USA > Maine > Hancock County > Sullivan > Sullivan and Sorrento since 1760 > Part 11
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Sorrento > Sullivan and Sorrento since 1760 > Part 11
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William Lawrence was the first Post Master. His wife, Jessie, was a sister to Ed. Connors. After Will Lawrence died, she and her daughter, Cora Belle lived in Sullivan in the house where Harold Hooper now lives. Percy Aiken succeeded William
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Lawrence in the Post Office. He studied law and left for a better position, and Frank Trundy succeeded him. Upon his retirement his son Frank Trundy became Post Master.
Melvin and Alice Cleaves had a boarding house in the 1890's. They had several children: George, Harry, Carl, and Florence, and before 1900 they moved to Bar Harbor.
Evans Young had a boarding house. He is well remembered for he was a short, rotund little man who played the violin, and taught dancing school.
We must not forget Herbert Cleave's livery stable which was a branch from the Sullivan. Fred Goodale was the manager there
Sorrento has always been a prosperous fishing village. A few years ago it was fishing weirs. Now clams, lobsters and crabs have been more abundant. Honorable mention to Ernest Perry, and Mason Sargent. The West Brothers have been lobstering for some few years, Almond and Waldo. They now have a large hennery also. Alonzo Creamer, with his wife Evelyn, came to Sorrento in 1942, and Mr. Creamer built a Lobster Pound on the heel of Sorrento point. His two sons were then in the army. Their native home is Chelsea, Mass. but on being released from the army they came to join their father in the lobster business. Lorenzo Cavanaugh, Jr. married Patricia Palmer in 1949 and they have 2 children, Lorenzo Cavanaugh 3rd and Laura Lee. Gardiner Laurence married Margaret Newell in 1947 and they have 2 children, Gail Martha and Don Laurence.
Philip Martin, Jr. who has made his residence in Sorrento since his marriage to Barbara Gray, as well as being employed with his father-in-law, Linwood Gray, in the grain store, has a large hennery.
Clifton Hale has a sizable carpenter shop and does contract work. This was inherited from his uncle, Edward Hale, who was prominent in Sorrento and built nearly all of the recent cottages there.
Edward C. Bragdon also has a carpenter work shop and does contracting jobs. Both "Cliff" and "Eddie" are prominent car- penters and contractors and each have a staff of men.
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VENDERS
Before we leave the stores altogether we mustn't forget our venders, or plain every day peddlers they were then. Dry goods, meat, fish, etc. Mr. Henry Young, who called twice a week with meat "so tender it would melt in your mouth" but it really took a strong set of jaws to masticate it. But for the "tender" morsel we paid 20 to 25c per lb. for steak and H. bone for 25c. He planned his time well for it was 50 years to a day that he ran his meat wagon through Gouldsboro and Sullivan.
William Tracy, his competitor, also ran twice a week with the same kind of tender meat. It was native and after all a great convenience to buy it in your door yard.
Mr. Asa Bunker was the faithful fish peddler for many years. Fresh haddock 3c per pound. A dry salt cod for 10c. Mr. Bunker was the intermediary between the chinamen and the present generation for he had the distinction of wearing his shirt tail on the outside.
Mr. Wolf Lipsky peddled dry goods before he built his store at West Sullivan. A traveling department store, it seemed like he had everything: men's suits, women's dresses, all the house- wives bought their wrappers of him. Everyone wore a wrapper in the morning, sort of a loose, mother-hubbard garment with a belt attached to the back, and either tied or buttoned in front. All for 75c. Sometimes to be economical they made their own with six yards of calico at 5 or 6c per yard. But they had to be careful to choose the right color so that it wouldn't fade. Mr. Lipsky always had underwear "guaranteed two t'irds wool". Shoes, rubbers and all kinds of notions, 'twas a real shopping bonanza to trade with him. Jesse Doyle also ran a dry goods cart through Sullivan, Sorrento, Gouldsboro and usually Frank- lin. Hugh Havey, who married his daughter, took over his cart when he bought the store from Pettigill.
Children had their fun when the Armenian nap-sack peddlers came along. (There were other nationalities too, but they were all termed "Armenians.") Their wares were done up in a bundle and carried with a stick through it slung over their shoulder. There were trinkets and novelties of all kinds.
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Now the Mountain doesn't come to Mohammed any more but Mohammed has to go to the mountain.
