THE TALK OF BAR HARBOR Hip Boots and Tuxes U SUALLY even the best jokes get nessmen and merchants who thought it Ball has always been restricted to the stale with the third or fourth unwise to bite the hand that fed them "First Forty." In 100 years there have telling, but the people of Bar SO well every summer. They decided to never been more than forty members of Harbor are still laughing at a jest first pull the prank in the dead of winter, the Hayseeders' exclusively local and made a century ago and renewed every when there was nary a blue blood in exclusively male club. Membership in year since. The best part is that, as with sight. this society is a legacy, like the inher- all great jokes, they are laughing at And, in true Yankee fashion, they ited fortunes of its high-society coun- themselves as well as at the snooty mocked the upper crust by seeming to terparts. The title of "Hayseeder" usu- summer community that first inspired mock themselves. The joke was the ally passes to the eldest son at the death them. Hayseeders' Way Bak Ball - an all- of a member, and new blood enters the The merriment began in the early night bash conceived as a fun-house- ranks only when a member departs 1890s, shortly after the elite of East mirror version of high-society balls. without leaving a male heir. To this day Coast society discovered Bar Har- Where the elite's parties were a study there is still a long waiting list of men bor's salubrious summer climate and in ostentatious overstatement, their waiting to be voted in by the Old Guard. claimed the town for their own. Local party would be the epitome of Down But forty men do not a party make, residents watched the elaborate revels East humility. SO each Hayseeder gets to invite ten of their rich and famous seasonal It came off SO well that Bar Harbor guests, thus arriving at the magic num- neighbors with wonder and, perhaps, has been playing the joke ever since. ber of 400 elite partygoers. This has just a little envy. This February the Hayseeders' Ball made practical as well as philosophical From June through August lavish marks its 100th anniversary. And this sense through the years, since few pub- costume balls, dinner parties, and the- year the organizers and participants lic halls in Bar Harbor can comfortably atrical soirees were held at the palatial once again will faithfully honor the rit- hold more than 400 people. summer cottages of such notable soci- uals and rites that made the whole affair Every fall for a century, when the ety nabobs as the Astors, Pulitzers, such a hoot when the founding fathers bustle of Bar Harbor's seasonal activ- Vanderbilts, Rockefellers, Kents, and first thought it up in 1895. ity fades, the forty Hayseeders gather DuPonts. Generally the only door that Here's how it works: to plan the next year's ball. Engraved welcomed folks with names like Hig- Because Bar Harbor's top-drawer invitations are composed and printed. gins, Gilley, Grindle, Lunt, or Lurvey affairs were restricted to the "First 400" But instead of the deadly formal "we- was the service entrance to the rear. - the supposed number of names in request-the-honor-of-your-presence" It was making the natives restless, the social registers of Boston, Philadel- summons a Mrs. Atwater Kent might all this exclusive splendor. Poking a lit- phia, and New York - the Hayseeders' have sent to her friends, the Hay- tle fun at the pompous party-throwers seemed like the best revenge, with secrecy as the watchword. Those involved were, after all, mostly busi- Bar Harbor's year-round denizens kick up their heels at the annual Hayseeders' Ball. The gala tradition, which turns 100 this year, pokes good-natured fun at the town's wealthy summercators. DOWN Eas FEBRUARY 1994 7 10 Creating New Traditions seeders' "invitashuns" are filled with mis- spellings, hokey dialect, and inside jokes, Creations of Unique Contemporary Pieces such as this one from 1911: Reproductions of Fine Classic Furniture "Do yew no, we fellers even if we air WAY BAK does no sumpthin besides taters and punkins. We have gorn and gut WILLIAM EVANS Fine Cabinetmaken Brochure $3.00 The Grand March 804 Main Street, P.O. Box 757A Waldoboro, Maine 04572 that opens each (207) 832-4175 ball finds bank