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Portland Magazine is published by Sargent Publishing, Inc.. 578 Congress Street. Portland, ME 04101. All correspondence should be adÂŹ dressed to 578 Congress Street, Portland. ME 04101.
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Newsstand Cover Date: .May 1995. published ApÂŹ ril 1995, Vol. 10. No. 3. copyright 1 995. Portland Magazine is mailed at third-class mail rates in Portland. ME 04101 (ISSN: 0887-5340). Opinions expressed in articles are those of authors and do not represent editorial portions of Portland Magazine. Responsible only for that portion of any advertisement which is printed incorrectly, and as compensation we will run a correction in the following issue. Nothing in this issue may be reprinted in whole or in part withÂŹ out written permission from the publishers. SubÂŹ missions welcome, but we lake no responÂŹ sibility for unsolicited materials.
Portland Magazine is published 10 limes anÂŹ nually by Sargeni Publishing. Inc.. 578 Congress Street. Portland, with newsstand cover dates of Winterguide. February/March. April. May. Summerguide. July/August. September. October. November, and December. ToSubscribe
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FourteenDeeringStreetseemsan unlikelyplaceforastoryonPortÂŹ landâsChinaTradetobegin,until yourealizethatCaptainJacobS. Winslow(1827-1902)usedtolive here, surrounded by other wonÂŹ drousbrickresidentialbuildingsin a neighborhood just steps from what is now the Eastland Plaza Hotel and the Top of the East Lounge.
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landâsparticipationintheChina Trade,somethingofnosmallinterÂŹ esttochinaloversinthearea, becausethismeanshisshipswould mostcertainlyhaveunloadedblue and white Canton china for the massmarketatourwharves,aswell asavastamountofRoseMedallion, RoseCanton,Celadon,andCabbage patterns.Collectionspasseddown throughmerchantfamiliestothe Portland Museum of Art seem to bearthisout.
This generous businessman, who hadacompanypolicyabouthelping shipsinneedatsea,commissioned theconstructionofover100shipsin Maineovertheyears,manyofthem righthereinyardsinEastDeering and Yarmouth.
Theexistinghistoricalworkupon Capt.WinslowplaceshimpersonalÂŹ lyaboardsuchearlyvesselsasthe "Noble,Fannie,Calista,Broorner,and JeremiahFowler, and the barques Maine Law andPhilena"-thislast vesselnamedforhiswifewhichhe commissionedhimselfandusedin the West Indies and European Trade.After20yearsatsea,he retiredasaseacaptainandbegan todirecthismerchantempireona largerscalein1868,aglobaloperaÂŹ tionwhichheoversawfromoffices onPortlandâsCentralWharf.
Pleasesende-mailLetterstotheEditor to: 75363.1716@compuserve.com
The Danforth Justashortnotetothankyou andthestaffatPortlandMagazine.
As a new business in Portland placingmyfirstadwithPortland Magazine,Iwasverypleasedwith the immediate, prolonged, and wide-reachingresponsetheDanÂŹ forthadreceived.OneoutstandÂŹ ingresultwasalong-termresÂŹ ervation from an NBC network executivetravelingtoPortland thismonth.
Ilookforwardtoworkingwith youagain.
BarbaraE.Hathaway
TheDanforth Portland
Serious, Short Onarecentvisittoyourcity,I pickedupacopyofPortlandand wassurprisedandpleasedtosee acitymagazinepublishingserious shortfiction.
Beforeyourreaderstrytodrive byyourAprilHouseoftheMonth inRichmond,Maine,itshouldbe pointedoutthatRichmondison theKennebecRiverratherthanon theSheepscotRiverasthearticle declared.Otherthanthat,theartiÂŹ cle was remarkable. It should resultinthesaleoftheCaptain ReedHouse-andcouldresultin Richmondâsoverduerenascence.
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RebirthOnDanforthStreet
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anforth Street must havelookedconsiderÂŹ ably different when Barbara Hathawayâs bedandbreakfastinn, TheDanforth,wasfirsterectedin 1823 for Joseph Holt Ingraham. Whatisnowaparkinglotwasa gorgeouslawnwithunobstructed viewsoftheForeRiver.
HefirstarrivedinMainefrom Yorkin1768,whenhewas16years old,andfoundworkasasilverÂŹ smithâsapprenticebeforetheRevÂŹ olutionary War, manufacturing brassandsilverknee,shoe,and sleevebuttons.
In1777,hewasthefirstpersonto construct a new dwelling place
afterCaptainMowattâsfatefulbomÂŹ bardmentandburningofPortland inOctoberof1775leftthecitya smolderingruinthatwaslargely abandonedinfavorofthesafer countrysideuntiltheendofthe War.Manyconsidereditfoolhardy ofIngrahamtolocatehissilverÂŹ smithshopandhishouseinsuch anexposedpositiononForeStreet, opposite Long Wharf; however, timeborewitnesstohissagacity. Hemadeafortuneasamerchant during the prosperous post-War periodandby1793hadbuiltan entire block of stores on Fore Street,aswellashisownwharfjust eastofLongWharf.Unfortunately, thesuspensionoftradewithGreat Britainin1806,followedbyJefferÂŹ sonâs Embargo of 1807, put an abruptendtoPortlandâscommerÂŹ cialsuccess,andamultitudeof merchants, including Ingraham, sawtheirbusinessesfailas,acÂŹ
k I he house was next to I become noteworthy be- I tween 1899 and 1901, I when Miss Agnes Cris_JL fieldandMissCaroline Lowellrented163DanforthStreet as a private boarding schoolâThePortlandSchoolforGirlsââ from Elias Thomas.
Duringthisperiod,MissesCrisÂŹ fieldandLowelltookasummer triptoEnglandthatincludeda fatefulvisittoWinchesterCatheÂŹ dral,whereWilliamWaynflete,a 15th-centuryEnglishbishop,lies entombedinamagnificentchanÂŹ try.TheyweresofavorablyimÂŹ pressedwithWaynfleteâsevident dedication to education (he servedasHeadmasterofWinchesÂŹ terCollege,wasthefirstProvost of Eton College, founded MagÂŹ dalenCollegeatOxfordUniversiÂŹ ty,andendowedandbuiltafree grammarschoolinhishometown ofWainfleet-All-SaintsinLinÂŹ colnshire)thattheypromptlyreÂŹ namedtheirownschoolafterhim upontheirreturn.
Waynfletethenrelocated,and EliasThomas,presidentofCanal Bank,decidedtoremodelthe21room Federal home for his own use. By this time, an Italianatecupolahadalreadybeen addedtothetopofthebuilding, which remained vacant for two yearswhilePortlandâsprolific JohnCalvinStevenssupervised theColonialRevival-stylerenovaÂŹ tions.
Theresultswerewellworththe wait.Withlaudableforesight, Stevens made sure that all the lightfixturesâeventhoseinside closetsâwere equipped with the capacityforbothgasandelectricÂŹ ity,andwithtypicalattentionto
detailhedesigneddifferent-colored decorativetilesandcarvedmanÂŹ telsformostofthetwelvefireÂŹ places,incorporatingeverything fromClassicalIoniccolumnsto curlingvinesandcupidstoCeltic knotwork.Othergoodiesincluded leaded-glass windows, Baccarat crystaldoorknobs,elaboratelytextured moldings, bowed walls withspeciallycurvedradiatorsto match, a wood-paneled billiard roomwithabuilt-incuerackand perimeterseating,woodenwainÂŹ scoting and marble countertops in the kitchen, a gas- powered plate-heatingcupboardinthebutÂŹ lerâspantry,andluxuriousbathÂŹ roomscompletewithfanlightor Palladian windows, stained glass,windowseats,andbalconies.
âAlltheglasswasfrostedonthe bathroomwindowsexceptforone paneinthemiddle,ârelatesBeatÂŹ riceThomasCobb,whogrewupat 163 Danforth. âThat was so we couldlookoutatthewaterwhile wesatonthetoilet.âBeatriceand hersister,JuliaThomasYoung, are,respectively,theeldestandthe youngestofthesevenmischievous Thomaschildrenwhowereraised at163Danforthduringthefirst threedecadesofthiscenturyby Elias Thomas and his wife, Dorothea. Today, seated across fromeachotherinBeatriceâsliving roominSouthPortland,theygleeÂŹ fullybouncetheirmemoriesback andforthlikeping-pongballs:
âWhen I grew up there was a fenced-in formal garden with a summerhouse, paths, and a rose trellis,âJuliaremembers.âWehad chickens,rabbits,cats,andthree dogsinthebackyard.â
âBut1didnâtcareforoneofthe pointers,âBeatriceinterjectsemÂŹ phatically,âsoIâdopenupthedoor andlethimoutwheneverIgotthe chance, in hopes that heâd run away.â
âThat didnât mean we never sneakedupthere,âBeatricereÂŹ mindsher,eyesflashingmerrily.
âWeusedtoslidedownthelaun-
TheThomasesrarelywentoutto eatinthosedays,unlessitwasfor Sunday dinner at a hotel or the Cumberland Club. Much more usudrychutefromthesecondtothe firstfloor,âJuliarecallswithachuckle, alweredinnerpartiesathome. The Thomasesâ dining room table âandmybrotherDavidandIwould throwwateratpeopleouttheWinÂŹ terStreetwindow.â
âButourfatherwasalwaysthere when he shouldnât have been,â Beatricecomplainsregretfully.âWe would always run into him when weleastexpectedit.â
âSoweallgotspankings,âJulia concludes.
âWe all had to come down for breakfastandbedressed,âJulia mentions, âbut Mummy didnât comedown.Shejustcalledforit fromhersittingroom.â
A rest well-deserved for this mother of seven children, no doubt,despitethesupportiveserÂŹ vicesofacoachman,achauffeur,a cook,alaundress,afirst-floormaid, asecond-floormaid,anursemaid,a sewing woman, a handyman, and several gardeners who were all employed to help keep things running smoothly. These serÂŹ vantscouldbepagedviaanannunÂŹ ciatorpanelinthekitchenthathad carefullylabeledarrowsandbells to indicate from which room on whichfloor,orwhichoutsidedoor, someonewascallingforassistance. Elias Thomas even had his name on two personal buzzers which indicatedwhetherhewasinthe frontorrearportionofthehouse.
hadextraleavessothatitcould seat 24 people. Beatrice rememÂŹ bers formal dinners at which everyone dressed ineveningclothes,capes, and tuxedos, but the younger members of the familytendedtobeless concerned with attire than with the menu, whichwasnotalwaysto theirliking.