HOTELS
The mining companies at West Sullivan built a large board- ing house. The plot where it stood is merely a field of grass now. It was built nearly opposite the present telephone office and only a few paces east of the Masonic Hall. It began then to be a center of activity. When the mining business folded up, Bradbury Smith bought this boarding house and it became The Granite Hotel. Along with that he built a Livery Stable. It was a transi- ent business. Salesmen with their goods traveled with several trunks containing their wares, and it was from these stables, usually a span of horses drove them from town to town. And that was the bulk of the business, although it was a convenient stopping place for travelers of every sort. When the telephones were first installed it was the Granite Hotel that housed the cen- tral office with two operators busily at work day and night. With the advent of automobiles, the Hotel was less used every year until our good friend Bradbury had to close it, and then to save taxes tore it down before 1920.
The Bristol Hotel at Sullivan catered to transient guests also, but they did have a few summer guests as well. That Hotel was built perhaps before the Waukeag House and purchased by Her- bert L. and Sarah Jordon Cleaves. He had his livery stable almost exactly on the spot that Emery Dunbar's store is on now. Sarah died in the early 1900's and Herbert married Katherine Dunbar, sister to the Dunbar Brothers. She had been their bookkeeper for years. They had only been running it a short time when he died and Katherine went west to live with her niece, Margaret Dunbar, who had previously married and settled out there.
A few others leased or rented the Hotel, among them Winslow and Josie Clark Smith, who ran it for two seasons or years. Finally, Mrs. Newsome bought the property and had the build- ing razed because it obstructed her view of the bay. She was a summer resident in the house where James Dickens now lives. The Bristol Hotel sat at the entrance of that road on the west side.
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HOOPER HARVEY AND CO STORE No. SOLLAMA
. - A
Wolf Lipskys first , Peddlers Carl
Y HARDOR,ME, JOZK,
The Waukeag House, well remembered by some, others who think they remember it, and still the very young generation who never heard of it, was built by Asa White and his brother who lived in the house owned now by Edwin and Ruth Sargent before it became the home of Charles Sargent. No one knows just who financed it, but probably the Sullivan Land Co. It was built in 1876 when the Bar Harbor boom was at its height. Boats were running around the bay then and it wasn't difficult to include that beautiful spot in Sullivan Harbor with the general boom. The house was erected on the side of the hill just above Emery Dunbar's store, facing the bay. A driveway close to the road immediately landed one on a wide veranda running the whole length of the building. A four story building, and the largest that was ever built in Sullivan and perhaps ever will be.
An advertisement appeared in "The Mount Desert Herald" Friday, September 19, 1884:
THE ST. JOHN Sullivan, Maine
The above favorite resort, heretofore known as the WAUKEAG HOUSE, is being thoroughly renovated and im- proved, and will be opened for reception of guests, June 20, 1885, under new proprietorship and management.
The St. John is situated in the town of Sullivan, Hancock County, Maine, at the head of Frenchman's Bay, on a site commanding charming panoramic views of BAR HARBOR, MOUNT DESERT ISLAND, and of plane, river, ocean and forest, which are unequaled in beauty and grandeur on the ATLANTIC COAST.
The house will be conducted as a first class hotel, affording superior accommodations at reasonable charges to families, tourists and rusticators, and all those seeking a healthful and pleasant place during the summer months. The Culinary De- partment and Dining Hall will be managed by an experienced caterer, who will use his best endeavors to please patrons of the house.
The ST. JOHN can be reached from Boston, Portland or.
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Bangor either by boat or rail.
TERMS-For board and room, from $2 to $3 per day, and from $10 to $18 per week, according to location of room. Special rates for families and excursion parties.
The ST. JOHN has ample accommodations for one hundred and fifty guests, and it will be the constant aim of the proprietor to satisfy all who may favor the house for their patronage.
GIVE THE ST. JOHN A TRIAL
For further information, address John Shoenbar, Proprietor
This advertisement gives nearly all the information that might satisfy any inquirer about the hotel. The hotel seemingly pros- pered at that time.
Another ad of interest four years later appears in the "Mount Desert Herald", Sept. 14, 1888. Whether this was an opening ad or had been running for a year or so we do not know.
SWISS CHALET, CLYDE PARK
Sullivan Harbor, Head of Frenchman's Bay.
Swiss Chalet now open. Cafe under the charge of the com- petent Steward, J. Vernelli. Swiss waitresses in costume. Special arrangements for Lunch and Dinner Parties can be had by applying to the steward. Table d'ote, 6 P.M. $1. Beautiful drives. Moorish Lookout on Ossipee Hill, commanding the most superb view on the coast of Maine.
Flotilla of Venetian sail boats always in readiness for guests.
The Sullivan Harbor Land Companies Steamer "MM", Capt. Bennett, leaves Bar Harbor for Sullivan and Sullivan for Bar Harbor five times per day. Tickets 25c each way. Obtained on steamer.
