D. R. Crews
D. R. Crews
The Rarest Bird 'Round Katahdin Lodge Was A Formally Dressed Finley K.
I just remember that I took the shot because it was the only time I ever saw Finley wearing a formal suit and tie. At Katahdin Lodge, we stayed well stocked with food and other supplies all the time. Fin and Marty were next door neighbors while growing up on Sparrows Point. That made it easy for any of us to get together for holidays and birthdays. But I have no idea how that 1977 birthday cake, which was homemade for me by Winnie's daughter in Maine, could have been 100% perfectly tuned to my sweet tooth.
May 17, 2008 - 4:38:08 PM
D. R. Crews
Katahdin Lodge and Camp's Dining Room
This beautiful, but serviceable, dining room table was the center of the Katahdin Lodge Universe. The most obvious thing to all who view this photo is the size and shape of the beautifully grained table. Look at all the room there is for big, deep, full bowls and wide, full plates of food. And look at all the room there is for losta' friendly folk to sit all around that table, and to enjoy each other's company. Anyone for Cribbage? How about a game of Yatzee ?
May 17, 2008 - 1:05:35 AM
D. R. Crews
Non-Service Connected Military Veterans Disability Pension
I inform everyone whom I can about the terms of my Department of Veterans Affairs pension, because there are many other American military veterans who also qualify for one, desperately need one, but who have never learned of it. About a year ago, the DVA was ordered (I Believe it was by Congress) to educate more veterans about their non-service connected pension benefits, so I know for certain that many vets don't know of these earned benefits.
May 15, 2008 - 12:56:58 AM
D. R. Crews
Guiding Bear Hunters and Driving The Backroads of Maine
The hunting business is far better for a natural environment than the likes of the Bethlehem Steel Mill near where I grew up in Maryland. During the past thirty-some years, whenever I'm telling anyone my stories about my Maine adventures, they always think that tracking wounded bears at night without taking a firearm along with me was the most dangerous part of those experiences. That is not so. The driving was absolutely the most dangerous part of the job. I have ta' warn ya', there's photos of dead bears in this article.
May 15, 2008 - 12:40:11 AM
D. R. Crews
Beautify America--Get A Haircut
When I was in Maine, during November and December of 1968, I kept my, slightly, long hair combed back behind my ears, or tucked up under my hat, so that it was not too obviously so long. I had to get a haircut in order to be able to live and work at my Aunt Martha and Uncle Finley K. Clarke's Katahdin Lodge, of Patten, Maine. In 1969, in the southern Aroostook County/northern Penobscot County area of the Great North Woods of Maine, longhaired men were not very much welcomed at all.
May 14, 2008 - 1:22:37 AM
D. R. Crews
Hip Shops In 1965-68 Baltimore, Beatniks, Mods, and The Psychedelic Propeller
After you finish reading this article, you will definitely wonder how I ever fit right in up in 1968 era Maine. This entire body of work, this series of articles, has to do with what I knew, when growing up into my teen years, then what I had discovered about myself and the people and places of Northern Maine, when I first visited that part of God's Country.
May 13, 2008 - 1:13:13 AM
D. R. Crews
The Dundalk Maryland Neighborhood Where I Grew Up
In order for you to understand what the people and places in and around Patten, Maine mean to me, you need to know what kind of a young man I was, and where I came from just before I moved to the Katahdin Valley area of Maine. It would be one thing if I had been a country boy from northern Baltimore County, Western Maryland, or Maryland's Eastern Shore who had worked outdoors on his family's farm, and had hunted and fished his entire young life. But it was another thing for me, because I was a Mod clothes wearing Rock n' Roll minded kid from the Baltimore suburb of Dundalk, Maryland. I had quite quickly become a country kid up in Maine. And I loved it.
