Category: Living in Maine

Cutting, Harvesting, Storing Ice In Maine.

Refrigeration in early Maine living was not so hard to accomplish during the winter months.

But the rest of the year it became increasingly difficult to live without cold storage or the benefits of ice. Like the value of the root cellars for crop storage. Once early settlers of Maine got used to the benefits of refrigeration, what’s for dinner changed beyond just what was in season gleaned from the fields or on the hoof raised in the pasture. Harvesting ice gave a job for dirt farmers before electrical power lines were strung up on poles and compressors in homes could artificially do what Jack Frost had mastered so well naturally outside the early Maine housing.

Cutting, harvesting, storing ice in Maine was a form of farming.

A dangerous operation because if you fell in the drink, that could be your last day cutting large blocks of ice. With wind chills blowing down across a Northern Maine lake and temperatures hovering just above or diving below zero on the temperature readings in the glass tube of mercury. No matter how many layers of clothes, like winter lobstering, net dragging for the denizen of the deep way off the coast of Maine where you lose sight of dry land. The cotton, wool, gortex whatever you are wearing loses any form of protection when you find yourself submerged, under water during a Maine winter.

Bundle Up. Ice Ice Baby. Not From A Tray, Cut And Fished From A Maine Lake, Pond, River.

You could parish by the time help arrived to fish you out of the water to remove frozen clothes, get you near a kitchen wood cook stove or living room fireplace or parlor heater. To warm your bones.

If suddenly you found yourself taking a winter swim and flailing your arms and legs for all you are worth to try to climb out and escape the grips of hypothermia. From the bone chilling deadly spell caused at the scene of ice cutting in Maine years ago on the pond river, lake where the ice was sliced, diced and tonged out of the frozen water. Ice harvesting was big business and employed many, involved boats, trains and large shipments Worldwide. In its peak, 25,000 folks from the Kennebec River area of Maine were harvesting from the ice fields in Vacationland.

More early Maine imagery of harvesting ice as a commodity, the process of cutting, stacking, storing it that involved horses, manpower too. A 1919 amateur ice cutting video that shows how labor intensive the process of harvesting frozen water really was.

On a farm in Maine I grew up on, one of the many buildings surrounding the homestead and big center stone crown jewel of a barn, there was the well house.

Bigger Than Life. Majestic, Constant, Challenging Mt Katahdin Maine.

That the south two thirds sat over the primary well that supplied the farm’s water needs in the house, for the animals in the barn. The north third of the cedar shingled cape style building with overhead storage was called the ice house. Before my time as a young grasshopper to see this area used for it’s original purpose, but I was told how it got it’s name. Why my kids know that section as “the ice house” even though we don’t saw our natural ice in the 12″ x 12″ x 36″ cakes.

Hefting 100 pounds of solid eye with ice tongs much like hanging freshly sewed top burlap sacks of potatoes of the identical weight.

Using some of the same muscles as you heave ho the cargo into place up and into a loading ramp from potato house loosely connected to the steel wheel container. Filling a rail road car destined for a far away market where lakes do not freeze a couple feet deep or more on the surface. Where cars and trucks drive out to ice shacks fishing through holes for something fresh and tasty.

Northern climates were important sources of huge blocks of ice weighing up to 300 pounds and the industry appeared in the top ten list of largest businesses in our country at one time.

Ice men delivered blocks up to three times a week in many markets. Starting in December and ending in late March, ice cutting in Maine was a short season. But was extra money for farmers and their field hands needing to kill time between shipping the crop out and waiting for spring planting. In later years small gasoline motors with saws were added to the use of horses to manufacture more ice to meet the demand. Clear colored ice just like diamonds and rare jewels fetched the best price from consumers of the shaved, careful handled cakes.

Learned about the dark, falling a long way but coming out unharmed one day at around five years of age while following my three older brothers as they went in and out of the farm building called the “ice house” while cleaning out it’s lower level.

While I ventured upstairs to see what I was missing, and just exploring I lost track of the brothers who left the building for a time. And before I knew it, found myself dropping through an open space in the floorboards like a three stooges or cartoon move. And landing square inside a solitary round cedar stave potato barrel positioned in the center of the dirt floored lower level. In a building section that had no windows, no lights on that was as the Maine expression goes, darker than the inside of a cow.

I hollered at the top of my lungs, my brothers came to the rescue by turning the circle of metal antique door handle to the ice house portion of the building where I was very lucky to have bull’s eyed from above into the one and only lone barrel parked underneath my descent. Thankfully missing the sides of that barrel, doing a peter pan standing up without straddling it and causing serious problems in advancing the family DNA later in life with kid’s of my own. And having to adjust to a voice about the same range and octave as Mickey Mouse.

