On a recent sailing trip along the coast from Portland to Camden I found myself drawn to photograph the colonies of summer cottages and boathouses. Both are somewhat ephemeral, places in time that exist despite the rages of weather-beating. The cottages, tucked together in utopian communities, some since the late 19th century, represent extended families returning each year, and community, connected by place, a special place that their people often refer to as “going up to Maine.” The mostly wooden boathouse structures have survived the semidiurnal tides of 9 to 11 feet—twice a day—and now, rising sea levels threaten their existence. Some have seen their framing reconstructed, and some seem to be surviving without intervention. They are relics that sometimes still serve their sheltering purpose. They existed before current zoning, as today, they would likely not be able to be built so close to the shore. The summer colonies are sprinkled along the coast and often are hard to see from shoreside. From the water it’s a delight to come upon a cluster of like-styled, but varied cottages, seemingly in conversation with each other, many of them used only in the summer months, and often by families that have been returning for generations. At night, lit up with soft golden light, the laughter and clanking of lobster cooking can be heard across the still dark water in the bay, as stories are shared between old friends, the cottages themselves appearing to be friends in their own right.
Visit https://barbawheelock.com to learn more about Nancy L.H. Barba’s work as an architect and preservationist.