May 8, 2008 - 12:06:39 AM
D. R. Crews
Innards Of A 1968 Era Ski Doo Snowmobile
This article has the last of my scanned in vintage snowmobile photos. I have web searched for better photos. So far, mine are the best. Something that has shocked me though is, there are many vintage snowmobile enthusiasts out there who rebuild, ride and/or display old sleds at snowmobile shows. Links to all of that vintage sled info are on my web site that is linked to the bottom of all the articles in this series.
May 7, 2008 - 2:41:18 PM
D. R. Crews
Snowmobiling On Tillie's Back Field
When anyone from Katahdin Lodge went snowmobile riding alone, they were required to carry certain emergency items with them. In case of mechanical breakdown or the rider got stuck in deep snow. One of the coolest and most unique things that I ever experienced happened while riding a snowmobile on the old farm fields, which are seen in the two photographs in this article, which were taken in 1969 on a Katahdin Lodge neighbor's farm field in the Township of Moro Plantation, Maine.
May 7, 2008 - 1:31:23 AM
D. R. Crews
A Great Day of Snowmobiling in Moro, Maine
This article has a great set of snowmobile action, color photos. The photos could use some digital enhancements, which I have no skill at doing, but sure would like to learn. But they are still a cool part of my set of the best vintage snowmobile photos there is. One photo on here brought back memories of an old Maine man named Putt Gerow and antique bottle collecting possibilities up there. So those memories are included, as if you and I were comfortably sitting in my home, while looking at these old photographs together, and I was reminiscing about little stories that the photos remind me of.
May 4, 2008 - 7:24:46 PM
D. R. Crews
Snowmobile Riding At Katahdin Lodge
Here is the second article in this series that has vintage snowmobile photos from 1969 in it. These are great old black and white shots that I custom printed in 2001, from some very poorly exposed negatives. In 1969, I had a cheap 35MM camera and had done the best I could with that camera and my then undeveloped photography skills. These are some great snowmobile action photos in this article though. I have yet to see any better vintage sledding action shots any place else on the Internet.
May 3, 2008 - 4:38:48 PM
D. R. Crews
Snowmobiling The Day After A Blizzard Hit
This is the first article of this series to have a snowmobile photo in it. I believe that I have the best set of vintage 1969 snowmobile photos that there is. You will find a link to my Northern Maine Adventures Photo Album web site at the end of this article, and there are links to several snowmobile web sites on that web site. I have not found better photos on those snowmobile sites. If you possess or can locate a better set of vintage sled shots than what I have, please let me know. It's just a little friendly competition, there are no prizes, but you get to have your photos published on snowmobile web sites. The rest of my snowmobile photos will be published in other articles on here.
May 3, 2008 - 12:06:04 AM
D. R. Crews
A Very Close Family and An Idiot Stick
My family had come up to visit us at Katahdin Lodge during my sister's Easter break from high school. My mother had hoped that I was going to go back home to Dundalk, Maryland with them when they left. But the woods, the young women and the good times up in and around Patten, Maine had quite a solid grip on me. Most men who ever worked for Katahdin Lodge were highly skilled idiot stick operators. I'd be glad to stop on by over to your place to coach you on how to properly and safely use an idiot stick.
May 1, 2008 - 6:51:03 PM
D. R. Crews
The Lodge Had Two Bobcats In A Large Cage
Katahdin Lodge had two Bobcats in a cage, one male and one female. The cage sat out in the Lodge's front yard--I mean dooryard. To Mainers it's called a doorya'd. I used to hand feed strips of leftover, cooked roast beef to the male Bobcat. That was just as much a treat for any onlookers as it was for Bobby. The two cats did not mate. But when Bobcat mating season came around, the male cat did make loud, scrowwing, guttural, really far-out sounding mating calls.
May 1, 2008 - 1:01:01 AM
D. R. Crews
Splittin' Wood and Workin' Hard
In November of '68, when I moved into Katahdin Lodge, wood stoves provided all our heat. I split, remember that, kids, to an old pro it is "split", not "chopped" wood, I split a lot of wood during '68-'69. In late summer of '69, I split 19 cords of firewood for the coming winter. That was just a small part of the work I did at the Lodge. It was worth it to be able to live up in the Great North Woods.