Maine Farms, The Big Barn Is The Center Crowned Jewel Of The Buildings.

The ice house section of the building on the Maine farm had no windows, utilized saw dust used to pack the big, heavy blocks of ice stacked wall to wall, earth floor to ceiling.

That created a frozen vault to draw from through out the year. Or as long as the ice harvested in winter hung out. At about the same time, a building in downtown Houlton Maine on Bangor Street that in later years was a dry cleaners, the cork insulated brick building was originally built to be a community freezer. To draw from like a bank for your family’s frozen food selections to prepare for when the dinner bell sounded.

I was reading in a book on the history of Hodgdon Maine about my grandfather Shirley Benn losing a horse in one winter ice harvest on Mill Pond. And how one cent would buy a 100 pound block of ice harvested from the sheet of frozen water that forms. Originally cut with a saw, and for a time a specially designed iron plow that did not work so well. The ice blocks harvested from grid lines sketched on the thick, solid sheets of ice over our Northern Maine lakes, rivers, ponds was hard, dangerous work because of harsh temperatures that caused the ice to form like clock work each year at certain places on the yearly calendar.

Commercially made ice causes pollution, while natural ice is created from a few cold nights in Maine. And the outdoor ice with community effort with your neighbors shakes off the cabin fever from being holed up. Ice cutting parties are environmentally friendly. Often 30 to 40% of the ice melts pre-maturely and perfecting the insulation of the storage and other factors add to lessening the learning curve and improve.

More images, history of the lost art of ice cutting and harvesting in Maine.

When my Dad returned from the service across the pond after World War Two, he and Mom lived in Bangor Maine while resuming the college education interrupted by Uncle Sam’s tap on the shoulder telling him he was needed elsewhere as a tail gunner in a B-24. Dad would talk about putting ice in the top of the refrigerator and the next morning getting wet feet because the melting block sometimes overflowed its storage housing. Today we flick a switch, have indoor ice makers to tap into with filtered cold water to stay hydrated.

Not As Much Ice On Maine Lakes As Spring Approaches. Still Ice Shacks, Fishing Through A Hole Underway During A Mild Temperature, Snow Load Light Or Heavy Cold Winter.

The local Amish settlements in Maine use large blocks of ice for refrigeration. And while clearing off a lake cottage roof this past weekend to remove the thick blanket of snow before sleet and rain arrived in the forecast to make it tremendously heavy, I counted three ice shacks. Looking out over as the afternoon sun dipped lower and snow sleds in packs buzzed by on the ITS trail.

Winter is a peaceful time, there is solitude and the pace is different when Mother Nature wears white than when the green of a million shades and hues covers the Maine landscape. Snow insulates, muffles sound and wraps everything in a blanket of fresh layers of flakes which cause us to reach for mittens, shovels, snow skis, hockey sticks, ice fishing shacks and traps.

I will check the local farmers museum in Littleton Maine for ice cutting saws, the pairs of big tongs to wrestle them up and out of the open hole of a lake where big teams of horses stood ready to haul the heavy duty sleighs loaded with giant ice cubes. Shipped to the city, stored away in local ice houses for personal and commercial use. They have some pretty nifty donated farm items used to work the dirt and manage the livestock, the poultry on the local agricultural operations.

Like to see an ice cutting harvest operation in Maine? Mark your calendars, because in East Bristol Maine, February 19th, 2017 you can learn about the practice that was common in Maine until the 1930’s. More on the oldest, a step back into history for one ice cutting practice in Maine that still happens and has open display tours if you can fit it in.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

January 6, 2017
Snow In The Maine Weather Forecast It Spells Money For The Economy.

Windy, No Tourist To Shoot Images, Video Around. That Is Why Winter Lighthouse Visits Leave A Lasting Impression.

Snow is a four letter word but the winters in Maine without it are long, dreary and put a sag in the local economy.

Snow piling up means groomed sled trails, down hill skiing as lift ticket sales pick up. The shovel operators that clear the porch and house roof, the guy who angles the snow out of your driveway. Winter snow covers the bare brown landscape with a white fluffy insulating blanket. The glistening snow that hardens up like lemon meringue pie topping with a little melting under a bright sun then freezing action. The crunch of walking along a sidewalk in a small Maine town or out in the countryside on the way to farm barn to do the early morning chores.

No Thumb Warmers, No Heated Radiators Under Your Feet. Boogie Wheel Buckboard Rides On Your Knees Leaning Corners.

Snow covered winter months create a stillness to reflect on life in Maine.

