The Fish N’ Frittery Fry is as much a July Forth tradition in Stonington as the fireworks that launch from the pier. The Fry, a fundraiser to provide scholarships for students from fishing families on Deer Isle, has become a local tradition and a unique tourist attraction for over 20 years. Hundreds of tourists gather on the Stonington fish pier in Deer Isle on the Fourth of July to hear live music, watch the fireworks, and to buy a fish sandwich from the Fish N’ Fritter Fry.
The Fry begins in the late afternoon, as tourists and locals alike step up to the counter to order. They are met with by a long row of “runners” in identical blue aprons who are mostly teenagers working for community service hours. A long white tent is set up behind the runners, and underneath the tent are multiple stations, each with it’s own fryer. Rows of islanders assemble fish sandwiches and dish French fries into little cardboard containers. Now and then a bell rings out, indicating a generous donation has just been made, and everyone behind the table cheers.
This fast-food scholarship program began in 1989 when several island residents noticed there weren’t many scholarships for island students. They wanted to create an opportunity so that students could continue on to receive a higher education. The group thought it would be fun to have a fish fry and decided to have it on the Forth of July; that way they could bring in most of the scholarship money from tourists and not exhaust the generosity of their small fishing community.
Originally, the Fish N’ Fritter Fry started with some ten volunteers and two fryers under a small tent. The menu included only a few items, all donated by local fishermen, which kept the expenses low. The first year was a hit. Since then, the fish fry has been going strong, growing from a small stand to a large operation with around 60 volunteers. The menu, too, has grown, and now includes such island delicacies as Dick Bridges’ famous fish chowder, fresh crabmeat rolls, and steamed mussels. Regardless of how many people are planned for, the more popular menu items are sold out by the time the fireworks light the sky.
The Fish Fry is now run by a board of local people. Each year, the board gives out two to five scholarships to students from fishing families ranging between $2000 and $4500. Any senior from a fishing family can apply for the scholarships.
“It’s different from other scholarships,” says recipient Hannah Siebert, ” Instead of filling out a form or an essay, you actually have to work” at the Fry.
The students who receive a scholarship also are expected to ride on a float in the July Fourth parade in their graduation robes.
“We don’t give all of [the money] out,” said founding member Linda Stratton of the scholarship funds, “We keep some of it so that when we decide to stop doing [the fry], we will still have money to give out.”
The board also sends out appeal letters in May to their benefactors in hopes that that money they donate will cover another year’s expenses.
“We are… still fortunate to get a lot of generous donations,” says Stratton.
This year the Fish N’ Fritter Fry raised more money than it ever has in the past, and scholarships went out to five island students, graduates of Deer Isle-Stonington High School. All of these students have been participating in the Fish N’ Fritter Fry for as long as they have been in high school.
“I volunteered on the pier with them for four years,” says scholarship recipient Hannah Siebert, from the graduating class of 2010. “Over time, that’s only 15-20 hours of work for a $500 scholarship, so it definitely pays off. Any amount of money toward college is extremely helpful.”
Emily Cormier is a student at Deer Isle High School and a participant in The Working Waterfront’s Student Writing Program.