Petit Ellis

Petit Ellis

Grand Trunk Depot

Lincoln Street, Lewiston

Spring 2013

Originally constructed in 1874 at the end of a 5-mile spur, the Grand Trunk Depot had fallen into decay after four decades of abandonment. It was known to locals as Little Ellis Island for the huge number of French-Canadian immigrants that came to the promise of America through its doors. Between 1840 and 1930 almost 1 million Quebecois nationals migrated to the United States in search of work. The Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada played a huge role in shifting the populace south and eventually west. Over 80% of the French-Canadians who settled in the twin cities came through the Grand Trunk. It is seldom that a cultural identity can be traced back to a single building. A single humble brick building that ties together the identities of an entire urban area. 

 

Portland                      Montreal

 Boston                          Toronto 

 New York                      Buffalo

 Philadelphia                   Detroit

 Quebec                         Chicago

 And Points                         Ohio

Winter Swell

Winter Swell

Higgins Beach, Down East

March 2013

March is here. And with it, late winter Atlantic storms. Swells. Depressions. Waves. True to form. Breaking hard. March is here. The best month for surf in southern Maine. 

Low. 

 

 

 Flats.

Tide.

Higgins

Higgins

Down East

Spring-ish, 2013

Cottage.

Pocket.

Blizzard

Blizzard

Maine 

2013

Frosted.

Amitgonpontook

 Amitgonpontook

middle of the mighty Androscoggin

January 2013

"I, Perepol, of lawful age testify and say that the Indian name of the river was Pejepscook from Quabacook, what is now called Merrymeeting Bay, up as far as Amitgonpontook, what the English call Harrises falls, and all the river from Harrises falls up was called Ammoscongon and the largest falls on the river was above Rockamecook about twelve miles, and those falls have got three pitches, and there is no other falls on the river like them and the Indians used to catch the most Salmon at the foot of them falls, and the Indians used to say when they went down the river from Rockamecook and when they got down over the falls by Harrises they say now come Pejepscook."

-- Pierre Paul (Perepol) 28.Feb.1789

 Flow.

Remember.

Penley Corner

Penley Corner

Winter 2013

From the late 1700's, families of the free Baptist community, predominantly farmer's and cattleman, met in homes and schools in the South Auburn, Danville, Poland, and Minot communities. Due to its close proximity to the majority of the congregation, the farmhouses and school around Marston's Corner were often selected as a meeting place. After a disagreement within the congregation (rumoured to stem from arguments as to whether or not Adam and Eve had belly buttons...), the congregation split and went their separate ways.  

Captain John Penley-- gentleman farmer, prestigious landowner, maverick cattleman, respected legislator, and father of 18 (yes, eighteen!)-- donated a quaint riverfront lot for the establishment of a meeting place for the Danville and South Auburn area free Baptists. Completed in 1833 the small church was christened and its doors opened for service. Three other churches in the surrounding farm communities joined together for the first service at the new church. The church was used regularly for just over one year. Since 1835 it has only been used once a year for an annual meeting of the Penley family and other interested parties.  

The historical record is quiet as to whether or not the term "free Baptist" specifically refers to "free from ever going to church more than once a year" Baptist. One, of course, can hypothesize....

 

Church.

 Stained.

 Focus.

Locked.

Durham

Durham

Winter 2013

Durham village, more or less.

 Traditional.

 Wreath.

 

Dusting.

Hall.