Three Benches Donated To Ease Hikers' Way On Land Trust Trails

Three Benches Donated To Ease Hikers' Way On Land Trust Trails Reprinted with permission of the Boothbay Register

First published in the Boothbay Register January 2002

The Boothbay Region Land Trust has received gifts of three new benches for hikers' use on three of its properties. The Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast, owned by Larry Brown and Marti Booth, donated a bench for the Linekin Preserve, off Route 96 in East Boothbay, opposite the B & B. The bench overlooks the Damariscotta River and will provide a resting spot for tired hikers, or those who wish to sit and admire the view. Friends and family of the late Laura Kelley Hull donated a bench in her memory. The bench has been placed near Kelly Brook at the Saunders Memorial Preserve off Pleasant Cove Road. The brook was named for the Kelley family which has been in the Boothbay region for at least 230 years. The third bench, given by friends and family in memory in memory of the late Nola Herman, is located at Lobster Cove Meadow, a preserve that stretches from Route 96 to Lobster Cove. The bench overlooks the wetland at the meadow for the use of hikers and bird watchers. These properties are just three of the Boothbay Region Land Trust preserves offering trails for the use of residents and visitors to the region. Linekin Preserve, a 94-acre property, was given to the land trust by the Levinson family. It includes 651 feet of frontage on the Damariscotta River and 2.35 miles of hiking trails. Larry Brown, who is a dedicated stewardship volunteer for the land trust, said the gift of the bench is "just a way of paying back the land trust for all the enjoyment people get from the BUT trails." Many of his B & B guests hike at Linekin and other land trust preserves. The Marshall E. Saunders Memorial Park is a 22.5-acre parcel on the Damariscotta River where Kelley Brook flows into Pleasant Cove. According to research by Barbara Rumsey, director of the Boothbay Region Historical Society, the Kelley family owned much of the Pleasant Cove area back into the 1700s and operated a mill and brick yard there. Later members of the Kelley family ran the town newspaper, the Boothbay Register, in the mid-20th Century. The new bench there honors the memory of Laura Kelley Hull, whose daughter, Judy Marshall, is president of the Boothbay Region Land Trust. Mrs. Hull was the only known descendant of the Kelley family still living in the area. Lobster Cove Meadow, a 46.8-acre properly, was bought by the BRLT in 2000 with money raised in a capital fund campaign. Consisting of forested uplands, fields and wetlands, this property is a refuge for many waterfowl and wading birds; more than 90 species of birds have been identified there. The bench there honors the memory of Nola Herman who was a BRLT member and volunteer and lived adjacent to the meadow. Altogether, the BRLT now owns or maintains more than 900 acres of shoreline properties, islands, woodland, meadows and wetlands in the Boothbay region. There are 18 miles of trails open all year round for hiking, with no admission charge. During the summer, guided tours led by nature experts are conducted at many of the properties. More information on hiking areas and the land trust's work is available at the land trust office, 1 Oak Street, or by calling 6334818. (Above) ADMIRING THE VIEW. Three Shelties, from left, Finny, Goldie and Cubby, belonging to Larry Brown and Marti Booth who own Linekin Bay Bed and Breakfast, test the bench donated by the B & B at the Boothbay Region Land Trust's Linekin Preserve.

Film Crew Sets Up Shop At East Boothbay B&B

Film Crew Sets Up Shop At East Boothbay B&B By Kevin Burnham Reprinted with permission of the Boothbay Register

