Author: Andrew Mooers

Life On A Maine Island

Life on a Maine island.

Ever think what would it be like living on a island in Maine?

Yes the hidden small out to sea community is part of the state of Maine.

Maine Rock Bound Coastline, Islands. ‘Hole “Nother Expericence.

But a lot like your own country. One surrounded by water and just off the Maine shoreline. Or further out to sea. Monhegan Island is a place on the travel plans. Before I go, it’s wise to bone up and get ready with a knowledge of the history, the sample the community flavor.

So from days years ago as a broadcast journalist, in an earlier life as a young grass hopper, what can I share about Monhegan Island?

The island of Monhegan, a plantation in the Gulf of Maine. About ten to twelves miles off the mainland, depending on your news source. The Maine island is part of Lincoln County.

Monhegan has a shadow island of Manana that is often in the same tourism write up information. The name is Abenaki language meaning “out to sea island”. It chews up about 55 to 70 minutes for the ferry ride out and back to Monhegan Island. Like most of living in Maine, it depends on the weather.

Here’s the ferry schedule and cost to hitch a watery ride to Monhegan Island.

The Monhegan Boat Line, make contact at 880 Port Clyde Road Port Clyde, Maine 04855 1 (207) 372-8848

The Laura B or the Elizabeth Ann are the two ferry boats to get you to and fro from Monhegan Island.

It was back in 1603 you start seeing information about the earlier explorers stopping by Monhegan Island. Way way before Maine became a state in 1820.

There are tales of pirates, fishing and fur trading commerce in the Wikipedia link above. Tourism is part of the business model for Monhegan Island.

The local Monhegan Island Maine town website.

Here is a video for from just 5 days ago that popped up online as I start the plans to visit Monhegan Island soon.

Monhegan’s Island Inn adds a lot of information to anyone toying with a stay there.

They remind that power is generated locally, no ten mile extension cord from the mainland. So hair dryers, air conditioners, mini fridge in your room or anything that is a big power hog. None of that are in your stay at the Monhegan Island Inn.

It’s let everything air dry and take your time using Mother Nature.

You look way way better in that wind swept dried slowly anyway right? Your hair does not have to be perfect in the sea breeze. No one to impress with only 64 full time year rounders on the Maine island. That population swells to 400 as the red colored temperature rises in the glass tube. But those snowbirds retreat quickly as the temperature sinks, goes the other way.

Monhegan Island is a walking island scare larger than a square mile.

Fishing, tourism are the main income source for the Monhegan Island economy. Agriculture is encouraged and potatoes have been raised on the island that measures about 1000 acres more or less.

What’s Going On? Who’s Selling What? Everything You Need To Know On Monhegan Island.

You can text, make a cell call but the Internet is no robust beyond the basics. I won’t be shooting a video and trying to upload the render to the clouds above Monhegan Island on the trip there.

Here’s a video for the Island Inn Monhegan Maine.

Who hungers, thirsts for a life experience on a Maine island? Anyone seeking one of simplicity, self sufficiency. That seems to enjoy their own company. Or just a small circle of friends sans the crowd setting, paid parking and traffic. It’s use your feet, peddle power tooling around Monhegan Island. Leave whatever you drive parked back on the mainland.

Lot of seagull chatter dubbed in, but no talking, just neat visuals to swallow from the Island Inn Monhegan Maine video.

Henry Trefethren of Kittery Maine for three hundred pounds on February 6, 1790 purchased Monhegan Island.

He wanted to buy it as early as back on October 2, 1777 from Benjamin Bickford. Not sure if the little skirmish with the Red Coats across the pond was the cause for delay or not.

When Mr Bickford bought Monhegan Island in 1770 there was a lone residence, a single barn.

The original Henry Trefethren Homestead dubbed “The Red House” is parked on rocks at middle beach (Swim Beach). Ruth Grant Faller produced a fine book that one by one outlines all the houses on Monhegan Island with imagery, descriptions, the family connection history.

