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Larkin City, Maine is a fictional harbor town
featured in the Collective Obsessions Saga by
Deidre Dalton.
Larkin City is located in Waldo County, which is in the heart of coastal Maine
between the cities of Bar Harbor and Camden, and on the western shore of
Penobscot Bay.
Irish immigrant John Larkin settled a twenty-two
mile stretch of Maine coastline between Searsport and Stockton Springs, where he
formally established Larkin Village in the spring of 1867.
Notable buildings in Larkin City include Bruno's
Café, the Amber Whale Tavern, Brickyard Square, Clyde's Billiard Hall, Banshee Point Hotel, Golf Course &
Winery; The Byre Resort, Larkin City University (LCU), Silver Tassel Restaurant and
the Coven Nightclub.
 THE
MANSION:
The Larkin estate is located six miles outside the
city limits. The fictional family mansion is collectively based on several
existing structures, including:
John Larkin spared no expense when constructing
his grand estate, completed in 1874 with the aid of renowned architect Richard
Morris Hunt. The mansion was built on a steep incline Mr. Larkin christened
Banshee Point, which was surrounded by a dense stand of pine trees and endless
green lawns. At the top of Banshee Point was a path that led to the estate's
lighthouse and the sheer, rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean and private beach.
The house is a combination of vernacular
Châteauesque and mock Tudor design with elaborate towers, spires and
black-mullioned windows. Ivy and moss cling to the exterior walls, giving the
mansion an eerie ambiance.
The rooftop of the house can only be accessed from the lofty attic, where a door
and steps lead to the apex. Rather than the simple, railed-roof platform found
atop many coastal homes, John Larkin built his Widow's Walk so it ran almost the
entire length of the house. Instead of wooden railings, the protective barriers
are made of gray stone and reached high enough so people could rest their arms
safely and look over the side. From the rooftop, Larkin City can be seen in the
distance.
For more, visit
About Larkin City and the
Larkin Estate.
Next: Characters in the Kitchen >
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 TRIVIA
Fun facts about Larkin City:
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Several shops line Main Street in Larkin City, including eateries that
sell fish and chips or steamed mussels in brown paper wrappers, soaked in
vinegar and salt; a breakfast takeaway that specializes in blueberry scones
and ham with blueberry biscuits, and a tourist shop that arranges for group
windjammer rides on the harbor and bike rides through the valley. There are
also several produce stands open in the summer featuring home-grown Maine
staples: fresh meats, blueberries and blueberry products, smoked seafood,
teas, beer, pine nuts, maple syrup, and a vast array of fresh fruits and
vegetables.
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Many people came to settle in the harbor town, from as far away as New
York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
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Larkin City University (LCU) has six colleges including medicine, law,
computer technology, business, forestry and culinary arts.
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