10/22: All the Way East 3

Jude met Mary Peabody’s mother, June, in the checkout line at the Calais IGA today. She said we should be sure and see the Tides Institute in Eastport.

Back to Eastport via Baileyville/Woodland (home, you will remember, of Moe of Moe’s Barbe-cue) – a single pulp mill belching away, numerous deserted wood processing facilities, and little else of note, another small town on life-support – and Meddybemp (not much there there.) The Tides Institute turned out to be closed Tuesday.

Baileyville Idyll

Shackford Head State Park: Ernie followed along the mile-long trail out to a fine overlook, trotting along the path like a little dog. On the path we met Sandy who relocated from Lawrence, KS to Eastport via Johnson, VT last year and is finding it difficult to make a place for herself in the community, an odd mix of “artists” occupying pastel-colored storefronts on Water St. (the mixed blessing that is a routine part of the recovery of tired, rundown small towns everywhere) and the old-guard families and their ancient grudges, which go back many generations. Shackford Head looks over a large salmon farming operation in Broad Cove.

Salmon Farm, Eastport

You can see Lubec three or four miles across the water (nearly forty miles around the coast, though.) Washington County Technical College Boatbuilding Program (the oldest in the state) is in Deep Cove. The county had been nibbling away at the college, closing down one program after another for lack of funding, over a period of several years. The little college is still alive and breathing a little easier, though, after its very recent affiliation with Husson University. All the programs, including the systems curriculum, have been restored. A nice young man whose family has fished out of Harpswell for a couple generations gave me a tour. Wooden boat (traditional construction) is year 1, along with drafting/lofting/CAD; cold molding/fiberglass lay-up, diesel & hydraulics year 2. An ex-student of the program has bought the 1908 sardine carrier which has been resting comfortably in the yard across the street for many years, intending to restore it.

1908 Sardine Carrier, Eastport