USA > Maine > Hancock County > Stonington > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 2
USA > Maine > Knox County > Isle au Haut > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 2
USA > Maine > Hancock County > Deer Isle > Deer Isle's history, comprising that territory now the towns of Deer Isle, Stonington and Isle au Haut, Me > Part 2
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1
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
The ensuing year money was raised for sweeping and caring for the meeting house, and the town treasurer was instructed to furnish it with glass to make it comfortable, and charge to town's account. After the first two years but three selectmen were chosen, and in 1791, at the third meeting, it was voted to divide the town into five school districts, one school being kept on Webster's land (Ebenezer Webster's lot adjoined the south side of Sunset Golf Links) ; one near the mill at Northwest Harbor; one near Joseph Colby's at Southeast Harbor; one near John Howard's; and one near Jonathan Torrey's, at corner of road leading from Reach to Northwest Harbor.
In 1794 two more schools were added ; one at Little Deer Isle and the other on Babbidge's Neck, and £100 was raised for a new meeting house, thus we see a steady increase in religion and education each year.
In 1796, $100 was raised to build a cattle pound near the Carrying Place, and stocks near the meeting house, and in 1814 work was started to replace the wooden pound by a stone one to save expense of repairs each year. The large four and five ton rocks of this old pound can yet be seen by any interested observer where they are likely to remain for many years to come marking the spot that was once the scene of much ac- tivity in the early history of Deer Isle, the smaller stone having been incorporated into the building of the state highway. This was the earliest cattle pound constructed anywhere in the Penobscot region, as far as is known, the Orrington one, claiming to be the oldest, having been built in 1808.
These town meeting records show a feeling of uneasiness and need of protection among the town's people, for in 1799, money for military stores was raised and in 1803 more money was raised to provide a town stock of powder, lead, flints, kettles, etc .; in 1810 more powder was purchased and 1811 it was voted to complete the town's military maga- zine and to replace ammunition that might be drawn out on muster days.
At a meeting held July 18, 1812, it was voted that the selectmen be authorized to petition the government of the United States for one or more companies of U. S. soldiers to be stationed on Deer Isle for defense of the same; also to petition the Government and Council of Common- wealth for loan of 60 muskets and four four-pound guns and that the detachment from the militia may not be taken away from the town.
Many from Deer Isle enlisted against the British but the only firing on Deer Isle territory was off of Michael Small's Cove, Sunset, into which an English brig, sailing from Castine to the West Indies with
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provisions and lumber, was chased by an American Privateer of Wis- casset.
The lumber was unloaded and the brig taken off as a prize of the privateer. Some of these big planks were used in the construction of the house owned and remodelled by my great grandfather, David Sellers, Sr., on Stinson's Neck (Sunshine), having been originally built by Benjamin York, and torn down a few years ago by Herbert Conary, some of the lumber being used in the building of a barn on his premises, nearly opposite the old York-Sellers homestead.
Cannon balls fired from the privateer have been excavated from the fields in the vicinity of Small's Cove, one having been found recently and now on display at the drugstore of D. J. Noyes in Stonington.
MILLS-COURTS
The settlers had now conquered many hardships and were progressing nicely with the exception of being handicapped greatly for the want of dimension lumber to improve their habitations. Nathaniel Kent came to Deer Isle in October 1767 and in the spring and summer of 1768 built the first grist and single saw mill at the location of the South Deer Isle iron bridge ; was so constructed that it operated by the tide both going and coming; these mills being afterwards occupied by Stephen Holt and Richard Warren.
Kent declared to have received a quit-claim deed from a first settler, Jonathan Greenlaw, for the privilege of maintaining a mill on that site. There was nothing legal about the affair and Greenlaw had no title to the land he conveyed, it being about five miles from where he lived. Joseph Colby came with his family in 1768 and settled a short distance from the mill privilege.
Finally one of the greatest law suits of the time developed which pro- longed for several years in the courts of Lincoln County, Pownalborough then being the shire town. The full accounts of this famous "Kent Claim" of Deer Isle have been copied from the Lincoln County Court- House at Wiscasset and, with the writ, warrant, depositions, etc., give much valuable data to early Deer Isle history.