A notice, same paper, March 27, 1885.
Frenchman's Bay Steamboat Line
Steamer Elector with Capt. H. True run every week day in connection with Maine Central Railroad.
The Sullivan Harbor Land Company must have promoted all of these projects. Later on it seems there was a demand for
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a lodge connected with the Swiss Chalet, and The Manor Inn was built and an elevated rustic covered bridge connects the two houses. A shady, rustic road was built that went in by the Manor Inn and came out between the church and the Hawkins' house. It is still there, a bit over-grown, but still quite passable to pedestrians. The road to Ossipee Hill entered opposite the Clara Preble house now being run for a nursing home. It was a delightful walk or ride.
Mr. Dwight Braman held a mortgage on this property and it was taken over by him in 1895. The Waukeag House was sold to the Dunbar Bros. and razed. Miss Helen Dudley married Mr. Braman in 1900 and they came here and occupied the Manor Inn as their summer home in 1900. After Mr. Braman's death Mrs. Braman, with her two sisters, continued coming and have kept the property as it was. Mrs. Braman kept up the house and property where the road goes to Ossipee Hill (the old Urann House) and named it Apple Tree Farm. In 1951 she sold it to Lewis Meynell. This house is distinguished for it's beautiful doorway, the only house in town with the old- fashioned fan and designed sidelights, which to the passerby are covered for protection.
Mrs. Alma Meynell bought the Helen Smith house in 1936 and converted it to Bay Head Inn, catering mostly to summer vacation paying guests and very few tourists. In 1946 her son, Lewis Meynell, when discharged from the army, continued with the Inn.
Mrs. Alice Dunbar, widow of Harvey Dunbar, converted her large house into paying guests, but mostly a Dining Room which since 1937 has continously increased in popularity. She also has a few cabins. Edge Water Inn is rightly named, for it is on the edge of the waterfront, only a few paces from the old steam boat wharf.
Sorrento-Sometime in the early eighties we are told, Dr. Charles Eliot, famous president of Harvard University, tried to buy the Bean Farm that spread over considerable acreage from the village to the shore of Sorrento point, but she would not sell. Later a land company consisting of a Dr. Lewis from Boston, Mr. Frank Jones from Portsmouth, N. H. and a Mr.
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Soren, offered her more money and bought it. The point and some of the neck were laid out in streets and given names, lots were marked off and sold, and cottages were built. Mr. Jones built his large cottage on Middle street. Mr. William Lawrence, as well as being Post Master, became their agent.
The Lamont's were the first to buy a cottage there. Quoting from Mrs. Robin's little book, "To the Sorrento People we love" she says, "The cottages were box-like, trimmed with turrets, fretwork and colored glass. Two of them were new bungalow type, just alike and no doubt described as picturesque in the company prospectus. My parents, in Washington, bought one of these, sight unseen, from photograph. When they arrived in Sorrento in July 1888, coming from Washington they found that they had bought the right house but the wrong lot. The Cochran's bought the other one. (Or she may have arrived first. I never knew.) The Cochran's, I believe, had been at Bar Harbor before and had not liked it, and were our first converts. We have had many since, and few apostates." If the Lamonts were disappointed in having no view, they soon forgot it, for the family spent summers at their cottage, Blueberry Lodge, for the rest of their lives.
A story taken from the Mount Desert Herald, issue of Aug. 17, 1888 we are copying here:
LAMONT'S ALLIGATOR STORY: Ever since his return from Florida Col. Lamont has been entertaining his friends with alligator stories which have a decided classic flavor about them. The latest serves to illustrate the powers of judicious adver- tising.
The Colonel heard of a family in Florida who had lost their little boy and had advertised for him in the daily paper. That very afternoon an alligator crawled out of the swamp and died on their front doorstep. In his stomach was found a handful of red hair, some bone buttons, a glass marble, a pair of check- ed trousers and a paper collar. The Colonel vows that adver- tising did it. (Washington Letter)
The Cochrans are the descendents of the Alexander Smiths of the Smith Carpet Factory, in Yonkers, N. Y. They and their descendants have been yearly summer residents ever since.
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Top-BRISTOL HOTEL, SULLIVAN IN IT'S EARLY DAYS Bottom-GRANITE HOTEL, WEST SULLIVAN
Others followed: Dr. and Mrs. Jackson, with their daughter, who now is Mrs. Margaret Jackson Rowe, Chief Justice Fuller, The Sinclairs, Mrs. Sinclair being Frank Jone's daughter; The Chafee's came in 1895 and bought the Parker farm on the west side of the "neck." They built their "Big House" and called their farm Weir Haven. Beside all the families of these old summer residents who have come year after year new ones are added, and the permanant residents look forward to June and their coming.
