Lobsterland was a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall that burned on August 28, 1965.
The building that became “Lobsterland” was bought by David B. Benson from Vera Rich (Vera A. (Beal) Rich (1918-1996), Mrs. Maurice Stanley Rich) who had used it as a playhouse when she took care of children. The original address of the building was 411 Main Street, Southwest Harbor. The house on the lot was built by Maurice and Vera Rich. It later became the Fiddlers Green Restaurant.
Lobsterland Leveled
The Bar Harbor Times, August, 1965
by LaRue Spiker
"... Lobsterland, a restaurant and lobster pound at Seawall, was leveled by fire August 28. David Benson, owner of the Lobsterland building, stated that the structure and its equipment were a total loss but partially insured. The cause has not been determined.
A number of people reported the fire. Two boys are thought to have been the first to spot it. They said they first noticed fire inside the building; a few seconds later there was a muffled explosion and the whole roof was ablaze. Another person first noticed the fire concentrated at the far end of the dining room where the heater was located. Another person thought the fire was first heaviest in the center of the building where the trash cans were kept, raising the possibility that a live cigarette butt had been deposited in one of them.
The property had been leased by Jesse Forbis [Jesse Lee Forbis (1915-1982)] this summer for operation of the restaurant and pound. Mr. Benson stated that he has no plans for re-building this fall but may do so next spring."
