Portland Maine Blog

Maine Lobsterman Statue in Portland

Post author By keithk0721
Post date March 21, 2020

The Maine Lobsterman Statue is located in a cobblestone plaza on the corner of Temple and Middle Streets in Portland Maine. Victor Kahill of Portland was commissioned to create the statue with Maine’s participation in the 1939 New York World’s Fair as a commemoration of Mainers who have dedicated their lives to fishing. It occupied a prominent place in the Maine section of the Hall Of States at the World’s Fair.

Victor Kahill was originally an immigrant born in Beirut Lebanon. The model for the statue was H. Elroy “Snoody” Johnson, a Bailey Island resident and lifelong fisherman. Johnson was born in 1894 and would frequently visit the State House to participate in discussions about fishing policies.

The state of Maine could not afford a bronze statue so Kahill painted his plaster model a bronze color. Later, the state would cast three bronze replicas of the statue that were placed in:

Portland’s Canal Plaza
Johnson’s home town of Bailey’s Island (paid for my it’s residents)
Washington DC along the Southwest Waterfront (placed in 1983)

Near The Maine Ave. Fish Market in Washington DC

Maine Lobsterman statue photo — Photo by leclairmitch

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Best Times To Visit Portland Maine and Things To Do

Post author By keithk0721
Post date March 2, 2020

The best time to visit Portland Maine for ideal weather is mid-May through mid-October. The warmest time of year is mid-July and the hottest months are July and August. As far as humidity goes, February is the least humid month and August is the most humid.

Things Not To Miss In Portland

Walking through the cobblestone-lined Old Port section of Portland
The Portland Museum of Art
Visit the lighthouses along the coastline
Exploring Acadia National Park
Tasting the local lobster at the lobster shacks
See the fall leaves
Visit the Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Victoria Mansion
Visit Eartha , the worlds largest revolving globe
Eastern Cemetery (350 years old)
Take a food tour and experience Portland’s award winning restaurants
Visit the flagship LL Bean store

From my previous posts, you know that I lived in Portland for one month and then moved back to Washington DC. As soon as I returned, I knew I made a mistake and should have stayed. Part of the reason for this blog is to journal my steps back to Portland Maine. I am planning a trip to Portland in May with my trusted companion, Sophie. Sophie is my 8 year old Westie and my best friend! Before tourist season begins, I want to get a feel for the city in better weather. The last time I was there was in February which is really the worst weather month to experience the city. Please continue to follow my blog as my journey continues.

Portland Maine skyline photo — Photo by rik-shaw 黄包车

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Portland Maine Snowfall Averages

Post author By keithk0721
Post date January 1, 2020

On the average, Portland receives 61.8 inches of snow each year. Maine winters can be brutal but because Portland is a coastal city, the winter is not as bad as you might think. But don’t get me wrong, winter is still COLD!

JAN/ 19.2
FEB/ 12.0
MAR/ 12.7
APR/ 2.8
MAY/ 0.0
JUNE/ 0.0
JULY/ 0.0
AUG/ 0.0
SEPT/ 0.0
OCT/ 0.0
NOV/ 1.9
DEC/ 13.2

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Portland Maine Temperature Averages

Post author By keithk0721
Post date January 1, 2020

Highs and Lows

January	31	13
February	34	16
March	42	25
April	53	34
May	64	44
June	73	53
July	79	59
August	78	58
September	70	50
October	59	39
November	48	31
December	37	20

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John Ford Statue in Portland Maine

Post author By keithk0721
Post date March 21, 2020

The John Ford Statue is located on the corner of Pleasant and Danforth Streets in Portland Maine. The great film director grew up in Portland and graduated from Portland High School. He directed more than 100 movies and has won multiple Oscars.

New York artist George Kelly made the piece, which was dedicated in 1993. His legs are crossed, seated in a directors chair with pipe in hand. Granite blocks ring the case of the statue naming his Oscar winning films. Linda Noe Lane, a Ford family friend, donated $250,000 to make the statue after visiting Portland and finding little evidence of him.

