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Year-end report for 2007

Property Improvements 

1. Winter clean out of basements and attics – 60+ cubic yards of trash removed
2. Structural safety repairs to wharf
3. Spring clean up in snack bar and around wharf
4. Apartments repaired, painted, and thoroughly cleaned
5. Water system upgrades and installation of desalination system
6. Grading and repair of driveway
7. Removal of unsafe grocery dock
8. Installation of new grocery dock, ramp, and 5 floats

Leases in place 

1. 100% occupancy for the 2007 seasonal snack bar and store
2. Both apartments leased year-round
3. Space leased on wharf for commercial fishing operation

Events

1. Closing celebration with Trust for Public Land -- July
2. Cundy’s Harbor Day – Lobster Crate Race -- August
3. Harpswell Festival -- August
4. Labor Day breakfast -- September

Public recognition

1. Harpswell Anchor
2. Down East Magazine
3. New York Sunday Times
4. Times Record
5. Federal Reserve Bank Magazine
6. Genesis Community Fund
7. WCSH6 television
8. Forecaster
9. Coastal Journal

Note:  The all-volunteer directors of the non-profit Holbrook Community Foundation contribute their time, energy, and talents for the management of Holbrook’s.  There is no paid staff. Fund raising will continue for a major renovation of the wharf, currently under study by marine contractors and engineers.

November 2007

It has been a productive ten months since the Holbrook Community Foundation (HCF) took on ownership and management of the Holbrook working waterfront property. The operation of Holbrook’s is now self-sustaining.   Income from the leases for the two apartments, the restaurant, general store, and space on the wharf, covers the cost of our loan from the Genesis Community Fund and our operating expenses.  

Funds from the campaign were set aside to pay for a number of safety repairs and improvements to the property.  An innovative new water system has been installed to replace the old, inadequate filter system.  Now the house, store, restaurant, and wharf have excellent potable water produced from seawater.  HCF will donate the old but usable water filter system and tank to the Scout Hall.

A new ramp and five floats were put in place, and a new dock was built, all of which greatly improve access to the wharf.  Our thanks to Ben Wallace and Redfish for their design and construction.  Sebasco Estates made regular weekly trips by boat to Holbrook’s Wharf, with short boat tours also available from Holbrook’s.  The restaurant, run by Kathy and Sheldon Morse, had a banner year, and the store, operated by Greg Worth, provided regular shoppers with provisions and WIFI computer service. 

Safety and structural repairs were made to the main wharf.  A long-range plan for major renovation work is now under study by marine contractors and engineers.  The estimated costs to replace pilings and improve the wharf vary from $250,000 to $400,000, so HCF continues to raise funds.  

Note:  Although the newspapers announced that HCF had received a $200,000 grant from Senator Collins’ office, the US Congress is unlikely to approve the funds for the grant.  In recent years, Senator Collins has submitted her annual wish list for special Maine projects, but the Congress has not passed the Senate legislation to allocate money for these projects. 

Thanks to 530 individual donors, businesses, and foundations, Holbrook’s is thriving!  Appreciation and recognition are also due to the all-volunteer board of directors of the Holbrook Community Foundation – fourteen individuals who continue to contribute their time and energy every week to this successful community venture. Would you like to help?  If you are interested in offering assistance, expertise, equipment, or materials to repair the wharf, please get in touch with Bill Mangum, HCF president, at 725-4504.