Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-09-21
TELLS OF ISLAND
j. G. HUTCHINSON WRITES INTER
ESTlNGLY ON NOVEL PART OF
STATE OF MAINE.
The Great chebeasue Island, Me, Is
the Subject of Letter-How Name
originated-Its Inhabitants Many
Ecclesiastical Names,

Ecclesiastical Names.
Great Chebeague Is1anu, ne.,
Sept 8, 1905.
My Dear Carl:-
Before we leave this temporary
island home, l desire to write you
something of Portland, but especially
of the islands and islanders of Casco
Bay. Portland has population of
close to sixty-five thousand and is an
old place. Twice after it was well
on it's way to a sood sized town. in the
eighteenth century, as a white mans
settlement, it was almost wiped out
of existence, by Indian massacre and
conflagration.
Situated advantageously for COM
merce, at the southwesterly end of
Casco Bay, it finally outgrew its early
misfortunes, and was an established
city in 1910, and is now the metropolis
and commercial center of Maine and
part Of northern New England. The
business portion is chiefly built on a
peninsula projecting into the bay. A
beautiful city, with some important
business houses. There are more gen
timely beautiful resorts and places Of
interest about it than I have ever
seen; just as they have been left
from the hands Of the Great Architect
of the earth unaided by man.
Right here is Cape Elizabeth, and If
g. straight line were drawn from it's
eastern end to Cape Small point in a
slightly northeasterly direction, MAX
ing about twenty-three miles, there
would be between that lire and the
main land of Maine, Casco Bay and
it's interesting islands This space
would be about seven miles wide on
tie average.
Islands of casco Bay.
Between any of these islands the
largest steamers can pass. There are,
properly deserving tho recognition as
islands, about one hundred and TWEEN
ty-fve and excepting their extreme
ocean range, the waters of this bay
between them, are safe for navigation
by the smallest sailboats, and rarely
is there danger for the row-boats
The safety and beauty of this harbor
and bay stand first in America, if not
in the word. Taking the immediate
coast of Maine, these islands, the
landscape over them their woodland
and the ocean view connected there
with, the delightful climate during
what is known as the hot weather in
more southerly parts of the country
and it may be truly said that GOO
has exhibited some of His most glor
! icus handiwork.
This island, Great Cheabeague, or
which we have been soiourning, is the
largest, having an area of about TWEEN
ty-three hundred acres. There is Great
Cheaoeague and Little Cheabeague
| the latter being very small and almost
connected with Great Cheabeague by
narrow bar which is visible in low
tide. But for both or them is one
| postoffice, on Great Cheabeague, sc
mail matter reaches individual destin
ations if addressed simply Chebeague
| Island, Maine. Tradition here has i
| (but for this l do not vouch) that some
of the Indian chiefs in their day looked
over these two islands and with refer
ence to the larger said "She big" ant
the smaller, "She little" hence the
established Indian name "Chebeague.
/ These 125 islands in Casco bay are
respectively in area from the larges
above named to 700, 800, 200 and OF
down to ten acres.
Cottages in casco Bay.
A few of the larger islands are fair
ly well inhabited, and all have, a
least, one or two residents. Many o
| them are quite we'll occupied durin:
the summer season by transients, ant
families who have bought land ant
own their cottages, while others rem
cottages which have been erected TO
! rental A few of the smaller and NOR
I remote islands from the local steam
boats plying between the larger coas
towns and Portland, are not inhabited
at all, in fall. winter and spring. Thos
/ who have had experience here say tina
1, September is balmy comfortabl
and most delightful month, as well a
June, July or August In few year
all the rock bound coast islands will
be in the hands of the cottagers. TIL
time is not distant when great man
people will have their summer home
on these islands from New York Cit
and state, Philadelphia and Pennsy
| vania and from farther west and south
Many New England people, especial
from the larger cities thereof com
here for their summer weeks, and
has been said that they make this Il
cality a New England play ground, not
withstanding the many and enjoyabl
New England resorts.
Besides the islands in Casco bay,
must be remembered that the Main
Atlantic coast is long one. wit
many small peninsulas or capes an
islands. having uneXcelled outlook
over sea and land all along it. To
western man who has come east
i seems strange TO hear the Maine ma
say Il am going down east to Rocl
II land or Bar Harbor on the coast We
we do realize that from the southwes
corner Of Maine on the Atlantic thi
coast extends pretty well northeastern
about $50 miles, to the extreme souti
easterly point of New Brunswick.
People of the Islands.
These islands are inhabitated b