Stay tuned faithful Me In Maine blog post readers. I will be sure to take a few cameras in the days ahead. Maybe the drone if weather and wind allows to capture more details up close and personal from Monhegan Island Maine.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton ME 04730 USA

October 24, 2024
Fall Foliage Leaf Color Near Peak In Maine

Fall foliage leaf color near peak in Maine.

Nothing like the explosion of color in the forest canopy of trees this time of year. This year the lack of water combined with fewer low temperature dips affects the brilliance of Maine fall colors. I live and hunt, peck in Northern Maine, Aroostook County and right now is peak for fall colors.

The Maine trees are loaded with colorful leaves and it’s enjoy it while you have it time.

Fall Foliage Colors In Maine. Come On Up, It’s The Peak For Color In Many Places In Maine.

When you live in Maine, the slow change from standard green to a variety of fall colors is slow.

Sometimes a big wind or combination of lots of rain water can wreck the fall foliage finale. Bus loads of folks come in to Vacationland just to see the fall colors. You can get caught up in the vivid hues of colors detonating all around you.

When it’s just you and a hunting companion, your trusted dog or a loved one sitting along side in your pickup or four wheeler on Maine trails.

The fall leaves, smells of being out in the woods tramping for freezer meat hits you.

Fall Colors In The Maine Woods. Explosion Of Color In Maine Right Now.

Remembering all the past life trips tramping the woods looking for signs of game birds, black bear, white tail deer or a big Maine moose.

The latter if you are lucky enough to win the moose lottery permit for whatever zone.

The leaf peeker performance is a production that Jack Frost and Mother Nature orchestrate together. Fall colors always remind me of potato harvest, apple picking, firewood processing.

Maine Is 91 Percent Wooded. Fall Harvest Foliage Colors Are At Peak Levels Now!

As a kid picking potatoes, graduating to working on the spud harvester or on truck, in the storage warehouse. The fall colors just add to the experience of being outdoors in Maine working to make some extra spending money. For the winter coat, other school clothes.

Haying season before the potato harvest and some raked blueberries in Maine to earn their keep.

Working on the farm did not hurt the skill set. Days getting slowly shorter, leaves piling up and the shift to the season ahead. Seasons pass at the local ski area and what’s new at the slopes you strap on the boards to swish swish.

Fall Harvest Colors And Maine Lakefront. Priceless.

Last winter there was a snow drought in Maine.

Unseasonably warmer temperatures and less white stuff impacted outdoor recreation. Felt bad for anyone purchasing a brand new snowmobile that stayed parked or profiled on the back of the owner’s pickup.

Fall Harvest Colors In Fall, Now Would Be A Good Time To Come Up To Maine To See Jack Frost’s Handiwork.

The repair places, welding shops reported a slower winter because less damage or breakage from anything snow removal related.

Snowblower sales were down too. I kept a couple personal properties cleared of snow and the workload was easy. Only plowed three times all winter because snow accumulation was lacking here in Northern Maine, Aroostook County. Maine snow is an important part of the local economy in small communities around the rural landscape of Vacationland.

This week, heading down to the Maine REALTOR State Convention in Rockland.

Have blogged about past Maine REALTOR state conventions before on this Maine blog channel.

The change of fall harvest colors is not the same as I travel early tomorrow from Aroostook traveling county to county. Are you overdue for a visit to Maine? Or you live instate but want to explore a new corner of Maine? What are falls like where you are and is there remarkable foliage color? Come on up. Thank you for following the Me In Maine blog.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

October 7, 2024
Flag Of Maine

Flag of Maine.

Keep it simple. Pine tree and a star. It’s all your need, says it all. Maine is 91% wooded and has lots more than just pine trees. Why the star? Ever looked up in a Maine winter sky especially? Most folks not used to the black velvet of sparkles are blown away from the cosmic light show. Maine is one of the least light polluted areas and has tremendous constellation star power.

