Contributed by Westport Island History Committee
Description
Pictured behind the trees was the dance hall at the north end of Westport Island known as "Camp Molly Hall." The dance hall was operated by Everett Sylvester "Ves" and Melvin Cromwell in the 1890's and early 1900's. They ran Saturday night dances at the hall from the Fourth of July to Labor Day each year, until it was torn down after Everett's death in 1912. Camp Molly was located at the shore of the island's north end so that people from Edgecomb and Wiscasset could easily patronize the weekly dances.
The name "Camp Molly" came from an island legend about a Penobscot woman named Molly Molasses who was traveling in the vicinity of Westport around the 1840s. She reportedly saw a group of merrymakers having a clambake at the north end of the island and stopped to share how her people prepared a clambake. The land where this exchange of good will took place became known as Camp Molly. Molly Molasses was also known as Mary Pelagie (1775-1867).
About This Item
- Title: Camp Molly Hall, Westport Island, ca. 1908
- Creation Date: circa 1908
- Subject Date: circa 1908
-
Locations:
- Westport Island, Lincoln County, ME
- Wiscasset, Lincoln County, ME
- Edgecomb, Lincoln County, ME
- Media: Postcard
- Dimensions: 8.9 cm x 13.7 cm
- Collection: The Segerstrom Collection
- Object Type: Text and Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Dance halls--Maine--Westport Island
- Indians of North America--Maine
- Penobscot Indians--Maine
- Wabanaki
- Westport Island (Me.)
People
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Westport Island History Committee6 Fowles Point Road, Westport Island, ME 04578
(207) 882-8477
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
Please post your comment below to share with others. If you'd like to privately share a comment or correction with MMN staff, please send us a message with this link.
