Merry Month of Maine – Tea with Eleanor

When people ask me where I am in Maine, I’ve learned from the locals that we are in the “Downeast.”

The term Down East or Downeast is most commonly defined in Maine as the eastern coastal region of the state, encompassing Washington County and Hancock County. This area begins in Ellsworth and extends eastward to the Maritime Provinces. The city of Ellsworth is often referred to as the Gateway to the Downeast and Acadia Region of Maine, which includes destinations such as Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, and Acadia National Park.

In the late 1700s and throughout the 1800s, sailors used schooners to transport goods to and from the coast of New England. As they traveled in a northeasterly direction, particularly during the warmer months, a strong wind often propelled them forward. This wind, known as downwind, facilitated their journey in the direction the wind was blowing, with the first recorded use of the term occurring between 1850 and 1855. Since the sailors and their ships were also moving eastward, it’s easy to see how the terms down and east would have been combined or even merged as a common expression indicating their travel direction.

The expression later evolved to denote a geographical area, initially referring to New England in general. Numerous ships moved along the eastern seaboard for commerce and travel. During the 1800s, Bangor, Maine, was known as the logging capital of the world. By 1828, the term down-easter was used to describe a person from the northeast.

The Downeast Accent is a unique and easily recognizable feature, even for those who have lived in Maine for a long time. One of its most notable characteristics is the dropping of r’s in pronunciation. For instance, Bar Harbor becomes Bah Ha-bah, and car turns into cah. There are numerous examples of this accent’s charm. An expression that seems to have gained national popularity is “Wicked Good” or “Wicked Cold”!

If you’ve been following my Instagram posts here, I highlighted my top five favorite things we did this week. My favorite was our drive out to Roosevelt Campobello International Park in New Brunswick, Canada.

Roosevelt Cottage

Roosevelt Campobello International Park is a singular example of international cooperation – jointly administered, staffed, and funded by the peoples of Canada and the United States. Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s magnificent summer home is preserved here in a combination indoor museum and outdoor nature park. We toured Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s “summer cottage,” which has been preserved and is almost exactly as it was in 1920.  All of the rooms featured the original furniture and decor as if the couple and their five children would be returning any minute.

Summer Cottage living room. FDR’s fedora and pipe.

The Cottage Dining Room

The grounds of the park were meticulously maintained with gorgeous flowers and views of the water.

 

We were able to secure tickets to “Tea with Eleanor” – hosted by the park’s docents in the historic Wells-Shober summer cottage, where they serve Eleanor’s favorite King Cole hot tea and soft ginger snap cookies, then share her life story of activism and public service.

historic Wells-Shober summer cottage

Apparently, afternoon tea was Eleanor’s favorite time of the day. She would often ride her bike down to the beach and invite everyone she passed by to join her for tea in the cottage. The cooks never knew how many to prepare for, but managed to serve all who showed up!  At the encouragement of the park’s guides, they revived the honored tradition of serving tea for visitors to the park.

I purchased Cookies for Eleanor in the gift shop, a small cookbook written by Eleanor’s granddaughter, Chandler Roosevelt Lindsley. She said her grandmother was not a cook or baker, but she loved picnics and savored every mealtime with lively conversation among friends and family. I look forward to sharing the cookie recipes with you!

We have one more week here in the cottage, then we move on to Camden for one night, then finish our trip in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, before heading home.  We have filled every single day with adventure, so stay tuned for more fun!