âWe had fish Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and baked beans with fish balls on Saturday night,âBeatricerecountsdistasteÂŹ fully.âEvenwhenwewentawayto Fryeburg for the summer we had fishsentfromCommercialStreet bytrain,andthatwoodenboxfull oficedrippedwaterofftherunning boardallthewayuptothefarm.
âWhenIwasateenager,Iâdhave mygroupoffriendsoveronSaturÂŹ daynighttodanceanddrinkpunch andeatcookies.Wewerealways chaperoned, and when the boys gottired,theyâdliedownintheden andtakeanap.â
âWeusedtorolluptheruginthe parlorandwinduptheVictrola anddanceagoodbit,âJuliachimes in. âOne time Mama came down becauseweweredancingsohard in the parlor it shook the bed upstairs.â
âThere was nothing on Sunday, though,âBeatriceassertssternly. âNodancing,nocards,nothing.â
But during Christmas vacation thereweredanceseverynightfor a week. âWe always wore long leathergloves,inalldifferentcolÂŹ ors,withbuttons,âsaysJulia.
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K11houghJ.B.Brownhasbeen I deadformorethanacentu-
Iry,andhisgrandItalianate I villa,âBramhall,âsmashed â torubbleeightyyearsago, thelegendofbothmanandmansion persistsinPortlandâscollectiveimagÂŹ ination.
Oneofthefirstcitystoriesthat1 recallhearingwasofthepoorboy whohitchedaridefromGrayinthe back of a manure wagon, made his fortune,anddiedyearslaterthereÂŹ gionâsrichestmancomfortablyenÂŹ sconcedinafabulouspleasuredome atoptheWesternPromenade.Ifthe unembellished chronicle of Brown and his wealth has been hard to comeby,namerecognitioncontinÂŹ uesstrongthroughtheflourishing realestatefirmofJ.B.Brown&Sons, a generous scattering of elegant buildingsconstructedforhim,his boldsignatureetchedinbrownstone onthefacadeof529-543Congress Street,andthecommandingmarble portrait-bustofthegreatcapitalist
Overall, though, most who give thought to the subject consider BrownandBramhalltohaverivalled PortlandâsRugglesSylvesterMorse andtheVictoriaMansionasthelast centuryâsgreatestexampleofregionÂŹ al conspicuous consumption. Now, asinterestinVictorianlifeandarchiÂŹ tecturereachesnewheights,seems anappropriatetimetoassessBrown, hisfabledresidence,andtheircomÂŹ binedimpactonPortland.
JohnBundyBrown(1805-1881)was borninLancaster,NewHampshire, thesonofTitusOlcottandSusannah BundyBrown.TheelderBrownran ataverninBartlett,NewHampshire, andlatermovedhisfamilytoGray, Maine,whereheoperatedtheOld StageTavern.LikeotherGraniteÂŹ statersbeforeandafterhim,includÂŹ ing the Rev. Edward Payson and Congressman F.O..I. Smith, young Brown gravitated to the bustling portofPortland.Almostcertainly,
Brownhimselfclaimedhefirstsaw Portlandasa14-year-oldwhenhe droveayokeofoxeninfromGray with a load of wood for market. Great-great-grandsonCharlesShipÂŹ man Payson, an ardent admirer, claimedthatBrownsawabeautiful youngwomanonthestreetandtold a companion, âIâm going to marry that girl.â She proved to be Ann Matilda Greely, daughter of the wealthymerchantPhilipGreely.His friendlaughedthatshewasfaroutof romanticreachforaself-educated boywithfewprospects.
job, and Shaw agreed to hire him whenaclerkingpositionopened.At theageof19,aletterarrivedoffering J.B.aposition,andtheyoungman againenteredthebustlingport.Mr. ShawâsletterremainedaprizedposÂŹ sessionandmightbeconsideredthe startofBrownâscollectingpassion. Ago-getterofthefirstorder,J.B. provedamodelemployee.Mr.Shaw, however,couldnotholdhisambition forlong,andin1828,BrownandafelÂŹ lowclerk,StJohnSmith,formedthe groceryfirmofSmith&Brown.The partnershipprovedlucrativetothe pointthattwoyearslaterJ.B.was abletowedAnnGreely.Theysettled in and began a family that would includetwogirlsandthreeboys.OthÂŹ ers might have been content with havingachievedsocialandcommerÂŹ cial success, but Brownâs dreams weremoreelaborate.
In1840,Brownandhisbusiness partnerwenttheirseparate, successfulwayswiththeforÂŹ mertryinganumberofbusiÂŹ nesscombinationsbeforeformÂŹ ing J.B. Brown & Company around 1845.RecentlyhistorianEarleG. Shettleworth,Jr.,uncoveredanartiÂŹ cleinthePortlandTribuneofJanuÂŹ ary 18, 1845, that suggests the outsetoftheBrownlegend.EntiÂŹ tledâWealthyMenofPortland,âit boastsoflegendaryfortunesincludÂŹ ingthoseofCapt.AsaClapp,MatÂŹ thewâKingâCobb,EliasThomas,and IsaacSturdivant,whilenotingthat âJohnB.Brownisyetayoungman, buthehasacquiredafortune.He cametothiscityfromthecountrya fewyearsago,withscarcelyashilling forhiscapital-enteredagrocery store as Clerk-then commenced businessforhimselfandisnowone ofourmostenterprisingandwealthy men.âThatsameyearprovedamake or break one for Brown, who was drawnintoaschemeformakingsugÂŹ ar from molasses through a new process.Thebigmolassesimporting firm of Greely & Guild of Boston decidedtoestablisharefineryin Portland,Americaâslargestreceiver ofWestIndiesmolasses.AsGreelyâs brother-in-law,Brownwastoplaya minorpart.However,asanhistorian noted,âThebeginningswereunfortuÂŹ nate;thetradewasanentirelynew
LettheLAURABandthe ELIZABETH ANN transport youintothemagicof MONHEGAN
one, and had to be learned and taughtatthesametime.Inthemidst ofthesetechnicalembarrassments theyouthfulindustryreceivedalÂŹ mostadeathblowinthefailureof Greely&Guild,itsoriginalprojecÂŹ tors.Thisthrewthewholeburdenof the enterprise on Brown, whose courage, instead of failing him, seemedtorisewiththeoccasion.â
HeretheBrownlegendreallytakes flight,forthebusinessmanquickly turnedstrawintogold,orrather molassesintosugardollars.By1855, the Portland Sugar Company, with thenearbyBrownâsWharf,wasemÂŹ ploying1,000workers,wasthethird largestrefineryinAmerica,andwas reapinghugeprofits.Inthesame year,J.B.andsonPhilipfoundedJ.B. Brown & Son (changed to & Sons whenJames0.cameofagein1859).
Again the businessman might have settledback,butinsteadpushedon toacareerthatwouldinvolvehimin acomplexwebofindustry(including thePortlandGlassCompany),real estate(propertythatincludedthe greatFalmouthHotel),transportaÂŹ tion(hewasadirectorandinvestor innumerousrailroads,aswellasthe MaineSteamshipLine),andbanking (presidentofPortlandSavings).In facttherewashardlyamajorPortÂŹ landindustryorlocalcharitythat Brown did not have a hand in. He wasaheavyloserduringtheGreat Fireof1866,whenthePortlandSugar Companyburnedtotheground,but hisinsuranceandotherinvestments allowedhimtorebuild.ThenewopÂŹ erationlastedonlyafewyearsbefore Brown realized he could not comÂŹ petewithdistantcompetitorswho developed better processing. He knewitwastimetofoldthecompaÂŹ ny,andhedidsowithoutgreatdamÂŹ agetohisfortune.Athisdeathin 1881hispersonalworthwasputat $3million,andhewaspayingapÂŹ proximatelyonethirtiethofallcity taxes.
Had he done nothing else, J.B. Brown would be remembered as a down-eastCroesus,theCityâsfabled accumulatorofcapital.ThoughunÂŹ questionablyabusinessmantothe end,BrownâsreallegacywasculturÂŹ al,thatofapatronofarchitecture, art,andlearning.
Thoughlargelyselftaught,with a smattering of public schooling thrown in, Brown was by no means uneducated.Furthermore,hisinquirÂŹ ingintellectneverstoppedseeking ideas,andhisgreathouse,âBramÂŹ hall,âbecameatangibleshowcase forthisaspectofBrown.
Inthe1850âs,PortlandâsWestern PromenadewasfarfromthefashionÂŹ able neighborhood it has become since.ThetopofBramhallâsHill aboveVaughanâsBridgewasnotable forWesternCemeteryandascatterÂŹ ing of shacks called âHogville.â Brownâsfriendandculturalmentor, JohnNeal,describedtheviewasâa magnificentpanorama(whichitstill
is)âbutthelanditselfasâdeepsandy soil,coveredwithlowjuniper-bushÂŹ es, or savin, and swampy for the mostpart,withnotatreetobeseen, exceptafewelms...Weshouldhave hadeithernobuildingatall,oronly hereandthereaone-storyhouseâa cucumberlodge,oramake-shift.â
Neal (1793-1876), already firmlyestablishedasAmerÂŹ icaâsfirstartcritic,hadfanÂŹ cied the Western PromeÂŹ nade, with its sweeping viewoftheForeRiverandthedistant WhiteMountains,asalocationfora hotel. However, ownership of the landwasinsomedispute,soNeal builtinCapeElizabeth.BrownorigiÂŹ nallydreamedofamansiononâthe knollinthefieldonthewestside ofBrightonAvenue,oppositeFesÂŹ sendenPark,âbutthatlotwasnot available,andâHogvilleâbecamethe objectofhisinterest.Hechosea1fiÂŹ acreoblongboundedbythePromeÂŹ nade, Bowdoin Street, Vaughan
Street,andalineroughlyhalfway between todayâs Pine and Carroll streets.J.B.andhisfamilyalsopurÂŹ chased numerous surrounding lots untilthe1870âs,whentheareabeÂŹ came virtually a Brown neighborÂŹ hood.Hechosetocallhisestate Bramhall, honoring the colonial nameforthehill.
Brownâs selection of Charles A. Alexander(1828-1888),ofBoston,as architectforhisgreathousewasno whim.EarleG.Shettleworth,Jr.,sugÂŹ gestthatAlexandercametoPortland largelyatBrownâsbehest,notingalso thearchitectâsfirstadinthePortland AdvertiserinJune1851givesBrown andNealasreferences.Alexander workedonadditionstoBrownâsSugÂŹ arHouseanddesigneditsreplaceÂŹ ment,aswellastheFalmouthHotel, theChestnutMethodistChurch,and manyothers,withNealwritingâMr. Alexanderwasatrueartist,nota merebuilder,andhisworkstestifyto hismostessentialqualifications.â SincemostofhisworkhasbeendesÂŹ troyed,itisonlythroughthereÂŹ searchofShettleworththatwehave cometoseetheimpactofAlexander, andhispatron,Brown,ontheshape ofthe19thcenturycity.