Ever saw this original Maine flag?

Early Flag Of Maine. Simple “North” Star, One Lone Pine Tree. Keep It Easy Peasy Simple.

The lone green pine is also a Native American symbol of freedom.

The blue “North” star is a pretty important navigation tool. You need that star of all stars to lead your ships, your trail riding group and to know where the heck you are. No GPS or satellite tracking to help you know which exit to take in the North Maine woods where one tree looks a lot like the another.

The motto “as Maine goes, so goes the Nation” caught on before social media trending phrases.

Our Yankee ingenuity and common sense earned Maine a recognized place of respect and leadership in the early days. This simple original Maine flag hoisted high to wave in the breeze from 1901 until 1909.

Dirigo Flag Of Maine. Little Fancier Than The Pine Tree And Star Earlier Model.

What’s Dirigo mean on the State Of Maine flag?

“I Lead” or “I Direct”. Other flags that flew before Maine became a state? There was one from the Republic of Madawaska with an eagle and six red stars semi circled overhead on a background of white. See the flag and learn about John Baker and the territory of Madawaska.

Before Maine was a state in 1920, back when everything was part of Massachusetts, there was a lot of New England versions of a flag to show your patriotism.

Doing Your Homework On Maine? It Starts With A Vacation, Can Leave To Much More As Your Heart Strings Get Pulled.

I see lots of “flags” in Maine and one of the more hard to swallow in Red Sox Nation is the Yankee baseball one.

I just love baseball and it is fun to see the Red Sox at Fenway park in a home game come out on top of the New York Yankees.

But my first local little league team had pin stripe uniforms like the “Evil Empire”.

Success, longevity, grit and talent is something to be admired. What flag would you put on the Maine real estate vacation property or second home? One to celebrate your heritage? One to show you are a snowbird and what your other state is as you travel back and forth splitting the time here and there?

Thanks for following our Me In Maine blog. Check out our Maine community flavor videos too.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

September 26, 2024
Maine House Building, The Home Plans Today

Maine house building, the home plans today.

The approach to house building in Maine, what home plans consider today that has changed. This blog post is about the new housing starts in Maine and the trends I am seeing as a real estate broker.

It’s no secret the Maine housing inventory of existing homes is pretty ravaged and picked thin. Finding a quality house or even rental these days is difficult. Because Maine is in the top ten destinations for part time second vacation homes purchases and full time relocation. So buying Maine land, building new housing is picking up popularity.

Bring the outdoors inside is more important than ever in housing design floor plans used building a Maine home.

House Plans, Building A Home In Maine. What To Consider. Want Open Concept Cathedral Living Space With Walls Of Glass?

So the approach to house building today in Maine.

What I am also seeing is smaller square footage and cathedral open spaces. Combing the living areas into one large opening with plenty of south facing glass. That is a common approach to home construction in Maine. Or if the budget is very tight, a lot of home buyers in retirement mode are opting for a small simple Amish building. Pre fab one room and you can combine more than one for “wings”.

Old New England farmhouses like Victorian era Maine homes were a tad on the large size.

Had to have a double, triple helping of living space because of family sizes. The grandparents living out back in an add on “L”. Often the young newlyweds housed in this small apartment and simply changing places with the aging in place parents. Generous sized homestead kitchens to have elbow room around the table and for home grown living off the land meals.

Maine House Building, Bringing The Outdoors Inside. Cathedral Open Concept Living Space Popular Today.

Since the 1940’s on the kitchen seems to have shrunk from the original New England Farmstead and Victorian rambler.

The formal dining room replaced with an area beyond the kitchen space. It seems your home is still your castle but running the roads more means the formal dining room used a couple times a year is a waste of space. I am seeing much larger kitchen areas, breakfast nooks and way more cabinets in today’s house compared to yesteryear housing stock.

Recycling centers, less wasted hall space and more cathedral or vaulted ceilings. More home office den space and with the cathedral open space, more small cozy corners.