First published in the Boothbay Register September 23, 1999

During the summer months, resort communities, including the Boothbay region, get "all kinds" of visitors. So when Larry Brown, owner of Linekin Bay Bed and Breakfast and a former policeman, received a telephone call from a man inquiring about using his establishment to shoot some scenes for a low-budget movie, Brown was a bit suspicious. "I didn't know what to think at first, so I did some checking around and everything worked out," said Brown. On Friday, September 10, Brown welcomed the German-American film crew which has been filming the movie, "Lonesome," in communities along the coast of Maine for the past few weeks. Brown's B & B was the film crew's second choice for the particular scene in the movie, which is about an 17-year-old girl who has a fight with her parents and befriends a truck driver/country singer who owns a home in Maine. Originally, the Cod Cove Inn in Edgecomb was picked for the scene shot in East Boothbay but a wedding was scheduled on the day set aside for the filming. The independent film, which is expected to be finished by Christmas and offered to distributors at next spring's film festivals, is expected to appear in small theaters such as the Eveningstar Cinema in Brunswick or the Railroad Square Cinema in Waterville, according to the film's producer Patrick Allen. The film crew, which will be in Maine until September 27, has been based at Camp Wavus on Damariscotta Lake. Filming has been done in Woolwich at the Montsweag Flea Market, at the Blistered Fingers Blue Grass Festival in Sidney, the Union Fair, Wal-Mart in Augusta and High Island and Tenants Harbor. Allen said the crew will also film at Reunion Station in Damariscotta before finishing the filming in New York in early October. The film's director is Elke Rosthal, a German-born film student who graduated from New York University where she met producer Patrick Allen. She wrote the story for the film and it's the first feature film for both Allen and Rosthal, who worked on short films from 1983 to 1991. "We have a great cast and crew," said Rosthal, who gave this newspaper an interview while the crew set up cameras, lights and other equipment. "Lilly, the girl in the movie, is played by 18-year-old Aleksa Palladino, who starred in Woody Allen's film, "Celebrity," and in the award-winning independent film "Manny and Lowe." Her father, played by Brian Delate, played Truman's father in "The Truman Story" with Jim Carrey and also appeared in "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Reversal of Fortune.'' Rosthal said the scene shot at the B&B would be a conversation between Lilly and her mother, played by French actress and model, Marisa Berenson. Berenson, who hasn't done an American film in 12 years, starred in "Cabaret," "Barry Lyndon," and Clint Eastwood's "White Thunder." Rosthal said Berenson is donating her time and talent for two of the five weeks of filming. "She enjoys doing independent films, which she calls, "the gourmet cooking of film-making"", said Rosthal. The other male lead, Tom, the truck-driving country singer, is played by John Pyper-Ferguson, whose credits Include television appearances on "X-Files,'' ''Millennium," and the new Fox network program, ''Harsh Realm.'' (Photo to the Left) ACTOR JOHN PYPER-FERGUSON, who plays the male lead, Tom, in the movie, acts out a scene filmed in Woolwich. (Susan Gray Photo) Despite last Friday's rainy weather, the film crew began setting up around noon and were finished around 6 p.m., said Brown. "They didn't disrupt us much at all," said Brown. "One couple staying with us even asked to be extras in the film. You would hardly have know they were here. They came, cleaned up and left.'' (Above) THE FILM CREW sets up equipment on the porch at Linekin Bay B&B in East Boothbay, just outside a bedroom where a scene for the film, Lonesome, was shot on Friday, September 10. Owner Larry Brown said the crew was very careful not to disrupt the guests or damage the building and grounds. (Kevin Burnham Photo)

Former Lewiston Police Sergeant makes the transition from Law Enforcement to building an Inn.

Former Lewiston Police Sergeant makes the transition from Law Enforcement to building an Inn. By Duey Graham Reprinted with permission of the Boothbay Register

