By Colin Sargent

Jill Blackwood says, “We’ve been here for 16 years, but my husband’s parents built the house in 1990.” This spectacular spot on the Portland ship channel “used to be the old Cloyester Hotel, one of those old wooden classic Maine hotels.” 

You mean one of the “summer flammables”? 

“Yes! It was run down,” falling apart, unsaveable. Now, from this vantage point, Jill shoots pictures of yachts coming into port. “This house, this property, looks down the channel between Portland Head Light and Ram Island Light. Everything comes by us.” 

Just try and put one past her! She’s the former principal at Riverton Elementary (now Gerald E. Talbot Community School), and years before her husband, Bob Blackwood, rose to senior vice president at Norway Savings (retiring in 2009), he “was in the special forces.” 

You mean he was a Green Beret? 

“Yes.” 

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