As the calendar year changes and New Year’s resolutions are recited, recycled from previous new beginnings. Ice fishing is a slow sport but huddled around the six inch holes waiting for your five traps to trip. Displaying the orange flags popping up during the signaling of the fresh dinner has been delivered on the end of the line. It’s a Marshmallow World in the winter in Maine. Sugar coated tree limbs and power, communication lines part of the winter painting on the outdoor canvas.

Wood kitchen cook stoves bake the beans, brown bread and have the tea kettle ready for Maine homestead afternoon sessions in rocking chairs.

Weather forecasting has to be accurate if you are a farmer, fisherman or find yourself waging a war and overseas. How does the farmer’s almanac still forecast so well without having daily readings of all the vitals in the weather making? When all the technology guiding and adjusting is left out of the mix when suddenly a warm front hits a cold one and low pressure zones cause a shift in the weather? The farmers almanac claims a batting average of 80% home runs.

Capture Your Thoughts. Slay Those That Betray You, Keep You From Being Grateful.

The restaurants, the motels, gas stations, taxi services and air ports in Maine during winters blessed with heavy loads of snow.

All the areas on the way to and from the winter resorts benefit when there is a steady flow of snow. Suffer snowless drought conditions too long in the weather forecasts and the economic coffers become way way lighter. When new fresh snow accumulations don’t come down from heaven. When snow is missing in the Maine winter forecast. Here’s a Maine link on winter tourism. Another one for winter vacation in Maine suggestions. The state and town highway snow crews do a super job keeping the roadways open, sanded, salted and safe for travel. We know how to drive in it and no one hibernates or fears snow flakes.

The coldest winters in Maine are the snowless ones.

The snow dampens the sounds and muffles. Be a kid again and dig out a tunnel in a bank. Climb inside and hear nothing, as you kick in a circle to make your snow castle room larger. Eskimo natives can tell you about the fifty kinds of snow. Snow comes in different flavors, requiring different waxes for the various temperatures in cross country ski fun.

Let’s go skiing at the Sugarloaf USA resort. Or stop in for breakfast on the snow sled trail and hear from the locals at the club house. Have you been to Maine in the winter? Visited a lighthouse without the tourist buzz and came away with a whole new sensation from the experience?

Maine, she has four seasons. We don’t stop the show because of a few new flakes of snow. Happy New Year Me In Maine blog post followers.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | mailto:info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

December 31, 2016
Maine’s The Fourth Lowest Crime State, Less People Part Of It.

Crime, what causes it?

Hard times make hard people. But wait a minute, Mainers are not flush with money but don’t turn to crime to make ends meet. Oh sure, there is some welfare fraud but our Maine Governor LePage is riding herd as the High Sheriff to stop welfare program benefit abuse. Putting the spurs to that posse out to curb the waste of benefits going to folks that don’t need them.

To report fraud or abuse complete the online form here or call the Fraud Hotline number at 1-866-348-1129. All reports of fraud and abuse will be fully investigated LePage promises.

But crime in Maine. Folks used to listening to the headline airwaves of a city get numbed to the round the clock drive by shootings, gang violence and other dirty deeds done dirt cheap. But in Maine, there is a reason for less crime. Take car thefts, like in the movies where something exotic is stolen, taken to a back alley garage to be chopped for those shopping for discount auto parts.

Maine Is Real, Peaceful, Not Crowded. One Of The Lowest Crime States.

In Northern Maine especially, the cars, trucks are part of the family, been around a long time and often you are the second, third or more owner.

High mileage, worked on by back yard mechanics and recycling parts from the junk grave yard happens to stretch those rural Maine incomes.

So if you were someone that stole cars for a living, until ending up behind bars in the crowbar hotel stubbing your toes for it, why would you drive to Madawaska or Masardis or Skowhegan for something new and shiny to take back to the city?

More miles on the frame, the chassis than it takes to get all the way to the Moon and well on your way back in good shape. Too many miles reading on the dashboard that turned over a couple times and tricks to keep the rig running, on life support to limp along just not taught in vocational mechanics 101. Plus the time to get here, snacks on the road, price of gas and slim pickings to select from make it all a lesson in futility. Heck, the fender colors don’t even match and each dent has a story attached to it. Passing inspection is a dicey proposition even if the VIN number and plates are switch-er-rooed.

And while on the subject of cars, trucks, how about those key fobs designed to cut down on vehicle theft?

We don’t lock doors in Northern Maine. It is a nuisance to slide into whatever is parked in the yard driveway and oh no. No keys. Or worse, the door is locked. What’s up with that? Everything stops as you hunt down the keys.

