Casco Bay Island Development Association
The Casco Bay Island Development Association, a bay-wide civic association, had a quiet 1997, saddened by the death of Harriet Hutchison, longtime faithful Chebeague representative on the Steering Committee, as well as the deaths of Margaret Broadwater of Peaks Island, and Hal Hackett of Little Diamond. CBIDA sent a donation in Harriet's memory to Chebeague Care Resource.
Through letters, CBIDA as an organization supported the lobstermen in their opposition to the regulations proposed to save the right whale at the expense of the lobster industry. It also encouraged the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) to ensure Chebeague's long-standing access to the mainland via Cousins Island.
The annual meeting intended for Chebeague in the summer of 1997 had to be moved to Cliff Island when the Nellie G Cafe closed. Plans are underway to have the meeting on Chebeague in 1998.
The CBIDA's 1998 Boaters' Pamphlet, with current information about the islands, marinas, fuel supplies and pump out stations is now available at the Chebeague Island Boat Yard. This free publication is designed to fit in a pocket or be tacked on a bulkhead.
CBIDA continues to work with the Casco Bay Estuary Project, now in its third year of implementing the Casco Bay Plan. The organization also works closely with Waterfront Alliance as well as keeping abreast of the activities of the Region 6 Transportation Advisory Committee (Cumberland and York Counties) and the Casco Bay Island Transit District.
CBIDA still points with pride to its part in the formation of the quasi-municipal Transit District which saved Casco Bay Lines from the bankruptcy brought about by its private owner; instead it was placed in the hands of a Board of Directors elected by island voters. It is also proud of its work in preserving Peaks Island Seashore Drive for public use and making sure that Great Diamond's McKinley Estates development was kept to a size suitable for that island.
Now in existence for over 30 years, CBIDA's Steering Committee, with representatives from each island, meets at 9:30 am at the Casco Bay Ferry Terminal on the first Saturday of each month (occasionally adjusted for holidays). Meetings are open to the public. Membership in CBIDA is open to all residents of the Casco Bay islands, year-round and summer, as well as to those interested in and supportive of island concerns. Dues are $7.00 per person or $10.00 per couple. Members are kept up to date with periodic "Memo-to-Members", have the opportunity for group visits to the islands at the Annual Meeting, and can know that they have a part in protecting the islands. To join simply send a letter and your dues to: Ruth Mistark, Treasurer CBIDA, Cliff Island, Maine, 04019. CBIDA takes pride in its reputation as a responsible and reasonable organization and urges membership ... the larger our membership the louder our voice.
For further information call President Virginia Fisher (772-3616) or
Chebeague Representatives Jean Dyer (846-4188) or Marjorie Rice (846-4864).
-- Jean Dyer
Casco Bay Island Transit District
1997 represented a year of growth and demand for services provided by Casco Bay Lines. The Board of Directors was forced to recognize that the M/V Quickwater was too small to meet the passenger demand. It was determined to search for a replacement vessel and the M/V Bay Mist was located in late 1997 as a potential replacement vessel. The Bay Mist is an 85 foot twin screw passenger vessel that had been used to provide charter service in New York's Great South Bay between Long Island and Fire Island for approximately 12 years. She was built by Blount Marine; the same yard that has built all of the existing CBL vessels except the Maquoit II.
In an effort to keep rates as low as possible, CBL management underwent an extensive expense analysis in early 1997. The efficiency and revenue potential of all operations were scrutinized. The 9:30 a.m. summer weekday trip leaving Chebeague was of particular attention as it has low ridership, but it was determined to keep this trip at the request of the Chebeague Island Post Office and due to significant ridership from Cliff Island. Also, the late Friday trip leaving Portland at 10:30 was also continued for the summer of 1998.
In January, CBITD went out to bid for renovations to the Island Romance. The work included the installation of a vertical passenger lift, a U.S. Coast Guard-approved CO2 system and accessible, ADA-conforming toilet space on the main deck. A contract was signed in February with the successful bidder, North Atlantic Marine, Inc., of Portland. Work was completed in April 1997.
Bill Neily, CBITD's Operations Manager since August of 1987, finished up at Casco Bay Lines October 5th in order to pursue his interest in a home-based business. Taking over temporarily as Operations Manager will be Captain Nicholas Mavodones, who brings nearly twenty years of experience to the job.
-- Jim Phipps, Director
(Our annual report for 1997 is reprinted from the monthly Calendar of February, 1998).
Chebeague Care Resource (CCR) directors, John Birkett, Frankie Doughty, Pommy Hatfield, Ester Knight, Ross Martindale, Jim Phipps, June Scamman, Cynnie Sheketoff and Beth Williams, appreciate the phenomenal community support and enthusiasm in the past year. CCR successfully administered the following programs:
Senior Lunch. 253 dinners were served at nine events, 39 additional meals were delivered into the community. In all, 82 volunteers planned, cooked, served, transported and/or entertained.
