said David Benson, one of the three partners. Druggist George McVety and lawyer Frederick Burrill are Benson's Associates in the business venture. The quarter-million-dollar motel will have two levels, with an outside corridor, plus an office and quarters for the manager. Hanson is acting as contractor for the project. The major subcontractor is John Goodwin, who is handling concrete work. The motel will be built entirely of concrete blocks. The three businessmen have not yet decided on a name for the new motel." - Bangor Daily News, 1971 The property was later Norwood Cove Housing, owned by the Ellsworth and MDI Housing Authorities who provide housing assistance and related services to individuals and families who face income or other life challenges.
Description: The Motel, named the "Southwest Motor Inn," was built in 1970 and ran until 1980. New Motel Planned For Area "Southwest Harbor - Three businessmen here have combined resources to build a new 32-unit motel on Route 102 overlooking Norwood Cove. Foundation work is now being done and the motel will be ready for occupancy by June 1, said David Benson, one of the three partners. Druggist George McVety and lawyer Frederick Burrill are Benson's Associates in the business venture. The quarter-million-dollar motel will have two levels, with an outside corridor, plus an office and quarters for the manager. Hanson is acting as contractor for the project. The major subcontractor is John Goodwin, who is handling concrete work. The motel will be built entirely of concrete blocks. The three businessmen have not yet decided on a name for the new motel." - Bangor Daily News, 1971 The property was later Norwood Cove Housing, owned by the Ellsworth and MDI Housing Authorities who provide housing assistance and related services to individuals and families who face income or other life challenges. [show more]