Islesford Historical Museum and Blue Duck Ships Store facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Islesford Historical Museum and Blue Ducks Ships Store
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Islesford Historical Museum
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Little Cranberry Island, Islesford, Maine |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Architect | Edmund B. Gilchrist |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival, Colonial |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000224 |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 1980 |
The Islesford Historical Museum and the Blue Duck Ships' Store are two important historical places. They are located on Little Cranberry Island in Maine, USA. Both are part of the beautiful Acadia National Park. These sites help us learn about the island's past and its connection to the sea.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of the Buildings
The Blue Duck Ships' Store: From Supplies to History
The Blue Duck Ships' Store was first built around 1850 by Edwin Hadlock. It started as a "ship's chandlery." This was a special store that sold supplies to ships and sailors. Imagine a general store, but just for boats! It sold everything from ropes and sails to food and tools.
Around 1875, the store changed. It became a regular market for the islanders, called the Isleford Market. Later, after 1912, it was even used as apartments where people lived.
William Sawtelle's Vision: Creating a Museum
Eventually, George Hadlock, Edwin's son, sold the building. The new owner was William Otis Sawtelle. He was a physics professor who loved spending his summers on the island. Mr. Sawtelle had a great idea. He helped start the Islesford Historical Society. After 1919, he used the old store as the society's main office and as a small museum. He gave it the unique name "Blue Duck Ships' Store."
In 1927, a brand new building was constructed specifically to be a museum. This new building became the Islesford Historical Museum. It took over all the amazing items from the Blue Duck collection. These items included old records of ships, historical tools, and information about the families who lived on the island. Having a museum built just for this purpose was quite new and special back then. The Islesford Historical Museum was one of the first of its kind.
Exploring the Buildings: What They Look Like Today
The Blue Duck Ships' Store: By the Water's Edge
The Blue Duck Ships' Store is a one-and-a-half story building made of wood. It measures about 28.5 feet (8.7 meters) by 49 feet (14.9 meters). It sits right by the water on a stone foundation. The outside is simple, with wooden boards. It has windows of different sizes, many of which were updated in the early 1900s. There are doors on the sides and ends, some with a simple decorative top.
Today, the Blue Duck building is used by Islesford Boatworks. This is a non-profit group that teaches people of all ages how to build traditional wooden boats. They also help the island community and support the local fishing industry.
The Islesford Historical Museum: A Sturdy Brick Building
The Islesford Historical Museum is a strong, fireproof building made of brick. It was built in 1927. Its style is called Georgian Colonial Revival. This means it looks like older, grand buildings from the colonial times, but with a modern touch.
The main part of the museum is about 60 feet (18.3 meters) long and 30 feet (9.1 meters) wide. It has a sloped roof. There's also a smaller section that is about 30 feet (9.1 meters) by 25 feet (7.6 meters). The main building has two tall chimneys and a fancy front entrance. The museum sits on a base made of rough, cut stone.
Protected History
The National Park Service took ownership of both buildings, along with the area around them and William Sawtelle's gravesite, in 1948. The entire property, covering about 1.3 acres (0.53 hectares), was officially recognized as a historic place on September 30, 1980. This listing helps protect these important sites for future generations.
See also
