History of Harris Island

The Dockside Guest Quarters and Restaurant are off shoots of what started out as a marina. In 1953 David Lusty purchased Harris Island to build and operate a marina. During the summer of 1955 Harriette Sibley arrived on the scene to assist the growing business. She survived the summer and married David the next year. Occasionally visiting yachtsmen would inquire about accommodations and hot showers ashore in the large house overlooking the harbor. Harris Island came with a delapitated 15 room house, circa 1895. After several lodging requests, it was decided to renovate the house and turn it into yachtsmen's quarters. This was such a hit that people were soon coming by car to stay on Harris Island. Over the next 20 years, Harriette and David Lusty would add a 90 seat restaurant, 4 multi-unit buildings, bringing the room total to 25, and four sons.

Meet the Innkeepers

The Dockside is now in its second generation of Lusty family management. David and Harriette Lusty have retired from day to day innkeeping after running the Dockside for 33 years. They still look forward to visiting with guests as they go about their second career of maintaining the Dockside's gardens. They also spend as much time as weather allows on their sail boat Holiday. David often skippers harbor cruises offered to inn guests several times each week. He is an accomplished storyteller, describing all the sites and history of the waterfront.

The lodging is now managed by 2nd son Eric and his wife Carol. They have been at the helm for 16 years now. They have three sons; Harrison 15, Connor 12 and Ryan 9. Carol came to Maine to teach school after graduating from Radford College is southwestern Virginia. Eric holds a Coast Guard license for navigating large ocean going ships that he obtained while at Marine Maritime Academy. Before innkeeping, they both worked for Cruise International, a Norfolk, Virginia based harbor cruise ship operator.

The Dockside Restaurant is operated by 3rd son Philip and his wife, Anne. They have two children; Meghan 11 and Andrew 9. They have been managing the restaurant for 13 years. Philip earned his B.S. in Food, Hotel & Tourism from the Rochester Institute of Technology. Following graduation, Philip was hired by Hilton Hotels and relocated to Westchester County, N.Y. were he worked his way to Director of Catering. It was during this tenure in N.Y. he met Anne, who is a graduate of Siena College with a B.S. in marketing and has subsequently has earned her M.B.A. from Franklin & Pierce College. Anne too, was employed by Hilton Hotels as a Director of Catering in Danbury Ct., a competing hotel! Now they are on the same team and have used their combined experience to develop a wonderful ala cart dining and catering operation.