The Schooner Bay Home for Indigent and Invalid Seamen
The Circus Comes to Town
Chapter 11:
Bright and early on Monday morning, the Schooner Bay Town Council and Fortuna Figg Grover's committee met to discuss their fundraising. Overall, they had raised nearly $20,000, an incredible sum and certainly more than enough to offer a reasonable bid against Washington, Wentworth and Watt. Mr. Peevy would be leaving for Bangor later that afternoon and he would make arrangements for the hearing of the matter before the County Commissioners, and he asked for Josiah Turner, A.A. Cooper, Thaddeus Grover and Captain Gregg to attend the meeting. While the other men were willing, Daniel quietly demurred. He didn't want to go into the reason for his decline. It would be difficult to explain exactly why he had no current legal standing.
Schooner Bay, being a small town, had a very active gossip industry and by the time luncheon was served at the Majestic Sea Side Hotel, Abner Washington had learned that the town was in a very good position to prevent his successful application to the county's commissioners. Fortunately, the town gossips (or those who were privy to the complete story of how much of the funds were obtained) were sensible enough not to discuss the involvement of the Majestic's wealthy guests. Otherwise, it would have been likely that he would have turned them all out on the road before the Salade Niçoise had even been plated. However, Miss Van Pelt and the others sat down to the typically excellent meal, being interrupted only by an occasional bang or muffled shout from the direction of Mr. Johnson Carlyle's office. This caused the group to smile conspiratorially and quickly turn their attentions to their salade.
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Zebulon waited until Wednesday afternoon to escort Ada in a walk around the park. He didn't think he should bore her with details of his work for Schooner Bay, but she was quite interested, and she prodded him with very perceptive questions.
"Did Mr. Washington have a survey carried out?" she asked.
"Yes, he did, and he found out that because of the contour of the land, a significant amount of leveling of the property would be needed before construction could begin. It would likely cost him an additional $2000 in the building of the new hotel."
"In that case Mr. Peevy, and assuming that he and his partners could get little or nothing for the current hotel, would that investment truly worthwhile?" the young woman wanted to know.
Zebulon was quite pleased with Ada's grasp of the issues. He had been afraid that it would be difficult to speak with her and find common interests. "Well, I wouldn't think so, but then again, I am a penny-conscious New Englander. Considering how these New York and Philadelphia 'financiers' throw money around, it's an amazement that they make money!"
Ada acknowledged the oddity of the thing, but added, "I've heard that these types of men play fast and loose with investments. I don't completely understand it, but it's something about buying and selling stocks that they haven't yet paid for and yet, they somehow are able to make a profit on it."
"Aye, they call it 'short selling'. The idea is that they buy the stock on credit and then sell it when it's increased in value, hopefully before there has been any request for payment. That way, they pay back the purchase price of the stock and keep the profit without actually investing anything out of pocket up front. I hear the big silver barons do it all the time."
All too soon they had made a complete circuit of the park. Zebulon bowed over Ada's hand and thanked her for the walk. "It was my pleasure, Mr. Peevy," she replied with a genuine smile.
"If I'm not being too forward, would you allow me to take you to dinner one evening?" he asked.
"I would like that very much. Since the circus is staying in Bangor for two weeks, on Saturday we will only be doing a matinee performance."
"Then, Miss Seaver, may I meet you at 5 o'clock? That will allow us a generous amount of time to enjoy a walk to the restaurant."
"Yes, you may, Mr. Peevy," she said, smiling at the lanky man.
Zebulon found that there was a new pep to his stride as he made his way back to his hotel. Ada might not be exactly what his mother would think of as a conventional candidate for a wife, but it wasn't his family that would be standing next to her in front of the parson. Then and there, he was determined that that honor would belong to him and him only.
