Orlando Bibber

The coastal town of Harpswell comprises a series of narrow peninsulas, which jut out into Casco Bay. At its very tip lie the village(s) of South and West Harpswell, home of Ollie Bibber. His father supported his wife and six children by working on a local Harpswell estate and fishing. Ollie chose not to follow in that line of work and, at a young age, moved to Portland where he learned the skills necessary to become a marine engineer and he is listed in the 1902 Harpswell City Directory as serving in that capacity in South Harpswell.

During WWI, he served as assistant engineer in the US Merchant Marine. Following the war, he became chief engineer for the Eastern Steamship Line on vessels that ran between Portla...