Now the site of "Indian Lot Cottage" built in 1927 by the Norwoods for George Ashbridge Rhoads and still owned, in 2007, by Rhoads descendents, the Obbard family. "I think it was the same year (1847) that fifteen or twenty Indians from Oldtown camped on the salt water shore opposite Parkers. The chief said they had been rehearsing their old customs and would like the right to give an exhibition if a hall could be found that was large enough. The woolen factory was not in use at that time so it was opened for the purpose…The Indians dressed in their war paint and feathers and gave their dances with flourishing tomahawks and blood-curdling yells. One of the tribe could play the violin with considerable skill…" - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 255 - 1938. "For many years Indians from Oldtown came every summer and encamped on the rocky lot across from the Parker property. They pitched their tents and remained for the summer, selling their baskets. The men roamed the woods gathering sweet grass and occasionally cutting an ash tree, which right they were vouchsafed by the owners of the land as it was an unwritten law that the Indians could have an occasional tree to use in their work from the land that, not so long before, had belonged entirely to them. They were quiet, law-abiding neighbors and the encampment was one of the picturesque sights of the town. When in 1925 George A. Rhoads of Wilmington, Delaware, built his house on the camp site, he called it Indian Lot.” - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 167. "Indians from Oldtown, Maine camped on the rocks across [Clark Point Road] from our house [the Parker house at 143 Clark Point Road] each summer. They lived in tents and sold baskets, moccasins and small birch bark canoes. Some of the baskets were made of wood and some almost entirely of sweetgrass which had a very pleasant odor. This grass was secured from the marshes at Bass Harbor and would be cured by being hung up in large bunches. They also cut some ash wood for use in making the wooden baskets. As the same Indians returned year after year we became well acquainted with them. In later years the older Indian boys played baseball with us." - “Recollections of Southwest Harbor, Maine 1885-1894” by Jesse L. Parker, p. 40, manuscript, 1955. This valuable manuscript is a narrative of the early history of the town by an eyewitness. There are largely unknown or unreported facts on almost every page. See “Indians in Eden: Wabanakis and Rusticators on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, 1840s-1920’s” by Bunny McBride and Harlod E. L. Prins.
Description: Now the site of "Indian Lot Cottage" built in 1927 by the Norwoods for George Ashbridge Rhoads and still owned, in 2007, by Rhoads descendents, the Obbard family. "I think it was the same year (1847) that fifteen or twenty Indians from Oldtown camped on the salt water shore opposite Parkers. The chief said they had been rehearsing their old customs and would like the right to give an exhibition if a hall could be found that was large enough. The woolen factory was not in use at that time so it was opened for the purpose…The Indians dressed in their war paint and feathers and gave their dances with flourishing tomahawks and blood-curdling yells. One of the tribe could play the violin with considerable skill…" - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, p. 255 - 1938. "For many years Indians from Oldtown came every summer and encamped on the rocky lot across from the Parker property. They pitched their tents and remained for the summer, selling their baskets. The men roamed the woods gathering sweet grass and occasionally cutting an ash tree, which right they were vouchsafed by the owners of the land as it was an unwritten law that the Indians could have an occasional tree to use in their work from the land that, not so long before, had belonged entirely to them. They were quiet, law-abiding neighbors and the encampment was one of the picturesque sights of the town. When in 1925 George A. Rhoads of Wilmington, Delaware, built his house on the camp site, he called it Indian Lot.” - Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville, Mount Desert Island, Maine by Mrs. Seth S. Thornton, 1938, p. 167. "Indians from Oldtown, Maine camped on the rocks across [Clark Point Road] from our house [the Parker house at 143 Clark Point Road] each summer. They lived in tents and sold baskets, moccasins and small birch bark canoes. Some of the baskets were made of wood and some almost entirely of sweetgrass which had a very pleasant odor. This grass was secured from the marshes at Bass Harbor and would be cured by being hung up in large bunches. They also cut some ash wood for use in making the wooden baskets. As the same Indians returned year after year we became well acquainted with them. In later years the older Indian boys played baseball with us." - “Recollections of Southwest Harbor, Maine 1885-1894” by Jesse L. Parker, p. 40, manuscript, 1955. This valuable manuscript is a narrative of the early history of the town by an eyewitness. There are largely unknown or unreported facts on almost every page. See “Indians in Eden: Wabanakis and Rusticators on Maine’s Mount Desert Island, 1840s-1920’s” by Bunny McBride and Harlod E. L. Prins. [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.
“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]
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]
Oldest burial ground on Mount Desert Island. Established by the Rev. Ebenezer Eaton, pastor of the First Congregational Church, in his own field. Eaton was called in 1801, was not ordained until 1823, and was active until 1834. Many burials have been removed.
Description: Oldest burial ground on Mount Desert Island. Established by the Rev. Ebenezer Eaton, pastor of the First Congregational Church, in his own field. Eaton was called in 1801, was not ordained until 1823, and was active until 1834. Many burials have been removed.