Maine Is Colorful, The People, The Places, The Properties. Lowest Crime State Too!

Two wires in the reach under the dash like MacGyver and the motor is purring like a kitten on cat nip. Not stealing it the five finger discount way, just too lazy to go looking for the keys. Not needing them on the older rides.

But these new anti-theft devices that supposedly lower your car insurance premiums create a bigger expense headache. If the key fob dies in actions and wears out, won’t unlock a door, shows error message of broken key when gingerly slid in the ignition slot.

No ignition Houston. That is a big problem. You have to get that car or truck back to the dealership for computer re-programing. Can you say ramp truck or hitching a ride with something dangling a hook off the back end?

Dig deep in the wallet or purse.

For the coin to buy a new $150 or more fob to replace the old one that went bad. That repair involves more than a NASCAR quick jump start and you are back on the road clipping off the road mile markers singing Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire Or Folsom Prison Blue. Or Patsy Cline’s Walking After Midnight, Crazy or whatever the ditty.

People help each other out in communities in Maine, out on the open highways.

Walk Right In, Sit Right Down. Bay Let Your Hair Hang Down. (In Maine).

Don’t be surprised when someone buys you a round of dry gas for your fuel system. To get you where you gotta go, where you were headed. To keep you between the snow banks on both sides of the ribbon of road way as you motor down the winter pike.

Why else is there less crime in Maine? Hope it has something to do with the way we are raised. We have to work for everything we have. So we take better care of it when nothing is handed to you or taken for granted.

And we figure other people worked hard for what they have too so leave it be. Respect each other’s stuff, personal property, their beliefs too.

And here’s a story I heard over the weekend about a local Maine oil dealer.

They had a big office safe that suddenly would not open sesame. When the tumblers were dialed in with the correct numbers written on the sheet taped under the top drawer bottom panel of the book keeper’s desk.

The Winter Run Off Of Snow Makes The Faster Paced Spring Canoe & Kayak Races. Snow Is Money In Maine.

The abracadabra spell did not work for some unknown reason getting into the locked safe.

The far away trained locksmith used to working on these older then the hills safes like the one in Northern Maine was no small expense and was a scheduling nightmare to come all this way for one little job. Luckily the oil dealer powers to be got wind of someone locally that had a good batting average. Of breaking into safes legitimately.

They rang him up, only took four numbers at the time on a small Maine town phone exchange.

(We also still only have one area code of 207 to take care of everyone’s phone, fax, whatever phone line for Maine information deliveries.) He trots up to the office, pushes his hands up and out like a safe cracker with the fingers intertwined to prepare for the task.

And leans in, puts his ear to the cold black safe door. As he fumbles with the tumblers. And presto, door opens. The company representatives are relieved, over joyed. Until they ask how much for the safe entry? The response “$100”.

Jaws drop, grumbling starts and the sound of the safe door closing heard. Locking it up tight as a drum happens again. Each of the oil company workers tries their hand at cracking the safe to not avail. Then pleas for help getting the door open again are heard in a unison of whining. Which the local legit safe cracker is coaxed to do. To perform his exercise again to unlock the doors so the ledgers, whatever of importance inside could be fished out. The check for $100 starts being drafted as a hand goes up, and “hold it” is heard. “The cost is $200”. Quick math, thinking on your feet would show in your head it was $100 per safe door opening operation.

Maine, less crime, more common sense, lots more respect for other’s feelings and their property both real and personal.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com | 207.532.6573 |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730

December 27, 2016
Christmas In Maine, The Holiday Traditions In Big Families, Small Towns.

Small Maine towns, which is the majority of the population centers scattered around Vacationland, all celebrate Christmas like one big family.

The school bus drivers know which kids have a hard home life. Collect the extra food to bound down the steps of the school bus. Paced with love and care in a back pack to make sure Christmas includes good food.

Merry Christmas From Small Town Maine. Rich In Traditions, Shared At Family Gatherings.

While local churches in Maine hang the Christmas gift pleas for the congregation to take.

To buy for an unknown boy that is eight and likes Lego building toys. Or a teen age daughter that could use a warm pair of boots. Secret Santas, there are a slew of them in small Maine towns. Helping without calling attention to the local elves pulling off the behind the scenes to make the season bight. To lend a helping hand to make sure Christmas happens in town and out in the country for the local residents.

I ran into a lady who’s Mom and family picked potatoes for my Dad back in the 1960’s.

Christmas Light Parades To Say Hello To Santa Who Tours Maine Small Towns.