First published in the Boothbay Register November 5, 1998

I rang the charming old-fashioned crank bell a few extra times as I announced myself at the guest entrance to the newly renovated Linekin Bay Bed and Breakfast late last week. Having known the building as the Sirois household for as long as I could remember, it felt a little strange and a sign of the times to realize how much the area's history continues to evolve around us. My editor's assignment was simple. Go introduce yourself to Larry Brown. a retired Lewiston police sergeant, compare notes as a fellow retired cop, and find out what possessed him to quit the force, take on the comparatively tame responsibilities of a B&B, and proceed to gut and refurbish the entire sprawling structure. Having hung up my own holster long ago I really felt no need to ask the twenty-year Lewiston veteran why the change because I already knew the answer. Twenty years of seeing the worst man has to offer is enough for anyone who wears the uniform. Sight unseen I gave him credit for lasting that long. During his twenty years of service, Brown was bitten on the leg by a man while trying to break up a wild party, and once grew a beard to protest delayed contract negotiations. He saw five chiefs come and go and worked as a "COP on the spot" school-liaison officer for 8 years. When the Lewiston force initiated what would prove to become the state's model bicycle patrol program, Brown, already physically fit from basketball and running (he participated in the Special Olympic torch run mugging with the likes of the Bruin's Bobby Orr and Celtic's M.L. Carr) became one of the first officers in the two-wheel program and has remained a staunch supporter of community policing. I already knew the particulars going in. Brown had a college degree, a rarity at the time. He is a physical fitness nut who ate carrots and sipped water long before his fellow officers were asked to give up their donuts. He would even wear snowmobile boots while covering his winter beat. He enjoyed getting to know the people in his care. Then, to his credit. Larry was able to step back and say enough. He and his wife Marti Booth, a 21-year Special Ed teacher currently working in Warren but soon moving to the Longfellow School in Brunswick, had always been fans of B&B's. They stayed in many throughout their travels and always thought someday they would own one if they could only find the right spot, somewhere with a suitable inn site, a good bagel shop, and a great YMCA. Both considered the heartbeat of the community. When they discovered all three in the region the decision was made. The couple purchased the Sirois home from Al and Agnes, a sprawling 10-room.1850's era structure on Rte. 96 that enjoys a taste of Linekin Bay and lingering sunsets, and moved in ten months ago with their two Shelties, Cubby and Kelly. THE HONEYMOON SUITE at the near end, rebuilt family quarters at the far end, and newly manicured lawn in the middle highlights this rear view of the Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast located on Rte. 96 in East Boothbay. When Larry answered the door, putting off planned errands until we could chat about his plans, I already felt as if I had known him for years. Lean and wiry from recent triathlons, alert from years of protecting his back, and laid back with contentment over his new surroundings. I could see why he made such a good cop. It was time for a tour. In what I felt was a great move to protect one's sanity in a people oriented business such as a B&B, the Browns decided to utilize the asset of owning a big building by separating the rental and family living quarters with a revitalized common kitchen to serve all of both needs. As you enter the Inn's threshold you encounter a traditional sitting room, much as it might have looked when the building housed the Holbrook House Store in the 1880’s. Climbing traditional stairs to three rooms overhead, each with private baths, the first I was shown overlooked Rte. 96 and was named 'The Linekin Loft' after its wallpaper, exported from England. 'Crooked Chimney', a room complete with old classic headboards and a view of Linekin Bay, was named after the curious brick edifice that climbs her west wall. And to complete the upstairs tour we came to 'Rhapsody in Blue' named for pastel colors inspired by Linekin Bay and possibly a former servant quarters complete with emergency egress stairs to the kitchen. LARRY BROWN, recently retired Lewiston Police Sergeant and owner, with wife Marti Booth of the Linekin Bay B&B stands last winter alongside a curiously leaning chimney in what would later become a finished guest room by the same name. Thinking that I had seen it all, Larry next led me back downstairs beyond the large dining room where scrumptious breakfasts will be served, to a work in progress that by next summer will be simply called the 'Honeymoon Suite'. It will feature a large private sitting and living room combination, full bath, majestic view of Linekin Bay. and a large private entrance and deck from which to enjoy a summer's day. From there it was on to the kitchen where both family and guests will gather, then down to the basement where Larry showed me workout machines he's begun to use again now that the worst of the remodeling is over. REFLECTING THE AMBIANCE of the Maine way of life, the Linekin Bay B&B dining room provides a very comfortable location to mingle with fellow guests over breakfast. Never having been in the building before, I had to admit that it was entirely stunning, an ideal setup and location for a bed and breakfast. And that's when Larry asked me to sit down and see the pictures of what it took to reach this stage. The pictures in his play-by-play scrapbook took me by surprise as I realized that he and his family, along with numerous area contractors, had literally gutted nearly the entire structure to the frame, tearing out tons of ancient plaster, old style lathed supports and what seemed like a mile of old hot air duct work that was eventually carted out of town. A labor of love from the beginning, Larry spent two weeks simply stripping old lacquer from about twenty doors. With his family's help he sheetrocked the entire building, installed a new septic system in the back yard, and endured seven weeks of fun without a kitchen. Now I knew why the bagel shop was important. The outside garage was torn down and replaced, mis-aligned corners of the home were jacked up and leveled, new electric and plumbing lines were laid, the entire structure was purged of blown insulation and replaced with noise reducing batts, and an ancient heating source was replaced with a state of the art oil hot air heating system that keeps the building snugly warm for guests year round. RAZING THE ROOF of the former Sirois garage to make way for the Brown living quarters, contractor Pat Farrin wades his Cat through the first phase of last winter's alterations. Mild weather helped the project progress fairly on schedule for the Brown’s last year·considering how fickle winter can be on the Maine coast. The blisters, calluses, and nights and nights huddling with family members between daily renovations are finally becoming a memory as the year round B&B has emerged from the dust of hard work. The grass was seeded by Pat Farmer in June with a perfect three weeks of rain and produced a new lawn by September. Thanks to the color coordination talents of John and Maureen McGhee, the various rooms took shape and form, and with a humble thanks to the warmth of the entire community and understanding of some great neighbors who were involved in the entire project. Larry and Marti have no doubt they are now where they are supposed to be. Welcome aboard. Sarge, and pass the bagels.

