The Maine sporting camp is at least 150 years old, dating back to 1856. Prior to the establishment of sporting camps in Maine, sportsmen congregated at lavish resorts and sporting clubs. The coming of the railroads changed the situation. Early sportsmen traveled by boat and stage coach, but when the railroads began reaching farther inland, the sporting camp became more popular.
The golden age of fishing and hunting in Maine coincided with the golden ages of lumbering and railroading. As the railroad moved north and east, they came closer to the ponds, lakes and streams as well as to the standing timber. It was not uncommon for a Boston traveler to travel by steamer from the Lincoln Wharf in Boston to Bath, or by Pullman to arrive in Bangor. There the journey had just begun. For many sports, the end of the rails meant loading their trunks on a buckboard for a bone-racking ride over miles of rough and corduroyed roads. Some were poled up rivers to their destination, and others traveled by pack horses.
Sporting camps are little communities. The style of architecture is pure “Maine” with buildings made of peeled and chinked logs, roofs of split cedar shakes and a porch on every cabin overlooking the water. The sleeping cabins are clustered near the shore around a central dining and all-purpose building. A bit away from the guest cabins are quarters for guides and help. Plumbing years ago was “out back.” Indoor facilities and electric generated power did not become common until after World War II. Today, some camps are still without modern facilities.
The key to success of the operation usually would lie in the hands of the proprietor's wife, as she was responsible for providing three hearty meals every day. The fare had to carry a reputation for excellence. Some camps had their own gardens as well as cows and chickens to provide dairy products, eggs and poultry meat. It was no secret that the repeat clientele was not always due to fishing or hunting success, but the memory of the homemade breads, biscuits, and fruit spreads or pies made with handpicked berries.