Maine's original roadside eats king at 95

By Ted Cohen

A former Maine judge who put himself through school with proceeds from selling hot dogs has died.

Alan Pease's hot dog stand later became Red's Eats, an internationally known seafood stand in Wiscasset, Maine.

Pease was a former Maine District Court judge, serving at one point as chief jurist.

To make money for his education, Pease sold hot dogs, his son Daniel Pease told The Lincoln County News.

When he was 19, he purchased a hot dog stand called The Little Trailer in Wiscasset from Stan and Velma Dodge, according to his son.

After switching hands a couple more times, it would go on to be known as Red’s Eats seafood stand alongside Route 1.

Red's still has on its menu the "Sturdley," a hot dog Pease originated.

Pease's original Wiscasset stand, Al’s Eats, helped put him through law school and would later become Red’s Eats, the Wiscasset lobster roll landmark known around the world, according to his obituary in Boothbay Harbor Register.

While operating Al’s he created the “Sturdley,” a grilled dog with cheese that remains on Red’s menu today.