Information Resource/Library. 19 families requested health information and support. CCR was given a new file cabinet for storage of over 50 lbs. of health care information. Laura Trask, a medical student from UVM, and intern for CCR last summer, catalogued our entire resource collection.
Community Workshops. 34 people attended three informative, free workshops on breast health, supplementary insurance, and "advocating for your medicare services from hospital to home care".
Island Commons. Gladie and Ray Gilmartin donated their farmhouse of 1.6 acres of land. Four community committees advised, edited and compiled valuable information for predevelopment and fundraising. Many hundreds bought items, food and raffle tickets, played golf, attended meetings, spoke up in support and were terrific on- and off-island advocates for CCR. Hard-working volunteer participation and donations continue to be outstanding. Because of these successful 1997 fundraising efforts, CCR is pleased to announce that Island Commons ground-breaking will commence when the soil is dry, about black fly time, in 1998!
Our fundraising to date:
$ 4,100. from the yard sale. 16 volunteers and 43 contributors.
1,918. from the scallop dinner. 21 volunteers and 36 contributors.
10,500. from the golf tournament. 27 volunteers and 29 contributors.
1,253. from raffles. Donations from three Island artists.
123,000. from cash donations from 240 individuals, organizations and businesses.
146,300. from five private foundation grants and two State of Maine grants.
4,960. from thoughtful contributions, in memory of Jack Brown, David Buxbaum, Travis Higginbotham, John Holt, Joanne LaGanke, Dave Perkins, Francis Putnam, Helen Slowik, and one in memory of the people of Chebeague who died in 1997.
CCR thanks each and every one of you who made such successes possible. We encourage you to maintain your level of support and stay in touch with us. Ask questions, seek answers, volunteer, join a committee, make suggestions, attend meetings give cash or pledge contributions to one of our programs. CCR is a non-profit, tax exempt Maine corporation advocating for your health!
In the past 12 months CCR supporters
gave, granted and raised $523.652. to develop Island Commons. The Thaxter
Company, the contractor, has nearly completed site work. Construction is
scheduled to start by June 5th, and Island Commons will be prepared for
its first residents by mid-November.
The Resident Managers of Island Commons will be Cheryl and Darren Hillicoss.
They will take a Department of Human Services training course in June, and
will be working closely with CCR throughout the summer on program development,
resident applications, business setup and staffing. Until Island Commons
has its own phone, please call CCR at 846-6141 for any
information about this unique Chebeague adult family care home.
-- Pommy Hatfield
http://web.nlis.net/~bjohnson/Chebeag.html
When I decided to start a web page it was mostly for my convenience for locating sites which interested me but as everyone knows it escalated quickly. I received a call from the online reporter for the Portland Press Herald who was hoping to get the Islands online with their own informational sites and they said they would provide an address for me. I started to put it together but really did not want it to be constrained by others so I did it on my own. I enjoy working on the page when I have time to provide information for year round and summer islanders. The page is not meant as an advertisement for the island and I have refused its mention in major national magazines when asked. Jon Rich had done a drawing for the gift shop and I knew it was perfect to represent a Chebeague Page. I try to update it regularly and the best way was a news page which I update every few days with island information and goings on including births, marriages and deaths. I will include marriages, baby pictures, obituaries, stories, poems and almost anything provided to me.
The following is an article by David Lewis which appeared in the "Working Waterfront/Inter-Island News" May 1998: ISLAND WEBSITES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE - by David Lewis
"A recent review of Maine island web sites shows a few old favorites and some good looking new ones. We began by running searches on island names, but quickly found that the returns were heavily weighted toward business sites (mostly real estate and B&B pages) so the search was narrowed to include the words "community," "school" or "library." We found and looked at a considerable number of links.
"The Chebeague Island Anchor Page is eye-catching, with a colorful drawing as its opening screen. Scrolling down, there is a table of contents, including links to news of the island - updated daily- in both frames and non-frames versions. Clicking on "Island News," there are indeed postings of news and weather with today's date. The layout is neat and easy to navigate.
"A bit further down are links to other island pages, including the school, library, a church and a land trust as well as information about activities and businesses on Chebeague. There are links to articles recently published in the local press, including Casco Bay Weekly and the Portland Press Herald. Beverly Johnson created, manages, and updates the page - in fact, one of a very few criticisms we have is that she's not more clearly identified in the opening file!
"Digging deeper, we followed a link to an article in the Portland Press Herald which told us a lot about her and her family - how she and her husband Stephen have adopted three children who were living in orphanages in Russia. The photographs are beautiful and the story quite touching.
We learn by examining the "urls" (web addresses) of other Chebeague Island pages that Johnson is a prolific web master, having put up many of the town's organizations and businesses. The Press Herald article informs us that she is a plumber and her husband is a lobsterman. We have to wonder where she finds time to have such a presence on the web and keep up what has to be a very busy family and work life as well.
"The Chebeague Island Anchor Page demonstrates good use of hypertext, the foundation and architecture which makes the World Wide Web the powerful resource that it is. From this one opening page there are scores of sites either directly or indirectly relating to Chebeague Island and other Maine islands. As such, it's an excellent place to begin looking for other island sites. We had already visited some of those listed, but used the Anchor's links to view others we had not yet seen."
"The amazing growth and popularity of the web are shown by links to more than a dozen year-round and seasonal residents' home pages. As with any foray into the web, one good site leads to another. The hard part is staying on track - we'd better back up and look at some other island pages. . . It will be easy to get to lots of other island sites from some of the links provided on these sites. And there is a wealth of material posted to non-island sites which mentions or describes aspects of island community life.. . . . There's a lot out there on the web about Maine islands."
Islesboro Agenda: http://www.midcoast.com/~jcoffin/
North Haven Community School: http://www.midcoast.com/~nhcs/NORTHHAVEN.HTML
Cliff Notes: http://www.mainelink.net:80/~clifisle/
Peaks Island: http://www.concentric.net/~bethtim/peaks.htm
-- Beverly Johnson
The Chebeague Island Council has had to use this year as a year of regrouping and looking toward the future. Our financial status became a problem due to our publishing costs which required most of our resources, leaving little for other commitments. Instead of publishing the Newsletter, we had decided to try to use the Calendar to share information. The Historical Society has volunteered to take on the Newsletter with our thanks and support. We are hoping to purchase a copying machine which will permit us to do our own publishing. The savings on Calendar expenses will pay for it in the first year.
Meantime, our budget committee has worked out a budget which will permit us to continue all our other commitments - support of the medical facility and Doctor, donations to island and mainland organizations, the Calendar and support of the 4th of July parade and picnic.
Thanks to all for the many ideas you have shared with us, and your continuing support.
We're looking forward to an exciting year!
-- Ester Knight, President
Chebeague Island Community Sailing School
The Sailing School attained two of the goals we set out to achieve. With the formation of our tax exempt status, we are now a program that starts at age 9 and provides structured sailing experience until age 18. This year we instituted a racing program for l3 year-old-plus kids. Secondly, we started sending our graduates to U S SAILING's Dinghy Instructor Training & Certification Program. We are using the US SAILING textbook and Certification program for our students. This allows them to use their certification books for additional training outside the school. In an effort to perpetuate this training option, I hope we can establish a scholarship program to help fund the tuition of our future instructors. The CICSS Board of Directors is in the process of establishing criteria and prerequisites for sailing students who are is and wish to participate in the instructor training program.
We had a total of 46 students in the CICSS programs this summer; 5 in Boating Basics, 19 in Sailing Fundamentals, 9 in Racing Seminar and 12 in a special small power driven boat course given by Jim Millinger.- We owe him a great thank you for running this highly informative course which had a very diverse student body of 8 kids under 15 and 6 over 20.
The great news in our fleet is that this year the Zefs have all new masts and rigging. We color coded the halyards to help the kids identify them We rerigged the booms and main sheets and the boats seem to sail better than ever.
The kids finally named the 420's; Kermit and Grover. They are thinking of renaming Rival but as yet have not reached consensus. David Burgess was able to repair Rival after last summer's dismasting and she now sails with renewed vigor.
Once again Diane and Hartley were there for us with bits and pieces to repair our gear breaks and always supportive of our program which continues to grow.
Another contributor to the program who deserves a special thank you is Don Mayer who presented the club and CICSS with a new dingy, the kids have affectionately named it ELMO.
This has been a very exciting year for CICSS/CIYC. We participated In two regional regattas. The first was the Junior 420 Sears/Bemis Cup Regional Races held at Harraseeket on July 15th. Sarah Carson and Barbara Marks represented CICSS/CIYC and were possibly 4th out of six competitors, two of whom went on to the nationals. It was a very blustery, rainy, dank day, but they hung in there on hi tech, new 420's, even righting and finishing a race after capsizing. On August 5th, Tyler Foster GwiIlum and Abby Cummings represented us in the Southern/Western Midget Regional for kids under 13. They finished in the middle of the pack, a great showing for their first exposure to interclub competition.
Our eighth Annual Chebeague - Trefethens Regatta was held at Peaks this year. We had a great day! We had 5 kids racing 420's and 11 kids in turnabouts. We were the champions in wins, sweeping the 420's with 4 firsts and the same in turnabouts. We lost the plaque on cumulative points. Maricel Hahn and David Lynch designed a Regatta T-shirt which was presented to each participant. The individual champions in 420's were Sarah & Chip Corson; Tyler Gwillum and David Stevens in Turnabouts.
