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Published: August 19th 2009
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Castine, Maine Maritime Academy
We crossed the Deer Isle Bridge again and headed south on Rt. 176 through the town of Penobscot to Castine. The center of this classic New England town organizes around the lovely campus of the Maine Maritime Academy. The Campus winds down to the waterfront out to a public wharf and the Academy’s piers. We sat on a picnic table on the town wharf and consumed our second great lunch of lobster from Kurt’s great catch. The State of Maine, the Academy’s training ship is tied up here and we took the 1pm tour. The tour takes you up, through, down and around the ship. A female student seaman led our tour and shared her experiences on the ship and at the school. Her presentation was both knowledgeable and interesting. She had the assistance of one of the schools instructors. She took us to the bride, freshman quarters, engine room and stern deck. She made the tour very enjoyable and we regret we did not write down her name.
Our ship’s tour certainly worked up our thirst, so we walked across the dock and next door to Dennett’s Brew House for a cold beer and appetizers.
They offer an extensive list of custom brews so Karen and I tried a sampler board. The board consisted of four different versions of their micro brews and each one was unique and thirst quenching. Their stuffed clams and chowder were also delicious.
The surprise of our tour to Castine was the Wilson Museum. This small eclectic historical museum had exhibits and collections from all over the world, but the highlight was the John Perkins House. This is a white saltbox that’s the refurbished oldest house in town. Karen and I have visited many historical sites in the last few years, but the four women guides who were dressed in period costumes and presented the historical interpretation were the best we’ve heard. Jean, our tour leader, demonstrated a passion about historical research and clearly knew and related with her information about the former lady of the house. She was able to tell such an interesting story of life in those times that it really made the whole experience memorable. Gracie and her mother, two of the other interpreters were also in authentic dress. They were working in the colonial kitchen over an open fire on this warm summer day.
They had baked bread on leaves in the stone oven, were frying squash donuts in a pot of grease over the fire and preparing a pot roast. The squash donuts were superb, it’s the first time I’d eaten a warm squash donut and I was overwhelmed at how wonderful it tasted. Gracie, a ten year old, was inspiring. She was extremely knowledgeable of life in the 1800’s. She told us about the back room and it’s use. She explained how the second greatest cause of death for colonial woman was fire. She made us an authentic colonial drink of lemon juice, lemon zest, apple juice, fresh cream and nutmeg. It was delicious and refreshing. The museum also had an authentic blacksmith on site. In a shed on the other side of the museum, an elderly Slovak gentleman plied his trade cleverly crafting small implements out of iron to the delight of three small children visiting with their family.
Unfortunately, The Wilson Museum, like some small museums we’ve visited, won’t allow me to take pictures. This only prevents you from seeing what their collections have to offer and perhaps provoke you to visit. Most of the large museums and some
small have allowed me to take photos without a flash and they’re not worried. It just seems to be more the standard of these small New England museums
As we drove out of town, Byrd saw an interesting gallery and she was able to convince Karen to turn the car around, no small feet. Karen doesn’t ever turn around or back up when she drives. Byrd and Karen loved the works at the Adams Gallery. Operated by a husband and wife artist, they felt the works were outstanding. Too bad for the artists, neither Byrd nor Karen could afford more than some stationary.
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