One of the most pleasant features of a classic Maine camp is the screened porch. Screen porches were a "must have" in the classic Maine camps built from the 1930's to the early 70's. In the old days a camp or seasonal home could be built close to the water and screened porches, which all faced the lake, were often only 20 to 30 feet from the water.
Screened porches were designed to be used in the good weather. Most screened porches had no fixed windows or access to heat. A screened porch often became an all purpose room that would double as a dining room at meal times, a family room on warm sultry summer nights, a rec room for itchy kids on rainy days and as a dormitory when drop in guests decided to stay the night.
Some of my fondest memories of summer life at the camp were those that involved the extraordinarily versatile screened porch. Typically porch furniture included a variety of wicker rockers and gliders. What a delight it was to gently rock away the evening experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of life at the lake.
There is nothing quite like the experience of looking at a rising moon and see the moon light reflected on a shimmering lake. As a kid I remember sitting out on the screened porch and hearing the cry of a loon for the first time. The cry thrilled me then and, after 50 years, it thrills me still.
As the night darkened the woods would emit a wonderful fragrance. It seemed that the trees, after baking all day in the sun, would embrace the cool of the evening and emit a fragrance that one never ever gets to experience in the city. And, best of all, one could experience all these wonderful sensory pleasures while being protected from Maine's world famous mosquitoes by the humble screened porch.
Use our Lakefront Locator to find a nice Maine waterfront home with a screened porch.
This article was submitted by Tom Ferent / MrLakefront.
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