During the winter break of my sophomore year, I was a Sugarloaf mascot. I would dress up as Blueberry the Bear and ski around with Amos the Moose waving to people and getting hugs from the littlest skiers. The highlight was participating in a torchlight parade during the holidays and going over the jump with a ring of fire in front of the base lodge. I landed on both feet, or paws, as it were, and had a blast!
Hillary Dow
Auburn, Maine

My grandmother had the best job in Maine. She was the bait lady at Stinson Canning Company. My job was to clean up all the left over fish that had fallen off the pick-up and squeegee the excess into the sewer. Yuck. But my summer was filled with the best memories in the world, and I loved watching the ladies cut and can the sardines.
Heather Norwood-Cole
North Andover, Massachusetts

When I was fifteen, I was part of the crew of Gundel, a turn-of-the-last-century ketch that crossed the Atlantic with Latvian refugees after WWII, and participated in a background gig for the movie Carousel, shot in Boothbay Harbor. Each crewmember received fifteen dollars per day to sit on the boat and watch Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae cavort to “June is Bustin’ Out All Over.”
Ted Wendell
Milton, Massachusetts

At fifteen I worked as a bait girl on my father’s lobsterboat. I would fill fresh bait bags, empty the old ones (feeding the gulls), put the bands on the lobsters’ claws, and just generally help out. What made this such a great job? I got to spend my days in the sun on the ocean with my Dad at an age when girls don’t have extended periods of time or much in common with their fathers. Yes, I did smell to high heaven by the end of the day, but I learned a lot and we laughed a lot. We were both lucky to have had that relationship and that summer together.

Meg Raymond
Buxton, Maine

Right out of the University of Maine, I became a sales representative for Kellogg’s of Battle Creek in northern Maine. Training with Maine people enabled me to start on a career that led me to be a vice president of Kellogg’s.
Ralph Kelley
Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Share your photos
Location: Otter Cliff, Acadia National Park
The Moment: Perhaps the most iconic view in all of Acadia National Park, Otter Cliff embodies the romance of Maine’s bold, rocky coast. The park, however lovely in summer, is even more beautiful in winter. Taken during the first snow of the season, this photo captures the serene yet wild beauty of Acadia. We have come to love Acadia and our island home in every season.
Tim Rooney
Bar Harbor, Maine

Look for this section with a different question each month — we hope you’ll write to us at editorial@downeast.com and tell us about your Maine.


Upcoming Question:
What’s your top Maine summer destination?