Mark Haskell & Sons built a saw and grist mill at Northwest Harbor and mills were built at Stinson's Neck, and another in Sunset, at what was known as Emerson's Mill Pond, in 1790. Joseph Colby, Jr., and David Thurlow built a mill on Thurlow's Island (Crotch) that was run
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Scene at York Island Harbor, Isle au Haut, about 15 years ago, when the lobster business was at its best, and before the days of the gasoline launch
"Smith House," Kimball's Island, Isle au Haut
Point Lookout Club House, Isle au Haut
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
by the tide water. Colby, moving to North Stonington, sold out his interest to Thurlow and Thurlow then carried on the business alone. There he started a fishing business and built about 30 vessels in which he sent fish to the West Indies, in exchange for groceries with which he supplied the wants of the early settlers. He accumulated considerable property and at one time was one of the most wealthy men in the town, he and his wife always remembering the poor for which their names are still respected. He was always styled Capt. Thurlow, as he was captain of the militia at one time; was also one of the selectmen of the town and in 1829 represented the town in the legislature. There are many other abandoned mill sites, a description of which would be sufficient for an elaborate articlel to be written thereron.
Meanwhile, small settlements had sprung up on the islands between Isle au Haut and Deer Isle. Anthony Merchant and Daniel Austin settled on Merchants Island in 1773 (Senate Files, No. 3106, Mass. Archives) Austin later selling out to Merchant his share for a yoke of oxen. The growth and development of Merchants Island into a pros- perous little community with stores, schools, etc., is too lengthy to be dealt with here.
The next year, 1774, Samuel Pickering squatted on Isle au Haut. Seth Webb settled on Kimballs Island about the time of the Revolution, and Joseph Colby, Jr., was occupying Wreck Island, and David Thur- low, Thurlow's or Crotch Island, prior to 1800.
These islands had not been included in the incorporation of the town of Deer 'Isle but they had been receiving the same privileges of citizens, maintenance of schools by the town, etc., and when they resisted the pay- ment of their share of taxes, on the ground of not being included in the act of incorporation, when the town was furnishing men and substitutes to serve in the war for their benefit as well as others, a petition was drawn up to the Legislature which was acted upon and approved, Feb. 29, 1868.
The limits of the town as then established were (Maine Laws, 1868; Chap. 598, P. 518-9) : "Beginning at the middle of Eggamoggin Reach, at the northwestern end of same, and thence running southeasterly by the middle of same to the southeast end of same including Conary's and White Islands, and from the middle of said reach southerly to and including Great Spoon Island lying east of Isle of Haut, and from thence running westerly to the southern extremity of Isle au Haut, and from thence northerly by the middle of the ship channel between Deer Island and Isle auHaut on the one side and the towns of North Haven and Vinalhaven
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DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
on the other, to the western extremity of Great Deer Island, and from thence northerly to the northwestern extremity of Little Deer Island, and from thence to the northwestern end of said reach, not intending to include Pickering's Island nor Pumpkin island."
Isle au Haut became incorporated into a separate town Feb. 28, 1874, which included all islands within the above limits, with Merchant's and all islands lying southerly of it.
The same year that Deer Isle, Bluehill, and many other Penobscot Bay towns were incorporated, Lincoln County was broken up and Hancock County incorporated in June, 1789, Penobscot being made the shire town, so that Deer Isle residents were obliged to journey there to all Court pro- ceedings. Castine was made the shire town at its incorporation in 1796.
The inhabitants of Deer Isle sent a remonstrance to the Legislature in Augusta against the removal of the Court from Castine to Ellsworth partly because of the great expense of building new county buildings and "because it would be extremely inconvenient and burthersome for jury- men, parties and witnesses from Vinalhaven and Deer Isle, islands in Penobscot Bay and two of the largest towns in the county, to attend the courts at Ellsworth."
Nevertheless, the courts were removed there in 1838, where they have ever since remained. In those days it was sometimes almost an impossi- bility for jurymen and others who found it necessary to attend the March or spring term of court to make the journey over the rough or muddy roads. First, there was the difficulty of transporting the horse and buggy across Eggemoggin Reach, the ferry service in those days being more anti- quated than now, if that could have been possible. Then came the long, tiresome jaunt over the narrow roads, oftentimes becoming mired alto- gether in the mud and slush characteristic of the roads at that time of the year when the frost was coming out of the ground.
