Maine Humanities Council

Interviewee Collection Sort ascending Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Frank Bichrest Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

This is an interview with fisherman Frank Bichrest of Cundy's Harbor, ME. Interview contains descriptions of the groundfish fishery, shrimping, lobstering and the community of Harpswell. 

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

Joshua Wrigley Cundy's Harbor, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Eva Cushman Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Eva Cushman, born in 1924 in Camden, Maine, was a long-time resident of Port Clyde, Maine. She moved to Thomaston with her parents shortly after her birth and attended Thomaston schools where she met her future husband. Her husband worked on the mailboat Nereid, which traveled from Thomaston to Monhegan to Boothbay Harbor and back. They married in 1941 and had seven children together. In 1946, they moved to Port Clyde where her husband worked as a lobsterman, fisherman, and clam digger.

Joshua Wrigley, Scott Sell Port Clyde, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Randy Cushman Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Randy Cushman is a fifth-generation fisherman from Port Clyde, Maine, with a rich family history in the fishing industry. His family's involvement in fishing spans several generations, with numerous relatives, including his three brothers, nephew, grandfather, great uncles, and great-grandfather, all having been fishermen. Cushman's family lineage traces back to Robert Cushman and his son Thomas, who were among the passengers on the Mayflower. However, the family's fishing roots began with Apollos Cushman, the first family member to settle in Maine, specifically in Bremen.

Joshua Wrigley Port Clyde, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Bruce Dyer Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Interview with Bruce Dyer, a stop seine herring fisherman and lifelong resident of Cliff Island, ME.  Interview contains information on Mr. Dyer's career in the stop seine herring fishery and lobster fishery, his observations on herring behavior, fishing methods, locations, fishing techniques and island life.

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

Joshua Wrigley Cliff Island, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Robert Dyer Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Robert Dyer was born on August 4, 1931 on Chebeague Island in Casco Bay.  He worked as a stop seiner, lobsterman and cannery worker for much of his life in the Portland and Casco Bay areas.  He is a cousin of Bruce Dyer of Cliff Island who also sat for a recording.  As of this interview in 2013, Robert was still living on Chebeague Island and in Yarmouth.  Interview contains discussions of: stop seining, herring canneries, bait prices, sardine prices, locations for stop seining, whale encounters, life on Chebeague Island, purse seining, carriers, bailing and pumping herring.  Robert Dyer’s

Joshua Wrigley Chebeague Island, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Gary Hatch Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Gary Hatch, a lifelong resident of Owls Head, Maine, comes from a lineage of fishermen. His formative years were spent learning the intricacies of lobster and flounder fishing, a tradition within his family. Hatch's career in fishing expanded when he was introduced to seining by an older fisherman, a method that deepened his connection to the sea. His affinity for the coastal environment was not only a source of livelihood but also a passion that led him to explore the shorelines and waters of Maine.

Joshua Wrigley Owls Head, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Gary Libby Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Gary Libby is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in Port Clyde, Maine, a town with a rich maritime history. Born into a family with a longstanding connection to the sea, Gary's lineage includes coasters and merchant captains, and his family has been an integral part of the area for generations. His life has been shaped by the ebb and flow of the ocean and the fishing industry that has sustained his community for decades.

Joshua Wrigley Port Clyde, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Kelo Pinkham Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Kelo Pinkham is a seasoned fisherman with deep roots in the fishing industry, tracing his family's involvement back through generations. His career spans various facets of the industry, including flounder, cod, shrimp, and lobster fishing, primarily in the Gulf of Maine and the Sheepscot River. Pinkham's mother contributed to the family's fishing legacy by working in a fish processing plant. Throughout his career, Pinkham has witnessed significant shifts in fishing practices, the introduction of regulations, and the fluctuation of fish populations.

Joshua Wrigley Boothbay Harbor, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Gladden Schrock Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Gladden Schrock is a multifaceted individual with a diverse professional background. He has established himself as a herring fisherman, author, and playwright. His life's work has been significantly influenced by his experiences in the herring stop-seine fishery, which he began in the 1960s. Schrock's career has been rooted in South Bristol, Maine, where he has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of coastal life. His insights extend beyond fishing to encompass the sociocultural transformations within his community, including the interactions with Amish and Mennonite groups.

Joshua Wrigley South Bristol, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council
Edward Thorbjornson Maine Coast Oral History Initiative

Fisherman Edward Thorbjornson of Tenant's Harbor, ME recalls his career fishing with the 40 Fathom redfish fleet, shrimping and groundfish dragging.

This interview was produced with funding from the Maine Humanities Council.

Joshua Wrigley Tenants Harbor, ME Maine Coast Fishermen's Association, The Island Institute, Maine Humanities Council