The Holbrook Store on Linekin Neck, 1866 - Part II

The Holbrook Store on Linekin Neck, 1866 Part II By BARBARA RUMSEY Reprinted with permission of Barbara Rumsey

First published in the Boothbay Register January 9, 1997

This week's article continues detailing life on Linekin Neck through information found in an 1860s Holbrook store account book. Of the purchases, most were food, and nearly all were staples. The most common items were sugar, pork, lard, molasses, and saleratus (baking soda). Holbrook House & Store on Linekin Neck about 1890 The attached store was located on the right side of the structure. Molasses An enormous quantity of molasses was consumed. In the first two months of sales, fifteen families bought between one and nine gallons of molasses at 60 cents a gallon, most buying more than five gallons. Buyers brought their own containers to fill from the barrel, George Vanhorn having an odd sized one since he customarily bought one and a half gallons at a time. Molasses, half the cost of sugar, was a universal sweetener; and poured on bread, it was a common simple meal or dessert. Some residents may have fermented or distilled molasses. I remember Cecil Pierce telling me that about 80 years ago, a Mr. Graves on Southport had a still and made his own rum. One day while Cecil was working at Pinkham's Store, Graves came and spotted a spoiled barrel of molasses with a layer of dead flies an inch thick on it. He declared it was just what he wanted and took it home to power it up. Flour and Fish Holbrook's sales of flour and fish are noticeable by their absence. Of the approximately 3,200 different transactions, less than ten involved flour and fish. According to Cecil, on Southport people ordinarily bought their flour "in wood'' in 196-pound barrels or sometimes in 24 1/2-pound paper bags, an eighth of a barrel. Though nearly no Holbrook flour sales are recorded, in December 1868 the store sold 42 (empty) 25 cent flour barrels to the Suffolk Oil Company, a pogie factory. The store perhaps had another building with its own account book dedicated to such bulk items as flour and fish, maybe down by the water where the goods would have been delivered and stored. Similarly, at Pierce & Hartung's hardware store on the east side, you entered the store for tools and so on, but went down back by the water to get your lumber. Many of the Linekin Neck fishermen may have made their own fish, salting and drying their catch for home consumption. In terms of purchasing fish, Lester Barter explained to me how Harbor townspeople bought fish when he was young in the 1910s, and it probably was the same on 1860s Linekin Neck. Lester's family bought slack salted pollock by the kench. A kench was about 20 or 25 pounds of dried fish, laid alternately head to tail, tied up in a bunch for sale - no box, no paper, just the fish and twine. The Barters ordered theirs from Chris Nicholson of Monhegan Island, who sent notes to his customers alerting them when he would arrive at the Harbor with their orders, at which time the clients would cluster at the dock to get their fish. Lester said Monhegan fish was high quality since it was said there were few flies out there. Fish drying on flakes in the open air naturally attracted a lot of flies, and according to Lester, cayenne pepper was, often sprinkled on drying fish to discourage flies. Vegetables, Milk, Tobacco, and Fruit Noticeable by their absence from the Holbrook account book are vegetables and milk, a good indicator that almost everybody had a cow and a garden, generally the state of things locally. An exception - December 1, 1866, George Vanhorn bought 68 pounds of turnips at a penny a pound. Winter to me would look pretty bleak with all those turnips to get through. Lesser amounts of hard bread, salt, potatoes, crackers, veal, beef, tallow, beans, tobacco, tea, coffee, rice, and eggs were sold. Tobacco was sold in many ways: by the head, the hand, the fig, the plug, the pound, and the pack. A pound cost 90 cents, while a fig, a plug, a hand, and a head, perhaps all the same thing, cost 16 cents; though sometimes a plug was 6 cents. Raisins at 30 cents a pound and apples at 18 cents a pound were the only fruits available, with one exception. In 1867 six oranges were sold. Perhaps they arrived at the store via the sloop Little Nell which bought some items May 31, 1867. The first two oranges sold for 4 cents on June 1, the second two for 5 cents on June 3, and the last two for 8 cents the same day - now that's 100% inflation in two days! Nutmeg, cassia, mustard, cloves, and a very little peppermint were the only members of the spice/herb family that passed over the counter. Luxuries such as candy, gum, and peanuts were rarely sold. I have no idea what a 10 cent "mottle nappy" is -a tablecloth? The above foods were nearly all that were sold. Page after page you see the same items over and over. The Pogie Factories The Holbrooks provided labor and transportation for the pogie factories, fish plants that processed the netted pogies (menhaden) for oil and fertilizer. The population zoomed up with imported labor when the factories ran from late spring to fall. On the 1870 census, about a third of the population between Priest's Hill and Grimes Cove were the 72 extra pogie workers, many from Rhode Island, the birthplace of the pogie fishery. There were dormitories for the workers, many of them Cape Verdean blacks from Rhode Island. The Holbrooks often rented their oxen to Peck & Glover (a pogie factory located just north of the store) for $1.50 a day, as much pay as a man. The many entries for "Holling out Sane" imply they had a rig on their wharf to haul the pogie ,vessels' : seines. Every September they- hauled the Gallup factory's "carrarway boats" and launched them every spring, probably storing them in the fields. In May of 1867, they brought Peck & Glover's boats and sails from the Harbor where they had been stored. In 1867 Peck & Glover might have had trouble making their payroll because on a few occasions that summer the factory borrowed more than $100 from the store. On October 20, 1868 Nathaniel Foster rented oxen to haul rockweed and chum (fish scrap), probably to fertilize his garden. A few days later, the Holbrooks bought a ton of scrap from the Suffolk Oil Works, probably for fertilizer. The factories were shutting down and extra produce was being disposed of. The pogie factories seemed to take some care of their property, apparently having sheep which the Holbrooks sheared every May and gardens that the Holbrooks "ploughed" and harrowed every June. In May of 1869 the Holbrooks charged the Suffolk Oil Works for "self and oxen on potatoe ground." No doubt the pogie factories grew what food they could to feed their help. Often the sloop Shannon picked up groceries from the store for a pogie factory's "cookhouse." The Holbrook business filled many roles. It served as a grocery store, a hardware store, a dry goods store, a stable, a bank, a renter of heavy equipment (oxen), a shoe repair shop, and a boat storage facility. You begin to see how such a typical small community supplied everything for itself with one-stop shopping. The Holbrook store was the mall.