John Ford won a total of six Academy Awards. He was awarded Best Director for:

The Informer (1935)
The Grapes Of Wrath (1940)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
The Quiet Man (1952)

He was also nominated in the Best Director category for Stagecoach in 1939 and won two Oscars for Best Documentary:

The Battle Of Midway
December 7th: The Movie

Maureen O’Hara was his favorite actress. The statue is located in Gorham’s Corner in Portland at 2 Pleasant Street, a neighborhood once populated by Irish immigrants.

John Ford Statue photo — Photo by Ambernectar 13

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Monument Square Portland Maine

Post author By keithk0721
Post date February 9, 2020

Monument Square Park is a Town Square in Portland Maine located at 456 Congress Street. The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument is in the center of Monument Square. The statue was dedicated on October 28, 1891 and honors the soldiers in the Army and Sailors in the Navy who died in the late Civil War. The sculpture is known as “Our Lady Of Victories”.

The bronze sculpture was created by Maine sculptor, Franklin Simmons who also created the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Sculpture in Portland. The granite base was designed by New York City architect, Richard Morris Hunt. Inscribed on the base of the monument is “Portland To Her Sons Who Died For The Union”.

Along Congress Street, there are other town squares named Bramhall, Congress and Longfellow. Many events take place in the squares throughout the year. Two of the most fun events are Pianos In The Square and the Monument Square Tree Lighting.

Pianos In The Square

Painted pianos start to show up around Portland in July. They appear in Monument, Congress, Bramhall and Longfellow Squares and passersby can stop and play a tune. Scheduled entertainers also appear throughout the month. 2019 was the second year for the event and I hope it will become an annual tradition. The festive vibe really brings people together and everyone enjoys the music. It is magical! Local businesses take the pianos in at night and bring them out each morning. Strolling from square to square listening to the music is a wonderful way to spend the day.

Monument Square Tree Lighting

The Monument Square Tree Lighting is a traditional downtown favorite that occurs right after Thanksgiving. The event includes entertainment and food to celebrate the official beginning of the holiday season. You can watch an ice carving demo and enjoy a horse and wagon ride. Drink some egg nog and try the marshmallows, donuts and maple taffy. Portland Maine is a beautiful city with outdoor and indoor events to enjoy in Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall.

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Neighborhoods Of Portland Maine

Post author By keithk0721
Post date January 1, 2020

The neighborhoods in Portland Maine each have their own identity and special characteristics. There are neighborhoods that are on the peninsula and off the peninsula.

0n Peninsula Neighborhoods

East End/Munjoy Hill

West End

Downtown/Old Port/Waterfront/Arts District

West Bayside

East Bayside

India Street

Parkside

Valley Street

Off Peninsula Neighborhoods

Libbytown

Oakdale

Back Cove

East Deering

Deering Center

Rosemont

Nasons Corner

Stroudwater

Riverton

North Deering

Peaks Island

East End Neighborhood

The East End includes Munjoy Hill and the Eastern Promenade. It is located on the far Eastern end of Portland’s peninsula. The Eastern Promenade offers sweeping views of the ocean. The East End used to be a less than desirable neighborhood but over the past two decades has become one of the best places to live in Portland. There are a mix of fancy new homes, luxury townhomes and condominiums. Funky upscale restaurants and shops add to the hipster charm of this area. Most residents of the East End are renters and views from Munjoy Hill are breathtaking.

West End Neighborhood

The West End is the most affluent neighborhood in Portland but to me it is a mixture of two neighborhoods. Along the Western Promenade there are multimillion-dollar mansions and beautiful architecture. It’s one of the best preserved Victorian neighborhoods in the country. East of the Western Prom are condos, apartments and regular family homes. Great restaurants and coffee shops are everywhere. This is my favorite neighborhood.

Old Port Neighborhood

This neighborhood is filled with boutiques, restaurants and bars making it a popular destination for tourists. The neighborhood charms include cobblestone streets, fishing piers and 19th century brick buildings. Old Port is a working waterfront along with unique shops, award winning dining spots and residential buildings. The area is easily walkable but can be congested during tourist season.

Small City With Cosmopolitan Feel

These are my three favorite neighborhoods in Portland. The city of Portland is a very cosmopolitan small city. If you live in a big city now but want something smaller, Portland is the city for you.

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Portland Maine Photo Gallery

Post author By keithk0721
Post date April 26, 2020

Tags Portland Maine Photo Gallery