Cranberry Isles, Little Cranberry Island, Islesford
William Otis Sawtelle (1874-1939), physicist, historian, genealogist, author founded the museum in 1919. Architect Edmund B. Gilchrist designed the Colonial Revival building, built in 1927. The building, Sawtelle’s Edwin Hadlock’s ship chandlery (The Blue Duck Ships’ Store) the Sawtelle gravesite, and 1.3 acres were acquired by the National Park Service in 1948. The Islesford Historical Museum built in 1927 contains deeds, maps, engravings, papers, and artifacts related to the early history of the Acadia region. The collection also includes artifacts of the region's cultural history including fur- nishings, tools, photographs and scrapbooks. The records of the active schooner which carried cargoes from the Cranberry Isles to ports all over the world cover about one hundred years beginning in 1796.
Cranberry Isles, Little Cranberry Island, Islesford
State:
ME
Description: William Otis Sawtelle (1874-1939), physicist, historian, genealogist, author founded the museum in 1919. Architect Edmund B. Gilchrist designed the Colonial Revival building, built in 1927. The building, Sawtelle’s Edwin Hadlock’s ship chandlery (The Blue Duck Ships’ Store) the Sawtelle gravesite, and 1.3 acres were acquired by the National Park Service in 1948. The Islesford Historical Museum built in 1927 contains deeds, maps, engravings, papers, and artifacts related to the early history of the Acadia region. The collection also includes artifacts of the region's cultural history including fur- nishings, tools, photographs and scrapbooks. The records of the active schooner which carried cargoes from the Cranberry Isles to ports all over the world cover about one hundred years beginning in 1796. [show more]
The camp was located on the bluff above Wasgatt Cove "on the east side of Some's Sound, a little to the north of the house of Mr. Asa Smallidge, and opposite Flying Mountain and the cliff of Dog Mountain on the western side of the Sound." "Charles [Eliot] did not know just where he would pitch the camp, but expected to find a suitable and central place somewhere between Otter Creek and Seawall Point. So, after picking up the camp equipment at a house on Waukeag Neck, he cruised along that shore and went up into Somes Sound and anchored in what we now call Wasgatt's Cove on the eastern shore. There, above the gravel bank, was a bit of open meadow with a good spring at the back and just to the north of the brook which is the outlet of Hadlock Pond fell with a little waterfall into the cove." - "The Champlain Society" fragment of manuscript by Samuel Atkins Eliot, 1931 - in the collection of the Mount Desert Island Historical Society. See also: "Charles Eliot, Landscape Architect, A Lover Of Nature And Of His Kind, Who Trained Himself For A New Profession, Practised It Happily And Through It Wrought Much Good," p. 26.
Description: The camp was located on the bluff above Wasgatt Cove "on the east side of Some's Sound, a little to the north of the house of Mr. Asa Smallidge, and opposite Flying Mountain and the cliff of Dog Mountain on the western side of the Sound." "Charles [Eliot] did not know just where he would pitch the camp, but expected to find a suitable and central place somewhere between Otter Creek and Seawall Point. So, after picking up the camp equipment at a house on Waukeag Neck, he cruised along that shore and went up into Somes Sound and anchored in what we now call Wasgatt's Cove on the eastern shore. There, above the gravel bank, was a bit of open meadow with a good spring at the back and just to the north of the brook which is the outlet of Hadlock Pond fell with a little waterfall into the cove." - "The Champlain Society" fragment of manuscript by Samuel Atkins Eliot, 1931 - in the collection of the Mount Desert Island Historical Society. See also: "Charles Eliot, Landscape Architect, A Lover Of Nature And Of His Kind, Who Trained Himself For A New Profession, Practised It Happily And Through It Wrought Much Good," p. 26. [show more]
Nell Thornton, who attended this school, says, "The schoolhouse lot was purchased of William Thomas Holmes (1829-1910) on March 27, 1860, and the building erected that year to take the place of the old one which stood opposite Mr. John F. Young's house." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 132-133. (See Thornton, p. 130-131 for an account of an earlier school at Norwood Cove, which stood at the south corner of Main Street & Fernald Point Road. That land is now part of the Causeway Club.) "In 1913 the school at Norwood's Cove was abolished and since that time the pupils have attended the schools at the village. Throughout the years this school district maintained a high rank of scholarship and many earnest and gifted teachers have taught in the little building, which was painted yellow with white trimmings and for equipment had a large desk for the teacher, a chair, one or two maps and part of the time a water pail and tin dipper." In 1923 Allston Sargent (1875-1944) of East Orange, New Jersey, bought the school property from the Town of Southwest Harbor. (HRD 584/14). The deed, dated November 6, 1923, says that the lot is 1/5 acre together with the building thereon formerly used as a school house. The school building was razed in 1937 by Lawrence S. Robinson (1897-1980), who recycled the lumber for an addition to his house at 28 Fernald Point Road, Map 9 - Lot 28. The Robinson house has since been razed. In 1946 Robinson's sister, Esther M. (Robinson) Hynes (1901-1983) and her husband, Cecil E. Hynes bought the property and built a summer cottage on it. It was sold out of the family until 1980 when Lawrence Robinson's daughter, Joan (Robinson) Terry and her husband, Wilbert Terry, purchased the property and made it their year round home.