I asked her what was the best Christmas she could remember and she said her first year in her own house, to celebrate with her own family. I asked her as a child, which one stood out. She said the one when she was ten and was not sure if Christmas was going to happen or not. Her parents had a tough year with a big family and struggled with making the household financial ends to meet.

But with the help of friends, family and neighbors, who all pulled together, she remembers the best Christmas ever.

Hunger improves the taste and to her surprise what seemed unlikely to happen because of being strapped financially as a family turned out other wise. The miracle of giving, opening hearts and making sure no one goes without in the local community. Because in small Maine towns, there is a strong connection. We help each other, our lives run in smaller circles that over lap and the grapevine helps whisper the needs that need addressing. SHhhhhh. Pass it on.

Sea Food For Christmas? SURE! Lobster Not Just Stuffed Roasted Birds, Prime Rib Or Ham Are Always Welcome At The Christmas Eve / Day Dinner Table.

Your own personal family traditions for Christmas? Candle light church services, school musicals with Up On the House Top Click Click … oh oh. There go some more roof shingles. And reindeer games, took out the guy wire securing the antennae to pull in the few television stations we have in Maine and across the border to over home, into near by Canada.

Food, always part of the celebration with family and friends. Dishes your mom whipped up with her eyes closed and so tasty.

Mocca balls, coconut clusters, date filled cookies, divinity fudge, fruit cake and nut rolls. Forget the calories, keep the phone number for the gym to tap out after the season ends. Being on a diet prior to Christmas and until the noise makers are put away with the empties of party juice at New Year’s is a steep uphill battle.

Oyster stews, lasagna, hams, turkeys, pies of all kind. What do you remember as a kid besides ribbon candle and peanut

Small Maine Town Christmas Light Parades Welcome Santa, Entertain The Little And Old Alike.

brittle among the ho ho ho? Playing Hearts happen on Christmas Eve in our house hold by the glow of the Christmas tree. With Andy Williams, Ray Conniff, Perry Como, and others belting out the old Christmas standards.

Pass the egg nog and more shrimp cocktail for me? Yes please. Don’t want to appear to be a hog. But just being social and not wanting to hurt the cook’s feelings. Grandmothers wear the biggest grins when you reach for seconds, thirds or more helpings of what they live to put on the table for a holiday spread. Nothing store bought or from a bakery or deli. Everything from a family recipe that was served up at every Christmas family celebration bar none.

If you moved to another venue for Christmas Eve or the 25th Day vittles, would the menu change from lobster or crab, prime rib, grilled steaks of all kinds? Would you have fiddle heads if preparing to eat out in the Midwest, the other coast or in the Florida pan handle?

Or a Maine baked potato if sitting down, pushing in the table chair in Idaho or Oregon? Not a lot of rice dishes served up in the potato country of Northern Maine. Pass the green bean casserole please. Is that cranberry sauce over there by Grandma? And I’ll pass on the jello with the carrots, pineapple and whatever else got sifted and folded into the jiggle and wiggle. But ambrosia, save some for me. The food of the Gods with those cherries, whipped cream, pure heaven.

Heading To The Kitchen Pantry To Rustle Up Some Christmas Meal Dishes. Planning Something Big This Year?

The extras beyond stuffing from the bird, the bread and butter pickles, real whipped potatoes, other veggies like butternut or acorn or blue hubbard squash.

Boiled, pearl creamy onions, turnip, home made gravy and breads, rolls, biscuits. Speaking of turnips, ask a Mainer if a rutabaga is different and how? If you are on the coast of Maine, seafood, fish takes up a big portion of the serving platters. It’s what’s for dinner all twelve of the months on the kitchen calendar in a Maine coastal household.

Whatever you eat, have planned, don’t forget the round guy with red velvet and white fur, flying deer who is working over time. Beyond his pay grade to make the season bright for kids of all ages without all of our help if you still believe. A carrot or two for the eight reindeer, a sugar cookie, brownie and ice cold milk for the red faced sleigh master driver. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. A video of Santa touching down in the Aroostook County recently.

Here’s wishing you the best for the New Year! From all the Maine towns that put the extra effort to celebrate the reason for the season beyond the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730

December 22, 2016
Houlton Maine, The Town’s Past Supporting The Aroostook County Future.

Like most small communities, Houlton Maine is a town of unique features, talented people.

Houlton Maine, Rich History Preserved And Protected.

Small towns like Houlton Maine to survive and prospect must turn the corner with an eye to the future. But never losing what is behind them in the rear view mirror for rich history.

For perspective, adapting to a changing World economy it is the blend of new and old. It is all about embracing technology and riding the information wave into the future never forgetting the past.

