SCARBOROUGH – Whenever town workers were out straight plowing snow or fighting a fire, Bette Pennell would trudge up Black Point Road in the middle of the night to open her small restaurant on Route 1.

The town tore down Bette’s Lunch in 2003, the year after Pennell retired because of failing health. But few who frequented the local institution have forgotten the kindness and generosity, which she demonstrated in her own special way.

“She had a big heart and she wanted to make sure the guys got fed,” said Police Chief Robert Moulton. “If they were going to be working through the night, she wanted them to have a good breakfast and a hot cup of coffee.”

Pennell died Tuesday at the Monarch Center in Saco. She was 85. She is survived by two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

She operated the yellow restaurant beside the Oak Hill Fire Station for more than 50 years, serving up everything from bacon and eggs to burgers and sandwiches. She kept prices low and ran the place by herself, doing all the cooking, serving and cleaning. When she got busy, customers helped themselves to coffee.

Everybody in town ate at Bette’s Lunch, including Scarborough High School students who were skipping classes.

“I can’t confirm or deny being one of them,” said Moulton, who grew up in Scarborough. “Though I suppose the statute of limitations has run out on that offense. I guess I can say that I’ve been at Bette’s when I was supposed to be at school.”

Moulton never saw Pennell operate a cash register or drive a car.

“I remember seeing her make change from a box she kept in a drawer,” Moulton said. “I always saw her walking, and if you stopped to offer her a ride, she’d say no.”

Pennell was a straight-forward woman who let people know when she liked them and when she didn’t. She often showed her disdain for salesmen and people from Massachusetts, even though she loved the Boston Red Sox and the Celtics.

“She didn’t pull any punches,” Moulton said. “You knew where you stood with Bette. If she liked you, you were pretty much set for life. If she didn’t, you were out of luck.”

Tony Attardo Sr. started eating at Bette’s Lunch in 1967, when he moved to town with his family and started working at the former Bicknell Photo Service plant on Route 1. He was one of many Bicknell employees to ate regularly at Pennell’s place.

“She was a genuine, hard-working lady who would do anything for the locals, especially if you loved the Red Sox,” said Attardo, a former town councilor. “She had a big, autographed photo of Ted Williams on the wall, and if you said anything bad about him, she’d just as soon tell you to go eat someplace else.”

Shortly before Pennell retired, the town reached an agreement with her to buy the restaurant for $91,000. The building was razed to allow for future expansion of the fire and police station. The public works department got a grant to create a small park where the restaurant stood.

“She has been missed by a lot of people,” Moulton said. “She will continue to be missed.” 

Staff Writer Kelley Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6328 or at:

kbouchard@pressherald.com

 

Copy the Story Link