Chapter 1: The Dream
Having just graduated in 1948 from Beverly High School in Beverly, Massachusetts, the young Eddie Dyer packed up pots, pans, dishes and other kitchen equipment into his Willys and prepared to head for Prospect, Maine, to start his dream. He was opening his own restaurant. For years he had worked in diners and odd jobs, saved his money and dreamt of this day. Every extra cent went toward kitchen utensils and the money necessary to buy the Sail Inn Restaurant he had found just a few miles north of where relatives lived in Maine.
Eddie had more than a dream – he had drive. He passed up an opportunity for veterinary school and even later turned down a recording contract in New York City in order to run his restaurant. He developed many of his own recipes including two types of fried clams, which became legendary.
The Sail Inn Restaurant was built in 1936 to take advantage of the traffic coming over the newly built Waldo Hancock Bridge. When it went up for sale, Eddie jumped on the opportunity. With all of his savings he convinced his parents to sign because he was too young to have a malt liquor license in Maine. His parents also agreed to cook breakfast and lunch so that he could earn additional money working as a stonecutter at the Grenci & Ellis Granite works in Frankfort. Characteristic of Eddie, his stonework became masterful and included many of the granite blocks in the Prudential Building in Boston and buildings around the world.
He rose early, eating his favorite baked bean and onion sandwich and reported to the stone shed by 5 a.m. At 3 p.m. he would head for the restaurant, take a quick nap on the freezer in the back room, then prep for the 5 p.m. dinner rush, keeping the restaurant going until 1 a.m. It was hard work, but he loved it!
Eddie met and married his roller skating date, Vera Estelle Gebo, commencing to raise a work force for the restaurant. All six kids worked in the family business and the two youngest, eventually owned the restaurant. Eddie also knew how to have fun. Eddie always had a joke to tell at the kitchen door strategically placed so that most people who walked by could “holler in.” He also had a great singing voice. Just like Eddie Arnold, according to most folks. People would order their fried clams and a tune, which Eddie would sing between cooking their meals.