About the Author.....

| To Top of Page |

Barbara Rumsey

Barbara Rumsey has lived in Boothbay Harbor since she was six years old. She presently serves as the Executive Director of the Boothbay Region Historical Society. She has written one book herself titled"Hodgdon Shipbuilding and Mills" and is currently working on another solo effort. She has also contributed to several other books about the history of the Boothbay Region, and has had many of her shorter works published in the local newspaper - The Boothbay Register.

About the Boothbay Region Historical Society & Museum.... The Boothbay Region Historical Society was organized in 1967 for the purpose of bringing together individuals interested in local history and collecting and preserving records and artifacts relating to this region and the people who have lived and worked here. The Historical Society has on exhibit documents and artifacts from the Indian days and the periods of active fishing, shipbuilding, and trading, into the present century. Fishing gear, tools, and nautical instruments are displayed and a guide will be glad to explain their use. A number of photographs of sailing ships, steamers, and "how it was in the good old days" are mounted and many more are on file. Prints may be ordered at modest cost. The Society also has a collection of models of Boothbay vessels built by local artists. Books and monographs on the history of the region written by local authors are for sale. Within our files is a wealth of genealogical material as well as manuscripts, memorabilia, videos, and newspapers dealing with local matters. Our Society is an active research facility focusing on all aspects of local history. Contributions for the support of the museum are gratefully received, and new members of the society are welcomed enthusiastically. Boothbay Region Historical Society & Museum P.O. Box 272 Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 Telephone: (207) 633-0820 HOURS Open All Year on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. July & August - Open Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The Holbrook Store on Linekin Neck, 1866 - Part I

The Holbrook Store on Linekin Neck, 1866 Part I About the Author - Barbara Rumsey Reprinted with permission of Barbara Rumsey

First published in the Boothbay Register January 2, 1997

Gloria Knapp at Shop 'n Save always compliments me on my articles but adds, "Do one on Linekin Neck!'' So, here you are Gloria - sorry the Dodges hadn't made it to Linekin yet! Jere Coosard recently loaned the Historical Society an old E. & E. Holbrook store account book, and it makes very interesting reading, revealing aspects of mid-nineteenth-century life on Linekin Neck. Jere was given the book by Eliphalet Prentiss "Pete" Jones (1899-1991), a grandson of store-keeper Eliphalet Holbrook. The business, at least the general store, was attached to the Holbrook house (formerly owned by Al and Agnes Sirois' but now known as the Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast owned by Larry Brown and Marti Booth) located on the flat stretch of Linekin Neck. Eliphalet and Ezekiel Holbrook are said to have started their fishing/store business in 1845 and it continued well into the twentieth century. The book, 216 pages with about 15 entries on each page, runs from May 1866 to September 1869. At a glance, it's obvious that most of the business consisted of repeat customers and repeat purchases. Near Linekin Bay, it was a village store catering to people within walking or rowing distance, although vessels and the booming pogie factories benefited too. The vessels, such as Arrival, Minnawarren, Sailor, Shannon, Western Belle, and Little Nell, bought supplies only in the mild months, roughly April to October. Linekin Neck Geography

