Dear Editor:

I am baffled by the action of the town of Boothbay refusing David Stimson the right to build boats on River Road. To prevent someone from continuing the old ways of boat building in this area borders on the absurd. 

Do you know how many boats have been built in dooryards over the years in Maine? Boats have been built here in Maine forever. They have been built in barns, under tarps, in sheds, and, I'm sure, in parlors. Many were built by fishermen and many for fishermen. 

Wooden Boat Magazine's directory of wooden boatbuilders dedicated more than 30 pages of the directory to Maine. The closest other state had six pages of builders; that was Rhode Island. 

To enjoy the character and atmosphere of a place one needs to include all of the traits and behaviors that make it so. To exclude any part changes the ambiance totally. 

I have been fascinated by the activity on River Road in Boothbay where Mr. Stimson is building the schooner in the shed. It is wonderful to see the men and women on the job continuing the ways that made Boothbay well known along the eastern seaboard. We have boatbuilders all over this region and it should remain that way. 

How in the world did the town of Boothbay come to the conclusion that boatbuilding should not take place on River Road?

Unbelievable!

George Goodwin
Trevett