There was a rustling, that seemed like hustling?

Once more he stepped into the street;

And to his lips again

Laid his long pipe of smooth cane;

And ere he blew three notes (such sweet

Soft notes as yet musician's cunning

Never gave the enraptured air)

There was a rustling, that seemed like a bustling

Of merry crowds justling at pitching and hustling,

Small feet were pattering, wooden shoes clattering,

Little hands clapping and little tongues chattering,

And, like fowls in a farmyard when barley is scattering,

Out came the children running.

All the little boys and girls,

With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,

And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls,

Tripping and skipping, ran merrily after

The wonderful music with shouting and laughter.

What's the Weather in Wayne, Maine?

http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/maine/augusta.htm

Arriving by Air

The day was crystal clear.  The weather perfect for a water landing.  Tom set the plane down and we taxied towards the boathouse.  Heathrow, our Caretaker, took our bowline and handed us the first of several Moosebay Beers.  Sara bounded off a pontoon onto a nearby boulder and said breathlessly to no one in particular, "Oh, don't you just LOVE the way the sun shines through the evergreens here?"

Above us, Stonecamp stood sentry over Lake Androscoggin.

The History of Stone Camp

Stone Camp was built by John and Imogene Lufkin in 1901.  He was the inventor of the "improved  buttonhole machine."  He was a really nice guy but wore funny clothing. 

Interestingly, but you may not think so, a google search mentions nothing about either Lufkin or his machine.  There was some mention that Lufkin was tight with Thomas Edison.  But I didn't find any mention of that either.  I think he just worked at Edison's labs in Menlo Park and lived in a big house down there.  He did come up to the lake with a chauffeur, though.  That's kinda cool.

The camp is built on a prominent stone ledge overlooking Androsoggin Lake near Cedar Point.  Lufkin supposedly used dynamite to shape the point so that it would part the ice and keep it from damaging the boathouse.  I looked around the camp and don't know what they are talking about.  I think he just wanted to blow stuff up and make lots of noise.  Came up with the story later.  Stonecampgate if you ask me.

Comprised of a main house and a boathouse, the buildings have a first story of fieldstone and a second of stucco.  The fireplaces were designed and constructed by Norman Safford of Wayne, ME.  Imogene's name is inset into the stone in one fireplace, "a face in the fireplace" on the other.  The boathouse is shaped like a castle turret, is comprised of three floors: water below the first floor allows boats to enter the boathouse from lake, above is a garage with horse stall and then a third floor party room offering spectacular views of the lake.  For what its worth, Luffin's home in Menlo Park, NJ was designed as a castle.  He obviously had a thing for castles. 

The camp was sold to Ned and Isador O'Malley in 1941.  The O'Malley's sold the camp in 1951 to Eli and Elsie Blanchettes.  Ten years later, they sold the camp to Ralph and Alice Johnson who owned it until 2009.  Sara bought the camp in 2009 - much to the chagrin of her husband.

A Doorway to Possibilities?

We are venturing into the unknown; a place of disappointment, unforeseen setbacks and unimagined expense?  Or are we venturing into a new beginning, a place of laughter, exploration, back-breaking work, solitude and family reunion?

First Impressions - Stone Camp

 

Stone Camp - First Floor

The Stone Camp - Second Floor

Boathouse

 

 

Can You Visualize Yourself Here?