In a prospectus, printed in 1893, Verbatum:
"Officers and Directors of
Frenchman's Bay and Mt. Desert Land and Water Company, Pres., Hon. Frank Jones; Vice-Pres., George W. Armstrong; Treas., Grenville D. Braman; Clerk, Charles Simpson; Super- intendant, William Lawrence; Manager, Hotel Sorrento, Edwin Lamb."
The Hotel was built in 1888, and most people think on the same spot as the old Bean House. Quoting from the prospectus:
"The Hotel Sorrento is charmingly located upon an eminence, its broad piazzas commanding a magnificent view of the sur- rounding country, with the beautiful bay in front and the broad Atlantic in the distance. The rooms are large, airy and well furnished, especial care being taken to provide superior beds, and its cuisine is unrivalled and noted for its excellence. It will be opened from June 15 to Oct. 1. The Hotel is lighted through- out with incadescent electric lights, and it has a large billiard- room and good bowling alley. It has this spring been equipped with a complete system of fire escapes."
"The Hotel grounds, covering an area of over two and one half acres, are beautifully laid out, sloping gradually to the shore, and contains two lawn tennis courts and croquet grounds."
"The champion Tennis games of the State were played there. Mr. R. D. Wrenn of Harvard University, the Champion of
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America, won the tournament for 1893, and will defend the cup this year". Mrs. William F. Cochran of Yonkers, New York offered the prize, valued at $1,000.00 to the winning play- er for three consecutive years.
"The Sorrento Baseball Nine were last season, winning every game played, and will emulate their example the coming season. This nine consisted of Harvard College Students, with others from St. Paul's School, Concord, N. H., and other schools, and they played with nines from the surrounding places."
"As is well known to yachtmen, Frenchman's Bay is the rendezvous of all the Yacht Clubs during the Eastern cruise, and the outlook is good for some exciting regattas during July and August. During these occasions the bay is alive with steam yachts and all kinds of pleasure and racing craft. One of the greatest attractions of life at Sorrento is the annual visit of some portion of the United States Navy."
Later in 1895, when the St. John, or Waukeag House at Sullivan Harbor was razed, we are told that the lumber was used to build the Annex on the Sorrento Hotel, which was used for a dining room. The Hotel burned in 1905, but not the Annex. That survived the conflagration and was used for a boarding house.
The Library was a gift from Mrs. Frank Jones in 1890.
The Church of the Redeemer was erected in 1890, a gift from Mrs. William F. Cochran. A memorial reads: "Church of the Redeemer, erected in 1890. To the glory of God as a memorial of His loving kindness. In gratitude to God for the life among us of Eva Smith Cochran, 1845-1909, whose con- sistant and gracious character is a dear memory in this house which she built and where she loved to worship."
Rev. John Sterling Moody was first rector of this church; James Edward Freeman 1866-1943, Bishop of Episcopal Cathe- dral of Washington, D. C., forty-four summers pastor of this church.
Perhaps it was the Land company that promoted Tunk Lake but we have always heard that it was Frank Jones who built
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the hotel there. That was a small hotel but had broad verandas and overlooked the lake. Samuel and Agnes Robertson were the keepers and lived there the year 'round, as it was used for a sporting lodge as well as a summer hotel. The Robertsons owned the house where Charles Grant lives now and owned by Roger Hanna. They did live there for a few months from after the fishing and hunting season until the next spring when weather permitted them to go back. After the Robertsons were retired, Simon and Mable Bunker were the next keepers, until the hotel burned in 1918.
THE WICKY-UP. This information was gleaned from Mrs. Bryan now a summer resident at "The Boulders," Tunk Lake.
Twenty-five years ago Dr. Peters of Bangor met her father, Mr. F. W. Lafrentz at the "Mountain Lake Club, Lake Wales, Florida, and the plans for a large co-operative sporting camp was born in 1925. In consequence, a large entirely log hotel was built, about three-fourths of a mile along the shore from the previous Tunk Pond Hotel. Also, Mr. Benjamin B. Bryan, James Taylor Bryan's father, built a large log camp one mile beyond the Wicky-up Lodge. Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor Bryan (Hazel LaFrentz) had four children when the camp was built: James Taylor, Jr., Hope, William L. and Ruth; Joy was born during the building. Their boat was named for Joy. Robert Arthur and Hazel Rosalind were born after. Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin B. Bryan died soon after the camp was built and enjoyed it but a few years, but the rest of the family are very devoted to "The Boulders" and never miss a summer. James, Jr. married Norma S. Hall, Hope married Edward C. Oelsner, Jr., William married Margond A. Bradley and Ruth married H. T. Gray Colgrove. Joy, Robert and Hazel are still single. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan now have twelve grandchildren.
