Chris:
Welcome back to Coffee on the Couch. I’m your host, Chris, and today we’re diving into the rich tapestry of history and storytelling with none other than Robert W. Spencer.

Robert is an accomplished author with a knack for capturing the essence of small-town Maine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work isn’t just historical fiction—it’s about the relationships, struggles, and triumphs that define us. From his meticulously researched Lizzie Millett series to his poetic explorations of life’s quieter moments, Robert’s voice is as authentic as the landscapes he paints with his words.

So grab your favorite brew, settle in, and join me for a conversation as warm and dynamic as the mill ponds he calls home.

So, welcome, Robert.

Robert:
Thank you. Thanks, Chris. I appreciate the opportunity to be here.

Water over the dam

Chris:
Yeah, definitely. Glad we could get this going and have you on.

It’s interesting how we got connected—your publicist, Melissa Garrity.

Robert:
Right.

Chris:
Yeah.

Robert:
Melissa is very active. She’s very creative when it comes to websites and promoting her authors. She has a number of authors she’s working with right now in the Bangor area. I’m down here in southern Maine, but I’ve found it very valuable to work with her.

Chris:
Yeah, she’s got a real high energy about her. You can even pick up on it through email.

Robert:
That’s right, that’s right, that’s good.
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Chris:
So, your writing captures the intricate details of life in rural Maine between 1860 and 1910. What inspired you to focus on this particular era, and how do you go about recreating such an authentic sense of time and place?

Robert:
I think that period—1860 to 1910—was a time of significant growth here in southern Maine. Right after the Civil War, Maine started to modernize. Before 1860, before the war, it was largely an agricultural economy. People didn’t travel much; they were self-sufficient, living on farms with large families.

For example, here in Waterford, we have three villages. The people in South Waterford rarely, if ever, went to Waterford because they simply didn’t need to.

After the Civil War, that started to change. People began to travel more, leaving their communities to work in mills—small mills that were being set up all over. To me, that marked the beginning of modern Maine.

Chris:
And how did you go about recreating that world so vividly?

Robert:
I live in a village here in Waterford—especially South Waterford and Waterford City—both of which were very active during that time period. Many of my mentors here, some of whom are no longer with us, really opened my eyes to what life was like back then. Their stories and experiences gave me a deep appreciation for the way people lived, worked, and built their communities.

Chris:
Yeah, that’s fascinating. Villages back then were almost like their own little cities, right? You knew the people in your village, and you were deeply connected to them.

Robert:
That’s exactly right.

Chris:
Correct me if I’m wrong, but back in the 1860s, villages probably had their own blacksmiths, general stores, and craftsmen, right?

Robert:
Oh, absolutely. In this village alone, there were nine mill buildings—nine mills along a small stream that runs right through town. Actually, my house is the last existing mill building from that era. Back in the late 1800s, this was a very active place. People worked right here; they didn’t have to leave town to make a living.

There were stores, many of them run out of people’s homes, as well as blacksmith shops. These communities were entirely self-sufficient.

Chris:
Yeah, a little different now.

Robert:
Just a tad bit.
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