Living in Rural Maine

Being married to a wife who works in the museum field means moving from place to place as she goes from one museum to another to advance in her career. I’ve lived in Massachusetts, where I was born, and then bounced from there to the Adirondacks in New York to Tennessee to New Hampshire to Downeast Coastal Maine.

Going to Maine was like returning home because my father was born in Kittery, Maine—one of a long line of my descendants in Maine dating back to the 1600s. The one difference is that we’re now living in the rural, downeast coastal town of Penobscot. How rural is Penobscot? As of 2020, the year-round population was 1,220 men, women, and children who live in 883 houses. The local grocery store is a little larger than a garage. The nearest towns are Bucksport (population 2,885) on one side of Route 1 and Ellsworth (population 8,518) on the other side of Route 1. For us, Bucksport is a fifteen-minute drive while Ellsworth is a forty-minute drive. During the summer months, “summer people” increase the town’s population.

We both love living here in Penobscot. There are only four houses on our dirt road, and we have plenty of backyard space for our two dogs, Faith and Mac. Woods and blueberry fields are all around us. And we see deer, turkeys, and other wildlife crossing our lawn all the time.

There were a few quirks we had to get used to. For instance, when we first arrived, the town hall was open on Tuesdays from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Lately they’ve increased their hours to include Mondays, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. To open a small business, the only documentation you need from the town is, well . . . nothing. Just satisfy the federal and state requirements and you’re good to go.

Downeast Costal Maine is known for its blueberries. W. R. Allen, Inc. operates a huge blueberry farm a short distance down the road from us on Route 15. Allen blueberry fields occupy both sides of Route 15. Our house is built on a former blueberry field that was “repurposed.” Every two years, W.R. Allen burns part of their blueberry fields, which acts as pruning and helps the bushes produce large crops the next season. The burning is done by machine and tightly controlled. Lisa and I watched them burn the blueberry field on the other side of our fence. It was quite interesting. Some wild blueberry plants on our property survived the transition from blueberry field to house yard. Lisa and I take full advantage of them.

Burning the Blueberry Field Behind Our House

We live by the coast, and the sights are magnificent. Every year , bald eagles sit in the trees on the edge of a marsh, waiting for the alewife to go upstream into a lake on the other side of the road so they can feed on them. You can take some good photos of the eagles too. You also have access to a beautiful coastline, along with fishing and swimming. And, of course, when driving at night you have to keep a sharp watch for deer. Oftentimes they emerge from the woods and cross the road without looking or just hang out.

Marsh Where the Bald Eagles Hang Out—and Be Sure to Watch Out for Deer at Night

The only thing I miss is ethnic restaurants. Well . . . maybe even just restaurants!

All in all, we enjoy living in Penobscot and will probably remain here.

Living in Rural Maine

Charm Wars Goes on Sale Today

Andre Norton