Oar Island is one of the thousands of islands, large and small, that fill the rugged ocean coast of Maine. Formed and folded by continental collision, metamorphosis, and glacial scouring, the Maine coast is now a wonderful labyrinth of inlets, bays, islands, rivers, hills, and even fjords, mostly densely wooded with forests of spruce, pine, oak, maple, and birch. No wonder the Maine coast has been a prime vacation attraction for 150 years, favorite destination for Rockefellers, Cabots, Lodges, Bushes, and many others.
One of the most picturesque islands in Muscongus Bay, Oar Island can be found midway along Maine’s coast, about 1 ¼ hour drive east of Portland. It covers about 42 acres, 39 of which have been owned by the Wesson family since 1962.
On the entire island there only 2 houses – rentable by the week either together or separately. It is completely wooded, though with fine views of Muscongus Bay and its many other islands to the south, or of the Camden Hills many miles to the northeast. It has almost 2 miles of ocean frontage, most of it deep water even at low tide, an all-tides boat landing, trails, coves, wildlife, free seafood to gather, and above all complete privacy. When you occupy Oar Island, you have an entire domain to yourself. Nobody can disturb you. You have crossed the moat and pulled up the drawbridge behind you.
Although relatively small, Oar Island was once owned by the famous Samoset, one of the two Indians who welcomed the Pilgrims -- in English! -- at their Plymouth settlement in March, 1621. In 1625 Samoset sold the Pemaquid peninsula, including Oar Island, to an English settler named John Brown.
Over the years Oar Island has seen several interesting milestones. During the Revolution a gang of self-described pirates, led by a Nathanial Palmer, camped on the Muscongus Bay islands while preying on local shipping. "Commodore" Samuel Tucker, who captured more British ships than any other American privateer, later settled next door to Oar Island. In the nineteenth century Oar Island was owned for many years by the family of the uniquely-named Capt. Abdon Keene, Samuel Tucker's neighbors. In 1907 the island just to the south, Hog Island, was bought by Mabel Loomis Todd, the first publisher of the collected poems of Emily Dickinson and the adulterous lover of Emily’s brother, Austin. It is now the Audubon Society's Todd Wildlife Sanctuary. In the same year Oar Island was bought by a New Yorker, Van Buren Hagerman, the first to live there full time, who continued to own it until 1948. The present red Cottage was built by Van Buren Hagerman. And in the 1970's more modern pirates, Colombian drug smugglers, were arrested coming ashore at the local lobster pound.
One of the most picturesque islands in Muscongus Bay, Oar Island can be found midway along Maine’s coast, about 1 ¼ hour drive east of Portland. It covers about 42 acres, 39 of which have been owned by the Wesson family since 1962.
On the entire island there only 2 houses – rentable by the week either together or separately. It is completely wooded, though with fine views of Muscongus Bay and its many other islands to the south, or of the Camden Hills many miles to the northeast. It has almost 2 miles of ocean frontage, most of it deep water even at low tide, an all-tides boat landing, trails, coves, wildlife, free seafood to gather, and above all complete privacy. When you occupy Oar Island, you have an entire domain to yourself. Nobody can disturb you. You have crossed the moat and pulled up the drawbridge behind you.
Although relatively small, Oar Island was once owned by the famous Samoset, one of the two Indians who welcomed the Pilgrims -- in English! -- at their Plymouth settlement in March, 1621. In 1625 Samoset sold the Pemaquid peninsula, including Oar Island, to an English settler named John Brown.
Over the years Oar Island has seen several interesting milestones. During the Revolution a gang of self-described pirates, led by a Nathanial Palmer, camped on the Muscongus Bay islands while preying on local shipping. "Commodore" Samuel Tucker, who captured more British ships than any other American privateer, later settled next door to Oar Island. In the nineteenth century Oar Island was owned for many years by the family of the uniquely-named Capt. Abdon Keene, Samuel Tucker's neighbors. In 1907 the island just to the south, Hog Island, was bought by Mabel Loomis Todd, the first publisher of the collected poems of Emily Dickinson and the adulterous lover of Emily’s brother, Austin. It is now the Audubon Society's Todd Wildlife Sanctuary. In the same year Oar Island was bought by a New Yorker, Van Buren Hagerman, the first to live there full time, who continued to own it until 1948. The present red Cottage was built by Van Buren Hagerman. And in the 1970's more modern pirates, Colombian drug smugglers, were arrested coming ashore at the local lobster pound.
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