âItwillnotbemakinganinvidious distinctiontoselectone,whichfor beautyofsituationanditssurroundÂŹ ings,ispreeminent:werefertoMr. Brownâs upon the western promeÂŹ nade.Itstandsinthemidstoften acresofhighlycultivatedandim-
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ComparisonsbetweenBramÂŹ hallandthatothermasterÂŹ pieceofItalianatearchitecÂŹ ture,theVictoriaMansion, aredifficult.Thelatter,deÂŹ signedbyHenryAustin(1804-1891), surviveditsdatewiththewreckerâs balltobecomeapalpablenational treasure.Bramhalllastedonly60 yearsbeforeitssizeandlocation doomedittosubdivision.RegretÂŹ tably,nofloorplansseemtohave survived,thoughweknowitsgeneral shapeofacentralcorewithaproÂŹ jecting wing on one side and a glassed-inconservatoryontheother. Thewestfrontboastedafour-story tower, and photographs show that boththewingandconservatorywere expandedovertime.Thelatteris believedtohavehousedwhatNeal termedâtheonlyprivateartgalleryin ourpartoftheworld.â
Indeed,partoftheBrown-Bramhall mystiquerestsontheartcollection. Though there are numerous referÂŹ encestothisholding,thereisno completelistofobjects.NealdesÂŹ cribedâcast-ironstatuaryaboutthe entrance,âandphotographsofthe carefullylandscapedgroundsback thisup.However,theseriousartÂŹ workswereindoors,andknowledge ofBramhallâsinteriorisextremely scant.Formostofhislife,J.B.tended tohiscomplicatedbusinessempire, allowingtherestofhistimeforfamiÂŹ lylife.Thoughonceelectedtothe citycouncilandstatesenate,hehad littleinterestinapubliclife,andwe havefewreferencestosocialoccaÂŹ sionsatBramhall.LynnSudlowof theFalmouthLibrarynotesthatin the autumn of 1863, Brown gave a privateâfairâatBramhalltoraise $2,000 for the Sanitary CommisÂŹ sion.AutographsofLincoln,LongÂŹ fellow,Holmes,Lowell,andothers wereauctioned,andtheAdvertiser reportedâarichdisplayofusefuland ornamentalarticles.âIn1908,seven yearsaftertheBrownsmovedout, BramhallwasopenedforanâApple BlossomTea,âthelasttimelocal societyvisited.Theseseemtobethe twogreatsocialeventsassociated
When J. B. Brown retired in the 1870s,hehadbeenquietlycollecting artfornearlythreedecades.AnobitÂŹ uarynotedthatheârarelygavehimÂŹ selfaholidaytillrecently.Hemade twotripstoEurope,andasaresult, hisgallerycontainedsomeofthe finesteffortsofEuropeanartists.He wasgeneroustowardnativetalent andpossessedpicturesbyleading menoftheAcademyofDesign.âIn 1923,thePortlandMuseumofArt exhibitedtheâJ.B.BrownCollecÂŹ tion,ânowownedbyvariousrelaÂŹ tives.Richasitwas-anditincluded 38paintingsbyGeorgeInness,J.R. Tilton,HenryInman,SanfordGifford, ElizabethH.Murray,JamesM.Hart, HarrisonBirdBrown,WilliamHart, ClaudeLorraine,andothers-itwas butaportionoftheoriginalcollecÂŹ tion.Weknowfromlettersatthe MaineHistoricalSocietyandelseÂŹ where that Brown corresponded withlocalartists,thathepaidfor TiltonâspaintingtriptoEgyptinthe 1870s,andpurchasedfromsculptor Benjamin Paul Aker several works includingthelife-sizedmarble St. ElizabethofHungary. Togetherwith BenjamininEgypt(accidentallydesÂŹ troyed)andDeadPearlDiver,this wasoneofAkerâsmostcelebrated works. Maineâs Franklin Simmons sculptedaportraitbustofJ.B. Brown,whichisonetheartistâsbest efforts.
Fromthe1850stothetimeof hisdeath,J.B.Brownplayed anactiveroleintheflourishÂŹ ingPortlandartscene,often lending paintings to the MaineCharitableMechanicfairsand otherexhibitions.Eventhepassing ofhisartisticmentor,JohnNeal,in 1876, did not end his collecting thirst,whichsoonincludedPortland marine painter Franklin Stanwood and a German artist whose work wouldnothaveinterestedNeal.UnÂŹ fortunately,BrownhimselfdiedbeÂŹ foretheestablishmentofthePortÂŹ landMuseum,andthecollectionwas eventuallyscattered.
Death came rather suddenly. On January9,1881,hevisitedhisClifÂŹ fordgrandchildrenandplayedwith them that afternoon. He and his daughter walked back to Bram-
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hall,butheslippedontheiceand fellheavily.HejokedabouttheacciÂŹ dentandcontinuedhome,wherehe quickly passed out. Summoned to thescene,adoctordiscovereditwas abrokenbloodvesselatthebaseof the brain. The great businessman diedat5a.m.thefollowingday.His deathcausedquiteastir.Onthe day of the funeral, the city observedaâgeneralsuspensionof business.âFlagshungathalfmast, and the service was conducted by theRev.W.H.FennattheHighStreet Congregational Church with the great Hermann Kotzschmar at the organ.PallbearersincludedMayor Senter,Gen.JoshuaL.Chamberlain, William Widgery Thomas, and numÂŹ erousworthiesfromaroundthereÂŹ gion.Brownwascarriedtothefamily tombatEvergreenCemetery,anda shorttimelaterthepresscarriedthe contentsofhiswill,forâthereisa naturalcuriosityonthepartofthe public, when a man dies, of the promin-enceofMr.Brown,astothe extentofhiswealthandwhatwill
becomeofit.â
k ^he great capitalist passed intolegend.Hiswidow,Ann GreelyBrown,livedonin themansionuntilherdeath â in January 1901. The heirs all had homes, and Bramhall, now dingygrayforlackofupkeep,lanÂŹ guisheduntilthevalueofitsproperÂŹ ty grew great. The Western PromÂŹ enade was rapidly becoming the cityâsmostfashionableneighborÂŹ hood,andin1915thegreatItalianate villa was torn down. The 10-acre propertybecamethesiteofanumÂŹ ber of smaller, more fashionable
homes that were quickly judged amongthefinestinPortland.Indeed, subsequentvisitorsmarveledthatan evenmorelavishstructuretookup the space, adding to the BrownBramhalllegend.
Thoughresearchisonlyintheearly stages,withimportantmanuscript holdingsatMaineHistoricalSociety andprivatecollectionsneedingtobe gonethroughindepth,itisclearthat therealimpactofJ.B.Brownonthe economic and cultural history of Portlandwasmorethanamatchfor the legends. â
ven though on the edges of wildernessandattheendof Hthe line in terms of comÂŹ merce, Maine communities -J_have long supported skilled artisans.Fortunately,superbexamÂŹ plesoftheirworkhavedescendedto usandnowresideinthecollections oftheStateâsfinemuseumsandhisÂŹ toricalsocietiesorinthehandsof descendantsanddedicatedcollecÂŹ tors.
Among the most dramatic are a groupofobjectsincludingtwosuÂŹ perbhighchestsattributedtoSamÂŹ uel Sewall (1724-1814) of York, Maine,which,unlikesometownsfurÂŹ ther north, barely escaped being
wipedoutbytheIndianWars.Sewall waslongknownasanaccomplished joiner(atradewhichheprobably learnedfromhisfather),architect, andbridgebuilder.InfacthisrepuÂŹ tationwassuchthatthecityofBosÂŹ tonselectedhimasthearchitectand contractorforthefirstbridgetospan theCharlesRiver.Itwasinthelate 1970s, during an examination of the furnishings of the SaywardWheelerHouseinYork,whereoneof thetwoexistingSewallchestsison display,thatthecuratorsoftheSociÂŹ etyforthePreservationofNewEngÂŹ landAntiquitiescametotheconÂŹ clusionthatseveralpiecesoffurniÂŹ tureinthehousewereprobablyconÂŹ
structed by the renowned York woodworker.
Sewallâshighchests(theother,picÂŹ turedatleft,belongstotheMaine State Museum, in Augusta), date from about 1750 to 1770 and are constructed of black walnut with whitesecondarywoods.TheirdrawÂŹ erfrontsarefinishedinfiguredblack walnut veneers with white wood bonding.TheloweredgeofthedisÂŹ tinctivelyshapedskirtsarebanded with applied sumac beads. Even morestrikingaretherearfeetwhich faceforward,anextraordinarilyrare, ifnotunique,featureonAmerican highchests.Also,forreasonsnotyet known,Sewallchalkedaboldupside downâVâonthebacksofthedrawÂŹ ersinthishighchestaswellasin severalothercasepieces.
Contemporaneous with Sewall was asubstantialbodyofchairmanufacÂŹ turersinMaine,with16turnersand4 chairmakersalreadyidentifiedworkÂŹ ingpriorto1740.Mostofthese,like Sewall,werelocatedinthesouthÂŹ westernpartoftheregion. Bythe1740s-1760s,alargenumber ofbannisterbackchairs,oftencalled Yorkchairs,werecomingfromshops intheareasaswellasfromsimilar operations across the Piscataqua RiverinNewHampshire.Thechairs madeinMainearereadilyidentifiRev.ThomasSmithChair,Portland,ÂŽ1750 able because of their signature shapes-crestrails,balled-endcone finials,andboldlyscrolledarmsand grips.Stoutlymade,thesechairs haveprovenhighlydurableandstill canbefoundbythediligentcollecÂŹ tor.
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Meanwhile,inthenortheast,the community of Falmouth (now PortÂŹ land),Maine,wasemergingfromthe frontierandbythe1730swaswellon itswaytobecomingamajorport.In 1725, the Reverend Thomas Smith arrivedandsetupwhatwouldbea 68-yearministryatthenewlyesÂŹ tablishedFirstParishCongregationÂŹ al meeting house. Sometime from about1725-1750,heacquiredacane backsidechair(seephotoprevious page)whichmiraculouslysurvived the 1775 bombardment of the town by British Commander Henry Mowatt.Thechairisnowlocatedinthe FirstParishChurch,which,too, avoideddestructionfromMowattâs shelling;perhapsitwasinthechurch then.