Description: Nell Thornton, who attended this school, says, "The schoolhouse lot was purchased of William Thomas Holmes (1829-1910) on March 27, 1860, and the building erected that year to take the place of the old one which stood opposite Mr. John F. Young's house." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 132-133. (See Thornton, p. 130-131 for an account of an earlier school at Norwood Cove, which stood at the south corner of Main Street & Fernald Point Road. That land is now part of the Causeway Club.) "In 1913 the school at Norwood's Cove was abolished and since that time the pupils have attended the schools at the village. Throughout the years this school district maintained a high rank of scholarship and many earnest and gifted teachers have taught in the little building, which was painted yellow with white trimmings and for equipment had a large desk for the teacher, a chair, one or two maps and part of the time a water pail and tin dipper." In 1923 Allston Sargent (1875-1944) of East Orange, New Jersey, bought the school property from the Town of Southwest Harbor. (HRD 584/14). The deed, dated November 6, 1923, says that the lot is 1/5 acre together with the building thereon formerly used as a school house. The school building was razed in 1937 by Lawrence S. Robinson (1897-1980), who recycled the lumber for an addition to his house at 28 Fernald Point Road, Map 9 - Lot 28. The Robinson house has since been razed. In 1946 Robinson's sister, Esther M. (Robinson) Hynes (1901-1983) and her husband, Cecil E. Hynes bought the property and built a summer cottage on it. It was sold out of the family until 1980 when Lawrence Robinson's daughter, Joan (Robinson) Terry and her husband, Wilbert Terry, purchased the property and made it their year round home. [show more]
“The school house was built in 1901, replacing one built on the same site about 1860.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 183.
Description: “The school house was built in 1901, replacing one built on the same site about 1860.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 183.
"At Southwest Harbor after J. T. R. Freeman, Mrs. Emily Robinson Farnsworth had the [post] office for some time; then J. A. Freeman and William J. Tower held it alternately according to change of political administration for several terms. Then E. S. Thurston was appointed and held office for twelve years until Earll W. Gott was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The office has changed location with every new postmaster…" - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 105. "William J. Tower built the building east of the Jackson lot and he kept the post-office there for a number of years. He sold to E. S. Thurston when Mr. Thurston took over the duties of postmaster and after his services of twelve years were past, the property was sold in 1936 to Mrs. Fred A. Birlem whose son, Wallace Birlem, built the double garage behind it with living rooms above which he occupies [1938]." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 157.
Description: "At Southwest Harbor after J. T. R. Freeman, Mrs. Emily Robinson Farnsworth had the [post] office for some time; then J. A. Freeman and William J. Tower held it alternately according to change of political administration for several terms. Then E. S. Thurston was appointed and held office for twelve years until Earll W. Gott was appointed by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The office has changed location with every new postmaster…" - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 105. "William J. Tower built the building east of the Jackson lot and he kept the post-office there for a number of years. He sold to E. S. Thurston when Mr. Thurston took over the duties of postmaster and after his services of twelve years were past, the property was sold in 1936 to Mrs. Fred A. Birlem whose son, Wallace Birlem, built the double garage behind it with living rooms above which he occupies [1938]." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 157. [show more]
The Southwest Harbor Water Company was founded by Dr. Joseph Dana Phillips, Anson I. Holmes, Jesse H. Pease, Alton E. Farnsworth, summer resident, Robert Kaighn, and lawyer, George R. Fuller. - "Acts and Resolves of the Sixty-sixth Legislature of the State of Maine, 1893, p. 621-623.