A special thank you goes to the adults who helped us transport and support the kids; Donna Damon, David Nyhan, Karen Sharp, Tom Rothschild, Jeff & Maricel Hahn, Charles Marks, without the support oft he many individuals who volunteer their time this program could not exist at the level it does.
Finally the annual CICSS awards: for Seamanship the following students;
Naty Smith, Nora Bisharat, Michael Sharp, Simon Brown, Jennifer Tonks, Jocelyn
Hulbert and Chris Sharp. The Webster Trophy given to the sailing school
participant who demonstrates both skills of seamanship and sportsmanship,
was awarded to Sarah Corson and was presented by Tom Rothschild, Commodore
of CIYC.
-- Karen Corson
"It's a good thing to be a Granger!"
So starts one of the songs that we often sing at our meetings. And it is a good thing to be a Granger - good for us as individuals and good for the community. Let's think for just a minute of all the things that Chebeague Island wouldn't have if the Grange wasn't a viable organization:
1. No one would spearhead the island clean-up. This doesn't just happen - it must be planned and areas designated to certain responsible individuals.
2. No one would clean the cemetery. There are many old graves which would be untended, without care, if we Grangers didn't donate hours of our time cleaning, mowing and raking.
3. No one would decorate the veterans' graves with American flags. Our honored dead are entitled to have the flag that they fought, and in many cases, died for, flying over their graves.
4. No one would put sprays on the veterans' graves. They deserve, too, a rose spray that says symbolically: "We Remember".
5. No one would sponsor the Memorial Day service at church. Memorial Day is the day when we remember all of our dead with speeches, songs and prayers in church, but someone has to do the planning.
6. No one would organize the Thrift Shop. If the Thrift Shop wasn't operational, what would we do with our rummage?
7. No one would organize the Grange Fair and Auction. Although the Grange Fair is a relatively new function, everyone has a good time, and who doesn't love the auction?
8. No one would fill boxes of cheer at Christmas for the elderly and shut in. This is an especially heart-warming task to those of us who fill and deliver these boxes of Christmas goodwill for our neighbors.
Sadly, our Chapter was draped in loving memory of Lida Small. Lida was a charter member of our Grange, a many times past Chaplain, and is sincerely missed.
Martha Hamilton had a Grange display in the library in celebration of Grange Week, which was from April 19 to the 25th this year. Any information that you may require regarding the Grange remains available there, or from any Granger.
This spring found some of us cutting and burning brown-tail moth nests. Even though spraying is going to take place this spring, there is something so satisfying about setting the critters afire!
Kindly remember to keep us in mind when you clean out your attics and closets. We accept almost anything for the Thrift Shop and Auction. A call to either Di Calder (846-4176) or Fran Calder (846-4876) will get all the information that you require.
We will be having three new members joining us this spring. If you think that you, too, would like to join our ranks, we'd be delighted to have you. Contact any Granger.
"It's a grand, good thing to be a Granger, and it makes my heart
glad!"
-- Frances L. Calder, Master
Scenes from the 1997 Grange Fair
President Cindy MacNeill has kept the Board of Directors on it's toes this past year, holding suppers, brunches, adult dances, kid's dances and the New Year's Eve Party, all for the same purpose, the upkeep of the Chebeague Island Hall.
Although dances, suppers and rentals provided most of our income for 1997, we did receive some notable donations. One such donation was a beautiful, queen-sized quilt made and donated by Jeanette Hamilton for a raffle last fall. A lucky lady from Rhode Island won the quilt and we gained $1000. A generous and thoughtful donation; very much appreciated.
At Christmastime of '97, we shared proceeds with the Whalers of their Christmas concert. They put on a terrific show and we served refreshments, all adding up to a festive occasion.
Last winter the Chebeague Island Hall Community Center had new door locks and keys made up for every door in the building, enabling us to keep better track of them. These keys cannot be duplicated, so we will definitely know whose hands they are in. Thanks to Ken Hamilton for installing the locks.
We have been praying that the weather might cooperate long enough for us to paint ... to give us a weekend to paint the outside of the Hall. A painting bee has been planned for weeks. I expect that by the time you read this, this will be history!
Thanks to Darren Hillicoss and Gary Varney, we finally got rid of the flies within the ceiling lights. Gary lent us his staging and Darren climbed up there and disposed of a very unpleasant sight. Credit goes to Cindy for organizing the job and cleaning the fixtures, along with Pat St. Cyr, Karen Hamilton and Sylvia Ross. Throughout the year we owe a huge thanks to our janitor, Lucy Vaughn, for her never ending, but most important job. Well done, Lucy!
B.J. Abrahamson is successfully teaching Yoga classes three times a week for anyone wishing to relax, stretch and breath to music ... besides having fun. Thanks to B.J. for providing this opportunity!
