Category: History

The Vinalhaven Poor Farm, ca. 1925

Island Journal

Caring For Their Own

“The family became so destitute that they were obliged to seek alms from the town. An official from Stonington took the child when she was six years old and started with her for the Poor Farm on Deer Isle.” — Dr. Benjamin Noyes, Island Family Histories: 1890–1945 Fortunately, this story… SEE MORE
old photo of sail boat

Island Journal

The Gardner Bill

In May of 1912, a group of fishermen from Essex County, Massachusetts, enlisted the support of their congressional representative, Augustus P. Gardner, to push forward a bill to ban the use of otter trawls on Georges Bank. It was a bold move, though not unprecedented in pre–World War I US… SEE MORE