Trivia Answers

1. Where is Herring Gut? Herring Gut was the former name for Port Clyde. Herring runs were particularly fruitful around the area. When the herring were running the church bells in the port would ring, calling all the women in the area to the fish factory to clean and package the catch as it was brought in by the fishing boats.

2. What was Blubber Island called before it was renamed? Why was it Blubber anything? Blubber Butt was the original name. Because it projected out from Thompson’s Point on Hupper Island and was nearly connected to the island at low tide, it was considered a “Butt”. (Little Raspberry Island is really a butt as well). As for blubber, fisherman would hunt seals in the outer harbor and mouth of the St. George River where they would gather and strip them of their blubber on Blubber Butt. This was rendered down to lamp oil.

3. Why did there used to be an onion bag attached to the General Store? In the late 40’s through the 50’s when anyone wanted to visit the Island they would write to Gerry Boehner to let him know approximately when they would be arriving. Bea Boehner would sit at the kitchen window and look across to port with field glasses, waiting for a signal. When the visitors arrived, they would raise the onion bag like a flag to the top of the store. After a time Gerry would arrive to bring them over, usually sitting on the top of his engine and smoking a Chesterfield cigarette. This system lasted until telephone service arrived on the Island.

4. Who was Ralph Simmons? Ralph was the owner of the General Store during the time of the Onion Bag. He was the last ‘long-term’ owner of the store and looked like a storekeeper from central casting. See him on the street and anyone would say, ‘Hey, that guy owns a grocery store’. He was also a real good guy. (Additional trivia: Ralph’s biggest competition during the 40’s and early 50’s was an IGA that was also in port. It was located just up the street from his store and is now a parking area for the Monhegan boat.)

5. Why are all the Island boats up on shore? Islanders were bracing for the advent of a hurricane. Whenever a major Nor’easter or hurricane came up the coast any islander’s boats would be drawn up onto Gerry’s lawn, out of harm’s way. If you didn’t participate it was at your own peril.

6. Why were blue boats never seen in Port Clyde? All seaports seem to have there own superstitions. In Port Clyde blue boats were considered to be bad luck. If anyone painted their boat, or even the gunnels blue they would be warned not to let their boat touch up against any others. Serious consequences would follow. I was surprised upon returning to the Island after an absence of some years to see a blue lobster boat in port. I avoided it arduously.

7. Where were most Island boats made? The Island work boats were made by a boat maker on Friendship Island for years.  The original boats were designed as a modified dory, more narrow than today’s boats and a little less stable in the water. However, like the dory you could tip the boat until the gunnel was at the water’s surface and the boat would not turn over. Later there was a slight design change broadening the flat bottom for more stability. More than one island dwelling, and furniture too, was ferried across piece by piece in one of these boats.

8. How far can a fully air born can of Port Clyde Sardines travel? When the Port Clyde Sardine Factory exploded cans of sardines were found as far away as the West side of Hupper Island. Some rusty cans can still probably be found in spruce trees around the island. I figure about 1.5 miles, as the can flies.

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