I'm sure many people are aware of how developers introduce seductive new names to entice lot buyers. So throughout Boothbay's history, the tip of Linekin Neck was Green Island Cove, later Grimes Cove, until developers subdivided it into a summer colony a hundred years ago, renaming it "Ocean Point." In the same way, Little River became ''Boothbay Shores" when W. T. Jackson attempted to develop it in the 1920s, and the back side of Perch Island Cove became a developer's "Paradise Point." The Upper Elbow became "Smuggler's Cove'' but the Lower Elbow has stayed untouched by developers. It does have another name, Tibbetts Cove, acknowledging the Tibbetts families, such as Ada Tibbetts, who have lived there for so long.

Growing up in East Boothbay village, I sensed that Linekin Neck started about at the turn to Farnham's Point and the vicinity was the point for the old school districts, with the children north of it walking to the village school, and those walking to the Linekin school below the turn to Little River. Years ago Hazel Poore told me that there was a clear boundary on the Neck too - you were either above or below the white gate, which was situated just south of the turn to Little River. Children knew they needed permission to pass beyond the white gate. Similarly I sensed in East Boothbay that if I went beyond Bill Tompkins' filling station near Meadow Cove Road or Grammy Luke's at the foot of Priest's Hill, I was on my own in unfamiliar territory. Linekin Neck Families The repetition of year-round family names builds up a map of the size and extent of the community that frequented the store. All the names from the book's first two months, May 12 to July 12, 1866, are shown in the box. May 12 - July 12, 1866 Store Patrons Family # of Visits Family # of Visits Adams 1 Alley 4 Amiro 11 Bennett 19 Blake 3 Blatchford 1 Brewer 5 Franham 21 Foster 15 Giles 2 Grimes 2 Hagget 1 Hodgdon 9 Keller 19 Linekin 1 Martin 3 Nolan 9 Parsons 1 Poor 39 Preble 1 Rowe 6 Tarr 3 Tibbetts 16 VanHorn 12 Wentworth 20 West 1 Whitehouse 3 Arrival 2 Minnwarren 1 Shannon 5 Gallop 5 Howe & Cotter 7 Peck & Glover 41 Many... Alley, Poor, Tibbetts, and Linekin - are familiar Linekin Neck names while others - Tarr, Nolan, Rowe, Amiro, Foster, and Wentworth - either were here fleetingly for a few decades or the families died out. Almost exclusively, the patrons lived between Grimes Cove and Priest's Hill. The number of houses between those two locations doubled from 15 to 30 between 1840 and:1850, reflecting, I believe, the Holbrooks' starting their business and drawing people to the area. Another 10 were built by 1860; and 15 more by 1870, reflecting the good times brought by the pogie factories. Generally, those who patronized the Holbrook store most frequently lived closest, while the further away the patrons lived the less they came. Family was primary - new people usually settled on the Neck because of marriage, but new can be a relative thing. The Alleys were new in 1774 when Samuel Alley left North Boothbay to marry Sarah Linekin and live at Linekin. In the mid-1800s, Nancy and Frederic Farnham married George and Orra Brewer, bringing Brewers in; Lucinda and Mary Farnham brought Jackson Tarr and George Martin to the area. Almost always a strange name can be explained by the marriage of a local family member with an outsider - a far cry from today's reasons for settling here or anywhere. Probably half the marriages took place between Linekin families. Rufus Tibbetts married Asenath Grimes, and Grimeses intermarried with Bennetts and Rackliffs, all now extinct Ocean Point families. Eliphalet and Ezekiel Holbrooks sister Fanny married an Ocean Point Bennett, then a Rowe; their sisters Sally and Dorcas and Lucy married Nathaniel Foster, Joseph Farnham, and Joseph Grimes respectively. Store Goods The store was truly general, selling kerosene, matches, lamp chimneys, baskets, papers of stove polish, pails, chamber pots, bowls, pans, brooms, hoes, nails, axes, shot, powder, and gun caps. Material, such as print, cotton, tweed, and thread and buttons were carried for sewing homemade clothes. Stocked clothing were boots, hats, stockings (socks), and "mittings." And it's not hard to tell that ''mk jigs'' are (mackerel jigs), when it's July in Maine and you're situated next to the water! Medicine and what we now call "personal care products" were sold. "Hair renewer" was sold to some who regretted going bald: Ruglas Poore, John Nolan, Albion Poore, and Simon Farnham all traded money for the dream of a hairy head. Simon was particularly hopeful, buying two bottles. However, it is remotely possible that instead of being poured on the head the hair renewer was taken internally; in a "dry" state, people were inventive about their sources of alcohol. William Keller and others purchased lung balsam repeatedly, and other general medicines sold by the Holbrooks were "panacea" and "catarrh snuff." Some local people reduced their store bill by selling produce to the Holbrooks. For instance, Mary Amiro, Victoria Poor, Sarah Tibbetts, Elizabeth Alley, Jane Blake, Rufus Tibbetts, and John Nolan occasionally sold eggs to the store at 20 cents a dozen, equal to the cost of a pound of sugar, a pound of coffee, or a quarter bushel of potatoes. Mrs. Blake and Mary Amiro supplied mittens, Probably for normal winter wear and for fishermen. George Whitehouse was credited with caulking a boat. Labor and Rented Commodities The Holbrooks boarded people and animals, performed work themselves, repaired shoes and boots, and let out animals. They charged Martin Priest for stoning a cellar in 1866; perhaps Priest was busy building a house on Priest's Hill. On January 11, 1869 Nathaniel Wentworth moved from one house to another, renting oxen to haul his furniture. Nathaniel Bennett was billed December 4, 1866 by the Holbrooks for going to the Holbrooks four times and for digging two graves at $1 each. Nathaniel's wife Vashti Grimes Bennett and their ten year old son both died in October. When the Holbrooks were busy, they hired labor. So May 8, 1869, Simon Alley did some furrowing and hilling out for them. For swift transportation, Holbrook horses were rented, almost always to fetch a doctor. Ruglas Poor did so August 16, 1867, as did W.G. Reed the same day. I remember Hazel Poore telling me that the people on Linekin Neck and elsewhere called East Boothbay "the Mills," short for Hodgdons Mills. May 4, 1867, Andrew Tarr rented a horse to go to the Mills. Next week. Groceries and Pogie Factories on Linekin Neck.

