An Island Community, a Beloved Rec Center and the Coolest Hangout Spot
- Periscope Staff
- Jul 1
- 4 min read
It’s canon at this point: You cannot pass anyone on Swan’s Island, on foot or in a vehicle, without them waving to you. It’s more than a gesture or instinct; it’s a kindly acknowledgement of, “Hey, we’re both sharing this space and time.”
The wonder of smaller communities, particularly close-knit ones, is their ability to show up for neighbors and enact change. For the residents of Swan’s Island (around 360 year-round islanders and 1,000 summertime residents), banding together to meet needs is just part of island life. And at the heart of those efforts are the hosts of Daint’s Place, the invitation-only, speakeasy-themed private bar.
Husband and wife duo Jennifer Sytsma and Garrett Lemoine host the iconic spot, which they began building on their property in 2018. Daint’s Place is named after one of Lemoine’s rescue dogs — sort of. Years ago, after adopting a dog from the Ellsworth SPCA, Lemoine made a social media post welcoming his new dog, Dante, to the family. One of his friends commented, “Daint? Who names their dog Daint? That’s a stupid name!” It quickly became the joke that Dante was now “Daint” and the couple’s home became “Daint’s Place.”
“When we built this bar, we started calling it ‘Daint’s Shed.’ And then it just became Daint’s Place,” explained Sytsma.
Through several iterations and extensions, the hangout spot has become a second home to many of the islanders. “The island has always been dry, but there’s always been somewhere to gather,” Sytsma said. “Now, that’s here.”
There’s a soul to the gathering space that’s typically only ever experienced in centuries-old British taverns; there are piecemeal extensions decorated with antiques, and a memorial wall dedicated to friends and family keeps the spirits of the dead alive. A guitar rests on the top of one shelf — a final parting gift from a friend, left a week before he died.
Daint’s Place doesn’t have a cash register, as it’s not a public, for-profit bar. The rules are simple, said Sytsma, “If you want to come hang, you bring a bottle, you bring water, seltzer — whatever it is, everyone shares.”
It’s not just beverages that are shared in the cozy space; it’s troubles and woes too. In 2019, Sytsma and Lemoine hosted their first fundraiser at the bar.
“Friends of ours, who are like family, their very young daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer,” said Sytsma. “It was costing the family a lot of travel money, between ferry tickets and lodging and general expenses, so we did a karaoke fundraiser. It cost $20 for people to sing, or you had to pay $20 to get out of singing if someone else paid to nominate you. It was so fun — a friend called from out of state and donated $300 for someone to sing Tiny Dancer!” The karaoke night, plus a raffle, brought in over $8,000 to help the family. Library fundraisers, a school art program benefit and other charitable events and holiday celebrations followed.
Now, it’s the Swan’s Island Recreational Center that needs saving.
The modest, slightly dilapidated four-walled building has been the sole community hub on Swan’s Island since the early ‘80s. Lemoine said he grew up spending his days meeting friends there for games, and that his own parents met at the center’s ball field.
MacKenzie Holmes-Karol grew up spending her summers on the island, and shared that many of her coming-of-age moments happened at the Rec. She said, “When you’re young, 12 or 13, and you have this newfound independence, you can ride your bike to the Rec and you know that you’re going to know someone there.
“It was the first place where I had a crush on a boy. It was the place where I could let loose and have fun and be a kid — and be safe. We’ve celebrated life and love, and acknowledged the passing of my grandmother at the Rec. I’m thinking about my own child growing up and spending time on the island; how amazing is it going to be when he can ride his bike there? There’s nowhere else on the island where a kid can be a kid — we have to keep it forever.”
In support of the Rec Center Committee, which Sytsma insists has been the organizing power behind saving the Rec, Daint’s Place helped host a Memorial Day fundraiser complete with live music, barbecue, face painting and more. The community raised over $3,500, including $1,300 through GoFundMe, and that’s after the community raised enough for the roof to be replaced last year. But the center still needs another $15,000 for extensive repairs to the walls, floor and additional upgrades — though, the ultimate dream is to build a completely new center.
“The ball field needs seating, the center needs a kitchenette, it needs a total overhaul, “ Sytsma said. “When I first moved out here, my kid was 12 years old. Coming from a place where summer programs were really expensive and learning that my kid had somewhere to go three days a week — for free — to do crafts, play games, and meet other kids, that’s priceless. I don’t want to see that go away, and it’s close.”
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