Thu, 09/06/2018 - 7:30am

Joy to the Wind Gallery, July 9,1999 … opening day! Courtesy of Lynne and John Seitzer

John M.T. and Lynne Seitzer at their gallery, Joy to the Wind, in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the Seitzers

Joy to the Wind Gallery - Courtesy of the Seitzers

When the U-Haul broke down in CT, the couple wondered if they would make it to Boothbay Harbor in time to close on their new property. Courtesy of Lynne Seitzer

Joy to the Wind Gallery, July 9,1999 … opening day! Courtesy of Lynne and John Seitzer

John M.T. and Lynne Seitzer at their gallery, Joy to the Wind, in Boothbay Harbor. Courtesy of the Seitzers

Joy to the Wind Gallery - Courtesy of the Seitzers

When the U-Haul broke down in CT, the couple wondered if they would make it to Boothbay Harbor in time to close on their new property. Courtesy of Lynne Seitzer

Joy to The Wind opened its gallery in 1999. just nine days after closing on the property at 34 Atlantic Ave. John and Lynne Seitzer, husband and wife artists, had fallen for the beauty and authenticity of Boothbay Harbor. That April, they were searching in earnest for a place that could provide a home and also space for a studio gallery and custom picture framing service. Only one place out of the 20-plus homes they looked at filled the bill. That is where they are to this day.

The search and decision on a town began in 1998. The search started in Ogunquit and extended up around Camden – including the towns down the peninsulas along the way. The deciding factor for Boothbay Harbor was the sweet-smelling sea air and the lingering scent of spruce trees near Spruce Point Inn.

Fast forward to the end of June 1999. All three children had scattered in three different directions: One went west to Los Angeles. One headed east to Philadelphia and the youngest went north to Minneapolis. John and Lynne had packed up their gallery and home and set out for Maine. Aside from the U Haul truck breaking down in Connecticut and nearly missing the closing on the property in Maine, all went well.

Relocating from chilly Minnesota winters and steamy hot summers was to eventually provide wonderful relief but the day they drove the U-Haul truck into Boothbay Harbor it was close to 95 degrees. Two nice young teenage boys happened by just after the Seitzers pulled the truck over in front of their new home. Asked if they wanted to earn some money helping unload the truck, the teens agreed and the task began. Aaron and Billy put their hearts into helping alongside John and Lynne. After the four had nearly emptied the truck, which had to be returned to Cooks Corner the next day, the work ended for day one.

The following days were focused on clearing out the future gallery space, pulling out the carpet, scraping the floors, priming and painting the walls and then moving the artwork in. On July 9, the floor wasn’t laid but the art was up on the walls.

Joy To The Wind was officially open for business.