About the Author.....

| To Top of Page |

Barbara Rumsey

Barbara Rumsey has lived in Boothbay Harbor since she was six years old. She presently serves as the Executive Director of the Boothbay Region Historical Society. She has written one book herself titled"Hodgdon Shipbuilding and Mills" and is currently working on another solo effort. She has also contributed to several other books about the history of the Boothbay Region, and has had many of her shorter works published in the local newspaper - The Boothbay Register.

About the Boothbay Region Historical Society & Museum.... The Boothbay Region Historical Society was organized in 1967 for the purpose of bringing together individuals interested in local history and collecting and preserving records and artifacts relating to this region and the people who have lived and worked here. The Historical Society has on exhibit documents and artifacts from the Indian days and the periods of active fishing, shipbuilding, and trading, into the present century. Fishing gear, tools, and nautical instruments are displayed and a guide will be glad to explain their use. A number of photographs of sailing ships, steamers, and "how it was in the good old days" are mounted and many more are on file. Prints may be ordered at modest cost. The Society also has a collection of models of Boothbay vessels built by local artists. Books and monographs on the history of the region written by local authors are for sale. Within our files is a wealth of genealogical material as well as manuscripts, memorabilia, videos, and newspapers dealing with local matters. Our Society is an active research facility focusing on all aspects of local history. Contributions for the support of the museum are gratefully received, and new members of the society are welcomed enthusiastically. Boothbay Region Historical Society & Museum P.O. Box 272 Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 Telephone: (207) 633-0820 HOURS Open All Year on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. July & August - Open Wednesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hello World!!!

Linekin Bay Bed and Breakfast here in East Boothbay, Maine is very excited to connect and share with you... Please check back for updated blog entries.

2008 Newsletter

Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast Tenth Anniversary

In 1998 on Labor Day weekend we welcomed our guests, Bernie and Jay Gaudry to Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast. We were fortunate to have Jay and Bernie as our very first guests as they were so friendly they immediately made us feel at ease as we were new and nervous innkeepers. Celebrating the inn’s tenth anniversary in 2008 provides us a time for reflection. We have welcomed over 4,000 guests since opening the inn. Guests come back to see us each year, others as often as they can, and many have recommended us to relatives and friends.

We have enjoyed the weddings that have taken place at the inn and the newlywed couples who spend their honeymoon here. It has been a pleasure to welcome people celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions. We have hosted families who have taken the entire inn to spend time together. We enjoy seeing guests on vacation relax, rejuvenate and have fun. Bob Newhart greeted guests and served breakfast, but owning a real inn requires a great amount of work. We love living in this beautiful area on the coast of Maine, but what has made it worthwhile for us is all the wonderful people whom we have met throughout the years.

