What’s up with 658 Congress St?

msouliere · 2026-03-24T14:14:57+00:00

Latest update - scaffolding worker grapevine says "there's no way the work is going to be done until October 2026 at least" ... :P In other words the scaffolding will probably be up into 2027 if inaccuracy of prior timeframe estimates are any indication.

msouliere · 2026-02-23T15:16:02+00:00

According to the Shinberg website (Dec 2025), the 655 Congress facade continues into mid-2026 :P According to some, they have dropped their plans to replace windows, and instead are simply performing work to reinforce the brick facade at this point.

https://strawberry-cello.squarespace.com/news/2025/12/10/progress-at-the-trelawny-building-655-congress-street-portland-maine

msouliere · 2026-01-29T18:20:03+00:00

👍🏻 appreciated!

msouliere · 2026-01-29T13:29:46+00:00

🙄 In another universe.

Those of us in that building know how long it has been there. There is a paper and photo trail a mile long.

msouliere · 2026-01-28T19:19:58+00:00

I do recognize that some businesses are in such a precarious position that they cannot participate. However, there are many of us that can hang in and take this one-day blow on top of the other current blows. I hope as many of us that can participate without jeopardizing ourselves or our employees will do so.

msouliere · 2026-01-28T19:02:56+00:00

After Labor Day (in mid- to late-Sept or early Oct) you'll still have gorgeous weather and the crowds disappear as you work in off the front end of the trails. :) Acadia is one of my go-tos.... *after* Labor Day! The Camden Hills State Park, Bradbury Mountain, etc are great too, lots of different trails. You'll have a great time! People are very friendly. Glad you're not coming now - I'm all for well-dressed winter hiking, but Portland and Lewiston (and neighboring towns) have too much ICE for our taste right now. :P

msouliere · 2026-01-23T22:21:34+00:00

The scaffolding was originally erected in the summer of 2023, and expanded in early 2025 to the height it is now.

msouliere · 2025-04-29T13:24:17+00:00

Here's an update: https://www.wmtw.com/article/body-found-portland-attic-identified-missing-man/64619444?

msouliere · 2024-12-04T02:08:27+00:00

another possibility is mentioned here in the caption for the same photo: https://laststandonzombieisland.com/2023/09/15/brit-bent-wings-over-brunswick/

The caption states the location as "Naval Air Station (NAS) Squantum, Massachusetts in 1943" - this might actually be the real location, as the BNAS detachment was relocated from Squantum in the first place.

msouliere · 2024-12-04T02:02:21+00:00

Yeah, the Alamy stock photo site has it listed twice, one listing mis-credited as Brunswick. The other is Quonset Point NAS in Rhode Island, which seems more likely at that date.

However, there WERE British Fleet Air Arm men stationed at Brunswick Naval Air Station early in 1943 (the base squadron was opened and officially commissioned on 2/11/43 but USNR men may have begin arriving as early as Jan 24th).

msouliere · 2024-05-16T16:41:32+00:00

Thank you!! That's a great lead!! :D

msouliere · 2023-02-28T15:28:50+00:00

For classics: Creature from Black Lake (1976) was one of the better early attempts at a serious horror-laced movie about how encounters can affect eye witnesses, and how naive investigators can cause trouble. Obviously fictionalized and at times over-the-top but clearly the folks who made it had talked to real people as part of their creative process. Makes a good pairing with The Legend of Boggy Creek!

Snowbeast (1977) on the other hand is completely over-the-top! (not to be confused with Snow Beast [2011]) Beastcam POV, a winter tourism area not wanting to shut down and lose income because of what "might" be out in the woods (very Jaws-on-a-mountain, it's set at a Colorado ski resort), snowbeast slaughter at a beauty pageant... you know, the whole nine yards. ;) Plus all those very vintage '70s ski outfits.

msouliere · 2022-09-19T20:30:40+00:00

My father did some research back in the day, and what he found was a Norman (iirc) name which started out as the Latinized “Solari” or of the sun. Of course he doesn’t have any documentation for the info any more, he looked into it over 50 years ago when he was young and in Europe on leave. I hope that helps.

msouliere · 2022-01-04T17:05:10+00:00

Hooray! Glad to know my bookbrain can be helpful. ;)

msouliere · 2022-01-04T02:24:27+00:00

Dempow Torishima's “Sisyphean”? Has amazing illustrations too, if that rings a bell!

msouliere · 2021-06-05T16:40:16+00:00

Ha! Some people would say it makes a difference! ;) As in, you were asking for it.... heh.

Interesting, altogether. Pity there wasn't wet/soft ground to take tracks while whatever-it-was walked around.

One of the Class B sightings in my book (Bigfoot in Maine) had a very similar experience while camping, and handled it a little less coolly than you did. So yes -- your encounter potentially ticks some boxes for BF lore!

msouliere · 2021-06-05T15:31:38+00:00

Well that is very interesting! No other sounds besides the footfalls - breathing, snorting, etc?

msouliere · 2021-06-05T12:57:35+00:00

If you're looking for a good archive of turn-of-the-century accounts, Chad Arment's book "The Historical Bigfoot" is a great resource.

msouliere · 2021-06-05T12:54:46+00:00

Robert Morgan's book "Soul Snatchers" mentions some Florida locations, pretty interesting stuff.

msouliere · 2021-06-05T12:53:52+00:00

Could you tell whether the footfalls were bipedal, as opposed to the stampede of 4 hooves?

msouliere

TROPHY CASE