Service providing and the shift from working on the Maine farms and in the deep vast woods by hand is underway. Retooling for the next generation to stick around or move back to their small Maine town.

Houlton Maine, Shiretown of Aroostook County. The Early Years.

The past of Houlton Maine is a rich one as an earlier blog post on the County Seat Or “Shiretown”, the oldest town in Aroostook County outlines.

The archives of Houlton Maine history show colorfully in the jounalistic prose of the time about the hardships of picking up from comfortable surroundings. And heading into the unknown wilds of the Great North Maine Woods.

The history of farming in Aroostook County is a rich one. And the youth exposed to farming benefit the most in life skills and perseverance. The industry of children shown in this potato picking video, another one on potato house work say it all. Fresh air, working together to harvest the new crop of spuds or whatever the farm field yields from the seeds of spring. That drive and determination to stick with it carries a person for life.

But today, building on the past, with stories preserved, the history capsuled in museums, on website meanderings can be part of the tourism effort in Maine.

As folks seek to go deep into the interior and northern, western sections of Maine beyond the traditional sea coastal area tourist traps. The Patten Lumberman’s Museum is another example of a history lesson available to all who enters it’s doors or accesses the site in this Northern Penobscot County out post town.

Potatoes Were King, Northern Maine Planted More, Harvest The Most At One Time.

The railroad opened up the Northern sections of Maine. Once the border between Maine and Canada was hammered out. The railroad lines and spurs on the sidings connected the industries. To feed the markets needing the farming produce, meat, dairy and lumbering products. Take a ride on a train leaving the Oakfield Maine’s Railroad Museum … hurry. All aboard. Let me punch your ticket.

Homesteading never did die down since Joseph Houlton led the charge to this new land on the Canadian border cut out in six by six mile tidy uniform township squares.

Laid out in easy to follow grid work of township this, range that designations.

The Internet opens up the ability to telecommute to an online job far from Maine where the worker does not want to live. And today does not need to as they beam a signal from Maine to wherever the other end of the connection may be on the globe. Houlton Maine is connected to fiber.

Houlton Maine’s Miss Aroostook Diner. What’s Today’s Blue Plate Special? Pea Wiggle? Bubble & Squeak?

The early days of a small Maine town like Houlton were more local happenings.

Less of the jump in your car and run the roads to a larger population to sample the wares of their stores. Slower moving trains, no super highways, no Amazon to order from online and expect delivery without what seems like hours, not days or weeks.

Pilots of private planes fly into these small airports that dot the Maine landscape like in Houlton Maine.

Small commuter airlines could survive less passenger load before deregulation. Or bolt on pontoons so your silver bird becomes a float plane. Now you can touch down and lift off from Maine’s many water front recreational options. To explore Northern Maine’s many waterfront taxi landing strips. Just make sure you are taking off into the wind for maximum lift. To go under your wings of your Piper or Cherokee puddle jumper. So the plane has altitude enough. For up up and away over those tall trees at the end of the maybe too tight Maine lake airport.

Two Theaters, Market Square In Houlton Maine Was A Busy Place. Everything Was Local, In The Community Of Small Maine Towns.

Speaking of planes, the silver birds, Loring Air Force Base provided over forty years of service protecting the skies of the wild blue yonder of Northern Maine.

Defending our borders, the freedom of the United States from the upper right hand corner of a small town called Limestone. That was the shortest hop over the north pole where Santa lives to keep an eye on Russia, the Middle East back when relations where cold, strained, and neither countries were sending the other a Christmas card.

And after LAFB was moth balled, other uses with DFAS hummer repair, payroll checks and that’s right. A few Phish concerts with 60,000 music lovers heading north up into the “County”. A couple going too far on I-95 / Making a big mistake. Taking the VW micro bus straight into Canada, beyond exit 305. Over the border beyond Houlton International Airport (KHUL) that was a busier place during lend lease during World War Two. Back in a time when German POW’s got paid helping the local potato farmers get the crop into storage.

And Cole’s Express, other trucking outfits helped open up the down country markets to local agriculture and lumbering concerns in Northern Maine.

Providing something the trains could not with the iron horses. Overnight service for the now business

Try ‘er Again. (Whirring Sound) Must Be The Solenoid. Or Missing Tooth On The Fly Wheel.

model of “just in time” inventory control.

Coles Express got its start with snow plowing back when winter’s provided more white stuff before the effects of global warming. Lots of songs about trucking in Maine like through the Haynesville Woods penned and performed by Dave Dudley of Fort Fairfield, in central Aroostook County.