He had already scheduled the meeting between the commissioners, himself, and the delegation from Schooner Bay for the coming Monday. This gave him plenty of time to work his way through the applicable laws, regulations and precedents pertaining to the issues at hand. He didn't find much, since the situation appeared to be unique, but he felt that between Schooner Bay claiming eminent domain rights to prevent other parties from impacting the normal and safe functioning of the town and their ability to offer a goodly sum of money for the parcel in question, the chances for success were high. It also gave him sufficient time to purchase a new dress shirt and new black boots. He even indulged in a tin of pomade for his hair.
On Saturday, at 5 o'clock on the dot, he arrived at Ada's wagon, a nosegay of violets, primroses and pansies in his hand for her. She was dressed in her best outfit, a green, yellow and white outfit that perfectly expressed the joys of late spring. Zebulon had contemplated the best time to tell her that he intended to win her hand in marriage. She might feel it was too presumptuous on the walk to the restaurant but might feel that he was pressuring her after buying her an expensive meal. On the other hand, if he spoke about his intentions during the meal, one or both of them could easily end up with dyspepsia. He decided that the best course of action was to declare his intentions right at the start. He wasn't at all surprised when Ada responded with a demur "But Mr. Peevy, we hardly know each other!". It was the response he was hoping for; lady-like and correct, but not negative. He happily explained that it was his intention to use the coming months for them to learn about each other and to hopefully develop a friendship as well as a romance. Apparently, Ada liked what she heard, because she told him his plan was acceptable to her.
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On late Monday morning, the county commissioners met with the Schooner Bay representatives and their attorney. They sat silently as Zebulon Peevy and Josiah Turner presented their concerns. The Commissioners whispered amongst themselves at times during the presentation and wrote some notes. Eminent domain applications were carefully scrutinized to be fair to all the parties concerned. Although typically, it was a corporate entity who requested this legal remedy to pursue a commercial venture on public land where it was the only suitable plot and the venture would provide benefits to the populace, it was not unheard of for a governmental entity to submit a claim for eminent domain to provide a benefit for its citizens, for instance the siting of a road. The question at hand was whether a new hotel would irreparably harm the community. They were somewhat surprised that there would be a significant amount of land modification, since Washington, Wentworth and Watt had made it seem in their application that there would only be a minimal amount work needed on the parcel to make it ready for building. What really seemed to seal the deal in Schooner Bay's favor, was the town's willingness to pay an appropriate price for the land.
The head of the commission wanted to know how a place like this small town could manage to raise such an impressive amount of money. It was Thaddeus Grover who replied, and surprisingly, he did not mention his wife's outstanding fundraising efforts in a direct manner. He simply stated, "We may be small, but we are dedicated to out town. No one had the least difficulty donating what they could. And that sprit even extended to some of the visitors to Schooner Bay."
The commissioners' decision was rapid; the plot of land to the northeast of Gull Cottage was allotted to the town for a reasonable consideration. Messrs. Washington, Wentworth and Watt would be informed of the ruling in due course. The commissioners made it clear that although their current establishment was endangered because of the new hotel being built, they had not used reasonable caution in siting the Majestic Sea Side Hotel on a more suitable piece of land to start with. Therefore, the county was not obligated to assist them in obtaining a remedy via the allocation of a different piece of property.
There was considerable jubilation when the Schooner Bay delegation returned home with their news. It was decided to hold a regatta and town picnic the following Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, the men of the Schooner Bay Home for Invalid and Indigent Seamen and Captain Daniel Gregg were desperate to find a suitable vessel for the regatta. For a few days it looked like they were to be disappointed, since the Home did not have sufficient funds for the purchase of a ship, even a small and old one. Surprisingly, it was Fortuna Figg Grover who came to their rescue and presented them with a moderately sized single masted schooner. It was large enough to accommodate the entire Home and some additional friends, but it wasn't overwhelming for the men to handle, with Daniel at the helm, of course. It came to them with the name Pine Island, but Nate immediately suggested that they rename her Carolyn Muir. His suggestion was unanimously accepted, particularly by Daniel.
