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Marty’s Memories - A Good Place To Be by Marty Trower

The complications are worth it. The water around us provides a barrier that we must cross either in a private boat or our ferry. There was talk of a bridge in the 1950s that did not come to fruition. If it weren’t for global warming, we might be crossing over on the water this winter. Come to think of it though, I did try walking across one time. It was 1971, I think, that winter when the bay froze over solid between Chebeague and Cousins. Most people resorted to taking the Casco Bay Lines ferry to Portland but they didn’t do it any more than they had to. I was staying in my parents’ house alone on the island for a month and for some reason decided to walk across the bleak expanse of white with Bruce Bowman and Gunnar Wood. It was rock hard solid yet we walked gingerly and did not talk at all. We had tied a rope around all three of us, and again I don’t really know why. We got almost to the dock at Cousins and then returned for no apparent reason. Mysterious; nonetheless, it was an experience I’m glad I chanced to accept. Perhaps It made me see and feel that great divide in a way I might never have had I hesitated. In my youth, when we came to Chebeague from Montreal, we would take the small ferry, the Nellie G the third, from Handy Boat Service in Falmouth Foreside. We parked the car in their boat yard

lot for the summer. If you needed a ride to Portland, (and were too young to drive) handsome Jimmy Millinger, a deck hand on the Nellie then, would drive a rickety bus and drop you off at “Upper Hays” the drug store at the top of Congress and Free Streets. The Nellie G stopped at both Cousins and Littlejohn’s islands to pick up or let off passengers. I remember we often picked up a distinguished older man named Roger Driscoll who stayed every summer at a little hotel on Littlejohns. I think it was called the Rockmere. It was a very weathered shingled place and you could barely see it high in the woods when you looked for it from the boat. Mr. Driscoll would ride over often for the day to play golf on Chebeague. Today, there is a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and we can look forward and inland with the wonderful news about the area that used to be called Parkers woods. I remember going there with a teen-aged gang to be told scary island ghost stories. Now It looks as though’ Littlefield Woods’ will become, officially, a public place for great outdoors walking and interacting with the beauty of interior Chebeague. Imagine, being able to hike explore further among the trees and birds and paths without worrying about going through other people’s property. The complications are worth it.

The Lake & Co.

Lake & Co. now offering Family Meal. All the comfort and decadent items we make for events, to heat and serve in your own home. We love bringing you healthy and hearty homemade foods each week. From our family to yours.

The Lake & Co.

Hannah & Chuck White 207-798-9983

TO ORDER GO TO WWW.LAKEANDCO.ME TO ORDER Go To .LAKEANDCO.ME

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DECEMBER 2020 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR