One of the thousands of camps set up by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corp program during the great depression. The Great Pond Camp in Southwest Harbor operated from 1933-1941. The men who worked at the camp were integral to the early development of the trail system in Acadia National Park. “The Southwest Harbor camp was opened about May, 1933 with enrollees erecting and living in tents while construction of the roll roofing covered barracks continued. An aerial photo dated September 5, 1933 shows four barracks buildings and four service buildings in place. Officers quarters, dispensary and living quarters for the commanding officer were added later. The last two were of log construction. The camp was located at the height of ground on the west side of the road leading from Southwest Harbor village to the south end of Great Pond [Long Pond]. This was near Acadia National Park lands where most of the work-projects took place. This park being one of the National Park System came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Consequently the Department of the Interior controlled the employees and type of work projects carried out on the ground. This was a typical 200 man camp. All enrollees were Maine residents. Familial relationships were scarce but for most living conditions were a great improvement over depression years living conditions at home. Living conditions, discipline and in-camp activities were the concern of the U.S. Army…” – Fred E. Holt, former forest commissioner - “In the Public Interest: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Maine (1933-1942) - A Pictorial History” by Jon A. Schlenker, Norman A. Wetherington and Austin H. Wilkins, published by the University of Maine at Augusta Press, 1988, p. 67-70
Description: One of the thousands of camps set up by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corp program during the great depression. The Great Pond Camp in Southwest Harbor operated from 1933-1941. The men who worked at the camp were integral to the early development of the trail system in Acadia National Park. “The Southwest Harbor camp was opened about May, 1933 with enrollees erecting and living in tents while construction of the roll roofing covered barracks continued. An aerial photo dated September 5, 1933 shows four barracks buildings and four service buildings in place. Officers quarters, dispensary and living quarters for the commanding officer were added later. The last two were of log construction. The camp was located at the height of ground on the west side of the road leading from Southwest Harbor village to the south end of Great Pond [Long Pond]. This was near Acadia National Park lands where most of the work-projects took place. This park being one of the National Park System came under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Consequently the Department of the Interior controlled the employees and type of work projects carried out on the ground. This was a typical 200 man camp. All enrollees were Maine residents. Familial relationships were scarce but for most living conditions were a great improvement over depression years living conditions at home. Living conditions, discipline and in-camp activities were the concern of the U.S. Army…” – Fred E. Holt, former forest commissioner - “In the Public Interest: The Civilian Conservation Corps in Maine (1933-1942) - A Pictorial History” by Jon A. Schlenker, Norman A. Wetherington and Austin H. Wilkins, published by the University of Maine at Augusta Press, 1988, p. 67-70 [show more]
Charles Wallace Birlem and Ben Conley Worcester Jr. built Smuggler's Den Campground on Carroll's Hill, eventually carving out 110 lots. It was sold to Annabellle Dam Worcester after Charles Wallace Birlem’s death 12/6/1976.
Description: Charles Wallace Birlem and Ben Conley Worcester Jr. built Smuggler's Den Campground on Carroll's Hill, eventually carving out 110 lots. It was sold to Annabellle Dam Worcester after Charles Wallace Birlem’s death 12/6/1976.
The Baker Island “Dance Floor,” is a series of huge flat slabs of granite found on the south shore, where area-islanders would hold dances on warm summer evenings. Many visitors come here for an “off the beaten path” experience and because of its unique and pleasant setting. “I believe the Thorpe family was instrumental in forming a corporation to purchase a plot of land on Baker’s Island where the dance floor ledges are located to protect the site. When the tremendous sea during a violent storm moved and tipped the large flat rocks out of place a crew of men was sent out to jack them back level.” – The Stanleys of Cranberry Isles…and Other Colorful Characters, Fisheries of Cranberry Island Chapter
Description: The Baker Island “Dance Floor,” is a series of huge flat slabs of granite found on the south shore, where area-islanders would hold dances on warm summer evenings. Many visitors come here for an “off the beaten path” experience and because of its unique and pleasant setting. “I believe the Thorpe family was instrumental in forming a corporation to purchase a plot of land on Baker’s Island where the dance floor ledges are located to protect the site. When the tremendous sea during a violent storm moved and tipped the large flat rocks out of place a crew of men was sent out to jack them back level.” – The Stanleys of Cranberry Isles…and Other Colorful Characters, Fisheries of Cranberry Island Chapter [show more]
1st - The site of the John Clark House – built circa 1825 2nd - The Clark house was subsumed into the Freeman House Hotel - circa 1861-1863 3rd - The Dr. Joseph Dana Phillips House was built on the site. - 1900
Description: 1st - The site of the John Clark House – built circa 1825 2nd - The Clark house was subsumed into the Freeman House Hotel - circa 1861-1863 3rd - The Dr. Joseph Dana Phillips House was built on the site. - 1900
Great Head is located near Sand Beach in Acadia National Park. The area was owned in the early 1900s by the Satterlee family and they built an observatory and a tea house on the point. The ruins of the structure remain. J.P. Morgan had purchased 110 acres on the Maine coast at Mount Desert including Great Head, now given to Acadia National Park, as a gift for his daughter, Louisa. She and her husband Herbert Satterlee had built their country home there and enjoyed it for many years.
