Wed, 07/18/2012 - 10:45am

HILARY RIBONS, Staff Reporter

Lee Stoddard, Dolphin Mini Golf’s Shell Museum, HILARY RIBONS, Boothbay Register, Wiscasset,

Lee Stoddard and his dog Munchkin near Stoddard’s favorite shells in Dolphin Mini Golf’s Shell Museum. He picked up the shells on a trip to Panama a few years ago. See Lee Stoddard’s Shell Museum at Dolphin Mini Golf, at 510 Wiscasset Rd. (Route 27) in Boothbay. The course and museum are open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. HILARY RIBONS/Boothbay Register.

Boothbay’s local mini golf course showcases an interesting feature.

Inside the only covered bridge in Lincoln County is an extensive collection of shells from all over the world.

The course’s owner Lee Stoddard said his father began the shell collection as a Navy ship repairman during World War II. Whenever Kenneth Stoddard had a few days off, he would go ashore and collect seashells, many from South Pacific islands. Every couple of weeks, he would send home a box full of shells.

A little more than 20 years ago, Kenneth Stoddard was diagnosed with cancer, which quickly progressed. Lee Stoddard and his brother Bob promised their father the shells, which were sitting in boxes in the attic, would be put in a museum.

“We told him we were going to build a bridge for it instead of just putting them in a building,” Lee Stoddard said. “I imagine he would be happy to have them shown.”

Since the museum’s opening 20 years ago the collection has grown. Some of the shells added have been collected by Stoddard himself and some were donated. The museum is on AAA’s list of attractions for visitors to the area.

Stoddard said his favorites are probably shells that he picked up a few years ago in Panama. They are cleaned and polished and shine in vibrant emeralds, deep blues and pearls.

“They almost look man-made,” he said, as he looked at them through the glass.

As for the future of the shell museum, Stoddard said “As far as I know, it’ll be here. It’ll be here as long as I am, anyway.”