The Santa Maria, a Replica of One of Columbus’ Ships, in Boothbay Harbor Today. Tours are Available This Weekend.
The Footbridge Built in 1901 Connects Boothbay Harbor to Boothbay by Foot.
This Sign Marks the Wharf Where “Carousel” was Filmed in Boothbay in 1954-54.
Joyce Durfee, 86, with her Son, Lawrence, in Boothbay. Joyce was one of the Many Extras in the Beloved Musical Movie, “Carousel.” Joyce and Her Lobsterman Husband Had Four Children. Lawrence is a Lobsterman as Well.
The Spirit of Bermuda and the Lynx Docked in Downtown Boothbay Harbor today. Tours of the Three Tall Ships in the Harbor are Available through Sunday, June 27, 2021. Canoers and Other Small Boats Can be Seen in the Foreground Angling for a Close-up Look at the Spirit of Bermuda.
Three Tall Ships motored into Boothbay Harbor yesterday for a delayed celebration of Maine’s Bicentennial. It was to have been celebrated last year, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic was postponed until this year. The celebration runs from today, June 25, through Sunday, June 27, 2021.
The three ships are the Spirit of Bermuda, the Lynx and the Santa Maria, a replica of the largest of the three of Columbus’ ships according to a press release. This stop in Boothbay Harbor is the only one scheduled on the East Coast this year according to Erin Short, Director Tall Ships Challenge, Tall Ships America.
“After the historic and unexpected year, we’ve all experienced, we can’t wait to welcome these stately ships to our harbor,” said Mark Gimbel, Friends of Windjammer Days, “We hope everyone will make plans to join us for this exciting event.”
Despite the cool temps and cloudy skies, Boothbay Harbor was crowded with tourists. Finding parking on a Friday afternoon was a challenge, so allow for that if you go. The drive up and back down to Portland were reasonable, No doubt the stop light close to Red’s in Wiscasset helps to control the traffic flow in that area.
Tickets are now online, with one ticket providing tours of three incredible ships. Two touring sessions are available each of the 3 days: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:00. Advance tickets are $20 each and with a limited number of tickets available for each session, visitors are strongly encouraged to purchase ahead of time. For more ticket information: https://boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org/tall-ships-festival.
Meanwhile, in an unscheduled and delightful meeting in nearby Boothbay, this blogger met Joyce Durfee, 86, and several of her four children. Joyce, a lifelong resident of Boothbay, won a 5 – 10 minute part of the beloved movie, “Carousel,” It was filmed back in 1953 – 1954 on a wharf not far from where she currently lives. She was 18 years old at the time, and had blond hair she said. She was paid $125.00 for her work in the movie. The parts were advertised in the “Boothbay Register: and via signs on posts in town. “We were dressed in long, green dresses with a bow in our hair,” she said, as her son Lawrence a lobsterman, worked on his lobster traps within ear shot of Joyce.
Joyce recalled that singer Frank Sinatra was originally hired to star in the movie. But when he arrived in Boothbay it was foggy. He didn’t like the fog and left the “set” shortly thereafter. That’s when actor Gordon MacRae was hired to star with Shirley Jones. The two starts were friendly and she them both. The famous fight scene was filed in Boothbay Harbor at the former Pierce & Hartungs, a general store, now gone. It took six months to film in the area, but two scenes were filmed in California because of the large beaches there that did not exist in this area.
Every morning MacRae would go to the now gone Robinson’s Wharf for breakfast and sing: “Oh What a Beautiful Morning,” from “Oklahoma.” “We could hear him sing that all over the area,” said Joyce. “It was great.”