Home theatre media rooms rather than putting on your hat, coat and hitting the silver screen. Sneaking down the pretty dark aisle munching on a fresh pop bucket of corn and your favorite sugar snack. Vacations to second, third and more homes that are ready and waiting but infrequently used. More for the collection than putting down roots as today’s public more affluent but still restless and gypsy like. Finding it hard to sit still for long. The could be missing something and like to be kept entertained.

No Motel 6, No Howard Johnson Or Day’s Inn Back When In Small Maine Towns. Lots Of Local, No Franchise Chain Hotels To Stay in Northern Maine Towns.

Aroostook County is known for its Acadian culture, the tongue sliding back and forth into French and English in the St John River Valley.

That hugs the International border and has strong cross boundary cultural ties with Canada’s New Brunswick and Quebec Provinces. The trip to Northern Maine truly is a two nation vacation.

Ever snow sledded in Maine, up into the Valley where the trails are like super highways, smooth and well marked? Take your snow sled to dining and dancing and motel options heading through Shin Pond, Oxbow, Masardis weaving along with Rt 11 to the Crown of Maine.

Explore and Discover Northern Maine. Don’t neglect or leave any area of this great state out of the running for spending time and getting to know the locals, their local history and rich traditions. Learn the early history as you enjoy the current recreational and outdoor beauty. Find out more about the rich history of Houlton Maine. It’s one of many fine small Maine communities.

Like who was Henry C. Merriam and why is he famous in Houlton Maine history?

Low Price, Less Options. It Was All Black And White Simple Picking Out Your New Car At Duff’s. The Bangor Road Was The I-95 For Traffic.

Did you ever hear of a famous young girl named Samantha Smith who died too young but did so much? Samantha was from Houlton Maine, dying in a Bar Harbor Airlines fatal plane crash at age thirteen.

The Amazeen home is where and why was it built in Houlton Maine?

Or for ten points, where was the trans Atlantic radio station transmission antennae located in Houlton Maine? I have seen signs of that handiwork that helped the World War Two effort. Why? Bbecause I lived a quarter mile from the transmitter site and remains are still in the North Maine woods of Aroostook County. As a little kid, those glass insulators and old wooden support posts for the wires remain. If you know where to look and tramp around the two mile course they chewed up in the Houlton area.

All the stuff the slick four color high gloss tri-fold travel brochures leave out in the condense it down to a few lines of buzz words and the usual over used eye candy. The same angles, photos, captions that get tiresome in the copy and paste, hit print or send. Let’s take it all up a notch.

Fill It Up. Unleaded? What’s That? (Ding Ding)

Meet the small town friendly locals, perched sitting on a lunch counter stool or getting your hair cut or twisted and just ask, listen, learn.

Always a colorful rendition of the local history with a unique spin on the early adventures of the new to this land explorers. The ones that through nip and tuck situations did finally open up this northern Maine section of woods, water, wildlife. Houlton Maine, one of many local jewels with rich history facets to uncover. Come sample it any of the four seasons. Each if different and offers something unique to treasure.

Come see for yourself and experience the hidden gems, the small Maine towns that all offer memorable stays if you can clear the schedule to get to Vacationland.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730

December 16, 2016
Allagash Divorce, Posting Your Maine Land, No Thank You For The Muffin Mom.

What the heck is that for a blog title from way up here in Maine? Like a pastor, inspiration for posts comes from many sources.

There is a nagging, mental elbowing to put a post online after a few days since the last one went live. And the previous one wears off. It feels good to blog. I want to make these worthwhile for someone in the audience and it is not just personal satisfaction that comes out of the blogging experience sharing about living in Maine.

One Beach Is Not Exactly Like The Next. This One In Maine In Kennebunkport At Dusk.

So bit by bit what does that blog post title mean, where did it come from beyond creating curiosity? Or worry someone is off their meds or you the reader needs a refill or adjustment in mood elevators or whatever prescription on your kitchen window sill. If you have followed any of the posts in Me In Maine you know those lucky to live here are high on the air.

Take comfort in the uncrowded surroundings, the eye candy, the down to Earth people in Vacationland. Nothing artificial, fake or phony about it. And the locals like to tell stories, share experiences and compare notes with the rest of us natives. We lean and glean from the grapevine in many instances at the blog keyboard for inspiration.

Allagash divorce, had not heard the term before this week.

And you and I would not have any trouble imagining a happy honey moon in the great deep woods of Maine if it was an Allagash wedding instead of a divorce. With the beverages served moisture dripping cold cans and bottles on ice in a canoe. To reach in, help yourself. As The Dead Or Phish play in the background. Most of the wedding attendees wearing flannel shirts and jeans or khaki pants. North Maine woods clothing attire. After the marital knot tying “I do” and rings exchanged and no contrary minded in the audience to object with raised hands or sharp voices.

