The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-08-15
AN ISLAND PARADISE.
What is Said of Yslesboro as Summer
Resort

Islesboro, the beautiful, in Penobscot
Bay, is one of Names most prosperous.
wealthiest, most exclusive and most
charming summer resorts which has
risen like magic in a few years. Imag-
inc an island, barren save for few
scattered houses and settlements three
or four years ago, to have grown to be
a beautiful villa-dotted paradise where
$780, has been expended for summer
cottages alone, with beautiful drives,
golf links, swell hotels, steamboat
wharves, churches, yacht clubs, a swim
ing pool and all the facilities required
by modern society and you will have a
faint idea of how this interesting island,
but an hours sail from Rockland, has
grown in Importance and wealth.
The island is divided socially, at least,
into two parts-Dark HarbOr, on the
east end, where the exclusive colony OF
Boston, New York and Philadelphia,
are encamped in summer, and the
western end, where at Ryder's Cove,
Hughes Point and Guinea, an extensive
colony of Maine people are located.
Dark Harbor is the place where four
fifths of the half million dollars have
been spent in buildings which equal
those of any resort in Maine in elegance.
Its growth has been and is the most
wonderful of any sort in the State and
gives evidence of becoming one of the
paradises of the East.
Within three years, for instance, the
w. II. Glover Company of Rockland
has erected nearly 100000 worth OF
cottages at Dark Harbor and have con-
tracts for many thousands of dollars
worth more.
Charles A. Morton, foreman for the
company, has had crew of from 20 to
30 men at work there for over two
years and finishes this years work next
week in the completion OF beautifully
located Catholic Church at Dark Har-
Dor Services were held in the church
for the first time last Sunday, Rev. FIR.
Kealy of Belfast, the active spirit OF
its organization and construction, con-
Quoting the services.
THE r. c. CHURCH.
The church. which will have cost
about $4,000, is of Gothic style of az
chitecture, of 36X36 feet in dimensions
with an octogonal end for altar, stained
glass windows, a tower, broad piazza
overlooking the sea, hard wood floor
and all the modern improvements. This
edifice was erected by the cooperation
of the summer residents with their do
mestjcs. who number about 100, and is a
worthy example of devotion and Sacrl
fee on the part of Father Kealy and
his small flock. The interior will be
finished next season.
THE b. II L. WHARF.
The Boston 4 Bangor Steamboat
Company, recognizing the growing i'm
~, q Ill rn TO
work on a steamboat wharf on the
western side of the island, and the
boats Of that company will, next sea-
son, make regular stops there. Men
have been surveying the land and wa
ter depth at the point selected and work
viii soon be begun. AT present all the
freight is landed at Dark Harbor and
sailed four miles across the island.
This wharf will accommodate a large
colony and will serve to increase the
popularity.
y BANK BUILDING.
At Dark Harbor, number of gentle
men are negotiating for land owned by
II. A. Dodge where they contemplate
erecting a building to contain bank OF
deposit and exchange, the summer post
office, telephone and telegraph Offices
The present post office, scarcely larger
than a piano box, cancels about 600 let
tiers day and has large revenue for
three or four months.
The finest natural swimming pool in
Maine is located at the foot of the hill
on which the Islesboro Inn rests. A
dam and bridge cross it at the mar
rows and several acres of water are en-
closed. There are thirty OF forty bath
houses and the bathing costumes are
wonderfully interesting. One must
have a pedigree, of wealth at least, to
take dip i'll the pool, and an air of
frigid eXclusiveness pervades the col
ony. There is yacht and golf-club and
contests for silver cups are now on.
The organization is called the Tara
tine Club and includes the leading fam
lilies. Cups are offered for the yacht
and golf contests by DR.. R. H. Derby,
Henry T. Sloane of New York, Mr.
Winsor the Tarratine club and Mr..
Kissel, and the contests are held every
Saturday and Wednesday.
Wednesday and Saturday night dances,
teas, receptions, yachting parties and
driving parties fill the cup of summer
social life.
The island is rolling and picturesque
Will IOIIldllUlC llOOhS anu DCduGll VI HoI-
bors. The races are started from Gil
keys harbor and the course extends
five miles toward Castine whose frown-
ing hills are clearly seen in the distance.
THE BUILDING STORY.
The bulk of the building has been
done by the w. H. Glover Co. of Rock
land, in charge of MI Charles A. Nor
ton, who has established a camp for
the crew in thickly wooded part near
Dark Harbor centre. The record of
building in two years 10y this firm
amounts to about 1925, 900 on low es-
innate For instance this year there
has been erected for J. Murray Forbes
of Boston a villa and stable, SO feet
square, that cost in ali about $4,000;
villa, pump house, $50 feet wharf,
etc, for G. E. Kissel of Philadelphia
that cost all told, $4,000; for George
H. Wilbur, native resident, two cot
tages at the cost of $4,000; $4,000
cottage for A. A. Pendleton, the lead
ing native resident; billiard room,
2Ox30, on the Point for DR.. F. c. Shat
tuck, costing $4,000; addition to Mrs.
w. II. Diapers cottage; last year a
magnificent establishment OH the Point
for DR.. F. c. Shattuck of Boston, whose
total cost was about $4,000; $4,000
villa for James Lawrence of Groton,
Mass, and a $4,000 home for George
Bird of New York; a $1,000 cottage for
Mrs. Frances Riggs Of New York; a
e vii 10 for Nv Il nh Of