Thechairclearlyreflectsa more urban form but has a numberofvernacularfeatures. Forexample,thecarvingisnot assharporassophisticatedas one might suspect of such a formalpiece.Further,theback legswererivedratherthan sawnout.
nlikefurnituremakÂŹ ers,silversmithsarÂŹ rivedlatetocolonial Maine. There were inhabitantsinthe downeast settlements who couldaffordtoanddidacquire silverobjects,butthemarket wastoosparsetoprovidealivÂŹ ingforresidentfinemetalÂŹ workers. Only by the midÂŹ
IndependentChronicleindicatedthat Butler was selling his goldsmith tools,âsuitableforlargeworks.â
ButlerreturnedtoPortland,where heapparentlycontinuedasagoldÂŹ smith and merchant. However, by thenhewasclearlynotwell,for,as onewriternoted,âhismisfortunesby lossesofpropertyandchildrenunÂŹ thronedreasonfromherseat,âand hebecameknownas"CrazyButler.â Hisclearlydeterioratedcondition wassadlyconfirmedintheJune30, 1812entryinThomasSmithâsdiary, whentheReverendwrotethatâJohn Butlerdinedhere,andwastolerably soberandconversable.â
Despitethesubstantialproduction ofthebrothers,onlyafewpiecesof theirworkhavebeenidentified,bya receipt and strong family proveÂŹ nance. A few years ago a marked piece,acardtablesignedbyDaniel
Rodford, surfaced and was guidedtothePortlandMuseÂŹ umofArt.AhandsomeSherÂŹ atonpiece,itstronglyreÂŹ flects the Salem style in which the Rodfords were trained.ItsfinelyshapedrecÂŹ tilineartop,slender,reeded legs,andfiguredmahogany veneersprovideasophisticatÂŹ edpresencethatwouldhave fitcomfortablyinthebest homesofthetime.
lowabout1765.Stylisticallysimilar toBostonexamplesoftheperiod, the upward tapering tankard (see photoonpage3)sitsonaboldring baseandhasastepped,domedlid withacorkscrewfinial.AhandsomeÂŹ lydesignedobject,itclearlywasin thebeststyleofthetime.UntilreÂŹ cently, the tankard was the only knownpiecebyButler.However,just afewyearsago,asilverporringer with an elaborate keyhole handle cametolight.Likethetankard,it, too, was produced by Butler for StephenLongfellow.
Whiletherearequiteanumberof Federal period cabinetmakers in Maine,probablythebestknownare thethreeRodfordbrothersofPortÂŹ land:Benjamin,William,andDaniel.
atimewereEleazerWyer,Jr.and CharlesFarley.Wyer,bornin1786, wasthefifthsonofBostonsilverÂŹ smith Eleazer Wyer and Lydia (Austen)Wyer,andlearnedthetrade fromhisfather.HearrivedinPortÂŹ land in 1810 and promptly set up businessasagoldsmithandjeweler andcarriedonanactivebusinesson his own until 1814, when he was joinedinpartnershipwithCharles Farleywhohadarrivedintownin 1813.
Farley, like Wyer, had received goodtraining.BornonJune1,1791, inIpswich,Massachusetts,heleft homeforSalematage14andapprenÂŹ ticedforsevenyearswithsilversmith Robert Brookhouse. Upon compleÂŹ tion,heheadednorthtoPortland.
IntheearlynineteenthcenÂŹ tury,silversmithsworkedin anumberofMainecommuniÂŹ ties,butmostwerelocated inthebustlingtownofPortÂŹ land.Twowhoarrivedearly andwouldworktogetherfor 1700s,asPortlandwasclearlydevelÂŹ oping into an urban commercial center,didsuchskilledartisansdeÂŹ cidetotrytheirfortunes.In1761, twoindividuals,PaulLittlefrom Newbury, Massachusetts, and John ButlerfromnearbyBoston,arrivedin townandsetupapartnership.The two parted company in 1765, and eachcontinuedonhisown.Butler carriedonalucrativebusinessuntil 1775,whentheBritishbombardment ofFalmouthbroughtlossesof1,523 pounds.Hespentthebetterpartof the next two decades in Gorham, Maine,wherehewasvariouslylisted asamerchant,agoldsmith,andgenÂŹ tleman.However,onMarch10,1785, therewasahintthatallwasnotwell, foranadvertisementinthe(Boston)
WyerandFarleycontinuedtogethÂŹ eruntil1818,carryingonactivesilversmithing, producing flatware, smallhollowware,andjewelry.They alsohandledawideassortmentof fancygoodsandmilitarygoods.A substantial number of objects by thesetwosmiths,bothseparately andaspartners,stillsurvivesand atteststotheirskillsandawareness of what was fashionable. By-andlarge,thetwomenfocusedcreating more modest silver wares. Spoons wereamongthemostpopular.AcouÂŹ pleoffairlytypicalexamplesarea pairofcoffin-endspoonsmadeby thepartnershipwiththeinscribed dateofâ1816.âTheirratherpleasing formwasenhancedwithbright-cut geometricpatternsandanengraved âCâonthefront.Asecondexample isabeakermadebyFarley.ItssimÂŹ ple,cleanlinesareverymuchinthe spiritofFederaldesign,andtheelabÂŹ orately engraved âGâ on the side addsanicetouch.
The second quarter of the nineÂŹ teenth century was probably the highpointintermsofthequantityof furnituremadeinMaine.Infact,in the1850census,over500individuals werelistedasdoingsometypeoffurÂŹ nitureproduction.MuchoftheoutÂŹ putwassinglevernacularpieces,but animpressivebodyofquitestylish objects came from the numerous shopsandfactories.
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making chair bottoms which BanÂŹ crofthadinvented.AnactivememÂŹ ber and former president of the MaineCharitableMechanicsAssociaÂŹ tion,hewasimmenselypopular,and whenhediedunexpectedlyin1860 leavingawifeandfivechildren,itwas agreatshocktothecommunity. Afewpiecesoffurnituresignedby Bancrofthavecometolight.They wereprobablyproducedduringhis briefperiodofindependentactivity inPortlandfromabout1834to1840 although they may have been conÂŹ structedduringhisearlierMassachuÂŹ setts career or even have been signed by him while working with Corey.Mostsignificantareasetof sixRegency-stylesidechairsinthe collectionoftheMaineStateMuseÂŹ um.Madeinthepopularklismos(or feet-facing-forward)style,withheavy mahoganypanelsonthecrestrail andupholsteredslipseats,theseare theonlysignedMaine-madeformal seatingnowknown.
CertainlylessformalisanEmpire bureaumadebyJohnBrownofHalÂŹ lowell.Brownwasbornaround1796 inMaineandby1818hadarrivedin Hallowell,wherehemarriedHannah CottleWest.Atthispoint,itisnât clearwherehegothiswoodworking training, but by 1822 Brown had establishedaâchairmanufacturing" intown,andby1833hewasadvertisÂŹ ingtheproductionofâMahoganyand Common Bureaus.â
One of John Brownâs EmpirebureausstillexÂŹ ists.Itisfairlystandard, withtwosmalltopdrawÂŹ ersoverfourfull-length drawers,thetopofwhichprojects out. However, the corner columns areextraordinarilyelaboratewith rings, squat balusters, acanthus leaves,andspiralreeding.Thesesit onbellandballfeet,which,ifreÂŹ versed,wouldmakeagreaturn-andballfinialonabedpost.
Thepiecehasapaperlabelthat readsâManufacturedbyJohnBrown, Cabinet & Chair Maker, Foot of WinthropStreet,Hallowell.â
WhileproductionofsilverprodÂŹ uctshaddeclinedinMaineduring thesecondquarterofthe19thcenÂŹ tury,silverstillhadamajorrolein thelivesofthepeople,andpresentaÂŹ tionsilver,frequentlygiventomemÂŹ bersoftheuppermiddleandupper class,oftensuppliessomeofthetruÂŹ lydelightfulexamplesoffinemetal wareinMaine.Thisiscertainlytrue ofateapotpurchasedin1847bythe Sagadahoc Bank of Bath from A.L. Dennison and Company of Boston. Sewallservedasthefirstpresidentof the Sagadahoc Bank, and when he retiredhewaspresentedwithaâserÂŹ viceofplate,âofwhichthisteapot wasapart.
The pear-shaped pot features designelementsforpopularrococo revivalpatterns.Theseincludethe curvedspoutwithvestigialraised foliateornamentation,thescrolling engravedcorticesonthesideswith centeredreserves,andtheleafand conefinial.
The supplier and probable manuÂŹ factureroftheteapot(andmostlikeÂŹ ly the missing remainder of the service),alsohaddirectMaineconÂŹ nections.AaronLufkinDennisonwas borninFreeport,Maine,onMarch6, 1812.HisfamilymovedtoTopsham in1818andtoBrunswicksixyears later.Afteranapprenticeshipwith silversmith and clockmaker James Carey,Dennisonwentintobusiness in Brunswick in 1830. Moving to Bostonin1838hewasinvolvedin manufacturing watches by machÂŹ ineandwasapartnerinthecompaÂŹ ny later known as the Waltham WatchCompany.Inthe1840s,DenÂŹ nisonwasdealinginsilverandfancy goods,anditwasinthisperiodthat he supplied the Sagadahoc Band withtheSewallsilverservice, rill heseitemsarebutasmall sampleoftheextraordinary waresproducedbyMaineâs skilledcraftsmenanden_U_ joyedbythestateâsinhabiÂŹ tants.Stylish,handsome,andupto-date,theymirrorboththesophisÂŹ ticationofurbanfashionandyetconÂŹ tainidiosyncrasiesthatattesttotheir productioninamoreruralpartof NewEngland. H
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Sowhadneitherinhisfavor.Buthe didhavethegoodfortunetomeet JoanChadbourne,acounsellingpsyÂŹ chologist from Portland, who in Marchof1990wasonatourofSeneÂŹ galandTheGambiainWestAfrica. Sow was working for a local tour companyinDakar.Shevividlyrecalls herimpressionsofhim.
âWeweresittingbythepoolthe lastdayIwasthere.Heimpressed measbeingsodifferentfromanyÂŹ bodyelse.HewasmuchmoreindeÂŹ pendent, very bright, and asked thoughtfulquestions.Hehadamuch morewesternapproachtolifecouÂŹ pledwithsomeoftheverybestAfÂŹ ricanspiritual,natural,andintuitive knowledge.â
Butinpartatleast,histhirstfor knowledge, the tolerance he evincesforallpeopleandallnaÂŹ tions,andhisdesiretobecomea partofaglobalsocietystems fromgrowingupinatraditional ruralenvironinapluralsocial household.Hismotheris100-percentWolof,thepredominantethÂŹ nic group in Senegal. Her anÂŹ cestorswereamongthefounders ofSenegal,andshecantraceher ancestraltaprootsbacktooneof thegreatkingsofWestAfrica.His fatherisFulani,whoseproud ancestorslivedinNorthernNigeÂŹ riawherethemajorityofFulani stillremain.Bothparentsare Muslims.
