Anyone else care to share their Libby's origins?
I first started coming to Libby's in 1964. My father bought an old 13' Shasta trailer one summer and told me about the special place by the ocean in Maine his folks used to take him when he was a little boy-- back in 1938. It was, of course, Libby's campground. I remember the first time I laid eyes on our campsite. I was 10 years old and hailing from tobacco country in Connecticut, I never dreamed it would be so beautiful. It was the front row and we stayed for two whole weeks.
I remember looking for sea glass on pebble beach and climbing on the rocks, which, in those days, seemed so much bigger. At that time, there was a little store right in front of where Norm and Candy's house now sits. I remember saving my money all year long for our Maine vacation. The grand total that first year was $6.00 and in those days, it sure went a lot farther. I bought things like comic books and penny candy nearly every day for two whole weeks. My father knew Cora Davidson and I remember her and Archie very well. They were very helpful to us the summer my dad had a kidney stone attack right there on the front row! Cora could always be heard on the Libby's loudspeaker system, and I remember her voice reminding people to slow down as they drove through the campground. She ran a tight ship for sure! If you've camped at Libby's, you know by now that there is never a dull moment!
In the summer of 1969, right there in the front row of Libby's campground, what is now probably near site 36 or so, my dad and I watched Neil Armstrong land on the moon from a little black and white Sony TV that he placed on the hood of our 63 Ford Galaxy 500. Somehow, he rigged that TV to our car antenna for better reception. It wasn't perfect, but I can still envision that snowy picture of Neil Armstrong and hearing his words live as he uttered them ..."One small step for man...One giant leap for mankind." How many times I've watched that same moon rise up out of the ocean so many years later--and I always think of my dad and those very special childhood days at Libby's.
Eventually, I transitioned from child to adult, and during that long interim, I did not visit Libby's. But I never forgot it and always dreamed of staying there again someday. One May day in 2000, I brought Linda up to show her the special place I used to vacation as a kid. That same day, we made a reservation with Candy for later that summer, (without even having a trailer or tent), and later that same day, we bought one from Camper's Inn. Well, if you know Linda or I, that shouldn't surprise you in the least! We've been regulars at Libby's ever since. We are so grateful for all the wonderful friends we've made and all the laughs we've shared over the years.
Thanks for reading my very first blog ever!
