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.