Teams were many times so exhausted from the deep mud (passengers all walking) by the time Bluehill was reached that a relay outfit had to finish the trip to Ellsworth. Ellsworth proved to be a site chosen with much forethought and wisdom, though other towns could have been much more convenient to Deer Islanders in days gone by. Even Rockland was a more favorable site and an attempt was made, not many years back, to remove the Deer Isle court jurisdiction there by placing the island in Knox County, Isle au Haut having succeeded in that respect ; but today, the evolution in highways and modes of travel have so changed that it is only a matter of hours to step into an automobile and witness a certain
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Taken 1899 from Thurlow's Hill, looking toward Crotch Island showing Steamer Mt. Desert
HARBOR SCENES-STONINGTON
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
court proceeding and be back home in less time than it takes to tell it, as the old saying goes. The antiquated and poor ferry service is now our biggest difficulty or drawback.
Even though Deer Islanders travel back and forth across Eggemoggin by means of a crude, obsolete ferry, consisting of a scow slowly zig-zagged in tow of a small gasoline launch, we do not want to convey the im- pression that there has been no improvement along that mode of travel in communicating with our neighbors on the main. The first settlers paddled across the "Reach" in very rudely built canoes, which they improved upon each year until the expanse could be spanned in a solid, sea- worthy boat or gondola built of wood.
The story of how these settlers petitioned the Court at Penobscot, way back in 1792, to lay out a county road and establish ferry service with a ferryman, and how they worked, voted, and petitioned down through the years to the present day, to establish better facilities for connection with the mainland, is the subject for a separate writing which will be taken up in a future writing. It is certainly a matter for much thought and con- sideration. issue
SOCIAL ADVANCEMENT
There is a notion prevalent, especially among city dwellers, that Island inhabitants are a race apart, unprogressive, and perfectly satisfied with their circumstances and what their narrow sphere has to offer. To the contrary-it was the spirit of adventure and an urge within them to make good, to live their lives to the fullest extent of realization, and to expand, above all things, that prompted the first little band of settlers to land upon these shores, grasp new opportunities, and make homes for themselves.
The hardships they endured made them all the more determined so that they became kind, long-suffering, thoughtful of each other's com- forts and patiently worked together laying the corner stone of what today are the two towns of Deer Isle and Stonington-the heritage of great achievements. Just as these pioneers saw and realized great possibilities awaiting in this territory so did their children and grandchildren nurse that line of thought that is yet impelling us all to push ahead as we are seen to be doing today.
From early colonial days Deer Isle has contributed her part to her country, her state, her county and herself. Deer Isle suffered greatly in the Revolution, then again in 1812 with the British encamped once more in her dooryard, many having enlisted for service. Later, came
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DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
the Civil War, and more valiant men went, the last survivor going to his reward in 1927; and, lastly, the great World's War taking the fittest of our young manhood throughout the country, and in this, also, our two towns contributed 101 of their best.
Deer Isle has given more. Civilization has prospered from her indus- tries in many ways. Once the centre of a great clamming industry, clams of a fine quality having been abundant along the shores, many were shipped to far distant places, one firm alone having exported thou- sands of barrels of "clam bait" to Portugal, Spain, and elsewhere.
Fishing has always been the leading industry on the island, furnish- ing great quantities to many large cities, and especially have we been noted for our tasty crustaceans. Lobster factories were in "yesterday's history," but clam factories are yet operating and Stonington's sardine factory gives employment to many people and the shipping of large amounts of these canned fish requires great quantities of herring, mostly caught in weirs or seines in our nearby waters.
Who has not heard of the Deer Isle sailors? No finer navigators can be found in the world than those whose homes are here. So well is this fact recognized that the crews for the cup defenders in the first success- ful international yacht races have been recruited here, and on every one of these occasions the victory has largely been due to their seamanship.
When Capt. C. Oliver Islin sought a crew for his new yacht, the "Defender," it was to Deer Isle he turned and the entire crew recruited from here. The victory was won and Deer Isle sailor boys had gained a nationwide reputation. The next year, the Deer Isle boys manned the "Columbia" and again the banners of old England were dipped to our sailors. Englishmen claimed that had their yachts been manned by Deer Isle sailors they would have won, which was a great compliment to the merit of our boys, and they are worthy of all admiration and praise, with the consequences that their services are always in great demand.