Apr 29, 2008 - 6:56:15 PM
D. R. Crews
Patten, Maine and Dundalk, Maryland--Two Small, Somewhat Similar American Towns
In order for you to understand what my Northern Maine Adventures truly meant to an eighteen-year-old, Baltimore area, suburban kid you must know a little about where I lived, and what my life was like, just before I moved to Maine. For those good reasons, I am going to show you a photo of "downtown" Patten, Maine and a photo of "downtown" Dundalk, Maryland. The photos were taken 40 years apart, but neither downtown area has changed very much during those 40 years.
Apr 28, 2008 - 11:05:21 PM
D. R. Crews
Ballard's Citco Service Station On A Saturday Night
In 1968-69, one of the best hangouts for young men in Patten, Maine was at Ballard's Citco Service Station on a Saturday night. Well it was a small country town, ya' know. I custom hand printed the three black and white photos in this article--in Maryland, under the expert tutelage of Mark Trojan, at Dundalk Community College's black and white photo "wet" lab. The prints were made from some seriously underexposed negatives. Because I only had one cheap camera in 1969, when I took the photos. And hellooow thei'ah Ahnie! (that's translated for you Mainers who drop your r's.)
Apr 26, 2008 - 7:04:11 PM
D. R. Crews
Two Legged Dear Hunting In Patten Maine
Many folks who live in the Patten area, or who once did, have read some of my stories and seen some of my photographs about my times living with and working for my Aunt Martha and Uncle Finley Clarke up at Katahdin Lodge and Camps. There are some unresolved, serious family and business issues accurately portrayed in those previously published works of mine. NONE of that seriousness is anywhere to be seen in this new series of published pages about Fin, Marty, Patten Maine, Dundalk Maryland, Rock n' Roll and me. This is all about a whole lotta' fun and good times. It is an easy and light hearted read.
Apr 25, 2008 - 7:15:50 PM
D. R. Crews
The Mailman's Beautiful Daughter
This new series of articles is about my Uncle Finley Kenneth Clarke, his wife Martha, their Katahdin Lodge and Camps, Patten Maine, Dundalk Maryland, 1968 era Rock n' Roll and how I had historically, rockin' good times in both Maine and Maryland. It is an easy and lighthearted read. Therefore, I am delighted to be able present to you, the fourth installment in this series - The Mailman's Beautiful Daughter.
Apr 24, 2008 - 5:48:23 PM
D. R. Crews
I Once Was Wild
During the summer of '76, when much of America was having a near-continuous beer drinking and mild-mannered-Mexican-Marijuana smoking party, the photo of me in this article was taken. At the time, I was living and working in Myrtle Beach South Carolina. I was working as a Ferris Wheel Operator. Ferris Wheel Operator extraordinaire, I might add. Part of that time, I camped in the Myrtle Beach State Park Campground. The campground had a family section, and a single's section. The 1976 party favors flowed freely and openly in the singles section. Do not stop at just looking at the photo. Or it may give you an incorrect impression of my outdoorsman's safety standards. Read the one minute's worth of poetic text below it too. You'll probly get a chuckle out of it. The photo, as you will figure, was taken in the single's section.
Apr 21, 2008 - 4:07:21 PM
D. R. Crews
The 1968-69 Katahdin Lodge and Camps Music Soundtrack
This is page 16 in my attempt at creating The World's First Digital Coffee Table Book. The book has its own web site. A coffee table book is not made to be read straight through. This set of publishing's is not meant to be either. They are written to be read some then put down, like a paper coffee table book. Then picked back up at anytime and easily gotten back into or skipped through till you find something that catches your eye. There are some tiny plot lines, but it is mostly a cool way to take a journey back to 1968 era Maine. With an 18 year-old Baltimore boy, who had been one of those 1960's Mod types, but who had cut his hair, put away his flower shirts, then dressed nice and warmly woodsman style. And he had a great Rock n' Roll time in and around Patten, Maine.
