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Our Love of Old Houses

March 16, 2015

We were pleased to be included in the March/April issue of New England’s own, Yankee magazine. The magazine is celebrating its 80th year. Our Perry based business was chosen by the Editors for the section, “Our Love of Old Houses – Preserving the voices of New England’s past for a new generation.”

Amy Golding standing at the rear of our home dressed in her brother's Spanish American War uniform - circa 1900.

THE BOYS IN BLUE (Part 4)

March 16, 2014

On February 15, 1899, a small ceremony was planned to honor the 266 sailors lost in the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine in Havana Harbor a year before.The only army unit to take part was the First Maine Heavy Artillery.

Field Hospital, Camp Columbia, where Rob spent time in the 'pest ward.' Courtesy United States Army Center of Military History

THE BOYS IN BLUE (Part 3)

March 9, 2014

Rob’s battalion remained in Savannah until January 17, 1899, when it boarded the transport Obdam, bound for Havana, Cuba. Arriving on January 20, the Maine Volunteer Heavy Artillery was encamped at Camp Columbia, located on a high hill, about nine miles from Havana.

Rob Golding (middle row left) with tent mates in Augusta - photo from Rob's own collection.

THE BOYS IN BLUE (Part 2)

March 2, 2014

Rob Golding's company, Battery B of the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery battalion, was organized on July 16th, 1898 by the consolidation of two companies of the 2nd Infantry Regiment, Maine National Guard; Company I of Eastport and Company K of Calais.

Private Robert N. Golding in his Spanish American War uniform taken in 1898 while in training in Augusta.

THE BOYS IN BLUE (Part 1)

February 23, 2014

The image of a sweet 1890s farmhouse appeared on a computer screen in the John Jermain library in Sag Harbor, New York. I was searching for a home we could call our own. It’s lovely hipped roof and central front door reminded me of a simplified version of a grand British Georgian.

Vintage postcard of stately Calais Avenue with the Greystone - first house on the left, followed by its sister house.

Ye Ole Rim Lock

December 10, 2013

Often when we drive up the hill on Calais Avenue, I think of early 1900s era picture postcards I've come across in antique shops. Depicted were this scenic pair of streets, divided by a wide green park-like boulevard, lined with an arched canopy of majestic elms.

Eastport and Passamaquoddy Bay - circa 1840, by the French painter, Victor DeGrailly (1804-1889)

Water Street (Part 3)

July 13, 2013

As there was no reference in this deed to a prior owner, we had to take a different approach. We knew from an 1888 history, Eastport and Passamaquoddy, compiled by William Henry Kilby, that the property had once been part of a much larger track of land, 100 acres, owned by John Shackford - sea captain, ship owner and pioneer settler.

Eastport, 1879 Panorama (detail); Our project house in the center - on the corner of Water and Shackford Streets with a horse and wagon in front.

Water Street (Part 2)

July 12, 2013

Our first clue to the home's earlier residents came from a map of Eastport Village published in 1881 that included the footprint of every building along with the owner's name. Printed next to the cape on the corner of Water and Shackford Streets was M.D. Bibber.

Eastport sardine fishing fleet in the harbor.

Water Street (Part 1)

July 9, 2013

We were recently called in to do a bathroom renovation in an historic, Federal style, Eastport cape on Water Street. Its proud new stewards were relocating to the area; part of a fresh influx of creative entrepreneurs that are breathing new life into the city.