4527-R4_CIC_November2016_Calendar_Web

Marty’s Memories: The Village by Marty Trower

Chebeague Opportunities

The Village—that’s what we used to call it, although some called it “The Center.” Pedaling there on our bikes made for a fun, independent excursion. The picture shows Leonard’s Store on the left with its high facade and wooden sign. There’s a gasoline pump almost cut off to the left of the store. Is that the old Post Office to the right, with the leaning electrical pole in front of it? And loping along in the shadows at the front of the picture is Skipper, our first springer spaniel.

~ New to the market, modern, classic shingled cottage and garage sited on 3 private acres w/sandy beach. Beautiful reclaimed red birch floors throughout. ~ Waterfront 3 BR/3 BA year-round home with raised panel woodwork, spacious rooms and first floor den/future bedroom with adjoining bath. ~ Golf course and water views with ROW. Over 3400 SF Timber Frame extraordinaire. FP bricks made at Division Point. Attached carriage house. In-law apartment. ~ New Englander built facing the water in 1915. Four upstairs BR’s and a peek at the water. High ceilings, original moldings, and FHW heat. Priced to move.

I found the number “54” stenciled on the back of the photo. I assume that’s short for 1954. And there you have some factual details about this photo.What interests me most—and what I hope affects readers the same way—is the trigger effect such visuals can have on our other senses. Only because I am now letting myself take the time to linger with a picture am I able to travel within it. I go from the prominent storefront to the slant-roofed building to the almost not noticeable dog in the foreground. Then, my eye is taken back to the store again. This time I notice what seems to be the dirt road out front. It appears dry, with no dark rain spots. I’m remembering now the hot climb on bikes up the hill by Lewis Ross’s house. Going into the store. Dark wood walls, wooden counter tops and display cases. Light pouring in from somewhere onto open bins and boxes of—all I remember is the corn. Grandpa Trower wanted corn on the cob all the time when he lived with us. We went to Leonard’s Store a lot. The Post Office had that same old dark wood glow to it. I remember the wooden mail slot boxes and creaking wooden floors. I found one of those boxes in a dumpster at the transfer station about twenty years ago. It still had name labels on it. I’ve stored it, taking up too much space, with all of the other cumbersome objects that remind me of the old days on Chebeague. My father found the rope-lettered Bounty Lounge sign at the dump as well. We bequeathed it to my nephew Ben Jackson after Dad died. Ben presented it to Jonathan KomLosy when he opened the Slow Bell Cafe. So you see how it goes. I hope you too will stop for a moment and let an old Chebeague photo take you back to another time and place on the island. I hope you will write about it. I wonder whether you will have to use the words “old” and “wood” a lot.

Jane@homesinmaine.com www.chebeaguerealestate.com The Common at 88 Middle St, Portland, ME

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NOVEMBER 2016 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR