Murphy in front of the First Parish Church in Portland during one of his walking tours. PHOTO: COURTESY DUGAN MURPHY

Working Waterfront

Reviving Portland’s unsung historical heroes

On the morning of Oct. 18, 1775, a British naval fleet anchored in Portland Harbor began bombarding what was then known as Falmouth, Mass. The bludgeoning of Portland lasted all day followed by more insult to injury when the British sailors swarmed the ruined community of about 2,000 residents to… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Keeping credit cards working on an island

At an April 4 event celebrating a federal award to expand Maine’s broadband access, Peggy Schaffer, director of ConnectMaine, put it best when she called establishing the high-speed internet a “team sport.” The $28 million federal grant would not have been awarded without community members, internet service providers, elected officials,… SEE MORE

Alison Evans with her oyster-inspired ceramics.

Working Waterfront

Sea-inspired ceramics succeeding in Boothbay Harbor

When it was time for ceramist Alison Evans to “get real” about her life, she “naturally” gravitated back to a community where she spent much of her youth: Boothbay Harbor. “It’s one of the most beautiful places in the entire world,” said the 46-year-old owner of Ae Ceramics and Ae… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

String theory—violin lessons embraced by islanders

Reflections is written by Island Fellows, recent college grads who do community service work on Maine islands and in coastal communities through the Island Institute, publisher of The Working Waterfront. “Violin lessons at the Islesboro Community Center for all ages, free of charge! Sign up with Anne McKee by June… SEE MORE

Eastport was the intended site of the Passamaquoddy Tidal Power Project, the first attempt by the federal government to fund an energy generating dam fueled by the tides. It was a project thoroughly supported by President Franklin Roosevelt, seen here examining a model still viewable in Eastport today. The project was terminated after Congress didn't support further funding, but its influence—including a push to provide housing for 5,000 workers that led to the building of Quoddy Village—left lasting impacts on the port city.

Working Waterfront

A love letter to my hometown

Writing Images of America: Eastport—about the place I grew up—was like writing about a very old and dear friend. Doing so from a distance of more than 1,100 road miles was like remembering someone intensely missed. At first, the distance was a distraction—but then I realized I was writing about… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Maine—as it should be, as it is

On a recent rainy day, I was able to indulge two interests—history and journalism. I was researching 1980s history for a story for our annual Island Journal about working waterfront access in Portland. Those who were here then will remember the turning point moment when condos—large, four-story structures—rose on Central… SEE MORE

A lobster wharf at Bernard with a view across to Bass Harbor. Photo by Willis Humphreys Ballard (1906–1980). PHOTO: COURTESY SOUTHWEST HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY.

Working Waterfront

MDI region’s history now gathered and shared

Historical societies, libraries, and museums of the Mount Desert Island region have long been assembling evidence of local history in records and artifacts. Through the History Trust, these organizations are now working together to digitize, preserve, and share the results. The idea for the History Trust began to take shape… SEE MORE

Working Waterfront

Running the regulation gauntlet

My husband, Bruce, launched his lobster boat at the end of March and was setting traps by the first week of April. He spent the winter painting buoys, repairing old traps, and building new ones. By the time he was ready to set out again, 600 of his 800 traps… SEE MORE

Nicolle Littrell operates Dory Woman Rowing in Belfast Harbor year-round. Here, she rows with a client on the harbor in September. PHOTO: COURTESY NICOLLE LITTRELL

Working Waterfront

On the record with… Nicolle Littrell of DoryWoman Rowing

With the pandemic, many of us moved our jobs to our homes, and within that space we may choose a room that is comfortable and maybe comforting, too. Nicolle Littrell put a twist on that idea, opening a business in Belfast that is based in her happy place—a 19-1/2-foot wooden… SEE MORE

Members of the Passamaquoddy nation gather at a tribal ceremony. FILE PHOTO: LESLIE BOWMAN

Working Waterfront

Maine’s not-so-clean history on race

Early in his presentation, Todd Little-Sebold shows a photo of a Ku Klux Klan gathering in 1926 that drew about 30,000. Mississippi? Georgia? Nope. Portland, Maine. The photo often prompts the question, “You mean the Klan was active in progressive, hip Portland?” he said. “And the answer is yes.” A… SEE MORE