The foundations on new Maine house building is often crawl space and even a concrete slab.

To hold down building costs and to aim for everything on one floor. It is cheaper to go up or make living space down below if there is a dry walk out daylight basement. Side hill Maine land listings with a gentle slope are being picked to tuck the new house into the level to rolling landscape. A view often helps new Maine house builders decide which piece of land acreage to select.

Your Kitchen Is An Area, Not A Room In Many Open Concept Living House Plans Today.

In the days when immigrants traveled to the New World to begin a new life, the living quarters were small and cramped.

Often up over a storefront or shop. Working long hours, learning the new language and customs and making the housing not the primary concern. The business was the master and space to peddle a product or provide a service mattered most. COVID made new Maine home builders ask first about Internet connectivity at this, this and that location.

Being on a cheaper electrical utility provider is on the list of questions unless the Maine house will be off grid and making their own juice.

House Plans Today, More Open Living And Combing Spaces With Lots Of Light. Formal Dining Rooms Are Missing In Many New Maine House Plans. Just Not Used.

Do you only consider resale of the new construction Maine house or what the heck.

Let’s make it the latest, greatest and a statement of the people who are going to live here. Often money is always in the equation to whittle away at the grand plans building a house in Maine. Is a bank pushing for completion before a closing and the end of a construction loan phase?

Or is the Maine house a build as you go DIY affair? Where the people in the weather tight but not nearly complete house don’t mind a table saw set up in the living room.

Maine Homes, Gotta To Have An Outside Porch, Plenty Of Bathrooms And Open Space Today!

Waiting for a sale on materials building a new Maine home.

Doing as much as you can yourself to contain the labor costs. Repurposing from other houses if lucky enough to glean an oldie goldie Maine home before the excavator engine starts up for the demolition. I see cabinets, staircases, stained glass windows, kitchen sideboards, old lighting fixtures all mixed into new housing stock in Maine.

So back to the big wide open expanse where your have the engineering trusses in place to be able to make it the focal point of your new Maine house.

Does all that glass, no cozy corners or hideaways make the new home in Maine less comfortable? Higher ceilings are a plus for anyone on the NBA but rob into living space. But if you the home builder only need a couple bedrooms and the family is raised and out of the nest, who cares right?

Old Maine Houses Had Butler Pantries, Sleeping Porches, Turrets And Fireplaces In Many Rooms. Lots Of Ginger Breading.

What if your home building couple is a second, third time or more around blended family?

His, hers, ours means gotta have room, living space to fit them all in. So a cape or colonial home with a basement to develop is often reflected when you study the house plans. As you unroll the blue print sketch and the schematic for all the major house systems.

Material costs go up and down and in my area of Maine, being right on the Canadian border, the lumber and other building items often purchased from across the US Canadian border. There are a lot of perks being a Maine border town with Canada.

Old housing in Maine often had hidden rear staircases and all the pantries, butler closets and servants corners were hidden from view or easy access.

All that space is up for grabs to repurpose and slim and trim. Today, redesign and serious reduction of the square footage to stretch the dollar in a time of heavy duty inflation, heating, financing costs means study lots of housing plans. Your home should be a place that fits your lifestyle and budget.

Bay Windows, Patterned Floors, Built In Cabinets, Dumb Waiters… Old Victorians Built, Filled In Differently.

Maine is a handful of cities and over 450 small communities.

Building big and gaudy to impress is not something that happens in rural Maine. Maybe along Ocean Ave or crawling along the rocking coast of Maine where out of state plates in the expensive zip codes happens. But not in sparse populated rural sections of Vacationland, where Maine Yankee frugality forces house building to be practical and functional.

Maine house building up on the upswing and off grid, no year round access is a positive to some.

The new Maine homes with expansive open decking right off living area for everyday use and easy outdoor access. Also seeing rustic cozy touches, lots of stones weaved into the landscaping to make the new construction Maine home reflect the spirit of the owner.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

September 6, 2024
Free Land Homestead Grant, New Settlers To Maine

Free land homestead grant, new settlers to Maine.