The Wicky-up was large and the rooms were spacious. Each bedroom had a large bathroom and clothes closet and had every comfort for their guests. The fees were $10 per person. It prospered the first few years, but sank into the swamp of the depression in 1929. Very few old establishments survived that ordeal, let alone the new ones.
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In 1935 Admiral Richard Byrd bought it and found there the peace and quiet that he had been seeking, away from the public demand that his famous exploring expeditions had built for him. Adm. and Mrs. Byrd, with their four children, enjoyed at least a month of every year at their Tunk Lake Log Cabin. And now that their children have matured and married, E. Boling to William A. Clarke, Jr. of Wallingford, Penn., Kather- ine Ames to Robert Garnett Breyer, of Los Angeles, Cal., Helen Ames to Lawrence J. Stablers of Wallingford, Penn., and Richard Byrd Jr. to Emily Saltonstall, daughter of Senator Saltonstall of Boston, Mass., and Adm. and Mrs. Byrd have six or eight grandchildren, yet they all come back still for that month to their haven at Tunk Lake.
Big Chief Camps, located between Little and Big Tunk Lakes, has increasingly grown in popularity since Henry B. "Chief" Stanwood bought it in 1922. It was owned by a fish- ermen's club, Montgomery Havey being the principal spokes- man. The door was always open, the place left clean, and in perfect readiness for the next party, which was sure to arrive on the heels of those who left-hunters, fishermen, skaters and just plain parties of young or old that wanted an outing. It might be a town meeting celebration or a rest from over work.
To give first hand one of these outings we will copy from the Mount Desert Herald, March 13, 1884.
TIDINGS FROM TUNK
My news letter this week will necessarily be from this far famed winter resort. We, a party of nine, arrived at the Hotel de Tunk about four o'clock Monday afternoon, "all agog to dash through thick and thin". As is the usual custom, we found the camp in excellent order, and we were loud in praise of the party who were there last, not only on this account, but because they left some pork and potatoes, "and what we could not eat that night the boss next morning fried." It became a question of dispute as to who should be boss and it was decided later by a game of "California Jack".
The first thing of interest was to assort the edibles, and the array of doughnuts, gingersnaps, pies, chocolate cake, canned
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goods, preserves, oranges, nuts, pop-corn, etc., etc. made us all exclaim, addressing the remark to no one in particular, "Oh, aren't you glad you came ?"
Well, we passed three of the most free, jolliest, happiest, laziest days one could well experience. In fact about the only exertion we made was to eat and we were doing that most of the time. Talk, Mr. Whittier, of "the chowder of the sand- beach, made, dipped by the hungry, steaming hot with spoons of clam shells from the pot." that doesn't compare with eating it in a log camp, before a big roaring fire, with the odors of resinous pines and the balm of the fir trees in the air.
The fearless birds would gather in crowds around the door when we shook the tablecloth and one came so far as to make us a call and flew around in the camp for an hour or two.
If you could have looked in on us Wednesday night at 7:30 you would have been alarmed at the terrible silence, the first since our arrival. Nothing could be heard save the muffled tones of one young lady reading the "Leavenworth Case" aloud and an occassional remark like, "There, I've caught your Jack," "High, low, Jack and the game! I'm out!" from another quarter, everyone else was sweetly sleeping.
After the game was finished, the players wanted someone to help get supper. They called on Kate, but Kate kept on reading; they called on others with like results and they were obliged to get it themselves. When the bountiful meal was all prepared, they called no one to help eat it, but began to dish out peaches, and pour coffee as though they three constituted the entire party; but it wasn't long before the little game was discovered and a shout went up that aroused the seven sleepers and they found that, like the cat, rabbit and guinea pig in the story, the others were ready to eat the supper if not to get it.
Sleep? Well, if one could sleep with one of the party playing a tattoo on the teakettle with a poker, two others playing football with a peach can, and others cracking nuts and singing "Good-bye, my lover, good-bye," one was welcome to.
We took rides and walks on the pond and brought water from one of the prettiest babbling brooks a poet ever sang of,
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and chewed gum to our hearts' content, the real genuine article too (Spruce).
We stayed as long as the butter lasted, and then with deep regret we left our quiet home in the woods for the tumult of the outside world.
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