Boothbay has had a colorful past, and as the town prepares to celebrate 250 years on August 22, 23 and 24, it’s always fun to look back on some of the people, places and events that helped mold the community. What was happening around 50 years ago? Here are a few excerpts from “Our First 125 years: Boothbay Register” during the 1960s. We’ve tried to focus mostly, but not exclusively, on those happenings related to the town of Boothbay, and to save space, haven’t separated each and every entry. Many of us will find it hard to believe that what seemed like “only yesterday,” was actually 50 years ago.

The Seahawks, coached by Blaine Trafton, swept the Class 3 tournament, but lost to Berwick in Western Maine Class M tourney action. Trafton resigned in the spring to accept a position at Maine Maritime Academy. Keith Mahaney was named his successor. East Boothbay got approval for a new water district. An additional $13,000 pushed Boothbay’s tax rate to $79 with town appropriations totaling $117,475. The new 36-bed St. Andrews Hospital was dedicated. The Merry Barn opened with Woo-Woo Ginsberg. Indian Island Clambakes opened. The Playhouse ended its 23rd season with “George Washington Slept Here.” School enrollment in Union 49 stood at 942. Boothbay ranked 9th statewide in the value of its recreational property.

Stanley R. Tupper became the first local man to win a seat in the U.S. Congress. Voters approved the sale of the Barters Island School to the Barters Island Baptist Church. A bill before the legislature to study the feasibility of a connecting bridge across the Damariscotta River from South Bristol to Back Narrows, Boothbay was defeated. The world’s largest fiberglass hull pleasure craft was launched at Hodgdon Brothers Shipyard. Burleigh Hill summer camp opened for its seventh season. Contractor Harris Delano established a summer colony, Rocky Point, at the tip of Barters Island. Donald Giles donated three acres of land in Boothbay to anyone wanting to build a fallout shelter.

Harold Clifford’s book, “The Boothbay Harbor Region 1906-1960” is published. BRHS freshman Charlie Begin was named the team’s outstanding defensive basketball player. President John F. Kennedy attended services at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, accompanied by his sister, Patricia Lawford. A few weeks later, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and his brother, Sen. Edward Kennedy, spent two days at Spruce Point Inn while sailing along the Maine coast. Rachel Carson’s new book, “Silent Spring,” stirred nationwide response. Elmer Lewis purchased Spoffords’ Garage. David Gaw was named captain of the Univ. of Maine baseball team. Plans were underway for the first Windjammer Day. Ervin Jones launched the auxiliary sloop Northerly. The post office announced a new ZIP code system. A new post office was dedicated in Boothbay. A new fee was instituted when hunters tag a deer, and it became illegal to illuminate deer. The former Freeport Railroad Station was moved to the Boothbay Railway Village to become a museum and the Thorndike Railroad Station moved to its new location there as well. Ronald Spofford opened North Star Motel. The Blackman boys, Gary, 8, and Leon, 9, appeared on the TV show “Youth Cavalcade.”

Plans were announced to develop the Presley property off Route 96, to be known as Tallwood Estates. A new section of Route 96 opened, intersecting with Route 27 near the shopping center. Foster Shibles was named Superintendent of Schools. A new warning went on cigarette packs. Local voters went along with the state in saying no to Sunday liquor sales. Arno Rogers purchased Clifford’s Lobster Pound in East Boothbay and renamed it Lobsterman’s Wharf. By the end of the decade he had sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Hilary Heaton. Stan Tupper resigned his seat in Congress to be Special Ambassador at the 1967 Canadian Universal and International Exhibition in Montreal. Isle of Springs and Ocean Point lost their post offices. The Alfred Fuller shipyard launched the Ellen Lucille, a 60-foot dragger, the 82-foot power yacht Lion’s Whelp was launched at Goudy & Stevens, the 30-foot cruiser Myter III at the Ervin Jones yard, and Direction, a 3- foot ocean racing auxiliary sloop at Paul Luke’s. It was announced that a replica of the schooner yacht America would be built at Goudy & Stevens. Diggers were finding it difficult to keep up with demand for marine worms. The minimum wage in Maine went up to $1.25.

Nancy Rowe was the runner-up in the state golf championship. A poem by Margie McKown entitled “Our Brave in Vietnam” was published. The region was well represented by servicemen in Vietnam with 45 names and addresses listed. Jonathan Sawyer, 18, killed in action, became the region’s first loss of the war. The Boothbay Region Historical Society held its first public meeting. Over 760 attended dedication ceremonies for the opening of the new YMCA. Malpeque Shrimps LTD opened for shrimp processing at Jimmy Juliano’s Bay Fish Co. dock, employing a number of area residents. Mill Cove Lobster Pound was shipping shrimp to Europe. A number of lobster boats were at risk after the harbor froze over and boat owners were unable to get to their vessels. An early morning fire destroyed the sawmill at Goudy & Stevens. The region received its worst storm of the year with 16 inches of snow.

Stella and Doug Hodgdon retired from the East Boothbay Store and sold the business to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Callnan. A new business, Boothbay Braids, opened, manufacturing head twine for lobstermen. A 20-foot tall statue weighing 800 pounds, the Old Fisherman, was erected at Brown Brothers. Recent shell discoveries indicate that much of the region was once sea bottom. Dave Alley’s Nellie G IV joined the passenger boat fleet. The Alfred Fuller yard was put up for sale. Damariscove Island was donated to the Nature Conservancy. Construction on the nuclear power plant in Wiscasset was on schedule. Area adults attended a meeting on the drug problem in Maine. Gloria Thompson purchased the Lighthouse Restaurant from Lowell and Edna Greenleaf. Otis Dow closed his barbershop. The 142-foot Grand Banks schooner Sherman Zwicker, the last of its kind, became a museum. The Maine Sunday Telegram reported that a survey of Route 27 leading onto the Boothbay peninsula revealed a total of 175 roadside advertising signs.