The nuptial vows uttered nervously under evergreen firs, an opening under the canopy of forest trees. The song about “there is love…” as Noel Paul Stookey from Blue Hill Maine sits on a stool, artfully plucking, strumming the strings. Holding that long last low note. Until the union of the spirits chemistry love potion number nine is cured. Love brings you light the song reminds. Amen. When a woman takes a man or the other way around. By the Allagash River known for it’s 60 mile plus paddling adventures through Chamberlain Lake and others in the water way chain.

Weaving, Needling Your Double Clutch, Down Shift That 18 Wheeler. Car, Bike Through The Highway Thread. Exploring Maine.

But we are not talking a wedding but the opposite procedure to pull apart the couple. (Record rip, music stops, dead air fills the scene.) Leave and cleave but not like kids do. When gently, okay pushed out of the familial nest.

An Allagash divorce it was explained to me is when two go in the woods and only one comes out of the forest stand. Standing under a clear sky and big bright round moon. It takes a little while to sink in when put that simply.

Not mincing words. It is a lot like the no trespassing signs about “I own a gun and a back hoe” we posted about earlier in this Me In Maine blog. Or “survivors will be prosecuted” don’t ya know Chummy.

Which leads to the next tid bit of today’s Maine blog post title, the middle filling part two of the head line.

I have noticed that the folks who feel a compelling need to post their land have no qualms crossing the terra ferma of another. Without batting an eye or giving it a thought that causes one to lose one little “z” of sleep. Like you can be dumb enough to let every Tom, Dick and Harry tramp, sled, four wheel on your land but meh… not me Bub.

In populated areas you see and need those no trespassing signs to saber rattle. Offering to prosecute violators who mess up the terrain. Leaving debris or worse. But that happens more in jammed packed together areas of just too many people. Hard to crowd control people. People being people in herds.

In Maine’s rural areas which is most of the state, the need to post land goes away. Those skull and cross bone signs are ugly. Orange, black and white. Respect the Maine land. It is a not a right but a privilege to cross the land of another to make it a journey exploring Maine in the nooks and crannies where vehicles of any kind can not go. The land use access done on the honor system of treating others like you would want to be handled. Kinda thinking like that right? Stay on the marked trail too like being a good steward at a state park, by a precious waterway in Maine which is loaded with recreational H2O.

Maine Explained With Social Media Examples.

No thank you for the muffin from the Princess as we wrap it up. Take it in on home, put the bootsto ending this blog post and then it’s shifting gears time. Clear the head, think and plan the day ahead.

What happened to the Mom in that last part of the blog post title? Snubbed pretty hard this week. For her good deeds, love and affection for her little chick.

Well the mother carefully packed a muffin, favorite donut that the little one loves best in a pretty new knapsack. Added to the three sets of what to wear for the daughter’s next outing in her action packed day where Mom is the chauffeur and behind the scenes technician.

When Mom and daughter come together after school, the family reunion was cut and dry. Grab the bag, no hi Mom. No warm and fuzzy after Mom announces what snack choices she had packed and the same for the clothing selected, folded, tucked lovingly inside the new cargo carrier. “Gotta go” snaps and yanks the bag from the thoughtful mom with the ten year old uttering no thank you, or exchanging a smile or displaying any degree of patience for her Mom.

Moose Not People, Other Wildlife Too Hide In The Woods, Waterways Of Maine.

No peck or squeeze or physical contact affection exchanged.

More than lacking manners, just possessing a surly attitude. With lips turning the wrong way on a pretty little face. Shining, ribbon end tied pair of pig tails trailing her as she rushed by. Grabbing the bag like a runners baton in the last leg of a foot race.

Her hair, wardrobe, everything Mom’s and Dad’s, grandparent’s, someone’s doing. The handiwork proudly applied in rearing the ten or so aged girl if I had to venture to guess, pick a number on her age. The kid was rude to her mom. Ever witness a kid being disrespectful and unappreciative? Where is the number, punch it in for Nanny 911 to the rescue.

The holidays are approaching and do you have your health care insurance coverage options zipped and sewed up?

The clock is ticking. I have to wrap this up and begin the long commute of 32 feet. After the mow the whiskers, run through the shower, pull a comb through the hairs. Living close to work and no traffic has its perks in small town living Maine where everything is simpler. You love what Maine offers, but equally enjoy what is missing, that you don’t need but that is standard part of the landscape in city living.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, Me Real Estate Broker

207.532.6573 |mailto:info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730

December 15, 2016