Djibrilâsearlyawarenessofa worldbeyondhisvillagestems partlyfromhisfatherfirstserving intheFrencharmyandlater,after independence in 1960, working in DakarasanaccountantfortheSeneÂŹ galese Government. âBecause my fathergotachancetobeexposedto theotherworldthroughthemilitary, 1thinkthathadaneffectonhow1 perceivededucation,âDjibrilexÂŹ plains.
HesinglesouthisunletteredmaterÂŹ nalgrandmother,however,ashaving made the greatest impact on him growing up. âShe was much more interested in my knowing how to readorwritethananybodyelseI haveknowninmylife,âherecalls. âShe was always telling me, âYou have a weapon and the weapon is knowledge.ââ
Since his grandmother had been wovenfromthefabricoftraditional
Africanculture,shealsowasinsisÂŹ tentthathergrandsonbetaughttraÂŹ ditionalculturalvalues.Whenhewas nineyearsold,shedecidedthathe shouldbeinitiatedintothetraditionÂŹ always,andatthattimethetradiÂŹ tionalceremoniesforinitiationinto Africanspiritualitywereconducted inanareawhichextendedalltheway into Kenya. So he and his grandÂŹ mother,alongwithothersfromdifÂŹ ferentvillages,madethelongand arduoustrektoKenyainhorsedrawn
AlthoughtheFrenchbuiltschools inthecitiesandlargertowns,they largelyignoredtheruralareas.ConÂŹ sequently,therewasnoschoolin Djibrilâsvillage,Thiâes.âSoourparÂŹ entsputupthemoney,andwevolÂŹ unteeredtobuildtheschool.Wehad oneclassroomforallgrades,âhe recounts. The students sat on an earthenfloor.TherewerenoblackÂŹ boards,andthechildrengathered feathersduringthemoltingseasonto useaspens.Theywerelucky,howÂŹ ever,tohaveateacher.Butlikeall francophonecountriesinAfrica,the lessonswereallinFrench.âIthink thatwasthehardestpart,âDjibril
recalls,âbecauseweneverhadbeen exposed to the language, even thoughtheFrenchwerethereliving around. Interestingly enough, we pickeditupveryfast.â
Like so many other Muslim chilÂŹ dren, he also attended Koranic schoolaboutthreetimesaweekdurÂŹ ingtheregularschoolyearandalÂŹ most full-time when the village schoolwasnotinsession.
And when he was not in school,hewasusuallyworkinglong hoursonthefamilyplotofland that produced vegetables and peanuts,thelatterbeingthepriÂŹ mary money crop in Senegal. Djibrilâsfamily,however,raised peanutstokeepthemselvessupÂŹ pliedwithcookingoilandmeal. DjibriloftenhelpedhisgrandÂŹ mother process the peanuts intooil,andsincetherewereno grinders,hehadtolaboriously andmethodicallygrindthepeaÂŹ nutsthecenturies-oldwaywith amortarmadeoutofahollow logandawoodenpestle.Djibril attendedjuniorandseniorhigh schoolinDakar,SenegalâscapiÂŹ tal and a major West African entrepot.âThelearningenvironÂŹ ment was very different from going to a small school,â he comments.âThekidsinDakarwere justlikekidslivinghereinabigcity. Theywenttoschoolbecausetheir parents wanted them to. There wasnâtthisthirstforlearning.Inthe village,everybodywantedtolearn. Allofuswerepoor.Wedidnâthave much in the school system, but amazinglyenough,almostallofus didverywell.â
ThesadpartisthatDjibrilwasone ofthefewluckyonesinruralSenegal oranywhereelseinAfricasouthof theSahara.Onlybetween5and10 percent ever get to attend high school.
Djibrilgraduatedfromhighschool in1986.Hewas20yearsold.Hewas admittedtothelocaluniversity,but he felt that the education there wouldbetoostultifying.â1always refusedtobepoorandrefusedtobe ignorant.Iwantedtolearnabout whatisgoingonintheworld.Iwas entertainingtheideaofgettingabetÂŹ tereducationsomewhereoutsideof
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Africa.MyoptionwaseitherEurope orAmerica,âhesays. Soinsteadofcollege,heenrolledin aprivateEnglishschool.Andwithina yearhebecameatranslatorandinÂŹ terpreterinFrenchandEnglishand atourmanagerinDakarmakingresÂŹ ervationsandorganizingtourproÂŹ grams. This is how he met his Americanbenefactor.
âI thought he would be good for USM,â Chadbourne says, âbut USM showednointerest.â
Chadbourne was determined, howÂŹ ever,tohelpDjibrilâsdreambecome areality.âIsenthimaTOESL(Testof EnglishasaSecondLanguage)prepaÂŹ ration book. He had never seen a multiplechoicetestinhislife.He passeditwithflyingcolors.â
Although Chadbourne, who is the motherofthreedaughtersâonean attorneyinBostonandtwouniversiÂŹ tystudentslivingathomeâhasnot legallyadoptedtheyoungmanfrom Senegal,shehastreatedhimasher sonineverywaysincehisarrival hereinthesummerofâ92.âThereis aspiritualconnectionbetweenthe two of us,â she comments. âThe beliefsIpracticeinsomewaysfitin withwhathelearnedasachildinthe ruralpartofhislife.â
Djibrilisabiologymajorwithabout ayearandahalfuntilgraduation. Thenhehopestogoontograduate school and eventually medical school.
âIamreallyinterestedinworking aroundtheworldinpoorareaswith people who need help. 1 think it comesfromseeingsomuchpoverty aroundmewhen1wasachild.â
DjibrilhasspenttimeinFloridaand discovered some interesting conÂŹ trastsbetweenFloridaandMaine.âI havetosaythatthepeopleinMaine, frommyexperience,aremuchmore settledandcalmer;and1thinkthey aremuchgentlerintermsoftheway theydealwithpeople.PeopleinFloriÂŹ da whom I met seemed much more intenseandhostile.Itwashardfor measablackpersonandanAfrican todealwithit.Growingupinmyown culture,welearnedtolivewithall peoplenomatterhowdifferentthey look.Wearetaughtthattheuniverse belongs to all human beings.â â
Tempura comes in a shrimp and tationforservingbeautiful, freshsushi.Ifyouenjoyit, sitatthesushibarandchat withthesushichefwhile youwatchhimcreatepiecÂŹ esthatareasvisuallyapÂŹ pealing as they are deÂŹ licious.MydinnercompanÂŹ ions,however,werenotenÂŹ thusiasticaboutsushi,soI contentedmyselfwithadÂŹ dingaCaliforniaroll($4.50) andatunaroll($3.75)tothe appetizerselections.TheCalifornia rollcontainedfreshcrabmeatand vegetable($12.50)orall-vegetable ($8.25)versionaswell. avocadowrappedinriceandseaÂŹ weed.Thetunarollwassimplyraw
Sukiyakiisaone-potdishofthinslicedbeef,tofu,transparentnoodtuna and wasabi wrapped in rice andseaweed.Bothareservedwith pickledginger.Wealsotriedthe shumai,gyoza,andharumaki(3.95 each).HarumakiareJapaneseegg rolls,stuffedwithbeansproutsand shreddedvegetablesanddeepfried. Shumai are small sacs or shells stuffed with shrimp and ground pork,alsodeepfried.Gyozaare smallporkdumplings,lightlypan fried.TheJapaneseemphasizesimÂŹ plicityandpurityoftaste.ComÂŹ paredtotheThaiorChineseverÂŹ sionsofsimilardishes,thesearenot highlyspiced,containingnocorianÂŹ derorginger,andhaveamoredeliÂŹ cateflavor.
We also ordered seafood tempuÂŹ ra ($16.50), sukiyaki ($13.50), andsomethingcalledshishi-kabob ($13.95).
les,andvegetables.ThisoneconÂŹ tainedspinach,cabbage,squash, andonions.Iâmusedtohavingall thecutingredientsbroughttothe tabletobecookedinabubbling broth, but this arrived already cooked.Consequently,thebeefwas abitoverdoneformytaste,andthe vegetables became soggy as they sat in the broth. The broth was good,slightlysweet,andnicelycomÂŹ plementedthebeefandvegetables.
Theshishi-kabobisexactlywhatit soundslike:cubesofbeef,large shrimp, chunks of green pepper, and mushrooms on skewers, brushed with teriyaki sauce and grilled.Niceflavor,nicelypreÂŹ pared,notovercooked.
Sapporohasaverylimitedbeer andwinelist.Wechosesakeand Japanese beer. The sake was hot andstrong,thebeercoldandsatÂŹ isfying.Allinall,averypleasant experience. HI
Whenyou're shoppingforyourself oralovedone, visitusintheheart oftheOldPort, downtownPortland. 26 Milk Street Portland, Maine 04101 207-774-8994
The only Afghan Restaurant in New England is located right in the heart of the Old Port at 88 Exchange Street, wheretheHabibzaifamilybringstraditionalAfghancuisine to Portland using ingredients such as Basmati rice, lamb, chicken, beef, spinach, eggplant, green beans, and pumpkin. The results â including vegetarian dishes â are deliciousbutnottoospicy,andattractcustomersfromasfar away as Boston and Bangor. The Afghan Restaurant has received3-1/2starsoutoffourand1716BestEthnicFood" award fromCasco Bay Weekly. 773-3431.
Aham Thal Restaurant, One City Center. Formerly known as Thai Garden Restaurant, the finest Thai restaurant in Maine is now open under new management with a new reduced-price menu. Specializing in authentic Thai recipes prepared by an expenenced chef, Aham Thai Restaurant is open for dinner seven days a week with a lunch buffet Monday-Friday. Catering, take-out, and free one-hour parking at One City Center Parking Garage are available. Makesureyoutrytheircoconutsoup!Forreservationscall 772-1118.
Amigo's opened in 1973 on Commercial Street and moved to 9 Dana Street in 1980 after a fire. They came from the Southwest to open Portland's finest Mexican restaurant in theOldPortandwanttothankyouforyoursupportforthe past twenty-one years. 772-0772.
