Harbor Island, Phippsburg, Maine facts for kids
Harbor Island is a small island in Maine, United States. It is covered with many trees. You can find it at the mouth of the New Meadows River, right across from Sebasco in Phippsburg, Sagadahoc County. The island has two beaches. One is on the south end, near the Sebasco Harbor Resort. The other is a small sandy area on the north end. A few private homes are also on the island.
Contents
Early Settlers of Harbor Island
The first person known to settle on Harbor Island was Benjamin Darling. People say that Benjamin Darling was a Black man who was once enslaved. He gained his freedom because he saved his master, Captain Darling, during a shipwreck. It is thought he came from the West Indies. However, DNA tests show that his family's roots are in the Senegal and Gambia areas of West Africa. Benjamin Darling bought Harbor Island in 1794 for 15 pounds.
The Darling Family's New Home
Benjamin Darling and his wife, Sara Proverbs, made Harbor Island their home. They started their family there. Later, their children and grandchildren moved to other islands and the mainland nearby. This included Malaga Island, which is about half a mile away. Today, Malaga Island is protected by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. It is a very important place for understanding Maine's Black history.
Changes for the Malaga Island Community
In 1912, the state asked the people living on Malaga Island to leave. Many of them were descendants of Benjamin and Sara. These families did not own the land they lived on. Some had also become dependent on state support. Eight people from Malaga Island were moved to a special center called Pineland Center. Some of Benjamin and Sara's family members stayed on Harbor Island. Others moved to the mainland in Phippsburg. They settled in fishing villages like West Point and Sebasco, and also in Cundy's Harbor.
Why Locals Call it Horse Island
People who live nearby often call Harbor Island "Horse Island." This nickname comes from the late 1800s and early 1900s. During that time, horses were used at Corneleus Ice Pond (also known as Watuh Lake) for the ice business. These horses were kept on Harbor Island during the summer months.