Description: Great Head is located near Sand Beach in Acadia National Park. The area was owned in the early 1900s by the Satterlee family and they built an observatory and a tea house on the point. The ruins of the structure remain. J.P. Morgan had purchased 110 acres on the Maine coast at Mount Desert including Great Head, now given to Acadia National Park, as a gift for his daughter, Louisa. She and her husband Herbert Satterlee had built their country home there and enjoyed it for many years. [show more]
Echo Lake is located on the western side of Mount Desert Island. The lake is a popular swimming area and is surrounded by hiking trails on the nearby mountains.
Description: Echo Lake is located on the western side of Mount Desert Island. The lake is a popular swimming area and is surrounded by hiking trails on the nearby mountains.
From 2012 to 2017, Don Lenahan of Bar Harbor, Maine wrote blog posts about the people, geography, and history of Acadia National Park. Those posts are preserved here as PDF files to ensure that they are never lost. No part of the posts may be reproduced without the author's permission. Click the links below to read Don's blog or purchase his iBook.
Description: From 2012 to 2017, Don Lenahan of Bar Harbor, Maine wrote blog posts about the people, geography, and history of Acadia National Park. Those posts are preserved here as PDF files to ensure that they are never lost. No part of the posts may be reproduced without the author's permission. Click the links below to read Don's blog or purchase his iBook.
“It was nearly twenty years after Abraham Somes came with his family to make his home at Somesville before William Gilley, first permanent settler in Southwest Harbor, built his log cabin at Norwood's Cove on land now owned by the Southwest Harbor Country Club and which remained in the Gilley family from William's time to the date of selling to the present owners. William Gilley was at Cranberry Isles in 1777 and it was probably four or five years after that date that he went to Southwest Harbor and took up land, which was sheltered from the sea though close to it.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 124. “The house now used as a Country Club house was the home of the Gilley family. William Gilley was the first permanent settler in Southwest Harbor and his first house was a log cabin near the shore. Later he built a house just north of the Gilley Burying Ground. Then John, William's grandson, the eldest son of Benjamin Gilley, built the house that is now the Country Club for his parents. He was under age and for his work on the house his father "gave him his time." The place passed from father to son in the Gilley family until Pedrick D. Gilley, fourth generation to own it, sold it to the present owners. The graves of the three generations preceding him are in the Gilley Burying Ground nearby.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 131.
Description: “It was nearly twenty years after Abraham Somes came with his family to make his home at Somesville before William Gilley, first permanent settler in Southwest Harbor, built his log cabin at Norwood's Cove on land now owned by the Southwest Harbor Country Club and which remained in the Gilley family from William's time to the date of selling to the present owners. William Gilley was at Cranberry Isles in 1777 and it was probably four or five years after that date that he went to Southwest Harbor and took up land, which was sheltered from the sea though close to it.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 124. “The house now used as a Country Club house was the home of the Gilley family. William Gilley was the first permanent settler in Southwest Harbor and his first house was a log cabin near the shore. Later he built a house just north of the Gilley Burying Ground. Then John, William's grandson, the eldest son of Benjamin Gilley, built the house that is now the Country Club for his parents. He was under age and for his work on the house his father "gave him his time." The place passed from father to son in the Gilley family until Pedrick D. Gilley, fourth generation to own it, sold it to the present owners. The graves of the three generations preceding him are in the Gilley Burying Ground nearby.” - “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine” by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 131. [show more]