presidents, lawyers, doctors, fishermen, and shopkeepers promenading in overalls. the TOWN MEETIN HOUSE, which them hi-toned rusticaters like to call the KURSENO yew no, and thare we is goin to hey a BALL and it will be Munday nite, Febry The twenty7th, 1911 & AND BY GOSH IT WILL BE A GOOD ONE, for it will be the 6teenth time we WAY BAK boys hev had a ball, Anuale Ball sosiete folk would call it dont yew no!" In more recent decades the invitations CROWNDOINT have been a sort of a year-in-review, CABINE T R Y recounting the events of the community and the world in fractured - and some- The Sturbridge series from Crown Point. This style with its times scatological - verse. In 1944 the bead-board cabinet fronts recreates the Victorian "cottage" look talk of the town was war: with some special features for today's kitchen. "Our rubber's poor, we're on our rims You can't by fish or bobby pins When you want a new kitchen that's perfect for you in But then, by gosh, ther'll come a day every way, talk to the "complete kitchen" specialists. We'll throw the ration books away. Mathews Brothers. From custom design using fine Meanwhile lets skimp and save our tin Crown Point cabinetry, to quality windows, Until they bring old Hitler in." skylights, doors and appliances, we can provide the complete solution for your workstyle, your lifestyle Watergate was the theme for 1977: and your taste. Come visit our showrooms and discover kitchen "Now Gramp is nigh on eighty-four styles, features and designs you never knew existed. And has seen some hectic times Come share your ideas with one of our kitchen plan- before ning professionals today. But he allows the year just past Sure has been a record blast. Even Nixon had him fooled Come see what you've been missing. Til Judge Sirica overruled." MATHEWS BROTHERS I N 1914, society doyenne Mrs. Warner Leeds of Greenway Court threw an "Undersea Fantasy" costume ball. WINDOWS DOORS KITCHENS She hired a New York theatrical set Bangor: 130 Perry Rd., Bgr. Ind. Pk. 945-0063 Belfast: Cross designer to transform her ballroom into & Spring Sts. 338-3359 Rockland: 25-31 Rankin St. 596-0391 a fabulous ocean floor, complete with Hours: Mon.-Fri., 7AM-4:30PM; Sat., 7AM-Noon giant seashells, sparkling sands, foun- tains burbling with imported champagne, and tables laden with caviar and fancy 8 DOWN EAST French pastries. Her guests arrived cos- Enjoy A Special tumed as shimmering mermaids, naiads, and trident-bearing sea gods. According Weekend Getaway to the social column in the local paper the event was a great success, although the For Two writer did suggest that a Mrs. Dorothea Fremont-Smith should consider leaving diaphanous sea-nymph costumes to those From November 5-May 1 with less matronly figures. That winter, the Hayseeders' Ball also Deluxe room Friday & Saturday evening had an undersea theme. Only the natives' Complimentary cocktails upon arrival decor tended toward weathered lobster Full breakfast Saturday morning traps, rusty anchors, and derelict dories. Sunday brunch in the Market Oilskins and Jonesport sneakers (rubber Street Grille Restaurant hip boots) were the fashion rage at that self-consciously homely event, and their $79.00 buffet table groaned under slabs of salt cod, wheels of rat-trap cheese, and home- made doughnuts. None of that "hi Per person, double occupancy, tax falootin" bubbly stuff either. The Hay- and gratuity included. seeder beverage of choice was rye whiskey or ale (and fruit punch for the Portland ladies and teetotalers). Regency Mrs. Leeds' guests waltzed to a band imported from New York. The Hay- HOTEL seeders, as always, relied on local talents who could pluck, strum, or pound out a 20 Milk Street, Portland, Maine lively Virginia Reel or two-step. 1-207-774-4200 1-800-727-3436 Salt cod, cheese, doughnuts, whiskey, and good fiddle music are still the main staples of today's Hayseeder balls. Although many of the men and women We've gone to the carpet to give who now attend the parties spend their you a better selection. workdays in three-piece suits, their for- mal wear for the ball continues to pay mock tribute to the local-yokel stereotype the summer set cast for them a century ago. The Grand March that traditionally opens each ball