The Audubon Room at the Inn by the Sea on Route 77 in Cape Elizabeth combines breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean with culinary masterpieces that feature fresh local produce, native seafood specialties, and exceptional homemade breads and desserts prepared on the premises. Some house favorites include Grilled Salmon with an Orange Basil Vinaigrette, Sauteed Oysters with Porcini and Champagne, and Lemon Custard Tart with Maine Blueberries.Patiodiningandcarry-outavailable.767-0888.
Savor fine dining at Cafe Brix, Greater Portlandâs premier five-star gourmet restaurant featuring classic continental cuisine interpreted with a modern touch. Enjoy elegant presentations in a sophisticated atmosphere. An outstanding wine list is available to complement the menu, with an extensive by-the-glass selection. Full bar. Reservations suggested: 773-2262. At Comerbrook, 343 Gorham Road. South Portland.
Carbur's Restaurant offers great food in a casual and relaxed atmosphere. Take some time to enjoy your favorite cocktail or soft drink as you read over the extensive menu withselectionsrangingfromTeriyakiSirloinorChickento Fishân'Chips to Stuffed Potatoes, not to mention the munchies and salads. If it's a sandwich you seek, you've found the right place: over 70 outrageous âGrandwich" combinations are available. 123 Middle Street, Portland. 772-7794.
David's Restaurant at the corner of Market and Middle StreetinPortland'sOldPortboastsaconstantlychanging, four-star menu of eclectic American cuisine with a French twist.Experiencetheuniqueandoriginalchef'screations, divine luncheons, exquisite Sunday brunch, and extensive wine list. Open 11:30-9:30 weekdays and 11:30-10:30 weekends. 164 Middle Street, Portland. 773-4340.
WelcometoF.ParkerReidyâs,siteoftheoriginalPortland Savings Bank built in 1866 at 83 Exchange Street.
Established in 1976 during the Renaissance of the Old Port area, F. Parker Reidyâs has become a Portland fine dining tradition, specializing in steaks and fresh seafood, with prime nb featured on weekends. Tum-of-the-century decor, personalized service, and great food create a warm and congenial atmosphere popular for both business and intimatedining.773-4731.
Head over to Fresh Market Pasta at 43 Exchange Street/60 Market Street for the best homemade pastas and sauces in Portland, not to mention a variety of fantastic Italian breads, Italian wine and beers, espresso, cappuccino,biscottiandotherdeliciousdesserts.Bringthe wholefamilyforlunch,dinner,andlatenightdining.Call 773-7146.
Deep in the heart of the mysterious Woodfords area at 540 Forest Avenue is The Great Lost Bear, where youâll find a fullbarfeaturing50(thatâsright,five-o)draughtbeers, predominantly from local micro-breweries. Accompanying them is an enormous menu with everything from soups, salads, and sandwiches to steaks and ribs, as well as a large vegetarian selection and the best nachos and buffalo wings in town. Discover where the natives go when theyâre restless! Serving from 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. seven days a week. 772-0300.
GâVanniâs,34WharfStreet,Portland."TheViol,TheViolet and The Vine..." â Edgar Allan Poe. At GâVanniâs you can haveitall:superbItaliancuisine,art,finewines,romance, discriminating desserts, mesmeric entertainment, aperitifs extraordinaires,muse-ic.CampoutatGâVanniâa.775-9061.
The diner is reborn in the Old Port at Home Plate, 5 Dana Street.Portland.Surroundedonallfoursidesbyagiantwall mural of a Yankees-Red Sox game in the 1940s, families can dine out affordably, business people can take advantage of lunchtime soup and sandwich specials, and thoseonalatenightoutcandropinanytimefrom11p.m. straight through to 3 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. Of course theyserveballparkfood,withlotsmorebesides,including breakfastalldayfrom5:30am.to3p.m.761-9567.
At the Market Street Grille in the Portland Regency Hotel, spectacular cuisine. Old Port charm, and impeccable servicecometogetherinanelegantyetcasualenvironment. Alongwithdailyfreshspecialsfeaturingfoodsfromlandand sea, the Grille's chef prepares unforgettable feasts like Seafood Fettucine with lobster, shrimp, and mussels: Baked Lobster with seafood stuffing; Steak Diane Tenderloin; and VealScaloppini.Visit31MarketStreetforbreakfast,lunch and dinner. Reservations accepted. 774-4200.
Winner of the Portland Press Herald's âMaineâs Best Pizza' People's Choice Award for four years running, Rlcettaâs Brick Oven Pizzeria is truly a taste of the Old Country. M.E.CurlyofthePPH raves:âRicotta'sisarguablythebest pizza west of Rome.' Dine-in, take-out, or free delivery available; all-you-can-eat gourmet lunch buffet includes pizzas, pastas, soups, and salads. With their newly expanded dining room you won't have to wait a lifetime for the best meal in town. Located at 29 Western Avenue. South Portland. 775-7400.
Saigon Thlnh Thanh, 608 Congress Street. Portland. Just across Congress Square from the Sonesta Hotel and the Portland Museum of Art is Maineâs-and probably New
Englandâs-finest Vietnamese res-taurant. Four-star, spicy, exotictastesjumpfromthedeliciousfish,pork,shrimp,and scallop dishes that include Vegetable Sate Rice Vermicelli, Beancurd with Garlic Rice Vermicelli. Scallops with Snowpeas, and extraordinary curries and specials. 7732932.
Fresh lobsters, shellfish, salmon, and local fish have been specialties at the historic Seamenâs Club for over three generations, while aged beef, prime rib, quiches, fresh pasta, vegetarian and southwestern selections, home-baked breads and desserts, and fresh fruits and vegetables round out the menu. The best weekend brunches on the planet includesoups,turkeysandwiches,andsalads,andafullbar is always available. The Lunch and âUte" menus are served 11 a.m.-11 p.m. in a comfortable setting overlooking the harbor at 1 Exchange Street and 375 Fore Street in the hub of the Old Port Call 772-7311. (For banquets and meetings: 773-3333âno room charges evert). Fax orders: 761-4444.
The Snow Squall Restaurant, located at 18 Ocean Street onSouthPortlandâswaterfront,servesfreshseafoodaswell as chicken, veal, and aged western beef. Let the chef challenge your palate with menu offerings such as Herb Ravioli filled with summer greens and served with tomato coulis:GrilledSalmonFilletwithwasabiandpickledginger; New York Sirloin grilled to order; Smoked Maine Crabcakes served with tropica! fruit chutney; and of course Maine Lobster. Serving dinner 7 days a week, lunch MondayFriday. and Sunday brunch. 799-2232.
Celebrate food at Squire Morgan's, where you'll find home cookingwithadashofethnicspecialties,freshseafood,and fish. Situated in the heart of the Old Port in front of the Portland Regency Inn. Squire Morgan's features their famous volcano wings, a wide variety of summer salads, homemade soups, rolls, and fresh roast turkey. 46 Market Street.774-5246.
Taj Mahal Indian restaurant at 43 Middle Street. Portland servesawideselectionofseafood,chicken,lamb,beef,and vegetarian dishes which can be prepared as mild or as spicy as you like. Mogul biryanis made with your choice of meat or vegetarian are a specialty, as is their fresh, homemade, chemical-free curry. Theyâre open for lunch 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Tuesday-Fnday, and for dinner 5-10 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations accepted: 773-4498.
Conveniently located at 671 Main Street. South Portland â justminutesfromtheMaineMallattheendofExit7ofthe Maine Turnpike â Tony Romaâs specializes in the best BBOribswiththeirownoriginalsauce,althoughthegrillis always fired up for a full menu of chicken, prime rib. seafood, steaks, salads, and sandwiches as well. Enjoy the casual atmosphere and complete your visit with their famousloafofonionrings.Openforbreakfastbuffet,lunch, and dinner seven days a week. 761-4211.
Tortilla Flat has been serving New Englanders fine Mexican food and drink for over 23 years. At 1871 Forest Avenue in Portland you can find favorites like nachos, fajitas,chimichangas,tamales,burritos,tacos,enchiladas, and frozen margaritas seven days a week, as well as seafood, steak, pork, and chicken cooked with a Mexican flair. With lunch specials starting at $2.95, a childrenâs menu,nightlyspecials,andaChiliHappyHour,TortillaFlat is a memorable Mexican experience you can afford any time. 797-8729.
PortlandStageCompany, Portland Performing Arts Center, 27 Forest Avenue, Portland. During the Sixth Annual Little Festival of the Unexpected, a company of 15 guest playÂŹ wrights, directors, actors, and solo artists will converge on the Portland Performing Arts Center May 10-13 for four days of experÂŹ imentation, development, and presentation of cutting-edge new plays and solo works celebrating risk-taking theatricality: Jeffrey Hatcherâs new stage adaptation of Henry James' classic American ghost story The TurnoftheScrew (Friday, May 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 at 5 p.m.); The Lover, an adaptation by Elizabeth Egloff of Ivan Turgenevâs tragic romance Onthe Eve, set in Eastern Europe just before the Crimean War (Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 at 1 p.m.); Tug Yourgrauâs ShootinginMadrid, which chronicles rebel filmmaking during the Spanish Civil War (Wednesday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 13 at 8 p.m.); FaggotwithaGun, a solo performance piece by comedian Mark Davis about a gay manâs infiltration of a fundamentalist Christian club (Wednesday, May 10 at 8 p.m., Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 13 at 10 p.m.); and SheâsJustAway, an investigation of the authorâs grief over the death of her mother that probes far beyond the accepted formulae for mourning (Thursday, May 11 at 8 p.m., Friday, May 12 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, May 13 at 8 p.m.). All performances are free and open to the public, but seating is
LISTINGS
limited, so consider calling ahead for resÂŹ ervations.
The world premiere production of Mrs. Warren'sProfession, George Bernard Shawâs scathing attack on hypocrisy and social convention that deals with a motherâs attempt to shield her daughter from the knowledge of the source of their wealth, was almost shut down by the Mayor of New York in 1905 because of its âmoral degeneracy" and controversial treatment of sex, motherhood,
feminism, and familial devotion (through May 20). Box Office: 774-0465.
Mad Horse Theatre, 955F Forest Avenue, Portland. Mad Horse Childrenâs Theatre ventures deep into the Hundred-Acre Wood with everyoneâs favorite honey-loving bear and his friends Christopher Robin and Piglet in
Winnie the Pooh as dramatized by Kristen Sergei from the stories of A. A. Milne (May 13-14 and 20-21). Opening May 25, TheMarriageof BetteandBoo by Christopher Durang is a wild farce in which the eponymous coupleâs son Matt takes the audience on a 30-year journey towards understanding his eccentric, chaotic family (through June 18). Box Office: 797-3:138.