Description: The Southwest Harbor Water Company was founded by Dr. Joseph Dana Phillips, Anson I. Holmes, Jesse H. Pease, Alton E. Farnsworth, summer resident, Robert Kaighn, and lawyer, George R. Fuller. - "Acts and Resolves of the Sixty-sixth Legislature of the State of Maine, 1893, p. 621-623.
The one room schoolhouse used from 1862 to 1906. "[The Free High School, built c. 1862] was still a one-room school with but one teacher and every year more students came to study. The interests of the widely separated parts of the town were so different that it was impossible to come to an agreement and when the building of a new schoolhouse was suggested it was impossible to agree on a new location. Finally, when the Southwest Harbor citizens demanded new buildings at the village and at Manset, those in the western part of the town decided to separate themselves from Southwest Harbor. This was agreed upon by both sides and the town of Southwest Harbor was incorporated February 21, 1905 [this dividing the Southwest Harbor area from Tremont.] The new town voted to build a new schoolhouse at the village and raised the sum of $4500 to do so. This sum included the purchase of additional land. The old building stood close to the main road and had but little land surrounding it, and the new one was to be set farther back with a playground in front of it. The old building was sold to George Harmon and moved to the lot south of the school lot where it is now used for stores and apartments." The Harmon Block at 339 Main Street. - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 84-85 & p. 148 - 1938
Description: The one room schoolhouse used from 1862 to 1906. "[The Free High School, built c. 1862] was still a one-room school with but one teacher and every year more students came to study. The interests of the widely separated parts of the town were so different that it was impossible to come to an agreement and when the building of a new schoolhouse was suggested it was impossible to agree on a new location. Finally, when the Southwest Harbor citizens demanded new buildings at the village and at Manset, those in the western part of the town decided to separate themselves from Southwest Harbor. This was agreed upon by both sides and the town of Southwest Harbor was incorporated February 21, 1905 [this dividing the Southwest Harbor area from Tremont.] The new town voted to build a new schoolhouse at the village and raised the sum of $4500 to do so. This sum included the purchase of additional land. The old building stood close to the main road and had but little land surrounding it, and the new one was to be set farther back with a playground in front of it. The old building was sold to George Harmon and moved to the lot south of the school lot where it is now used for stores and apartments." The Harmon Block at 339 Main Street. - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 84-85 & p. 148 - 1938 [show more]
Originally founded as Houlton Academy in 1848, the school was renamed the Ricker Classical Institute in 1887. It was a secondary school until 1934 when it added a 6th year and became Ricker Junior College. In 1949, it became a 4-year liberal arts college until it closed in 1978
Description: Originally founded as Houlton Academy in 1848, the school was renamed the Ricker Classical Institute in 1887. It was a secondary school until 1934 when it added a 6th year and became Ricker Junior College. In 1949, it became a 4-year liberal arts college until it closed in 1978
"The public library stands on the site where a building owned by A. C Fernald and used as an undertaker's shop and for the post-office was burned by lightning in 1891 with considerable loss in money as well as property. The land is owned by Mrs. George A. Somes and is leased to the library association, who built the present library in 1895-6." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 265.
Description: "The public library stands on the site where a building owned by A. C Fernald and used as an undertaker's shop and for the post-office was burned by lightning in 1891 with considerable loss in money as well as property. The land is owned by Mrs. George A. Somes and is leased to the library association, who built the present library in 1895-6." - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 265. [show more]
The Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unemployed people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. In much smaller but more famous projects the WPA employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects.
Description: The Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration; WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unemployed people (mostly unskilled men) to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads. In much smaller but more famous projects the WPA employed musicians, artists, writers, actors and directors in large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects. [show more]