Renaming a vessel was a serious matter, as all seamen know. The next day the men spent hours not only cleaning the ship but removing everything that held the old name: on the hull, the log books and maintenance records and even some old stationary with Pine Island embossed on it. By late in the afternoon, they were ready for the "Purging Ceremony". Daniel carefully wrote the old name on a metal tag in water-soluble ink. Mrs. Muir had begged several bottles of champagne from Fortuna, who arrived with her entire family and the Coopers as well. When everyone was gathered at the ship and the wine and metal tag were handy, the Captain began the ceremony by reciting the following;
"Oh, mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name Pine Island which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea." He dropped the metal tag into the water and continued.
"In grateful acknowledgement of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court." He poured more than half the bottle of champagne into the water and then passed the rest of it to Martha who poured a small amount of it into glasses for the spectators. After a moment, Daniel continued on to the naming ceremony.
Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to take upon your records and recollection this worthy vessel hereafter and for all time known as Carolyn Muir, guarding her with your mighty arm and trident and ensuring her of safe and rapid passage throughout her journeys within your realm."
"In appreciation of your munificence, dispensation, and in honor of your greatness, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court." Another bottle of champagne was poured into the waters of Schooner Bay and then a glass was given to Captain Gregg as her master and to Nate Douglas as her Mate. Now that the gods of the seas were appeased, it was time to turn their attention to the gods of the winds. There are four, one for each direction. They are said to be brothers and must be addressed individually.
"Oh, mighty rulers of the winds, through whose power our frail vessels traverse the wild and faceless deep, we implore you to grant this worthy vessel Carolyn Muir the benefits and pleasures of your bounty, ensuring us of your gentle ministration according to our needs."
The first brother to be addressed was Boreus, the god of the north wind. A glass-worth of champagne was flung to the north of the ship. "Great Boreas, exalted ruler of the north wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your frigid breath."
Next was the god of the west wind. Again, a glass of champagne was flung to the west; "Great Zephyrus, exalted ruler of the West Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your wild breath."
Zephyrus was followed in the same manner by the god of east wind. "Great Eurus, exalted ruler of the East Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your mighty breath."
Lastly was the dedication to the south wind. Another glass of champagne was handed over. "Great Notus, exalted ruler of the South Wind, grant us permission to use your mighty powers in the pursuit of our lawful endeavors, ever sparing us the overwhelming scourge of your scalding breath."
The naming ceremony was thus concluded, and they had just enough time the next day to paint the new name on a mounting for the aft of the hull and to take the vessel out for one practice run before the regatta.
EPILOGUE
Carolyn Muir and her crew and passengers cut a graceful figure in the Schooner Bay Regatta, which became an annual event. For many years the inhabitants of the Schooner Bay Home for Invalid and Indigent Seamen participated and won many awards. No matter how old or disabled, the crew always were an outstanding crew for Captain Gregg.
The Majestic Sea Side Hotel became a prominent part of the Schooner Bay landscape when the Schooner Bay House collapsed before it could even open their doors. Miss Van Pelt continued to summer there until her death more than twenty-five years later. Shortly after that, the old Hotel was condemned and torn down.
The plot of land that the town had obtained became a preserve. It attracted only a handful of hikers every year and therefore, was no nuisance to Gull Cottage or its inhabitants. During the Great Depression of the 1930's, the Civilian Conservation Corps build four rustic cabins on the land, allowing the town to rent them to hikers who wanted to safely camp overnight.
Zebulon Peevy instantly became the town's hero (despite old Thomas Quinton insisting until the day that he died that it was his recommendation that brought the young lawyer into the proceedings) and soon moved from Keystone into a modest house not far from Gull Cottage. He succeeded in his pursuit of Ada Seaver, and they married a little more than a year later. Nate Douglas lived long enough to enjoy the love of several grandchildren. The oldest Peevy boy, Nathaniel, was a house carpenter who served in World War 1. Nathaniel's middle child Ed grew up to be Schooner Bay's house painter, general handy man, plumber, part time constable and a member of the volunteer fire company. He was especially known for his love of cherry pies.
