I stood along Route 123 with camera in hand on a misty Memorial Day. It was the first day of my summer internship at the Harpswell Anchor.
I had just moved to a town I knew little about, outside of a brief internet search.
It was one of the oldest towns in the nation’s oldest state. It was a town with several distinct villages woven together under one name. It was a town with the most coastline in the state and seemingly more islands and coves than residents.
But I quickly found out it is much more.
In a town with a culture deeply rooted in the bedrock below, it would feel disingenuous to say I understand the full picture of the town after just three months. However, I am proud to have received a sample platter of the town’s multifaceted identity.
My summer began with the most visually striking part of Harpswell — its natural beauty. The Harpswell Hiking Challenge led me through eight trails, including a breathtaking view on the Cliff Trail, the seaside grandeur of the Devil’s Back trails, and uncharted woods on the new Anna M. Tondreau Preserve.
I had heard Maine was an oasis for the arts community, and I found Harpswell to be far from an outlier. Through feature stories, the returning Open Studio Tour, and the Sebascodegan Artists show, I encountered many artists across all disciplines, each with a unique and inspiring background.
The part of Harpswell that stands out most was my experience in a working waterfront community.
In the wake of millions of dollars of damage from back-to-back January storms, I entered Harpswell in a time of recovery. From an afternoon touring oyster farms to a day of hauling with lobsterman Matt Gilley to a luncheon with clam diggers, I was lucky enough to meet many friendly faces excited to share the ins and outs of various fisheries.
To everyone I ran into at community events, meetings, and around town, thank you for welcoming me into your community, offering help, asking about my day and giving me a friendly wave.
I want to give a thank you to every member of the Harpswell Anchor staff and board, all of whom helped me throughout the summer with guidance on stories, advice on reporting, and suggestions on places around town.
Finally, I would like to give a special thank you to Bill Bergquist and Kathleen O’Donnell for providing me with housing for the summer and allowing me to truly be part of the Harpswell community.
This summer has given me ample experience covering everything from municipal government to weekend events to a whale washing up on shore — I won’t forget that smell. I learned from experienced professionals and developed my writing and reporting skills in a supportive and friendly environment.
As I reflect on my summer, one quote stands out to me, from Susan Horowitz, of Ash Cove Pottery.
“Harpswell is a hidden gem,” Horowitz said, “and we have hidden gems in our hidden gem.”
In a short three months, I’m honored to have encountered many hidden gems.