The free land Homestead Land Grant Act of 1862.

The legislation enacted into law during the Civil War opened up wilderness, vast expanses of acres with little or no population. Land was plentiful and not so valuable. Clearing it, settlements in Maine took a lot of hard work, plenty of faith in yourself and others in the new neighborhood.

Free Land For Settlers In Maine. One Way To Populate Unsettled Maine Townships.

In Maine, 100 free acres of land were available to help attract new settler immigrants to move to America.

Unfortunately, no one fighting on the side of the Confederacy was allowed to play in the Homestead Land Grant of 1862. That changed in 1890 to open it up to those wearing gray during the War Between The States.

160 acres of free land to open up and settle parts of the West, up into Maine, everywhere.

Farm Property In Maine. Your Nearest Neighbor A Half Mile Away.

This Homestead Land Grant Act of 1862 was different than the land given to fund college education in Maine.

The Morrill legislation provided for 210,000 land grants to promote higher education. Going to the University of Maine I always knew UMO was a land grant college.

Giving land to the land grant educational state colleges and university institution to sell to fund the higher education was a lofty idea.

I had listed a 50 acres of Maine land in New Sweden recently and got to thinking how the Swedish picked up state in their old country. To make the trip across the pond to rural Maine.

More Outdoor Space, Owning More Land With Your Home In Maine.

Up here in Maine, instead of 160 free land acres, the offer was changed a little.

Five acres of 100 were cleared, an 18’x26′ cabin provides to help the new Maine settlers. Each log cabin had a Hampden wood cook stove.

The settlements sprung up around a brook, stream, river. The waterways were vital to run mills and if successful, a boarding home might spring up. The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad helps open up the Swedish settlements in Northern Maine.

Valuable For Heat, For Home Cooking, The Farm House Wood Stove.

When you are warm from an unending supply of firewood and you raise your own food, the national economy news is not of much effect.

Oh sure, teacher salaries might have to be cut but the Maine free land homesteading settlement farm and lumbering families had all they needed.

Peru and Mexico were Maine town names that came from struggles happening in those countries at the time. Paris Maine was in honor and payment for service in the French and Indians Wars. The land grant from Massachusetts before Maine became a state.

Poland Maine and higher wages in the US than Europe caused the influx of population during the Gilded Age in the late 1800’s.

A name for an unorganized Township 5 Range 2 came from many places. Not because the earlier settlers had a connection to a particular country or culture. You think of the early Swedes or whatever country the immigrant came from and have to admire their grit and faith.

The St John River Valley, Aroostook County’s Crown Of Maine.

The early years in New Sweden, Stockholm area had setbacks like anyone farming, working in the woods getting the timber to the mills.

Poor crops, lousy market prices, forest fires, sickness but always always a hard work day ahead. Clearing the land, farming, lumbering, toiling to create strong lasting Maine communities. It took stamina, a strong faith and cooperation from other free land homesteading immigrants resettling in rural Maine. Free land grant in Maine, an opportunity for a brighter future than staying where you were across the ocean.

Unsettled and under populated wilderness areas of Maine and the free land to homestead were an opportunity. For families to pack up and move here but not for vacations. For a new start, for free Maine land and some other perks to entice settling rural parts of the state. To carve out a life where family values, cultural and religious traditions could continue in the new Maine location.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

August 26, 2024
I Just Want To Be Left Alone.

I just want to be left alone.

Leave me along, just let me be. Hear that desperate plea desire uttered almost daily from Maine real estate buyers.

Space, privacy, peace and quiet. In crowded populated areas it may be impossible or just too darn expensive to create it. In rural Maine, not hard at all.

Farm Property In Maine. Your Nearest Neighbor A Half Mile Away.

