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Down East December 2002

December 2002

The table of contents from the December 2002 issue of Down East.

Features

The Rescue

A shipwreck off Georgetown in 1901, from which a forlorn feline was rescued. Includes vintage photos. Location: Georgetown

  • By: Ken Textor
  • Photography by: Jane Stevens
 

A Magnificent Matriarchy

Movie Star Liv Tyler is part of three generations of remarkable and remarkably beautiful women who claim Maine as their home.

  • By: Edgar Allen Beem
  • Photography by: David A. Rodgers
 

Cover

  • Photography by: Sara Gray
 

Most Endangered

Every year Maine Preservation compiles a new list of historic properties around the state that are threatened by the wrecker’s ball.

 

Why They Call Him Saint Nick

When a local Agway store offers Christmas pet portraits, just about anything is apt to hop on Santa’s shoulder or crawl up his leg. Location: Belfast

  • Photography by: Peggy McKenna
 

Maine’s Flying Santa

He wasn’t from Maine and he never actually flew a plane, but Edward Rowe Snow established a holiday tradition that charmed the nation.

  • By: Jim Brunelle
 

Christmas in the County

Decked out for Christmas and dusted with fresh snow, this Aroostook County Shiretown is a true Maine beauty spot. Location: Houlton

  • By: Robert Post
  • Photography by: Sara Gray
 

Thomas School of Dance in Bangor

Polly Thomas was Bangor society and her dance school was Bangor’s answer to finishing school. Location: Bangor

  • By: Deborah Dalfonso
  • Photography by: Benjamin Magro
 

Departments

Charting Celebrations

Quite a few names of Maine’s coves and harbors seem to imply that partying and revelry were on someone’s mind. Location: Christmas Cove, Rum Key, Holly Cove, Drunkard’s Ledge

  • By: Ken Textor
 

Winter Dredging

Dredging projects in various rivers and ports should be well on the way by next Spring.

  • By: Ken Textor
 

Holy Threads

Cynthia Simonds employs a handful of home sewers to help her produce stoles and a range of other worship textiles. Location: Newcastle

 

Annual Debate

WHEN should one hang the Christmas wreath?

  • Photography by: Michael Ricci
 

SUV Heaven

A Ford Bronco or some other four-wheel drive vehicle outfitted with tracks makes an ingenious trail grooming machine. Location: Lewiston

  • Photography by: Michael Ricci
 

Mystery Solved

Marine Salvage expert John Fish and his group have located the remains of the wrecked steamship, “Portland”.

 

Bond, James Bond

A little known Houlton plant is highly regarded in the world of Smith and Wesson firearms. Location: Houlton

 

The Bean Book

Millions of people get their idea of what Maine is like from the L.L. Bean catalog.

 

Upcountry Outpost

The owners of the Pittston Farm buildings do not own the land beneath them, and a sale is impending. Location: Pittston Farm, Rockwood, Seboomook Lake

  • Photography by: Michele Stapleton
 

Seeds of Peace

A unique camp in Otisfield shows kids from around the world they’re all pretty much alike. Location: Otisfield, Pleasant Lake

  • By: Jeff Clark
  • Photography by: Jim Daniels
 

Declining Dailies

The Editor of the Portland Press Herald takes exception to several “glaring errors” in a recent article about Maine newspapers. The Down East editorial staff responds in kind.

  • By: Jeannine Guttman
 

Learning a Lesson

One of the creators of the Camden Tribune reminisces about his paper’s brief life. Location: Camden

  • By: Frank P. Bennet
 

Girl Power

Between 1860 and 1900 conditions in New England textile mills were horrific and children as young as seven were being employed.

  • By: Agnes Bushell
 

Briefly Noted

4 books briefly reviewed by Paul Doiron.

  • By: Paul Doiron
 

The Casino Committee

Maine Sunday Telegram article about the upcoming casino referendum.

 

Got Christmas?

Maine has a website that will direct folks to a source for farms and companies that do mail-order business in Maine foods and agricultural products, even Christmas trees.

  • By: Andrew Vietze
 

Augusta’s Third Bridge

Kennebec Journal article about the lessons learned during the recent bridge planning. Location: Augusta

 

Property Tax Relief

A property tax relief proposal launched by Belfast officials. Ellsworth American article Location: Belfast

 

Inn Dining

Dinner at the Youngtown Inn during the holidays is a fine tradition. Location: Lincolnville

  • By: Andrew Vietze
 

Snow Camping Secrets

A Bar Harbor based group of Mountain Guides offers a course called the How-Tos of Winter Camping.

  • By: Andrew Vietze
  • Photography by: Sara Gray
 

Chamberlain Forever!

A new civil war history book claims that Joshua’s Chamberlain’s role at Gettysburg was not exactly as Chamberlain reported it. The Brunswick Times Records responds..

 

Who’s To Blame

Mr. Diamon lays the blame for high property taxes right at the taxpayer’s door.

  • By: Al Diamon
  • Photography by: Steve Meyers
 

Fetching the Tree

Author’s nostalgic recollection of choosing the family Christmas tree.

  • By: Anne M. Eilola
 

Natasha’s Portland

The menus at Natasha’s is drawn from the multi-cultural cuisine of her childhood, but never blends them, fusion style. Location: Portland

  • By: Virginia Wright
 

Beating the Rush

A 1920s era mail truck, Ford Model TT. Location: Portland

  • By: Ellen MacDonald Ward