EXTINCT INDUSTRIES
The first canning factory on old Deer Isle territory was probably built at Isle au Haut by the Lewis Brothers, a Portland concern, about the close of the Civil War. They confined their packing to lobsters and this product went all over the world. They abandoned the Isle au Haut fac- tory and set up the so-called "Flye Brothers Factory" at Greens Landing. Thomas Knowlton, who had charge of Lewis Bros.' factories in Nova
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Eastern end of the business section of Main Street, Green's Landing, as it looked about 1885. The first building on the left was the fish market and general store of J. Leeman Thurlow (now vacated) and across the narrow footpath was his residence, now in good repair and owned by Seth Webb. Notice the fish drying on flakes in the front yard.'
Next to this house, on the right, is that of Win Thurlow, with trees in front. The next house, was that of Win's father, Moody Thurlow, now the remodeled residence of Theodore Boyce.
Over the roof of the fish market, on the left, was the small one-story blacksmith shop and resi- dence of "Dick" Knowlton, later used by Percival, his brother, for a printing office, and today used as tenement. Next to this, on the point, was the store of George Redman, seemingly under the process of construction in the picture-now the remodelled Odd Fellows block.
About all of the old buildings in this picture are yet standing but have seen many changes and additions since then.
The Congregational church standing on the hill was burned in 1910. A picture of same is seen elsewhere, but that building is replaced by a remodelled edifice.
DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
Scotia, came back to Stonington and, in company with Stephen B. Thur- low, built a factory close to the eastern side of the Lewis factory, the building being now owned and used by Oscar B. Weed for his lumber business. Lewis then withdrew from this region and the factory was continued by the Flye Brothers, sardines being packed exclusively. Thur- low & Knowlton first put up lobsters, then sardines, mackerel and clams.
Chas. A. Russ, Esq., was in the salt clam and bait business on what is now the Stonington Fuel & Lumber Company's dock, in a building later used for lumber by Henry C. Smith, but now the old section of the coal sheds used by the Fuel Company, above. Russ leased the place to Potter & Wrightington of Boston, where lobsters and mackerel were packed under managers Mitchell, Mayo, and Drisko, respectively.
Oceanville had the first factory in what is now Stonington territory, being operated at different times by the Baxters, Portland Packing Co., Whitmores, Webbs, and now the property of Black & Gay of Thomaston. It was not many years after the Oceanville event that Steve Morey oper- ated a packing industry on docks in Burnt Cove where now is seen the residue of some operations by Black & Gay. It should be understood that, aside 'from the canning establishments mentioned, there were various dry fish and clam bait stands doing a flourishing business, about which enough could be said to compile another chapter. There was work for all in those days.
The equipment employed in the performance of the various activities during the days of early packing was not much in comparison with that now used in the present North Lubec Mfg. Co.'s sardine factory in Ston- ington.
There are many traces remaining on the island of former industries long since gone and of which the present generation has little or no knowledge. In the house now resided in by Martha and Florence Stinson at Sunset, Moses Joyce had the first "pants shop." It was then owned by Henry Lufkin, Jr., who had it so constructed as to use the top for a sail loft, where Capt. Henry made up thousands of yards of canvas, as can be seen by consulting excerpts from his diary. Lufkin also conducted a cobbling business here, many depending upon him for their footwear.
Joyce sold out his pants business to C. S. Marston of Boston and a lively little enterprise was conducted in the enlarged sail loft of Sylvanus Haskell's building, yet known as "The Old Pants Factory," at the begin- ning of Bridge Street, on the southwest of the Mill Dam, as seen there now, a section having recently been used for a garage and various other
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DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
purposes. Joyce acted as superintendent or manager and the goods were distributed among families all over the island to be made up, much sewing also being done in the sail loft on Singer sewing machines. A pressman (John McGorrill), sent here by the Boston firm, managed the pressing, assembling and packing of the finished product, after the buttons had been added by a button machine.
Scenes of this factory in active operation have been enlarged from a tintype and show the words "Pants of all Kinds" painted on the roof of the building.
Hezekiah Lufkin was an undertaker years ago and when he needed a coffin it was but a simple matter for Moses Joyce to hurriedly put together a neat wooden box which he stained on the outside and received two or three dollars for the job. The coffin was then turned over to his wife, Hannah (Eaton), who lined it and did whatever other trimming was necessary in a shop that stood on the east end of the present "Ki" Lufkin house.