Oak Street Theatre, 92 Oak Street, Portland. This month Oak Street Productions joins forces with the Furies to present a fullystaged production of local playwright Marilee Ryan's Entreat Me Not to LeaveThee, the story of two women who manage never to venture out of the New York City apartment that they share by relying on their successful 900-number for income, take-out delivery for life's necessities, and each other for companionship (May 11-14 and 18-21 at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 7 p.m. on Sundays; tickets cost $10). Vintage Repertory Company has chosen for their season finale a timeless masterpiece by one of the great American playwrights of the 20th century: Cat onaHotTinRoof by Tennessee Williams (May 25-June 10 at 8 p in. Thursday-Saturday; tickets cost $10). Meanwhile, Krackerjack Theater Company presents the second Installment of their childrenâs series âStories from Planet Earth," focusing this time on the cultures of France ( Jean de la Fontaineâs âThe Rich Man
and the Shoemaker"), Russia (âThe Master and the Laborer"), and the Iroqouis nation (âThe Turtleâs War Party") on Saturdays May 13, 20, 27, and June 3 at 11 a.m. (tickets are $5 lor all ages). Call 775-5103.
PortlandPlayers, 420 Cottage Road, South Portland. Neil Simonâs SiveetCharity follows a dissatisfied New York dance hall hostess on her musical quest for respectable married happiness in blissful suburbia June 2-4, 9-11, and 16-17 at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost $13 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $10 for everyone on opening night. Call 799-7337.
Lyric Theater, 176 Sawyer Street, South Portland. âCome and meet those dancinâ feetâ as the Lyric appropriately closes its 42nd season to the accompaniment of the âLullaby of Broadway" with a big, bold, and brassy production of the blockbuster 1930s musical 42ndStreet (May 12-14 at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday; tickets cost $13 Friday-Saturday and $11 on Sunday). Call 799-6509.
ChildrenâsTheatreofMaine, P.O. Box 1011, Portland. All three winning plays from CTMâs 4th Annual Young Playwrights Contest will be performed at Deering High School May 12-14 and 19-21 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1 p.m. on Sundays. First up is John Brownellâs comical Elevator, followed by the more poignant Grandmother's Smile by Julia Lipez, and lastly the ecological musical Ralph and the Raccoons by Chris Rovzar with music by Tom Myron. Tickets are $4 for kids and $5 for adults at the door. Call 874-0371 for further information.
The Theater Project, 14 School Street, Brunswick. Aristophanesâ Lysistrata is a classical drama of sexual politics in which the women of ancient Athens protest their husbandsâ involvement in the Peloponnesian Wars by withholding their favors until the fighting stops (May 17-June 4 at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sundays; tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors). Box Office: 729-8584.
The Public Theatre, 2 Great Falls Plaza, Auburn, concludes their season with Prelude toaKiss, a modern-day fairy tale by Craig Lucas in which a perfect couple's storybook wedding is interrupted by a mysterious old man who unexpectedly appears and kisses the bride, with magical results (May 11-14 at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and at 2 p.m. on Sunday; tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and $6 for children under 12). The Public Theatre is located on the corner of Lisbon and Maple Streets in Lewiston. Box Office: 782-3200 or (800) 6399575.
L/AArts, 234 Lisbon Street, Lewiston. On Saturday, May 20 at 8 p.m. at the Public Theatre, the Roadside Theater of Whitesburg, Kentucky gives ancient Appalachian mountain stories a modern twist in LeavingEgypt, the story of the last remaining member of a mountaintop clanâs attempt to save his ancestral home from the modern world (tickets $10). Call 782-7228 or (800) 639-2919.
Portland Performing Arts, 25A Forest Avenue, Portland. Continuing the âJazz on
â LISTINGS â
Film/JazzonStage"series,legendarypianist JayMcShannâagiantamongtheblues-based KansasCityjazzhoundssincethe1930sâwill poundthekeyswithBradTerryâsFriendsof Jazzat8p.m.onSaturday,June3atthe PortlandPerformingArtsCenter.Thatsame afternoonthefeaturefilmHoodieBlues,oneof several documentary films about Mr. McShann, will be screened at 3 p.m. in conjunctionwiththeconcert.Ticketscost$16 andincludeadmissiontobothevents.Call 761-0591.
YarmouthHistoricalSociety,P.O.Box107, MainStreet,Yarmouth,presentstwobenefit concerts of 18th-century chamber music performed on original instruments by members of Pro Musica Rara at the Old MeetinghouseontheHill,HillsideStreetat8 p.m.onTuesday,June6andTuesday,June13. ThefirstconcertwillfeatureCynthiaRoberts onBaroqueviolin,AllenWhearonBaroque violoncello,ShirleyMathewsonharpsichord, and mezzo-soprano DâAnna Fortunato perÂŹ formingBachâsViolinSonataine,aBoccherini cellosonata,Purcellsongs,andHandelâs GermanariasandItalianCantata.Atthe second concert Cynthia Roberts will be playingviolin,AllenWhearvioloncello,and Shirley Mathews fortepiano for a program includingMozartâsViolinSonatainBbK.454, Beethovenâs Variations on a Theme from HandelâsJudasMaccabeus, andBeethoven's TrioinEbOp.1No.1.Singleticketscost$14 foradults,$12forseniors,and$5forfull-time studentswithID,oryoucanpurchasea$22 subscription for both concerts ($20 for seniors).Call848-6259.
Chocolate Church Arts Center, 804 WashingtonStreet,Bath.Anything-but-angelic jazz harpist Deborah Henson-Conant will perform a mixture of jazz standards and original compositions combining flamenco techniques,scat-singing,strumming,and pluckingonherelectrified47-stringInÂŹ strumentat7:30p.m.onFriday,May12. Ticketscost$15inadvanceand$17atthe door.Call442-8455fordetails.
UniversityofMaineatFarmington,98Main Street,Farmington.OnSaturday,May13at 7:30 p.m. the Amiche Viola Quintet from Bostonwillperformanexcitingnewprogram, including a premier commission by Aaron Rosenthal,inNordicaAuditorium,MerrillHall (ticketsare$5foradults,$3forseniors,$1for children,andfreeforUMFstudentswithID). Call778-7080or778-7081.
StateTheatre,609CongressStreet,Portland. ThisMayitâsaprettyfullslateattheState: BluesTravelerchecksinonMay10.followed bytheWGMEOn-Stageâ95Fundraiserforthe AmericanDiabetesAssociationonMay13. NextupIsthemarvelous,masterfulvoiceof totalentertainerMelTorm6onMay17,then acousticguitaristStephenStillsofCrosby, Stills, and Nash fame on May 18, and the harder-edgealternativerockbandThrowing MuseswithAssPoniesonMay19.Lastly,the NevilleBrothersfeaturingAaronNeville performonJune4(allshowsstartat8p.m.). Call773-5540fortickets,anddonâtmiss PortlandMonthly photographerKevinLeDucâs exhibitofbackstageandperformancephotos of acts from Bo Diddley to Bob Dylan who haveappearedattheStatesinceearly1994 (onviewMonday-Friday9:30-5:00and10-4on
SacoRiverGrangeHall,SalmonFallsRoad. BarMills.ThedazzlingjazztromboneenÂŹ sembleMaineBonesbringstrombonistsDon Doane, Mark Manduca. Scott Reeves, and JamesWaltztogetherwithJanetReeveson piano,JimLydenonbass,andLesHarrison drumstoplaythebigbandmusicofDuke Ellington.JJ.Johnson.HoagyCarmichael,and otherjazzgreatsat7:30p.m.onSaturday, May13(ticketsare$8foradultsand$6for studentsandseniors).NexttheâDowneast FiddleJamboree"featurestheOldGrayGoose country dance band, the Ben Guillemette FamilyfromSanford,theCapeBretonStep Dancers,andacclaimedfiddlingchampion âLucky"TimFarrellperformingmusicfrom French Canada, the Maine Maritimes, and MaineâsSwedish.Finnish,andScots-Irish communitiesonfiddles,accordion,piano, guitar,banjo,harmonica,fiddlesticks,and bonesat7:30p.m.onFriday,May19(tickets are$8foradultsand$6forstudentsand seniors).ThenonFriday.June2at7:30p.m. thePortlandEarlyMusicConsortwillplaya concertofmusicoftheFrenchBaroqueon periodinstruments(ticketsare$8foradults and$6forstudentsandseniors).Anddonât forgetcontra-dancingwithliveacousticmusic providedbytheversatileSeaSlugscontinues onthefirstSaturdayofeverymonthat7:30 p.m.Admissionis$4foradultsand$2for children, with a $10 maximum per family; beginnersandsinglesarewelcome.Call9296472.
Jonathan's Upstairs, 2 Bourne Lane, Ogunquit.OnFriday,May12at8and10p.m. comedian Suzanne Westenhofer (of HBO Specialfame)willanwertheeternalquestion âWhatâsaprettygirllikeyoudoingbeinga lesbian?"(tickets$15).Thenifyoumissedthe electrifyingjazzharpistDeborahHensonConantattheChocolateChurch,youcanstill catch her unorthodox and unparalleled mixture of jazz standards, original comÂŹ positions,flamencotechniques,andscatÂŹ singing here at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 26 (tickets$12).Lastly,theSteveChapinBand will continue brother Harryâs musical tradition at 9 p.m. on Saturday, May 27 (tickets$10).Call646-4777.
Portland Ballet Company,341 Cumberland Avenue,Portland.OnSaturday,May20at7:30 p.m.inPortlandHighSchoolAuditoriumthe PBCâcladincostumesrangingfromtutusto unitardsâwillperformavariedprogramof classicaltocontemporarydances,including RavelâsBolero as choreographed by Andrei Bossov;ScottPotterâsQuintettesettoBruchâs ViolinConcerto; TheFlamesofParis with musicbyBorisAsafiev;theâPasdeTrois" from Coppelia;andthefinalactofthemost popularDanishballetNapoliasre-stagedby ScottPotterandRoxanneRigolosoafterthe AugustBournonvilleworkwhichpremieredin 1842(tickets$10).Theperformancewillbe immediately followed at 8:30 p.m. by a fundraising auction featuring signed TV celebrityitems,fullcastsignaturesofpopular TV shows, and other interesting TV memÂŹ orabilia.Formoreinformationcall772-9671.
