FAQ's Frequently Asked Questions for the Eighth Maine
Q: What is the Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial Building?
A: The Memorial was built to be the summer vacation home for veterans of the Eighth Maine Volunteer Regiment that fought in the American Civil War and their families. William Miltmore McArthur, the last and favorite Colonel of the Regiment, donated the funds to acquire the lot and build the hall using the money that he won in the Louisiana State Lottery after the war. Today the Memorial functions as a museum and a lodge that rents facilities to the public and hosts community events seasonally from May until October.
A:The Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial Association, Inc. owns it. It is a non-profit, (501.C.3) corporation. It was incorporated in Portland, Maine in 1871.
A: Weather on the island can vary quite a bit even through the course of a day, so it is good to pack layers that can be added or removed as the day warms or the wind picks up. A fleece or sweater and some long pants will make cool mornings and evenings much more comfortable. With shared baths, slippers and a bath robe great to have. You will probably want a bathing suit, sunscreen, and a beach towel. You will want some good comfortable shoes like sandals, sneakers, or hiking boots for exploring the island. We provide sheets and bath towels for use in the building. There is a laundrymat on the Island so you don't have to overpack with clothing. If you are planning to bring your car to the island you may want to pick up some fruit and vegetables and paper goods. The grocery store on the island has a good selection of food and beverages at reasonable prices and great, hand-cut meats, but limited quantities so it is best to shop before 3:00PM. When it rains it usually pours so a good umbrella or rain coat is nice to have. A good vacation is always better when you have a good book or two. We have a good selection of books on the Casco Bay islands, the Civil War and Maine History in our archive room for your reading pleasure. If you enjoy cooking bring along some favorite recipes to share with us. It is always fun to sample some new dishes. And best of all bring a desire to cast off your day-to-day stress and relax with us here on Peaks Island.
A: Staying at the Eighth Maine is like stepping into a time machine. When you do the dishes - there is no dishwasher to load - there is just you, the sink, drying towels and any assistants you can muster. The Eighth was designed for communal living with its shared bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, main hall, office, beach, veranda and porches. You become a part of the community of the Eighth Maine during your stay. You are not isolated in your home or office or hotel room like we are in most of our daily lives today.
A: The Eighth Maine is a good place for kids who are adequately supervised. There are steep stair cases in the building so kids do require some supervision. We have had 7 generations of kids here and never had a serious accident. And Peaks Island is a great place for kids to explore and enjoy fun in the sun at the seashore.
A: Unless you are bringing your family and younger kids with lots of extras like food, strollers, toys, bicycles or boats, you really do not need a car on the island. If you want to take advantage of the many attractions in the greater Portland area, you will want to keep your vehicle in Portland for those trips. The island is small enough (about 3.5 miles in circumference) to walk in an hour. There is a taxi service that meets the Casco Bay Lines ferry and passenger boats when they arrive on the island. They have a taxi stand at the bottom of the hill. The taxi is a late model, silver, Dodge Caravan, You can also call them for pickups, island tours or to reserve times for pickup at (207) 518 - 0000.
Q: What is the coffee tradition? A: Traditionally guests brought coffee for us to prepare for all of our guests to enjoy. You can bring your favorite coffee and we will brew it for everyone for our breakfast beverage service. We also have hot chocolate, tea, milk, half & half, non-dairy creamer, sugar, sweet & low, and decaffinated coffee. Sometimes we will have several coffees to choose from our normal medium roast, a dark roast or French roast, or a flavored coffee like Vanilla or Irish Cream depending on what our guests have brought for us to serve.
Q: Why is it a tradition to set all the places at your table? A: Setting all the places at your table makes it easy for others to join you at your table for conversation, a snack or meal. It encourages interaction with your fellow guests consistent with the communal atmosphere of the Memorial. All of our guests are members of the extended Eighth Maine family and sharing enriches the experience for us all.
Q: Can I buy lobsters on the island? A: Yes, you can. Forest City Seafood has a retail shack just off the Forest City Landing where the Casco Bay Line ferry and passenger boats dock on Peaks Island.