Many vessels were built on the island, about thirty having been con- structed in a yard nearly opposite the old Haskell house, now "The Ark," and some on Little Deer Isle.
Mining operations were started, including ventures at Dunham's Point for silver and the opening of a marble quarry on the Reach side of the island, but these experiments did not prove successful and both sites were abandoned.
EARLY JOURNALISM IN DEER ISLE
The first printing establishment on the island had its origin in Dr. F. B. Ferguson's father's (Ben. F. Ferguson, Esq.) store. Hudson H. Pressey was the pioneer printer on Deer Isle and from his hands the first issue of "The Deer Isle Weekly Gazette" made its appearance March 23, 1882. An embryonic copy of this date now lies before the author and reveals a bit of interesting reading within its four pages. The pages of the folio are 81/2x11 and have three columns-the price of same being three cents per copy. The front page is taken up with a short story, poetry and jokes, while the others contain "Items of Maine News," "Household & Farm;" "Domestic Receipts," etc. Under "Town News" will be seen many items of historical interest such as, "Stmrs. Mount Desert, Capt. Robinson, and Henry Morrison, Capt. Crockett will commence spring trips Saturday, March 25 (1882) ;" "Str. Pioneer took 40 passengers and 70 bbls. lobsters from Green's Landing, Monday;"
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DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
"Str. Lewiston from Portland for Machias Saturday, 18 was late, etc .; " and this one, of especial interest and encouragement to lobster-fishermen, "Lobsters eight cents."
Another news event is added here to evidence that things might be worse in these days of depression : "A woman by the name of Carter of Sedgwick gave birth to three children a few days ago. The boy born in the evening weighed eight pounds; and two girls were born the next morning. All are living and doing well."
In May, Mr. Pressey came out with a much larger paper of four columns and later issued a seven column one, larger than the present Ellsworth American. He continued the Weekly Gazette for about six years, having had several different printing presses during the time, the last issues being printed on a large size Chandler & Price job press. As the paper grew, Pressey moved into a corner of George H. Howard's store and added Percival S. Knowlton and Will Burgess to his staff. He then bought Pearl Spofford's store (now owned by Joyce & Beck) and continued the paper there, selling out to "Perc" Knowlton about 1888, who moved the printing plant back into Howard's store. After a while Knowlton moved his printing office to Stonington in the Haskell & Small building on Atlantic Ave., having been built for an office by Henry Haskell and Greely Small, contractors, and last used by "Bob" Cousins in his petroleum products business. After staying here a year or two Knowlton moved his printing office into a room in his newly erected house at the head of the cove opposite "Eaton's Inn." From here, he finally moved the apparatus to the building owned by his brother "Dick" Knowlton, between the Odd Fellows block and the pool room (see early picture of Stonington). Around 1896 Ralph F. Gerrish of West Sulli- van operated the Knowlton plant about eight months. Knowlton sold out to D. Jewett Noyes who built an office (now the fish market of J. Emaron Eaton) and moved the Knowlton plant therein. Knowlton returned from away and started the "Deer Isle Messenger" in 1898, having his headquarters in Deer Isle Village. In 1901 Noyes turned his business over to Gerrish who resumed the publishment of a smaller weekly sheet that he called "The Press," headed by a large spreading eagle and shield. This last paper had its demise Sept. 7, 1901, at the age of 57weeks, in the Etta Simpson-Flo Small block, now razed.
Knowlton has continued the publishment of his paper up to the present time, but a few years ago he added a Stonington section and changed the name from "The Deer Isle Messenger" to "The Deer Isle & Stonington Press."
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DEER ISLE'S HISTORY
RISE OF GRANITE INDUSTRY
The chief source of occupation is the granite quarries at the lower end of the island, causing that section to become more thickly populated and to be set off from Deer Isle and incorporated as the town of Stonington, Feb. 18, 1897. This section was previously known as Greens Landing but, owing to the great quantity of ledges and boulders, Stonington was thought to be a more appropriate name. It presents a very interesting panorama from the shore front and harbor where one can best appre- ciate the amphitheatrical irregularity of the dwellings by noting that the inmates of one house gaze seawardly onto the roof of a neighbor, and hardly a building rests on level soil, being built wholly or partly on a ledge.
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