The Bingo games are eagerly anticipated by many avid players, especially our senior citizens. Their sheer excitement in playing ... not only winning ... gives us the hope of continuing these games for some time to come. Sylvia Ross is chairperson. Cliff Barker does a great job as caller. Our faithful cashiers are Audrey and Dick Collins. The two jackpot prizes are usually in the range of $10 to $20 depending on the evening's attendance ... the more players, the higher the jackpot. Regular games produce $3 to $7 for the lucky winner unless she or he unfortunately has to split the proceeds with another winner in the same game. It costs 25 to play each series of Bingo. A series consists of three games. We play six series and two jackpots every other Wednesday night from 7 pm to 10:30 pm. Recently our license fee has been raised, so we may be forced to up the price of each card to 30. Ask Bertha Gray, Alice Blackwell or Ellen Hamilton and they will tell you that it is worth it. Homemade goodies donated by one of the players are always served during intermission.
The new floors are still as beautiful as ever and nobody is enjoying them more than the Quilters. To spread their masterpieces out on that smooth, smooth floor so as to baste or sew them together is indeed a pleasure, not to mention those soft padded chairs we sit in while at our machines. The Quilters not only make quilts; they make full use of the kitchen to cook up some of the best recipes ever eaten on this side of heaven!
Our baked bean suppers have been so well received this year that we plan for more to come. A Clam Puff & Casserole supper was held on May 16th ... a combined effort of the Church and the Hall. With Mabel Doughty supervising, you may rest assured it was a delicious meal. Due to the demand for our Chebeague bumper stickers we will be having our third printing done this spring, in hopes that they will be ready by the 4th of July.
The Hall has really been blest with so much community support and is
very lucky to have such a great, ambitious crew as our Board of Directors.
We are thankful to have such a dedicated president as Cindy MacNeill. Cindy
wishes to thank one and all for everything they have done this past year
and every other year. You've all been great. You have made it a very good
year!
-- Sylvia Ross, Secretary
Board of Directors: Cindy MacNeill, President; Pat St. Cyr, Vice President; Jeanette Hamilton, Treasurer; Sylvia Ross, Recording Secretary; Dianne Brewer, Corresponding Secretary; Karen Hamilton, Booker; Jill Hamilton, Julie Doughty, Ruth Houghton, Roy Jackson, Darren Hillicoss and Ken Hamilton, Board Members.
Chebeague Island
Hall-- History
Facts and recollections 1928-1998
The Hall stands in the same location as the old Golden Cross Hall did in the late 1800s, until 1927, when it burned down one night after a dance, presumably by a carelessly thrown cigarette that had landed in a trash can under the stairway.
The Banner Commandery of the Golden Cross was a fraternal organization operated under state regulation, similar to the Grange today, but is no longer in existence. The framed chapter charter is sometimes displayed in the Hall at present.
The Golden Cross Hall, built by Chebeaguers, had an upstairs and two front doors. It covered about the same area as the present building. After the Banner Commandery was dissolved, the former members created the Chebeague Hall Company, a stockholder owned association. They held their first meeting in the Golden Cross Hall in 1903.
For years people have searched for a picture of the Golden Cross Hall. Just recently, one came to light while Betsey Ross was going through some old family snapshots. Martha Hamilton now has a laser copy in the Library. It was truly a rare find; with the permission of those concerned, we have reproduced this historic record of Island life on the inside back cover of this issue of the Annual Newsletter. The various young people standing in front of the entrances are probably high school pupils and we think that the photograph was taken in the early 1900s. Can you identify any of them for us?
The upper floor of the G.C. Hall was used for dances and suppers. The main floor was used for meetings, plays, concerts (it had a stage), and even the Ladies Aid. Before Chebeague had a high school, classes were held in this Hall. Back then, dances were held every Saturday night, with Marion Hamilton playing their favorite songs on the piano. Square dances were very popular.
After the G.C. Hall burned in 1927, only a year passed before its members built the present Chebeague Island Hall. In 1928, Addison Hamilton became its first president and Granville Hill, treasurer.
During the early years of the new Hall - 1928 to 1977 - rarely was there a weekend when there wasn't a meeting, dance, movie, or some kind of recreation taking place. Every June, the graduates of Chebeague High School would gather for their graduation reception, donning their gowns and dress suits. The Hall was powerfully scented with decorations of fir boughs and lilacs. There would be refreshments, speakers and lots of dancing. How this excitement was missed after the 1950s, when the high school pupils were sent to Greely to finish out their classes!
Public speaking contests, school plays, spelling bees, talent shows and concerts - all a vital part of the Hall's history. Ladies Aid Fairs, slide shows, fashion shows and auctions; gymnastic shows, puppet shows, Mayflower Club plays, art shows, Tupperware parties, showers, lectures. Where do we end? There was no ending! The Hall has been here forever! One organization or another has benefitted from these events.