We are grateful for the kind remarks of our guests who say they appreciate the amenities in the rooms and the attention to detail, comfortable and appealing common areas, hearty breakfasts and afternoon desserts, and the beautiful gardens. We are pleased to hear that walking into Linekin Bay B&B feels like coming home. We are asked, “How many years do innkeepers typically run a B&B?” The answer is usually five years. We have doubled this and look forward to many more years welcoming people to our inn. We truly enjoy and appreciate our guests and this is what makes it all worth while. We thank you for your support!

---

Newest Member of Our Family

We recently adopted a beautiful a 6 year old male Sheltie named Jay Jay. Now don’t be alarmed as Goldie, who turns 14 and Finny 7 are both doing fine. Typical of the breed, Jay Jay is on the timid side, but so far has enjoyed meeting people and can’t wait for the upcoming season as Goldie and Finny have already told him about all the nice guests that come to Linekin Bay B&B.

INDEX

---

What’s New at Linekin Bay?

As many of you remember when we first opened the B&B, the Whispering Roses room did not have a water view. With the addition of the loft room, it has a sitting room with a beautiful view of Linekin Bay. We have renamed this room the Linekin Loft.

Marti has been redecorating the sun room with new chairs, fabrics, rug, window treatments and an antique pedestal dining table for a warm, cozy and comfortable room to enjoy the sunlight, gardens, and water views.

The Rhapsody in Blue room has a new look with more elegant fabric on the chaise, new rugs and lamps. Also look for new lamps in the rooms for better light for reading.

Come celebrate our tenth anniversary and enjoy the many activities in the Boothbay area and the beauty of the coast of Maine.

---

Boothbay Region Land Trust

The Boothbay Region Land Trust protects over 900 acres of land, maintains miles of hiking trails, and provides access to the coast for recreation and working waterfront. BRLT is continually working on preserving the natural beauty of this area. The newest project, which Larry is heading, involves building multi-use trails for hiking, bicycling, and cross-country skiing on a recently donated 130 acres of land. This property, with rolling hills and a small pond, is located on Ocean Point Road.

People are enthusiastic about having bicycle trails on the peninsula. To learn about the many programs and events that BRLT sponsors go to www.brlt.org.

---

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Another jewel in our area is the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. CMBG had its dedication this past June.

Our guests have greatly enjoyed the beautiful gardens, trails, café and gift shop. Thanks to a million dollar donation, CMBG will be starting work on the Garden of Five Senses which is scheduled to open in 2009.

This season Linekin Bay B&B will offer discounted tickets to guests for entrance to CMBG. To see the many events and programs at the Gardens go to www.mainegardens.org.

---

Around Town with Larry Brown

Larry’s latest venture is a new show on the Boothbay Region Cable TV Station. The first show of “Around Town with Larry Brown” brought Larry and Finny to the Grand Opening of the Boothbay Animal Hospital.

Other shows featured Linekin Bay Woodturning in Ocean Point where mahogany logs are turned into beautiful bowls, interviews with indoor cyclists participating in spinning classes at the YMCA, and interviewing the Boothbay fire chief about the upcoming state fire convention they will be hosting.

It has been interesting talking to people in our community about what they are doing.

---

2008 Events

The Boothbay Region has many unique festivals and events. The following is a list of some of the festivals and their dates for 2008.

• Fisherman’s Festival - April 25, 26, 27

• Maine Photography Show - May 10 thru 25

• Lobster Boat Races - June 21

• Windjammer Days - June 24, 25

• Old Fashion 4^th of July Celebration - July 4

• International Rock Skip Contest - July 5

• Antique Auto Days - July 19, 20

• Jazz Festival Weekend - July 18, 19, 20

• Land Trust Boatbuilders Festival - August 3

• Shipyard Cup - September 6, 7

• Fall Foliage Fair - October 11, 12

• Early Bird Sale/PJ Party - November 22

• Harbor Lights Festival - December 6

The Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce has a yearly calendar with all the area events. It is: www.boothbayharbor.com

For more information about these festivals visit our
Events Page
call us at 1-800-596-7420
or e-mail us at info@linekinbaybb.com.

---

GIFT CERTIFICATES

A gift certificate for a stay at Linekin Bay Bed & Breakfast is a great way to give someone you care about an opportunity for a fun and relaxing get-away. Gift certificates make great birthday or anniversary presents. We can make arrangements with you so that their entire stay is paid for or you can purchase a gift certificate for $100.00 or whatever amount you choose.