Mount Desert is brimming with historic and archaeological resources. Native Americans hunted the woods, fished the waters, and left prehistoric archaeological sites throughout the community. European settlement and the evolution of today’s community has created its own set of historic archaeological resources as well as historic villages, roads, and buildings. All of these resources add to our character and should be identified and protected for future generations.
Prehistoric Archaeological Resources
Prehistoric archaeological resources refer to largely Native American sites prior to 1700 and large-scale European settlement.
That our town is rich in prehistoric archaeological resources should be no surprise. For centuries our waterways were the first highways; Native Americans and early European settlers used bays and the ocean as their major transportation corridors and would rely on the bounty of the oceans for their food.
It is difficult to ‘see’ these resources in the same manner that one ‘sees’ a historic building, but a properly excavated archaeological site can speak volumes about the area’s earliest residents.
Mount Desert has been partially surveyed to identify prehistoric archaeological resources. As of 2003, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission had identified 31 prehistoric archaeological sites in the community. These sites are from the Red Paint People and the Abnakis and consist of shell middens. These shell middens are piles of discarded shells that identify what Native Americans would fish and how they would live more than 3,000 years ago. All of these sites are located in the coastal zone, and 12 of the sites have been determined to be significant.
Historic Archaeological Resources
Historic archaeological sites refer to those that post-date large-scale European settlement. Like their prehistoric cousins, these sites can be difficult to ‘see’, but are very important to a community’s character and understanding about its past.
The Maine Historic Preservation Commission has identified 34 archaeological sites in Mount Desert . These sites range from shipwrecks to farmsteads to roads and monuments.
The range of these historic archaeological sites suggests that Mount Desert’s history is abundant.
Historic Sites
Historic sites are located throughout the community. In Mount Desert there are seven sites identified on the National Register of Historic Places as well as numerous other locally significant resources.
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register is a program run by the Department of the Interior and it “coordinates and supports public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect significant historic and archeological resources.”
Sites on the National Register include:
· The Daniel Got Gilman Summer Home (also known as Over Edge) is located off of Huntington Road in Northeast Harbor. This old hotel is historically significant for the period between 1875 and 1924. This was the first Mount Desert site added to the National Register; it went on the list in 1966.
· The Somesville Historic District was added to the National Register in 1975. It includes approximately 30 buildings in the heart of historic Somesville Village. In 1762, Somesville became the location of the first European settlement on the island and eventually included numerous factories, mills, shops, shipyards, and boarding houses.
· The Seal Harbor Congregational Church was listed on the National Register in 1985. It is located on Route 3 in Seal Harbor and is historically significant for its architecture.
· Saint Jude’s Episcopal Church is also located on Route 3 in Seal Harbor. It was listed in the national register in 1986 as a representation of the Shingle style. It was designed by the noted William Ralph Emerson.
· The Union Church of Northeast Harbor was listed in the National Register in 1998. It is located on the Summit Road in Northeast Harbor and was designed by Peabody and Stearns. It is representative of the Shingle style.
· Saint Mary’s-By-The-Sea is a church that was listed on the National Register in 2000. It is located on the South Shore Road in Northeast Harbor. The church was designed by Henry Vaughan and is an example of the Late Gothic Revival style.
The Carriage Paths, Bridges, and Gatehouses of Acadia National Park have been listed in the National Register since 1979. These are examples of historic roads, bridges, and Tudor Revival structures, many of which were built by John D Rockefeller, Jr
In addition to these resources, there are numerous other locally significant historic resources. (Table 1).
Historic Museums
Mount Desert has two historic museums. Both are operated by the Mount Desert Historical Society.
The Somesville Museum is located in the heart of Somesville Village and overlooks the mill pond and harbor. The building was built in 1981 and each summer displays new exhibits. Admission fees are nominal.
The Sound School House was built in 1892 and operated for 34 years as a school for Sound Village. After that, the building became a community center until 1999, when a renovation and addition converted it into a museum space. The museum has exhibit space and offers educational programs to local students.
Other museums in the region include the Abbe Museum, the George Dorr Museum of Natural History, and the Wendell Gilley Museum.
Historic Organizations
The Mount Desert Historical Society was founded in 1931 to preserve the heritage and protect the scenic and historic integrity of Mount Desert Island. The society operates two museums and maintains artifact, photograph, and archival collections. New exhibits on the Island’s history are prepared each summer, directs educational programs, and produces a journal.
The Mount Desert Historical Society is a member of the Islands Association of Museums and Historical Societies.
In addition, there are several other historical societies in the region, including Bar Harbor, Frenchboro, and Great Cranberry Island.
Issues and Implications
1. Historic patterns of settlement are still evident in the many villages of Mount Desert.
2. Many of the town’s prehistoric archaeological resources are located in coastal areas that are experiencing the greatest demand for development.
3. There is little in the Town’s Land Use Ordinance to protect historic and archaeological resources.
4. Significant public and private investments are being made to protect the town’s history.
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