Apr 18, 2008 - 4:19:00 AM
D. R. Crews
What Not To Do When Dating A Bush Pilot's Daughter
This is the second page of what I have designed as a "Digital Coffee Table Book". The first page is the article on here titled Katahdin Lodge and Camps of Patten Maine in 1969. The idea is to present a series of photos and text that are easy to view and fun to read. There are no intricate plot lines. There are some interesting and humorous little tales told, along with some cool historical facts. The goal is to take my readers back in time to around 1968, to learn about Patten, Maine, and how it differed, in many good ways, from where I grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore.
Apr 17, 2008 - 12:12:12 AM
D. R. Crews
Katahdin Lodge and Camps of Patten, Maine In 1969
For several years, I've been publishing stories and photographs of my experiences as a bear hunting guide and country girl's delight, up in northern Maine. This new series of articles ties it all together with words and photographs that humorously portray great times amongst families, friends and new acquaintances. I welcome you to come along with me on a pleasant, historical, wild and woodsy journey back to the 1968 era. When an 18-year-old kid from suburban Dundalk, Maryland, moved to small town Patten, Maine, and fit right in.
Apr 15, 2008 - 6:30:00 PM
D. R. Crews
Section 3 / Northern Maine Adventures / The Movie
This is the third section of a 4-part document about a proposed movie that is centered on my Northern Maine adventures. This document also reveals some of what was going on inside of me during times when I was wandering around lost in a nether world of depression, with degenerative back disease, sometimes homeless, while too often being drunk and stoned. This movie is about a survivor who steadily works towards living a better life.
Dec 21, 2007 - 1:57:39 PM
D. R. Crews
Section 2 / Northern Maine Adventures / The Movie
This is the second section of a 4-part document about a movie that is centered on my Northern Maine adventures. I have spent hundreds of hours thinking and planning this movie out--during the past 38 years. I also must explain on here just what my life has been like ever since living through those Maine adventures and what my life is like today.
Dec 18, 2007 - 11:14:05 PM
D. R. Crews
Northern Maine Adventures : Movie Synopsis
This is the beginning of a 4-part document about a movie that is centered on my Northern Maine adventures. I have spent hundreds of hours thinking and planning this movie out--during the past 38 years. I also must explain on here just what my life has been like ever since living through those Maine adventures and what my life is like today. I guarantee that this well written document is full of interesting, entertaining and even shocking snippets---all the way through. I do believe that you'll enjoy this. Read on!
Oct 21, 2007 - 12:06:16 AM
D. R. Crews
Crews Photos - not Cruise Photos.
You've enjoyed his writing, and so now D.R. Crews provides information on how to access his photography. Mr. Crews is a US Army veteran who is disabled.
Oct 9, 2007 - 6:30:52 AM
D. R. Crews
The House Fire
During 1969, the year after I graduated from high school in Dundalk, Maryland, was when I first worked as a bear hunting guide for my Aunt Martha and Uncle Finley Clarke up in Maine. Fin owned and he and Marty ran Katahdin Lodge and Camps in Patten, Maine.
Sep 5, 2007 - 9:04:16 PM
D. R. Crews
Then They Own You
In May of 1979, my Aunt Martha telephoned me asking if I would come back to work at her husband's hunting lodge in northern Maine. Her husband is my mother's brother, Finley. Martha and Finley, better known as Fin and Marty, operated Katahdin Lodge and Camps.
Jun 10, 2007 - 6:40:35 PM
D. R. Crews
A Dumpster Diver's Gift To A Catholic Priest
One time while I was dumpster diving, I found 5 pocket sized Polish language Catholic prayer and religious study books that were at least 50 years old, but in excellent shape.