PortlandMuseumofArt, 7CongressSquare. Portland.âIsamuNoguchi:EarlyAbstraction" isanexhibitionhighlightingalittle-known group of twenty black and white gouache
â LISTINGS â
drawingsandthreesculpturesthatmarkthe beginning of Noguchiâs transition from figurativetoabstractsculpturesandhis effortstoexpressbothhisJapaneseand American heritage (through June 4). The exhibitâPerspectives:aSenseofPlace" exploresideasaboutphysicalenvironments in a broad selection of abstract work by contemporary Maine artists Jessyca Broekman,JeffKellar,GregParker,Johnnie Ross,MichaelD.Ryus.MichaelShaughnessy, and Alice Spencer in a range of media includingpainting,sculpture,andprints (throughJune7).âFromtheAshes:Portlandâs CulturalRenaissance1790-1870"focusseson imagesofPortland,itssurroundinglandscape, and its most prominent citizens during Portlandâsfirst"goldenage"withworksby PortlandersHarrisonBirdBrown,Charles OctaviusCole,andCharlesFrederickKimball thatillustratethesocialandeconomicgrowth of the city during this period (through September 24). Call 775-6148 for museum hoursandadmission.
Maine Historical Society Gallery, 489 CongressStreet.Portland.OpeningMay10, "AlltheArtsthatPlease:FolkArtoftheMaine HistoricalSociety"exploreswhyMainepeople madefolkart.andwhatitmeantintheirlives, throughdisplaysofsamplers,quilts,watÂŹ ercolors,calligraphy,oilpaintings,and portraits(throughOctober31).OpeningJune 6.âVictoryontheHomeFront:Maineduring World War 11" uses official government posters,photographs,flags,rationbooks,and relatedmemorabiliatoexplorehowMaine peoplewereunitedincontributingtothewar effort through civil defense, improved workplaceproductivity,recycling,andconÂŹ servationoffood,fuel,andotherresources (throughOctober29).StartingonThursday. June1theWadsworth-LongfellowHousewill beopenfortoursTuesday-Sunday,10a.m.-4 p.m.;admissionis$4foradults.$1for childrenunder12,andfreeforMHSmembers. Forfurtherinformation,call879-0427.
Danforth Gallery, 34 Danforth Street. Portland.OpeningThursday.May11.âThe Spirit of Structure" is an exhibition of architecturalphotographsbyTillmanCrane and his mentor Phil Trager focussing on interiorsofEastCoasttrainstations,two Boston pumphouses from the 1890s. PortlandâsCityHallandCustomHouse,and the Olson House in Cushing where Andrew WyethpaintedâChristinaâsWorld"(through June4).TworelatedMemorialDayweekend workshops will provide introductions to photographingthearchitectureofdowntown Portland using a Polaroid view camera (Saturday,May27.9a.m.-5p.m.)andto platinum/palladium printing from large negativestakenthedaybeforeoratanytime previous(Sunday,May28.9a.m.-5p.m.).Be suretoregisterbeforeMay15bycalling7756245.
Savvyinvestorsnownotonlyreadall thefineprintbeforeinvestinginabond, buttheyalsoexpectperiodicreportsor theinnerworkingsoftheirfixed-income portfolio. The most advanced bond portfolioreportscurrentlyavailableto
Regionalgeographicdiversification analysis - Municipal bonds are compiledbystateofissuanceandthen reviewedforquantityandpercentagesof exposureineachapplicablejurisdiction. Anotherimportantfeatureistax-adjusted incometotalstohelpmakedecisions aboutfurtherinvestments.
Theinformationcontainedinreports suchasthesecanhelpinvestorsdevelop strategiesforfutureinvestmentsaswell asthereinvestmentofcalledormatured bond proceeds. Investments are organized into a framework that providesacommonsenseapproachfor futuredecisions.
walkunderagiant-sizedbedanddiscover whatâsreallylurkingthereâdustmites!(IIyou thoughtimaginarymonsterswerescary,wait tillyoulookatrealdustmagnified100times underamicroscope!)Tocelebratetheir2nd anniversaryonSaturday,May13thefolksat theChildrenâsMuseumwillbemakingPinhole Camerasanddemonstratingthemagicoftheir Camera Obscura. Then on Motherâs Day (Sunday,May14)from1to3p.m.kidscan makea"SimpleTreasure"forMomandthen takehertotheMotherâsDayTeaPartyfrom2 to4p.m.
Energy demonstrations, a special sun demonstrationwiththeCameraObscura,and demonstrationsfrom12to4p.m.ofthemodel solarkitcarsbuiltbystudentsfrommiddle schoolsstatewidefortheJuniorSolarSprint CompetitionwilltakeplaceattheChildrenâs Museum May 26-27 in conjunction with the AmericanTourdeSol,asolarcarracethat starts in Waterbury, CT and finishes in MonumentSquareat11a.m.onFriday,May 26.Forrecordedinformationcall828-1234.
BowdolnCollegeMuseumofArt,Brunswick. âCollectingforaCollege:GiftsfromDavidP. Beckerâ70"isamajorretrospectiveexhibitof worksofartâprimarilyprintsârangingfrom the15ththrough20thcenturiesbyartists suchasAlbrechtDurer,HendrikGoltzius, Charles Meryon, Odilon Redon, Roy LichÂŹ tenstein,andJasperJohns(throughJune4).
âNature Inhabited" is an exhibition of landscapedrawingsfromthe16thtothe20th century which contain evidence of human presenceinnatureasitvariesfromtheicy terrainofGreenlandtothecoastlineofMaine (through June 4). Opening June 6, âThe Theatrical World of Honor6 Daumierâ exÂŹ amineshowtherolesofactorandaudience arereflectedinDaumierâsprintsandhowthe 19th-centurymasterprintmakerusedtheÂŹ atricalpresentationbothasasubjectanda tool(throughJuly23).âArtandLifeinthe AncientMediterranean"illustratestheculÂŹ turalinterconnectednessoftheregionfrom the4thmillenniumB.C.tothe4thcentury A.D.withAssyrian,Egyptian,Cypriot,Greek, andRomanobjectsinmarble,terracotta, bronze,stone,ivory,andglassfromthe Museumâspermanentcollection(ongoing),hi conjunctionwiththisexhibit,âCrosscurrents 1995"featuresadditionaltools,pendants, jewelry,andlimestonefiguresfromNorthand CentralAmerica,Africa,andthePacific Islands(ongoing).725-3275.
Maine Maritime Museum, 243 Washington Street,Bath.âRamBowsandIronclads"âan exhibitionofpaintingsofearlyAmerican, British.French,German,andRussianironclad warshipsâfeaturesthehistoricallyaccurate watercolorsofIanMarshall(throughMay21). âExhibitionE"(namedfortheArmyandNavy efficiencyawardsgiventoseveralMaine shipyardsandmanyMaine-builtnavalvessels fortheircontributionstothewareffort) illuminatesâthroughshipmodels,shipyardID badgesandshiftbooks,celebratorylaunching pins, Merchant Marine medals, original propagandaposters,historicphotographs, and shipbuilders toolsâthe many ways in which 24 Maine shipyards, homefront rationing,aciviliancoastalwatch,theCoast Guard, and merchant and naval mariners helpedwinWorldWarII(theexhibitruns throughOctober29).
Danforth,Continuedfrompage11 spoilyourdresswiththeirdirty, sweatyhandsonyourback.â By1941Eliashaddiedandmost ofthechildrenhadlefthome.The house was simply too big for DorotheaandJuliatoliveinall alone,sotheysoldittotheRoman CatholicDioceseofMainefora mere$10,000foruseasarectory. Itwasputontothemarketin 1990,duetothedeclineofdownÂŹ towncongregations.
âThe Danforth,â as it is now called,issituatedwithineasy walkingdistanceofboththeOld Portandthehistoricresidential Western Promenade area; the viewsofSt.Dominicâssteeple, VictoriaMansion,severallightÂŹ houses,andcountlesschimneys throughtheoriginalwavyglass windowsofthecupolaarestupenÂŹ dous;andmostoftheindividuÂŹ ally decorated rooms are comÂŹ pletewithworkingfireplaces.
On October 1, 1994, Hathaway officiallyopenedtheDanforthfor businessafterover$200,000in renovations,andoverfiftymemÂŹ bers of the Thomas clan conÂŹ vergedupontheoldfamilyhome foravideotapedguidedtourled byJuliaherselfaspartofthefirsteverreunionofEliasThomasdeÂŹ scendants, many of whom were named William Widgery Thomas afterthePortlanderwhowaschoÂŹ senAmbassadortoSwedenlatein the19thcentury.Beatrice,howevÂŹ er,wasnotpresent,butwhen1 askedherwhatshedislikedabout thehouse,sherepliedvehementÂŹ ly, âNot a damn thingâI loved everyinchofit.ThatâswhyIwonât gointhereâIwanteverythingto bejustasitwasinmymind.âJulia feelsdifferently:â1tookatourof thehousewhenSt.Dominicâsput itonthemarket,âshesays.âThere wasstillonepriestlivingthere, butitlookedverycoldandsparse andinstitutional.Iâmquitepleased that now itâs more like home again.â H
Commercial harbor front property in Camden. Mix ofretailstores,restaurÂŹ ants,professionaloffices and marine-related busÂŹ inesses. Financials to qualifiedpurchaser.InÂŹ cludes real estate and leases.
Ocean front cape on 4.5 acreswithwonderfulledgy frontage looking out to Islesboro and Penobscot Bay.Longdrivetoprivate Camden location, a good valueat$395,000.
2 baths, vaulted ceilings in the living and dining rooms, handsome granite fireplace, outstanding European-design gourmet kitchen, and much more! A detached 2-level. gambrel-roof building offers excellent 2-bedroom guest or caretakers' quarters as well as a 2-car garage. The views are as exciting as the property - southerly and westerly over the crystal blue waters to Blue Hill Mountain, with sunsets galore! This quality property is close to major shoppoing and the hospital. $495,000
The kind of home you think of when you think âMaine.â Modernkitchenandlaundryroom,largediningroomopening togreenhouseforaddedlightandstoredwarmth.Fireplacesin largelivingroom,den,anddownstairsbedroom.Fullbathon 1stfloor.Threeadditionalbedroomsandbathon2ndfloor. BeautifulviewsoverBlueHillBaytomountains.Tenacres forchildren,pets,orgardening.Bestofallâasandbeachâ ararefindontherockycoastofMaine. $425,(XX) .Drastically reducedto5295,000.
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Choice rcaasylvauia Liyhi Walton Stepbuck Cupboard. Circa 1750.
Except he was. That one time. Sometimes,tomakesure1didnât makethewholethingup,Iholdupmy twoarmstogetherandseethatone massivearmofhis...thatwoodchopÂŹ per. â -ByMurrayOsborn