Around 1943-44, the Army moved into the Hall, with cots, cameras, dufflebags - the works! The soldiers were part of a battalion stationed on the island during World War II, and lived in the Hall for a year or so. The largest barracks were at the East End where Mary Lou Hilly's family, the Richardsons, lived. Also Deer Point had it's share of Army barracks and soldiers. At the Hall, the soldiers showed movies and held dances frequently. Of course, all the girls were thrilled!
Voting and town meetings always took place in the Hall until the Public Service Building was built in the early 1980s. Recently they moved back to the Hall, for convenience and historical reasons. The Hall never charged the town for their use of the building, until it was tried in the mid-1980s, but retracted by the Board of Directors three or four years later.
Through the 1960s and 1970s the Hall began to deteriorate. Donations were scarce on account of it being owned by stockholders - hence, making it a so-called profit making company. However, nothing could be further from the truth as far as the Hall's policies were concerned. Generally, they donated the Hall when used for Halloween and Christmas parties, play rehearsals, flu clinics and other medically related programs, or anything else that they deemed worthy of charity.
Some Hall people who should be remembered for their keen interest in Hall affairs are: Albion and Helen Miller, Ruth Slowik, Priscilla Riddle, Ray Phipps, Ned Morse and Sylvia Ross. In September, 1996, a granite bench was dedicated to the memory of Ned Morse for his strong leadership in forming the CIHCC.
In the 1960s, the Island Council became interested in revitalizing the Hall and did substantial improvements on the exterior of the building. They had a new back porch built, they painted the Hall and put on new screens. Thy negotiated water rights to Earl Doughty's well, receiving from him a quit-claim deed to the well. Cold water was then piped into the Hall.
To reminisce about the old time Ladies Aid Fairs is a pleasure in itself. As a child, entering the Hall in great anticipation of all the grab bags strung out and hanging behind a table for one to try to make up one's mind as to what color string to pull, was almost more than a kid could stand! The decorations were overwhelming in color with crepe paper streamers draped on the front of the tables and from the ceiling, even around the two white enameled buckets of punch, one filled with orange aid, the other with fruit punch. The wonderful, pungent aroma of Etta Ross's clam puffs wafting from the kitchen can never be forgotten. Etta, Bill Ross's mother, stood for hours cooking those puffs! Then there was all the homemade candy, and handmade items everywhere you looked. Today, the Ladies Aid Fair is still about the most popular function that happens in the Hall.
By the 1970's many stockholders of the Hall Company had either passed away, moved off the Island or simply lost interest. Four active members remained on the Board, these members having shares transferred to them from friends or relatives. They were: Priscilla Riddle, Ruth Slowik, Sylvia Ross and Bob Riddle. The Hall still was without bathrooms, no hot running water, no insulation or wallboard, a Coleman kerosene stove that needed lighting before every winter meeting, very dim lighting and very little money left. The kitchen owned an old combination wood and oil stove, black iron sink and a huge, but not working so good gas cook stove. In the winter the water was drained from the pipes, requiring water to be carried in buckets before suppers could be held.
The Wagoneers, a local country band, had been formed during these hard times for the Hall, and they were hired for a dance. Members of this band were: Marshall Bowen, bass, Meredith and Marlene Bowen, electric guitar and vocalist respectively, James (Brother) Ross, lead guitar and banjo. All of them sang as well. Gary Ross joined the group after his father left the band and Gary became the lead guitarist. Marlene and Med were a great singing duo.
The Wagoneers proved to be a hit with Chebeague dancers. Country music was thriving in the 1960s and 70s. And so it was that the Wagoneers became a permanent fixture at the Hall, at least once a month. And we made money. Hiring the Wagoneers for dances enabled the Hall Committee to buy four new tables, panel the stage walls, paint the Hall and buy a 50 cup coffee maker. More than once they played for nothing if there was a small crowd. We are much indebted to the Wagoneers, who not only played on Chebeague but on Long Island, Cliff Island, the Log Cabin in Yarmouth and at many other locations. We are indeed fortunate to have the Wagoneers still playing at our dances. If any musical group belongs in the Hall's archives, it is them.
Recognizing the fact that before any extensive or major improvements to the Hall could be made, the Hall Company turned to the Island Council, who had come to their aid once before. In the meantime the Library's quarters, situated in an unoccupied room at the schoolhouse, were becoming smaller every day, and their Trustees were starting to visualize a new, larger Library. Also, for many years the Island Council had been searching for a full time resident doctor, to no avail. Ned Morse, President of the Council, had been informed by the Hall Company that as much as they needed help they did not wish to become part of the Council. They did like the idea though of dissolving their stockholder organization and becoming a non-profit.
The Council had recently sold the Doctor's House (more history in the making) and was quite apprehensive when, at a meeting, Ned proposed forming a new entity consisting of the Hall, the Library and a Health Care Center, all under one roof, all independent from each other, to be called the Chebeague Island Community Center.
Barton Curit owned the property next to the Hall and offered to donate enough land to the Hall for this project if agreed upon by those involved. The Librarian, Martha Hamilton, was ecstatic. Her dream just might come true! Those of the Hall Company were dubious, but hopeful. Where would all this money come from? Would the Hall lose its identity altogether? What would the future bring? The Council was not quite ready to use the proceeding from the Doctor's House sale, and they had recently hired for part-time Dr. Radis who was seeing patients at the new Public Safety Building.
Through meetings, deliberations, lawyers' fees, relinquished shares of stock, and much, much time included, in November 1977 the Chebeague Island Hall Community Center was formed and the then Hall President, Sylvia Ross, signed its deed over to them. Ned became president of the CIHCC after turning over his presidency on the Council to Blanchard Bates. The Council had agreed.
The Hall Company was pleased with the decision to keep the Hall name in the new title; the Chebeague Island Hall Community Center. The new entity could "... hold, maintain and administer the Hall for such charitable and social purposes for which such building was used in the past...," as stated in the new bylaws.
Top priority of the CIHCC was installing toilet facilities and ridding the Hall of the outside privies attached to the back of the building. In 1981 the first fund raising campaign of its kind ever on Chebeague provided the Hall with two bathrooms and a lobby with a double door entrance way. The support was overwhelming! The kickoff luncheon and the victory dinner will not be soon forgotten, and neither will Duke Faubert, a fund raising expert, who taught us and guided us all the way to victory. Ned himself knew that his best friend Duke was the right one for the job. John Thaxter received the construction bid in 1982, completing it in 1983. If ever a guy deserves credit, it was the building chairman, Dick Phipps. Dick spent hours and days drawing up plans for the new addition, consulting with John and keeping the Board updated on all the details. Between Dick and John we had the best!
In 1988 can you believe, a new kitchen! Harold Todd, Bob Parker, Dick Phipps (he again drew up plans), Ken Hamilton, and President Peggy Jones were all instrumental in reaching this goal. Members stained and varnished the wall cabinets, Ken put on the hinges and doorknobs. A tile floor was laid. Formica was installed on the counter tops. The Council donated money and we bought two new gas stoves and two new dishwashers. Peggy did all the shopping around.
The Library was built in 1990, large enough to accommodate the Health Care Center for the Island Council, when needed. A large stone and plaque dedicated to Barton and Marjorie Curit for their gift of the land, was placed in the garden near the Library. Ross and Nancy Martindale donated a substantial amount of money towards landscaping and planting.
Not to forget the new "select birch" floor that was made possible in 1997 through the overwhelmingly generous donations of all Chebeaguers, both summer and winter residents. Also, the year before, a wonderful gift of 125 new, padded chairs from Ross Martindale was added to the Hall, in memory of Nancy Beach Martindale, who always used to bring her own cushion to soften the hard wooden chairs that Ross's generous contribution replaced.
The Library addition to the Hall led to negotiations with the Town of Cumberland concerning maintenance support to help cover the cost of heating, lights and insurance. The Town agreed on a yearly stipend of $15,000. Out of this maintenance subsidy the Library pays the Hall for rental free use of the Hall and its land, by covering the heating, lighting, one half the insurance and for Town related janitorial fees. The Hall pays its own janitorial fee and half the insurance costs. The Council leases space from the Library for the Health Care Center. They also get free use of the Hall for clinics held there. The Town gets free use of the Hall, as always; it paid for the excavation work for the bathrooms. Later on, while the Library was being built, the Library generously donated a new shingled roof for the Hall.
Lewis Ross was janitor of the Hall when he was twenty-one years old. His grandfather, Edward Ross, built the Chebeague Island Hall.
After the CIHCC was formed, many Presidents helped shape the past and future of the Hall. Since 1977, Presidents of the CIHCC have been: Ned Morse, Sylvia Ross (twice), Beverly Johnson, Doug Damon, Honey Riddle, Peggie Jones, Sheila Putnam, Carrie Hawks, Julie Doughty, Ken Hamilton, and Cindy MacNeill. Past directors of the Board are too numerous to mention, but they all hold equal recognition for their ideas, opinions, volunteer work and support. Many good deeds have been done by the directors themselves, but it is all of the people of Chebeague who have held this institution together through thick and thin for 70 years.
Charter members of the Golden Cross, as listed in order on the original charter, dated December 8, 1884:
Edward W. Hamilton, Aaron Cleaves, Stephen R. Hamilton, Henry W. Bowen, Edward Ross, True Whittier, Ammie R. Littlefield, Margery Hamilton, Jennie O. Hamilton, James M. Hamilton, Rufus Soule, John Rose, Emery Hamilton, Isaac Strout, Albert Grannell, Clinton Hamilton.........................................................................................
