The unofficial greeter of Lincolnville Beach

This Week in Lincolnville

Sun, 08/30/2026 - 6:06pm

Dwight in his place in front of his gallery. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

(Photo by Ed O’Brien)

Michael’s painting corner. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

Dwight in his place in front of his gallery. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

(Photo by Ed O’Brien)

Michael’s painting corner. (Photo by Ed O’Brien)

There was once a young man who had just obtained his driver’s license. He had already acquired his own car, a 1956 Volkswagen, and the 15-year-old was told by his parents that the furthest he could drive from his home in Rockland alone was Lincolnville Beach. So that was just what young Dwight Wass did.

Dwight arrived at a place that has not changed all that much in all the intervening years. He knew that he loved this little village, just 20 minutes up the coast from his hometown. It became the place where he would end up spending his adult life. It is where you will find him to this day, often sitting in front of his own business, Lincolnville Fine Arts and Antiques Gallery, next to the Beach Store, overlooking that rare stretch of sand beach on the Midcoast.

I have been meaning to write about Dwight and his business for some time, and I finally took the time to sit with him for a few, and learn a bit about his story. If you do not know Dwight, you have certainly seen him in one of his many antique cars in a Lincolnville parade. You, or your kids, may have been driven by him to school or to a soccer game during his years driving the school bus. He may have even been the realtor who sold you your Lincolnville home.

The Lincolnville Fine Arts and Antiques Gallery started life as the location of Dwight’s real estate agency. Finding himself with more space than he needed, and a lot of local artist friends, Dwight began showcasing their works in his beachfront building. Before long, he began selling antiques, as well.

Dwight buys what he likes, puts it up for sale in his store, and finds that others share his eclectic tastes; therefore freeing space for the next treasure he hunts down.

He has become the unofficial greeter and information booth for this little town. For many of our visitors, Dwight is the first local you meet. Dwight and Michael, sitting together on the low granite wall in front of the shop, or, on less sunny days with Dwight behind the counter and Michael painting in his corner of the shop.

For years, the late Marge Olson would sell her painted rocks in front of the storefront, walking down the hill with an apron full, raising thousands of dollars for the LIA scholarship fund. Dwight speculates that those Lincolnville rocks have traveled all over the world, with visitors retuning year after year to get their Marge Olson hand painted rock.

If you haven’t been in, I strongly recommend perusing the little shop. You really never know what you might find amongst the paintings and vintage treasures. At the very least, Dwight has some great stories of Lincolnville past. Though, as he and I talked about, things here are always changing while at the same time staying much the same.

People come and go, businesses open and close, but our town character, and characters, remain.

End of an Era

Speaking of change, Lincolnville recently faced the closure of an institution, as Rick McLaughlin decided to take his well deserved retirement, and closed his restaurant McLaughlin’s. Growing up in his family’s restaurant, The Lobster Pound, Rick first set off on his own with what was then The Lobster Pound Take Out across the beach in 1980.

McLaughlin’s carried on many of the recipes from the Lobster Pound after that restaurant closed, and Rick was responsible for introducing many local young people into the working world, this author included.

The restaurant relocated a couple years ago across the street to the former location of The Beach Inn and Chez Michelle. Rick and Lynnette McLaughlin will be auctioning off the building and restaurant on October 2nd with the hope that someone will be interested in carrying it on as a restaurant.

This Lincolnville boy wishes Rick and Lynnette all the best in their next endeavors and will forever miss your fried clams and onion rings.

Library Happenings

Tuesday at 3 p.m. the needleworkers will meet. Mah-Jonng for everyone will be held at noon on Friday. If you haven’t been, or haven’t been in awhile, I strongly urge you to check out our library. Library cards are free for Lincolnville residents, provides fast WiFi, and it is a lovely place to just spend a little time.

Just like that, the summer is over, the children are returning to school. For me, it looks like football, on television and on the Don Palmer field at CHRHS will be taking a fair bit of my time. I wish the best to all of Lincolnville’s students, and to their parents- the nervous ones sending their Pre-K little ones off for the first time, and those of us who have been quietly praying for this first day since late June. May they all find success.

Be well, Lincolnville, be kind and look out for one another. Reach out to me at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, August 31

School House Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Tuesday, September 1

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Wednesday, September 2

School House Museum open, 1-4 p.m., 33 Beach Road

Library open 2-5

Conservation Commission, 4 p.m., Town Office

Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, 6 p.m., Town Office