Beyond the South End

Maine Island Hopping

It’s vacation time again in Vacationland, or our beloved great State of Maine. Last year I gave you several options to visit in the midcoast area. To review those blogs and perhaps use them as a guide for your summer guests, go to the June 2011 archive, “Maine Vacationland – Part 1” and “Part 2.”

This year I thought I’d introduce your summer guests, and maybe even you, to our Maine islands. I’ll only mention a few, mostly in the mid-coast area, because there are approximately 3000 plus islands off the coast of Maine. Some of them are plantations attached to the county in Maine closest to them; some have their own town government; all depend of the county closest to them on the mainland for county assistance when needed.

I have visited Vinalhaven, where some of my ancestors came from; North Haven, Swans Island, and  Great Cranberry Island, where I also have family members.

All visits to these islands, unless you have your own yacht, are dependent on one ferry or another. For a complete list of ferry services in Maine, go to the Maine DOT site, www.maine.gov./mdot/msfs/. I will list the individual ferry services’ phone number for each island as we continue.

Vinalhaven

207-596-5450, Ferry leaves from Rockland

Main Street in Vinalhaven, c 1915

The “Red Paint” people once lived here. That nation of Native Americans has become extinct and no records of them exist. Granite was discovered here in 1826 and Vinalhaven became Maine’s largest quarrying center for the next century. Many of the islands off the coast of Maine had quarrying ventures. These days the island depends on the summer tourist trade to boost its economy.

North Haven

207-867-4441, Ferry leaves from Rockland

North Haven harbor and ferry terminal

North Haven was also home to the Red Paint people and later the Abenakis. The island was originally called North Island of Vinalhaven. Tourism is a big draw here. Residents also live by fishing, farming and boat building.

Islesboro

207-789-5611, Ferry leaves from Lincolnville, next door to Camden

Grindel Point Light

The Indian name for this island was Pitaubegwimenghanuk, meaning “the island that lies between two channels.” I dare you to try to pronounce it. The island is in fact the marker between East and West Penobscot Bay. It was first called Long Island Plantation. It was incorporated in 1789 as Islesborough which over time was shortened to Islesboro. Some of the famous people who have visited or spent a good amount of time in Islesboro are Kirstie Alley, Honor Blackman, J.P. Morgan, Chris O’Donnell, Kelly Preston, Parker Stevenson, and John Travolta.

Swans Island

207-526-4273, Ferry leaves from Bass Harbor

Swans Island quarry swimming hole, from trekearth.com

I visited this island when I was cruising on the Victory Chimes years ago. Many of my classmates at Higgins Classical Institute came from this island. It was the school the town sent them to because they had no high school of their own. On the day I visited, one of my classmates was visiting family, so we had a chance to catch up.

The island was founded by Colonel James Swan of Fife, Scotland, in the 18^th century, who purchased the island and some surrounding areas as well. Before that time it was explored by Samuel de Champlain’s expedition in 1606. At that time Indians used the island as seasonal hunting grounds.

Matinicus

Call the Rockland Ferry office, 207-596-5400 for special ferry service to this island.

Markeys Beach, Matinicus, from www.mainetimes.org

Matinicus is a plantation in Knox County. Many lobstering families live and work on this island. Matinicus is an Abenaki Indian name meaning “far-out island.” There was a lot of pirate activity on this island in the 1700s. It was first settled by a squatter, Ebenezer Hall, in 1750. He got into trouble with the Indians when he refused to leave the island. The Penobscots eventually raided his homestead in 1757 at which time he was scalped. He is buried in the vicinity called “store well” with a bronze plaque to commemorate him. What followed was 250 years of frontier violence on the island.

Great Cranberry Island

Private Ferry Services:

Beal and Bunker Mail Boat, 207-244-3575, Northeast Harbor; Cranberry Cove Ferry, 207-460-1981, Southwest Harbor; Cranberry Isles Commuter Serivce, 207-244-4475, not sure where it leaves from.

Great Cranberry Island is part of the Town of Cranberry Isles. The town consists of five islands: Great Cranberry, Little Cranberry, Sutton, Bear, and Baker Islands. Only the first two have post offices and are occupied year-round.

Great Cranberry is so called because of its abundance of low-bush cranberries in the fall, if you know where to look for them.

I have relatives on this island and have visited it many times. I remember going blueberry picking there when I visited my Aunt Ruth. There are also some neat rocks to collect on the shore as well as sea heather along the edge of the water.

The Beal and Bunker Mail Boat belonged to my Uncle “Tud” and later was run by his son, Arthur. It has been a family owned business for over 50 years. I’m not sure what family member, if any, is affiliated with it now. I do remember that Uncle Tud was concerned that too many tourists came down to stand on the float all at once where you boarded from. “You are gonna swamp my float here if you all come down the steps at once,” he’d say.

Tourism is a big industry here. My cousin, Gayle, took care of Lady Astor, of the Astor family for many summers. She and Aunt Ruth made the best lobster sandwiches going.

My bucket list of islands to visit is headed by Monhegan. I’ve mentioned that island before. Look for a special blog this month on that island.

Thanks for listening and have a great vacation island hopping in Maine.