Greenwood Garden on Peaks Island, ME

Name: Greenwood Garden on Peaks Island, ME
Address: 2 Garden Place, Portland, ME, 04108, US
Telephone: +14438710433
Price range: $$

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Greenwood Garden on Peaks Island, ME

A beautiful event site on Peaks Island overlooking Casco Bay and Portland

Address

2 Garden Place
Portland, ME
04108

Telephone

+14438710433

Website

http://greenwoodgardenmaine.com/

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Historical property owned and maintained by the Peaks Island Lions Club

Opened for Civil War veterans and their families for rest and camaraderie in 1867, the Greenwood Garden was just a beautiful garden of the “Greenwood” house owned by Jimmy Brackett’s mom. It is said that she had every known plant and tree indigenous to the State of Maine.

Upon her death, Jimmy ( a 5th Maine Civil War Veteran) moved the house to its present location(now outside the Garden), and in 1881, built a Roller Skating Rink for the veterans pleasure. But, soon the veterans built their own memorial halls (and private rooms with beds) on the Island, and Jimmy Brackett decided to make use of his land by building a boardwalk throughout his Garden, with a Merry-go-round, observation tower, animal displays, restaurants, stages, Roller Polo league team (The Greenwoods), carnival acts, and much much more. Eventually, Jimmy got older and rented the Garden to various Amusement owners and companies. This Amusement Park in it’s heyday handled 10,000 per day. SO what happened to it?

After WW1, since many men went off to war, there were just fewer people coming to the Island. In 1925, Island Tourism started once again, only to be thwarted by the Great Depression by 1929. Buildings were let go, Island fires destroyed accommodations, people stopped coming in droves, and with income reduced, the Garden ran movies, events, etc.

In the middle 1930’s, the Garden began cleaning up the area. Land was sold, the Garden sold the Merry-go-round carousel, and removed buildings. The one building that remained was the old skating rink.

The Roller Skating Rink was roofed and a stage added in 1891 to become the The Greenwood Opera house. Many Operatic performers of the times from Boston and Broadway performed over the Summer Seasons here. Many shows and events were staged here for the benefit of the many until the early 1920’s. Then Silent Movies were shown for years, until the rebirth of Summer Stock Theater in the 1930’s. Just after the Gem Theater burned down, the Peaks Island Players began what we now know as the pre-television renaissance of Summer Stock.

Many famous folks performed or started here. Jean Stapleton, Rod Steiger, Martin Landau, Bette Davis, Sonja Henning, and more. The Summer weekly performances were chronicled locally as well as in Broadway news. John Ford lived on Peaks Island before and after becoming famous as a Hollywood Director.

In 1952, the last professional stage play by Hollywood actors took place and a empty park was suddenly paying taxes with no income. The owner, Mr. Henry Hoar, created a subdivision with an idea to anchor it with a hotel, but the Island already had 150 empty homes taken by the city under the tax lien law. Mr. Hoar was persuaded to sell the remaining unsold land and building to the newly created Peaks Island Lions Club, which was seeking a home to meet in.

In 1955, the land and remaining buildings were now owned by the Lions Club. The Playhouse became a kids basketball and wrestling club, the outside became the City playground for years, and the Lions prospered in their new home. The 4 year old annual Variety Show now was held in the Playhouse. Once again, things changed.

In 1980, the island became a hotbed of residential real estate transactions, the playground was moved to the community hall area, and income was limited once again. The Lions Club began a relationship with Casco Bay Lines to provide Lobster Bakes on the site, and since 1980, the Club has provided thousands of meals that we still do today. We can do 600 meals at one seating.

The site was used occasionally for Island Weddings for Lions Members families, and around 1996, the site was opened for non-islanders to rent out. Today, we provide a beautiful venue for any bride looking for a perfect day and view to remember forever.

If you would like to hold a corporate event, a lobster bake, a wedding, birthday event, even a family reunion, this is the place to rent. The Lions have maintained and updated this Theater and ground for all to benefit. To arrange a visit, please email to [email protected]