In her youth, Lucy Nicolar (1882-1969) spent her summers with her family along the Kennebunk River making baskets and performing for tourists. Later, she was an activist for Native American rights. Lucy and her sister Florence also demanded the right to vote for their people. When the state extended suffrage to the Penobscots in 1955, Lucy Nicolar cast the first ballot.

"Penobscot and Passamaquoddy families from Indian Island in the Penobscot River, occupied land on both sides of Ocean Avenue at Cape Arundel every summer for almost 50 years. The Rancos settled first near Picnic Rocks in 1878. The Mitchells set up camp on Emery Point the following year. Both families later camped at the mouth of the Kennebunk River along with the Shays, the Neptunes, and the Nicolas, who first came in the summer of 1882. At first, they lived in tents but as time went on they built more permanent wooden structures. They made a good living making and selling sweetgrass baskets for the tourists. Louis Francis and Joseph Ranco, both Old Town Penobscot Indians, made birch bark canoes every summer near Government Wharf. Ranco is credited for making the first canvas canoe and patenting several canoe improvements over the years. Thanks to Joseph Ranco, Kennebunkport was considered a canoe-making center in the early-1900s. 'Indian Village' was torn down by landowner John Peabody in 1936." Kennebunkport Historical Society Facebook post for Indigenous Peoples Day 2019

"Lucy Nicolar was born June 22, 1882, on Indian Island, Maine, the daughter of Joseph Nicolar and Elizabeth Joseph. Every summer, her family traveled to the resort town of Kennebunkport to sell baskets. Lucy and her sister performed in Indian dress for the tourists. In her late teens she started performing at public events such as sportsman's shows. During those performances, she came to the attention of a Harvard administrator who hired her as his assistant. He took her into his household and gave her musical and educational opportunities in Boston and New York. In 1905, she married a doctor and moved to Washington, D.C. ... [Later] she returned to the Penobscot Indian Island Reservation [where] Lucy and her sister Florence campaigned to improve life for their people on the reservation. The sisters raised the educational standards for Penobscot children by gaining access to the public schools. And they persuaded the state to build a bridge to the island. Lucy and Florence also demanded the right to vote for their people. When the state extended suffrage to the Penobscots in 1955, Lucy Nicolar cast the first ballot. The Old Town Enterprise reported 'The princess has done much for the uplift of her people during her public career, both locally and nationally.' Lucy Nicolar died at Indian Island on March 27, 1969, at the age of 87." Native American History Facebook post - 11/1/23

"In January 1900, 17-year-old Lucy Nicolar traveled from her home on Indian Island in Penobscot County, Maine, to New York City where she attended a debate about immigration. Lucy, a Penobscot Indian, was also known as Princess Watahwaso. The debaters concluded that immigration was dangerous and threatening to all true Americans. Lucy rose to speak: 'I believe I am the only true American here. I think you have decided rightly. Of all my forefathers' country, from the St. John to the Connecticut, we have now but a little island one-half mile square. There are only about 500 of us now. We are very happy on our island, but we are poor. The railroad corporations, which did their share of robbing us of our land, are now begrudging us half-rate fare. But we forgive you all.' The room fell silent. Then the president of the society announced there'd be no musical feature as the pianist was sick - unless someone volunteered. Lucy Nicolar sat at the piano and played selections from Chopin. She then sang a plaintive song that, according to a journalist, touched everyone in the room. Princess Watahwosa would spend the rest of her life mixing entertainment with political activism." - New England Historical Society

"In July 1925 ... Lucy Nicolar, a Penobscot, performed at Picnic Rocks to the awe of the entire audience ... The Kennebunk River was fairly alive wiht canoes. We didn't suppose that such an unpretentious stream could boast such a vast assemblage of craft." - Brick Store Museum

"Lucy and her sister Florence campaigned to improve life for their people on the reservation. Their land stretched along the Penobscot River from Indian Island near Old Town to East Millinocket. The sisters raised the educational standards for Penobscot children by gaining access to the public schools. And they persuaded the state to build a bridge to the island. Lucy and Florence also demanded the right to vote for their people. When the state extended suffrage to the Penobscots in 1955, Lucy Nicolar cast the first ballot." - New England Historical Society

"Her third husband was Bruce Poolaw (1906-1984), a fellow entertainer. They retired to Maine together ... Lucy Nicolar Poolaw and her husband ran a basket shop, Chief Poolaw's Teepee." - Wikipedia

Additional information is provided in "Princess Watahwaso: Bright Star of the Penobscot" by Bunny McBride.

Bibliography:

Indigenous Peoples Day 2019 post - Sharon Cummins for the Kennebunkport Historical Society - 10/14/19

Post on Lucy Nicolar on the "Native American History" Facebook page - 11/1/23 - https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0322QuP6rH8P9cSCxVSamJaYFqVcJH7BQUNxPYZMEqnLtW2HA76kTAZCMQJqo6SCjl&id=100089592708765

Joseph Nicolar and his Daughters - by Charles Norman Shay - as presented at the University of Maine September 25th, 2006 - https://penobscotculture.org/34-historic-preservation/tribal-members/88-joseph-nicolar

Wikipedia article on Lucy Nicolar Poolaw - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Nicolar_Poolaw

Lucy Nicolar Goes Far From a Maine Indian Reservation - And Then Returns - New England Historical Society - https://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/lucy-nicolar-uplifts-people/

Princess Watahwaso: Bright Star of the Penobscot - Bunny McBride (2002) - Charles Norman Shay, publisher

Post on Lucy Nicolar on the Brick Store Museum Facebook page - 10/8/2021