Portland Public Library Portland Public Library Digital Commons Nor' by East Periodicals 7-1970 Nor' by East, Jul-Aug 1970 Casco Bay Island Development Association Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_nbe Recommended Citation Casco Bay Island Development Association, "Nor' by East, Jul-Aug 1970" (1970). Nor' by East. 32. https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_nbe/32 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Periodicals at Portland Public Library Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Nor' by East by an authorized administrator of Portland Public Library Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. July/August Price 20 cents 1970 J CASCO BAY·- MAINE SESQUICENTENNIAL ISSUE Of all the coastal area boardering the Atlantic, few places draw more attention than the "Rock-bound Coast. of Mau1e". The Life o n these islands, which would seem to During World War II, Long Island was used "down east" atmosphere and traditions of be so tranquil now, was formerly the scene of as a major refueling point for the North this region have been immortalized by early many old skirmish es and has relinquished Atlantic fleet. American writers and poets. buried treasure, legends of pirates and caches An early chronicler of Casco Bay, Homan Coastal Maine today remains much <1,s it of gold. One quite well-authenticated tale is of D. Waldron, wrote . .. "The uproarious fun of was in the past - undeveloped - and with strong a poor farmer on Bailey Island who literally Peak's, which is visited daily by hundreds of sentiment towards changes. Nevertheless, as is stumbled over a pot filled with Spanish gold Portland people, cannot affront the more blatantly obvious, the area is changing and pieces, and J ived thereafter in luxury. decorous Cushing's, nor disturb the quiet will continue to change - for better or worse, Another sto ry, somewhat dubious, is of home life of the brilliant Diamonds. lt is asif depending upon the attitudes and Portugese sailors who hid their loot of coins each island was a feudal castle, with its deep q~eterminations of the populace of Maine. It on Little John Island; although many have surrounding moat always flooded. It is wrong, i;:_ will be up to them and their elected officials searched, none have found the treasure. however, to suggest caste here; call it, rather, to see that any changes which occur are Treasures have been found on Richmond diversity of tastes. The visitors to Peaks are compatible and within the realm of protecting Island and can be seen in the Museum Room e ve ry whit as companionable as their the vast inherent qualities of our unique and of the Historical Society of Po rtland. neighbors, and the entire ense mble of the bay remarkable coastline. In the early days, the islands were is necessary to the full enjoyment of the Our own Casco Bay features the "Calendar populated before the coastal areas, and later, scene." Islands". Historically, there were reputed to mainlanders fled to the islands for refuge from be 365 islands - one for each day of the year, Indian wars. At least one battle of J 812 was but actual surveys have mdicated varying fought on the islands and defense units were Local libraries abound with historical numbers, from under 200 to slightly over 300. built on the shores of several islands. A naval mformation regarding our splendid islands The earliest recorded visitors to our islands engagement between the USS Enterprise and and the native lore. Books have been devoted were the Algonquin Indians, who found rich HMS Boxer during the War of 1812 resulted in to the study of the history of the islands, but sources of clams and fish. Piles of clam shells, the demise of the captam of each vessel, both now books should be devoted to the future of relics of Indian clambakes, arc present on the of which are now buried side by side i11 Casco Bay ill its entirety. If you like what you islands. The islands also served as refuges Portland's Eastern Cemetery. Before and see, what you have, what you share, let us during the great Indian Wa rs - havens betw~en during the Civil War, residents built several know about it - share with us your impressions battles for the warriors. forts; remains are evident on Cushing, Bailey, of the past, the present, and the future of The first white visitors to the islands were and Jewell Islands. Casco Bay. the Norse who came about 1000 A.O., finding fine fishing and clamming in their travels along the New England coastli ne. I n 1524, an Italian, Giovanni de Verranzone, sailed among the islands. In 1525, Casco Bay was named by a Spaniard, Esteban Gomez, who called it the Bahia de Casco (the Bay of the Helmet or Skull). Other sources, however, claim that Casco