Eastern Reunion 1997: Clocks & Ferries

Portland, Maine was our destination this year, August 1-3. Headquarters were at the Holiday Inn by the Bay. WFA members began arriving at noontime on Friday. By mid-afternoon quite a group of us gathered in the garden of the First Parish Church on Congress Street to meet William Shay. He organized the restoration of the 3-dial tower clock built and installed by #226 Simon Willard in 1802.

Bill shepherded nervous clock viewers up the steep, narrow wooden steps (with no railings) to the clock tower. Only a few of us at a time could crowd into the tiny space to look at the elegant and yet simple and compact SimonWillard-designed clockworks.

In the evening we enjoyed an excellent dinner at the hotel, and Bill described for the whole group the process of how the First Parish Church undertook the extensive project of rebuilding the tower and then restoring the clock - done by the Balzer family of Freeport, Maine, expert clock people. The entire business required a major fund-raising effort. At Mr. Shay's request, rather than pay him for his time and talent, the WFA donated $75 to the "Willard Clock Restoration Fund"

Saturday morning after coffee, tea and goodies we held our annual meeting. Then we all went down to the dock of the Casco Bay Lines. Captain Eugene Willard very generously provided tickets for the entire Willard group to enjoy a ferry ride out to some of the many islands in Casco Bay.

Captain Willard pilots boats of the Casco Bay Lines on a regular schedule, so we were unable to meet him, but we certainly appreciated the opportunity to have such a nice boat trip on a lovely afternoon.

That event ended the formal program, but a group of us had a most pleasant dinner and evening at the Snow Squall restaurant in South Portland. We hope everyone enjoyed our annual reunion and will look forward to next year's gathering. See you then!