The wanting to be left alone. It’s not that most are anti social. The group just share the common goa for different reasonsl. Getting away from people too close for comfort. Especially the ones constantly on your case on how best to lead your life. That have to point out where you are doing it wrong, missing the target.

Ever notice many of the folks self appointed to help you with your life should spend more time housekeeping their own?

It gets old living with the evil eye and wondering here it comes again. Tightening up or smiling and trying to back away and run for the hills. What I am doing wrong now in someone’s opinion?

So Maine is the perfect place to create some space.

Land Not People. That’s Maine. Loaded With Wildlife But No HOA’s, No Four To Six Lanes Of Traffic.

Less people, more wildlife and 450 small communities, villages. Just a handful of cities in Maine.

Like the old song “Stop the World and Let Me Off”, the Waylon Jennings song … The poor love sick guy wanted to stop the spinning.

Couldn’t function with the “As The World Turns” of romance gone bad. Can not survive without the other.. just sick of tired of going round and round when the partner’s flame went out and passion elsewhere sparked. Missing the kissing and tender hearted care after his love went away.

Where is the lever anyway to stop the carnival ride, the one called pull here in an emergency for relief from day to day round and round?

The Carnival Food, Fun, Games, Rides. Did You Get Your Fill This 4th Of July In Maine? Everyday Maine Is Not Crowded, Not Wall To Wall People Or Bumper To Bumper Traffic.

Maine offers a natural unspoiled setting for recreation and nature.

Four season’s worth of oodles of options. For leisure time spent fishing, paddling a kayak or canoe. Hiking a trail. Down hill, cross country skiing all providing exercise and a jaw dropping view.

Follow The Path Less Traveled. The One Up In Rural Maine.

The term “backyard” is very different depending on where you do live on the blue and green spinning marble.

To someone in Maine, your country neighbor is half a mile away. There may be a rock wall separating your property from the two hundred acres or more next door. In a 300 lot urban subdivision, everyone calls the fence company. To define the “backyard” that is measured in feet not acres. No side lawn, front yard and zero lot lines happens.

Grass, do you mow and how long does it take each week? Weed wack only and lots of bark chips not grass to shorten?

In Maine, we mow lawns like we hay.

Big open nicely mowed for the weekend lawns are the norm. Maybe they put drink holders on riding lawn mowers for a reason. I know people who say they do their best thinking mowing the lawn. Not in circles but angled, neatly trimming like you learned from a family member black belt lawn specialist growing up in Maine.

Maine Homesteads, Big Lawns, More Wide Open Space. No People In Sight To Spoil It All.

If you live where why have side windows but you can see the grain of your neighbor’s vinyl siding. No side yard, no back yard and parking. What about parking? Where do I do it? It has to be done out on the street. Or round the corner at a multi story parking garage for a hefty fee.

To get a sense of space, where you live now do you have to trot out of the cul de sac and down the street to a nearby park to get some?

Here’s a perfect example of a new property listing with 60 acres of land Maine homestead and only large land acreages, not people surrounding it.

Watch the Maine real estate video.

Looking for peace and quiet with plenty of elbow room?

Maine, one more reason to consider Vacationland to get space. You can spend time with yourself and figure things out or enjoy not having people people people.

The statement “I just want to be left alone” probably happens because the person crying out for space can not get it. Wall to wall people everywhere you look where they live now.

Life On The Maine Farm. Easy Does It Simple. Early Morning Chores, The Day Wraps Up Late At Night.

Spending some time with yourself in rural Maine but also prepare to get involved and volunteer.

Living in Maine is home grown not store bought. And more “if it is to be, it is up to me” approach to simple living in Maine.

No traffic, little crime, just pure and natural without the privacy fencing, zero lot lines, plenty of parking.

Maine is the way life should be. People are friendly because their personal space is protected and no problem maintaining it on a daily basis. Not just a week’s vacation in Maine for rehab. Maine, is she what is missing in your life? Do you want, need a piece of ME?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

August 11, 2024