Houlton Pioneer Times File Photo
REVIEWING BLUEPRINTS — Henry Ivey looks over the blueprints for the “new” Ivey’s Motor Lodge in April 1985.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The Shiretown lost a true American businessman on Jan. 6 when Henry W. Ivey, 88, died after a lengthy illness.
Ivey, a modest man, conducted his business quietly with keen foresight. Ivey’s Motel was built on the Bangor Road in 1958 and only the shell is visible today. Although only a hint of its former self, Ivey’s Motel still evokes an image of the thriving promise of Houlton — a community Ivey believed in.
“Dad always loved Houlton and wanted to come back,” said middle daughter Linda Lefurgey. “He was very interested and very concerned about the growth and development of Houlton, as a businessman in the local community.”
Ivey’s introduction to the hospitality industry started as a youngster. His parents, Edward and Nellie (Kitchen) Ivey ran a restaurant in the 1930s at what is now Wiggy’s — formerly Skehan’s Market. Ivey spent many times waiting on customers or washing dishes for 10 cents a day.
Ivey’s work ethic started at home, as the whole family worked at the restaurant, and his kind spirit from childhood training.
Ivey’s Restaurant was open every day 24 hours a day and many times, his parents often would “give out a plate of beans, a roll and a cup of coffee to someone passing through,” Ivey said in a 1984 interview with the Houlton Pioneer Times. Other residents would barter services whether it be chopping wood or washing dishes in trade for a meal, particularly during The Depression.
After the Iveys sold their restaurant, they operated Ivey’s Lodge, a tourist home, at 56 Court St. A tourist home was the forerunner of a motel.
Serving in United States Army, 1943-46, in the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign, Ivey returned to his hometown roots.
He introduced Houlton to a six-car fleet of taxis with the first two-way radio vehicle system north of Bangor. Ivey’s Radio Cabs operated in the Shiretown for 17 years before Ivey sold the business.
While operating the taxi business, his next venture was building an eight-unit motel on the Bangor Road in 1958 and running Ivey’s Motel with his wife, Marcinne. In 1959, they added four more rooms for an upper level and in 1960, another six to the side, as there was a demand with the Bangor Road being the main route to Bangor and all points south at that time.
During their expansion, the Iveys added the Dogwood Room, a coffee shop, and then the Gold Room for their full-service buffet and an outdoor pool in the late 1960s. From there, the Mediterranean Room, which seated 57 additional people, and The Brig, a lounge area, were also provided. The Iveys also featured live entertainment.
“Dad could do it all,” said daughter Joanne Greenspan. “If someone didn’t show up, he could fill in. He was sharp.”
Greenspan noted he even cut meat, while daughter Linda added, “He cooked breakfast on occasion when the cook didn’t show up.”
In its heyday, Ivey’s Motel employed between 30-35 people. They were on the cutting edge of the industry, with televisions, air conditioning, in-room movies and telephones in each of their rooms.
With the introduction of I-95, Ivey began to look at moving to the North Road.
“He bought property on the North Road a long time before he built on it,” said Joanne. “He was always thinking.”
Even with the introduction of the interstate, the business at the Bangor Road location continued to thrive with sound marketing.
Son Mark said his father had plans to build another motel in the late ‘70s, but put it off. Ground was broken in 1974 for the project, but a slowing economy delayed the project. But when he did get ready for the endeavor, the state tried to block his efforts.
“Anyone old enough in Houlton will remember this,” said Mark. “The state almost took that property by eminent domain because that is where they wanted to put the tourist information center. Dad had to fight for it. Attorneys and businessmen from the area were going to Augusta and playing that back and forth,” he added.
Houlton Pioneer Times File Photo
BACK IN THE DAY — Ivey’s Motel, located on the Bangor Road in Houlton, was once a hopping place back in the day.
Finally, the tourist information bureau was moved across the street to its existing location.
In 1984, Ivey’s Motor Lodge was constructed and opened for business in 1985.
“He was a great boss,” said Peggy Durost of Houlton. “He was a good boss, good friend and I admired him for being an honest person.”
Durost worked for Ivey for 12 years at the North Road motor lodge. When she was 14, she worked for Ivey’s parents at their restaurant.
“He was in the service at the time, but he was just like a brother to me,” she said. “I could confide in him and he was very helpful to me.”
Durost said if you had a question and you asked him, he’d give an honest answer.
“He had a nice personality,” she added. “And everything had to be precise.”
The new lodge had a combined room capacity of 70 rooms filled with modern technology. The motor lodge also introduced the Black Duck Lounge. The Iveys offered shuttle service from the motor lodge to Ivey’s restaurant on the Bangor Road.
“We ran both for awhile,” said Ivey’s wife Marcinne. But, the couple sold the Bangor Road location in 1989, operating just the one motel until they sold Ivey’s Motor Lodge to Rick Kelly in 2002.
After retiring from the business, Ivey encountered health problems, but none that wouldn’t allow him to communicate. He had leg problems which slowed him down. But in 2007, he suffered a stroke, which depleted his health, leading him to need 24-hour care.
“Dad absolutely loved what he did,” said Joanne. Her siblings agreed with tidbits about how Ivey would scope out a room when they were traveling to asking the children when they were at another hotel with dining to get a menu.
“He liked going to the hotel-motel show in New York City, when he was in business,” added Mark. Joanne injected, “He loved seeing how other people did it.”
Aside from the hospitality industry, Ivey enjoyed eating out across the border and traveling back wooded roads.
“One time, we went looking for moose,” Linda said. “We got lost. We ended up in Masardis.”
Recounting time spent with their father, each child recalled a special story and it was not sentimental, but it was humor that broke through.
“One statement I remember Dad saying all the time, ‘Oops, didn’t see that curb.’ He’d be looking at something and hit the curb going down the road.”
“When you rode with Dad, he would drift to the side,” Joanne laughed.
“I remember riding with him when he would snow plow. He always wanted someone to ride with him when he was plowing. We’d sit and talk for hours,” said Linda.
The girls remember their father teaching them to drive while sitting on his lap. But, Mark recited a story of his driving experience.
“We were on the interstate,” Mark explained. “Mom wasn’t feeling good so she was taking a nap in the back. Dad was driving and I was sitting in the middle. Dad said, ‘Why don’t you drive?’ So, Dad put the cruise control on. I was probably 10 or 12. He went to sleep and I was in the middle driving.”
Joanne also noted her father’s softer side.
“He was very kind and didn’t get upset,” she said. “When you did something you shouldn’t, he never raised his voice, but he would talk to you until you’d think, oh, I wish I hadn’t done that. You would feel so bad because you never wanted to disappoint him. He never lost patience because I did some really screwy things.”
Ivey had pride in his self-made business, as he was a hands-on owner. People recounted seeing Ivey with a pitcher of water, going table to table, refilling their glass before it was half gone. He was considered a gentleman in every sense of the word. After all, he knew it took hard work, personal involvement to keep a business sharp and Ivey’s Motel was a reflection of who he was.
“If he could give someone a job, he would,” added his son with a tone of admiration.
Marcinne said, “We never got away very much.”
“It is too slow in the winter and too busy in the summer, don’t ya know,” Ivey would say. But, each part of his business was to better serve customers. Remember Rock Renaissance, the no vacancy sign and cars packing the parking lot. Ivey’s Motel was a gem of its time, and you, Mr. Ivey, a true treasure.