References: the Golden Cross Hall's secretary's book of minutes. Albert
Grannell (Joan Robinson's great-grandfather) was secretary. Also, the Portland
Library, the Chebeague Library, the Hall Company's records, the CIHCC records,
friends and personal memoirs.
-- Sylvia Ross
Chebeague Island
Historical Society
This is bound to be remembered as the year we found a home. After years of anticipation, the Town of Cumberland built a new town garage on Chebeague and was so generous as to deed the building they had been using to the Historical Society.
This isn't just any old building. What was used as the town garage since the 1960s was originally built as the District Number 9 schoolhouse on Chebeague around 1872 and later became known as the East End School. At one time or another, it housed every grade on Chebeague. The old blackboards (just that -- boards that are painted black) may still be seen on the walls. Tucked away in the attic are old desks, complete with the personal identifications that are more treasured today then when they were first inscribed. Even remnants of the two "single-holer" restrooms may be seen. It was a pleasant surprise to find that the original deed had been witnessed by my great-grandfather, George Hill.
From the outside, the building looks much as it has for the past few years, in need of paint, replacement window panes, and a new roof. But that will soon change as the Historical Society takes on the mission of making the building "tight to the weather," so that we can begin moving in our collection of artifacts, large and small.
The next step will be to chart a direction for the building as a cultural center -- part museum (a term many detest), part resource center, part community reception building. Soon, we hope to make the old schoolhouse truly our home, a living memorial to the history of Great Chebeague Island.
The year was rich for us in many other ways, as well. As always, our Senior Citizen luncheon was a success in the spring. The annual meeting saw the adoption of modernized by-laws which we hope will assist us in obtaining the funds we need to build our home. Our program committee did an outstanding job presenting programs ranging from the fishhouses of Chebeague to the Coney Island of Maine (turn-of-the-century Peaks Island). We took a tour of Little Chebeague with Richard Innes and learned about the lobster wars of the 1950s from Ron Formisano.
As has always been the case in years when it has been offered, the Island House Tour was probably the highlight of the season. Our thanks to the many gracious hosts and hostesses who opened their homes to us.
An unexpected bonus for the Historical Society was the money raised by sales of the "Pilot Cracker Pins," brass crackers that looked good enough to eat, made and donated by Gail Miller.
The upcoming year promises to be just as exciting for us as we continue
with our Schoolhouse renovation and plan a program season full of information
and surprises. History may be "bunk," but we sure make the most
of it!
-- David R Hill, President
Since I have already reported on the 1997 statistics in our Friends letter and the Town Report I will not repeat them here. Last year I wrote about the fund raising efforts of the Library ... the Friends drive for ongoing operating expenses and the Endowment letter for funds invested for income, which should be winding up and paying by the year 2000. These appeals will continue and remember that this is a new Directory year ... a better edition than ever. Be sure to pick one (or two) up at the Library from July on.
Last fall the Trustees again approached the Town for an increase in support for salaries and building maintenance, but we only received $1000 more this year than in 1997. It will help ... mostly in the area of maintenance, but it was a disappointment. We also asked for a "grant" from the Town to fund our computer expansion. This item was not included in the budget request and is entirely separate. It is still being negotiated, so we hope it may be settled by the time you read this.
We mentioned improving our services last year ... and to that end we have just put out a survey to access the convenience and popularity of the hours we are open and any suggestions for changes that would significantly benefit the community. the response has been gratifying already. I must say that the Library has always been fortunate in eliciting returns from mailings whether it's a survey or fund drive ... people DO respond. It is too early to analyze the results ... but the suggestions are interesting. I hope all the people who have indicated that they would like to have the library open every day or every night are going to be willing to volunteer their services to hake that kind of change probable!
We also mentioned the increased need for expanding some areas of the present building to make room for the computers, the temperature controlled room for the Historical collections, miscellaneous storage, the growing audio and video collections, more non-fiction books in the Children's section and a complete reference/study room. A committee is working on a suggested addition to the back of the building which would be a vast improvement ... however ... don't throw up your hands in horror. We DO REALIZE that the island community is considerably overburdened with current appeals for money at present. We do not know how we would ever come up with about $135,000 to build an addition, so we will not only be looking for ways and means to expand within the present walls, but also some alternative to activating yet another building fund ... eventually. Please bear with us. If you have suggestions that would help we would be most grateful to hear them.
Meanwhile ... we hope to see you all ... in the Library and trust that
you will find what you want or need there. Our sincere thanks to all of
you who contribute time, interest and money to making the Library valuable
to the community.
-- Martha O. Hamilton, Librarian