is derived from the Indian word "Ancocisco", interpreted variously as the Place of Herons, Rest mg Place, and Muddy Bay . Nevertheless, it was almost a century after Gomez' visit when the first accurate map of the islands in the bay was made by Captain John Smith in ~ 16 I 4. Shortly thereafter, the first permanent settler, Christopher Levitt, built a garrison on what was then House Island · probably today's York or Cushing Island. Page 2 NOR' BY EAST July/August NOR' BY EAST TRANSPORTATION AND EDITOR'S NOTES: THE ISLANDS Of particular interest to Casco Bay When one speaks of ''transportation" in islanders and coastal residents, are the articles Sandra L . Neel, Editor relation to the Casco Bay Islands, it is cu rrentl y running in the Sunday MAINE Peaks Island, Me. 04108 inevitably taken to mean that the reference TELEGRAM by Bill Caldwell. Bill has spent Tel. 766-33 I I means the "ferry" service between Portland some time cruising around our beautiful and the various islands served by the Casco islands, getting to know not only the islands, "' EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS Ba y Lines. but the people on them. His poetic- '\ It is a rare day, indeed, that soq1eone riding descriptions of the islandsisentralling,and his the ferry, waiting for the ferry, or talking with disappointment over Maine's lack of Chebeague Island people in general on the islands does not hear awareness of its own resources is evident and Mrs. Floyd C. Hamilto n some kind of complaint concerning the much to the point. Wide publicati on is given 846-4078 service provided by Casco Bay Lines. Some to the necessity for growth in the State of Maine encouraging oil or other industries, Diamond Islands complaints arc minor irritations, others are serious grievances, sometimes involving a etc. to grow and add a healthy glow to our Rehea & Andy Ansorge considerable number of people. economy. Unfortunately, the available 766-2937 Unfortunately, most of the complaints are resources - the most logical choices - have for Long Island made among the islanders - to each other - or many years gone unnoticed, ignored, or Larry Stevens to deckhands, and usually nothing is ever deprecated. We sincerely hope that Bill 766-2060 done to rectify an error, if one has been made, Caldwell 's articles have opened the eyes of the or to investigate the complaint with the hope citizenry of Maine and its public officials to Peaks Island - of producing a solution. the natural resources of Maine resources Le_on S. Clough Tl1is column, then, will be an open fo rum which used properly do not pollute, but yet 766-4431 for all the passengers of the ferry boats can add valuable tax revenue to our economy. operated by Casco Bay Lines. You are invited WAKE UP MAINE - before it's too late . The to write the editor of this paper about your fastest growing industry in our country today particular complaint. The problem will be involves leisure-time recreation. We have some ANY LIBRARY BOOKS AT HOME? presen ted to the Casco Bay Lines Personnel of the finest recreational faci lities available in Island libraries, like other small libraries, for response and/or apologies where the world - let's use them. have a problem in locating missing books. indicated. All co mplaints MUST be in writing People who discover on their home shelves a and SIGNED. book bearing the stamp of a library whence it If you have what you consider to be a was borrowed, need a great amount. of justified complaint about the service of Casco The reward of a thing well done, is to have concentration and determination to get the Bay Lines, let's get it out into the open and see done it. book back to the place from which it came. whether, collectively, the islanders can work Emerson Do you have sufficient determination to WITH the Casco Bay Lines personnel tc take back that book you are holding? provide better service, resulting in happier The Trefethen-Evergreen Improvement passengers. Association is particularly anxious to locate a book borrowed from its Annie Elwell Memorial Library, "Trefethen, the Family Peaks Island and the Landing" since it contains a record of the Association's earliest meetings and of the Everyone is crazy but me and thee, and Misses Mary and Mabel Davies, its founders sometimes I suspect even thee. and benefactors. Taxi Phone Vi sit TV-RENTALS THE SPAR Peaks Island 766-2777 GIFT GALLEY Glenn Haines 766-2082 Long Island If you want to help future planning for the Casco Bay area, why not join CBIDA today? We love our beautiful bay. NAME _________ _ _ ADDRESS ___ _ _____ Dues: $3 per individual; $5 per couple Mail to NOR' BY EAST, Box 66 Peaks Island, Maine 04108 Casco's Modern Waterfront Office NOR' BY EAST will be sent to you as COit.