still finds bank presidents, lawyers, doctors, fishermen, newspaper editors, and shopkeepers promenading in Salt cod, cheese, doughnuts, whiskey, and good fiddle music are still the main Mougalian's has the largest selection north of staples of the Boston with the experience to make sure you are getting the best. Hayseeders' Ball. Shouldn't your flooring reflect your good taste. Robert P. Mougalian OPEN SUNDAY overalls with their equally dowdily clad & Sons Inc. 12-4 ladies clinging to their shirt sleeves. The ORIENTAL RUGS exception to this sartorial inelegance is Maine's most knowledgeable name in oriental rugs Etie New, Used and Oriental Rugs Bought and Sold Appraisals Repairs Trade Ups the antique tuxedo that Hayseeder M-F 9-6, Sat. 9-5 Evenings by Appointment President Roger Cunningham has been 300 Roundwood Drive, one mile south of the Maine Mall, Payne Road, Scarborough, ME 04074 (207) 883-4388 wearing to the ball for the past fifty-five 20 Main St., Co years. "It was handed down to me by my uncle, George McKay, who wore it for the opening of the Criterion Theater in 1932," Cunningham says. "It's pretty old and worn, SO they let me get away with it." For decades the ball remained an open secret among Bar Harbor's year-round residents. The cat truly came out of the bag in the 1920s, when a socially promi- nent doctor, Augustus Thorndike, who was a longtime summer visitor, decided to winter over and finagled his way onto a Hayseeder's invitation list. By all accounts, he found the ball great fun. In the old days the competition for a precious Hayseeders' invitation was as fierce among locals as the quest for an invitation to an Astor wedding was for summering social climbers. Eventually a Where generations apart can be generations together. list had to be posted in the town firehouse Saint Joseph's Manor The scramble Nursing Care Facility Adult Day Care Center Child Day Care Program for invitations is once SM 1133 Washington Avenue Portland, ME 04103 again fierce, with 207-797-0600 hopefuls pulling every Information packet available string they can find to be present at the Find Out How You Can 100th anniversary. Design And Build Your Own with the names of people who didn't Post And Beam have close friendships or family ties with a Hayseeder, but who still wanted to Home. attend the ball. If they were lucky, some- one's Uncle George would get an attack Classic makes of gout and free up an invitation. In the it easier. past couple of decades a waiting list has not been necessary, but the Hayseeders urround yourself with the sta- S rarely have trouble filling up the Masonic bility, strength, and elegant Hall where the event is now held. simplicity of post and beam This year's Hayseeders' Ball, more construction. Classic's design service than any other in the past few decades, and pre-crafted materials let you be as harks back to the past. The scramble for involved as you want in making this dream a reality. Let us introduce you to invitations is once again fierce, with the architectural flexibility of our building hopefuls pulling every string they can system. Our free preliminary design service find to be present at the 100th anniver- is just one example of the personal service sary. Unlike most jokes, this one has out- you'll come to value with Classic. Call to see lasted its original target - the society if you qualify. that once snubbed the locals of Mount For a free brochure, or our complete Desert Island. In fact, these days descen- Design and Planning Portfolio ($6.00) dants of some of those society families featuring 26 home designs, plus pric- will be kicking up their heels at the event ing, package information and full- that was meant to poke fun at their fore- color photography, call us toll CLASSIC CALL 1-800-872-BEAM bears. But no one can blame them for free. for our full-color Design and BEAM wanting to be part of the festivities. This Planning Portfolio. $6.00 P.O. Box 546-D24 VISA and MasterCard accepted. February 11, all of Bar Harbor wants to All orders filled same day and rushed © 1992 NLH York, Maine 03909 to you via Priority Mail. go to the ball and be in on the biggest laugh of all - "dont yew no." Circle No. 6 on Reader Service Card -Nan Lincoln 10 DOWN EAST