Portland, 1890 coastal steamship, by Antonio Jacobsen, courtesy of Wikimedia

Lecture Series: Update on the Wreck of the SS Portland Presented by Herb Adams

Saturday, February 25
1:30pm to 2:30pm
USM Glickman Library

Herb Adams will present his updated talk on the sinking of the SS Portland and how it affected the town and its residents. "And the Sea Shall Take Them All—The Wreck of the SS Portland" will be an in-person event.

125 years ago, the wreck of the SS Portland, became the largest loss of life at sea in a single storm in New England history. Some 200 souls were lost in a storm so severe that it was known as "The Great Portland Gale." On the weekend after Thanksgiving 1898, the sidewheel steamship carried home a cross-section of city life—immigrants, politicians, servants, businessmen, brokers, infants, and entire families—all lost in "The greatest wind that ever swallowed New England." The city’s African American population was especially hard-hit. Adams will tell us why the ship sailed and where it was lost. His illustrated talk will feature underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) images of the wreck as it is today deep off Cape Cod, still holding its secrets.

This event will be held in person in the University of Southern Maine Glickman Library, University Events Room, 7th floor.

This is the 3rd lecture of 4. Learn about the others: 2023 Winter Lecture Series.

Your Chance to Sip Spirits Alive

Our longtime supporters and legendary Maine coffee roasters, Coffee by Design, has a new line of coffees coming soon!

Roasted in partnership with Portland’s Three of Strong Spirits, and aged in their gin barrels, the first will be named Alice Greele after the neighborhood tavern-owner and cannonball collector who died in 1795.

Stay tuned for more information about the debut and how you can take home a bag or sit and sip a brew at CBD location.

Wanted: Volunteer Coordinator

Group of volunteer gardeners, 2007
Photograph by L. Good-Simpson

Do you like cemetery people (the ones above ground?) Are you a good communicator who enjoys lifting others up? Are you organized enough to wrangle people around a good cause? If so, consider volunteering to get involved in our efforts to embrace people and their skills to help us forward the mission of Eastern Cemetery.

It would involve working with us on the ongoing task of keeping people involved, coming up with new ideas to find more of them, putting out requests for help from them, and rewarding them for their kind and selfless work.

Just send an email if you think this is something you would enjoy totally or even in part. More fun in 2023!

SA Swag

Guess what cemetery fan group has its own shirts, caps, playing cards, and tote bags? Spirits Alive does, that’s who! Visit us on Zazzle to view all of our products. Please know that proceeds go directly back to Spirits Alive to help us fund our work to keep the Eastern Cemetery cared for and to teach others about its wonders.

Support Eastern Cemetery

You can help Spirits Alive keep the Eastern Cemetery alive for generations to come. Through your support, you can help us, an ALL-VOLUNTEER organization, to continue to:

• Keep the gates open – encouraging the community to explore its open and safe green space

• Offer education about the cemetery and its residents to the public – through tours, lectures, and events

• Encourage and support the city in keeping the site clean and safe for visitors of all ages

• Preserve this incredible outdoor museum and sacred historic landscape

Spirits Alive is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland, Maine’s historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including promotion and education.