May 30, 2007 - 4:43:33 PM
D. R. Crews
I Have Uncovered A Great Lie Being Told About The Vietnam Era
About a month ago, I found a blog posting that says most of America supported both the War In Vietnam and also all American military troops at the time. I am a Vietnam Era Veteran who has a completely different set of memories from that time. In 1969 to 1971, when I was on active duty in the U.S. Army, I remember it not being a good idea to wear my Army uniform in public because the unpopularity of that war had also made us military personnel very unpopular throughout much of America. That hurt.
May 27, 2007 - 8:02:41 PM
D. R. Crews
The Musical Soundtrack to my Working Manuscript about my Time as a U.S. Army Photographer During 1970-1971
In 1970-71, the majority of American military barracks on The Rock (GI jargon for Okinawa) had plenty of personally owned stereo music systems set up in them. Most of those stereos were the first high quality, separate component stereo systems that many of us GIs had ever listened to music on or had even seen for sale in a store. And, they only cost us about 40% of what we would have had to pay for them in the states at the time.
Apr 20, 2007 - 8:26:00 AM
D. R. Crews
A Few Reasons Why Some Good Stuff Is Chucked Into Dumpsters
Sometimes there is a sad reason why it is that good, usable stuff has been chucked into a dumpster. Whenever I’m dumpster diving and I find big loads of someone’s personal possessions in a dumpster, I do a little detective work to figure out why it may have been thrown out.
Mar 26, 2007 - 8:28:06 AM
D. R. Crews
The Story Behind A Box Of Toys Sitting On A Dumpster
One Sunday, while out working my long time, regular dumpster diving route, I found a cardboard box sitting on top of a shopping center’s dumpster that had good, barely used toys in it. The toys are for a 5 to 8 year old boy; I help to raise my grandnephew, so he now gets to play with the toys here in my home.
Mar 24, 2007 - 9:33:24 AM
D. R. Crews
The Furious Fur Ball’s Mexican Standoff In Dumpster Land
I got a dumpster diving safety tip for ya all. Raccoons and other furry critters eat in dumpsters.
Mar 20, 2007 - 11:37:09 AM
D. R. Crews
Emails Exchanged Discussing An Italian Nice Guy
Here is a set of emails discussing one of my stories about my times as bear hunting guide at Katahdin Lodge and Camps in Patten Maine.
Mar 17, 2007 - 1:36:20 PM
D. R. Crews
Duckin’ and Divin’ Techniques of A Recycle Ranger
I have been a serious dumpster diver for over fifteen years. Sometimes I tell people that I am a professional dumpster diver.
Mar 14, 2007 - 11:04:28 AM
D. R. Crews
Driving Northern Mainer Style
I learned to drive motor vehicles in a driver's education class during my senior year of high school in Maryland. I still use some driving skills that were in the book we used for that class--like never hitting the brakes and slowing down fast or continuing to hold the gas pedal down to accelerate while going over a bump or pot hole in the road. I am a much smoother than average driver. I had to learn a lot of other skillful driving techniques though when I moved to Maine and became a bear hunting guide shortly after graduating from Dundalk High School in 1968. I learned to drive Northern Maine style during the winter of 1968-69.
Jan 16, 2007 - 1:47:01 PM
D. R. Crews
In Okinawa, 1970-71
In this new part of my working manuscript about my time spent as an Army Photographer stationed on Okinawa (The Rock), I tell some more about what it was like for the average American GI who was stationed there. This part is about what typical GIs are like when stationed in foreign countries.
Jul 13, 2006 - 8:50:00 PM
D. R. Crews
I Applied For A Transfer Out Of The 30th Artillery Brigade On Okinawa
This is the fourth installment of my working manuscript about my time as an Army Photographer on Okinawa back in 1970-71. I’ve had some great emails from other U.S. Military Veterans who served on Okinawa back during the era that I did, and a few Military Dependents who were there as kids back then have emailed me also. I share a lot of similar memories with them. Now here is the story of how volunteering for Vietnam was viewed by us average young GIs at the time.
Jun 15, 2006 - 12:23:00 PM
|
