Perkins Township, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Swan Island Historic District
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Ferry from Richmond to Swan Island (ca. 1900)
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| Nearest city | Richmond, Maine |
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| Area | 1,500 acres (610 ha) |
| Built | 1763 |
| Architectural style | Colonial, Federal, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 95001461 |
| Added to NRHP | December 12, 1995 |
Perkins Township, also known as Swan Island, is a special area in Sagadahoc County, Maine, United States. It is called an "unorganized territory" because it does not have its own local government like a town.
This area was once a busy town called Perkins. However, it was later abandoned, and no one has lived there since the 1940s. Perkins Township includes Swan Island, Little Swan Island, and some flat areas of land that are covered by water at high tide. All of these are located in the Kennebec River, between the towns of Richmond and Dresden.
Most of Perkins Township is part of the Swan Island Historic District. This district has eight old buildings and five other structures. Some of these buildings are very old, dating back to the 1750s. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, which means it is a place important to history.
Today, the entire township is a protected area called the Steve Powell Wildlife Management Area. It is managed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Visitors can enjoy camping, hunting, fishing, and watching wildlife there. These activities are allowed from May to October, but you need to make a reservation first.
The History of Perkins Township
The town of Perkins was officially created in the mid-1800s. It was named after Thomas Handasyd Perkins, who helped pay for the town to be formed.
During the 1800s, nearly 100 people lived in Perkins. They worked in different jobs like building ships, farming, and harvesting ice from the river. The island also became a popular spot for summer visitors who built vacation homes there.
The town had its own government, a schoolhouse for children, and a cemetery. But in 1918, the town was officially closed down, or "disincorporated." After that, the state of Maine managed the area as a township.
By the mid-1940s, the island's industries began to decline. This was partly due to the Great Depression, a time when many people lost their jobs. Pollution in the Kennebec River also made things difficult. Eventually, everyone left the island, and it became abandoned.
For many years, not much was done to protect the old buildings. But in the 1990s, people started working to preserve some of these historic structures. This work is still ongoing today.
Geography and Historic Places
Swan Island is about 4 miles (6.4 km) long and quite narrow. Its northern tip is across the river from the town of Richmond. The southern tip is just north of a large bay called Merrymeeting Bay. Little Swan Island is a smaller island located on the eastern side of Swan Island.
To get to Swan Island, you need to take a boat to a dock near its northern end. The island has an old main road that runs down its center. The land is a mix of forests and old fields. The state keeps this balance as part of its efforts to manage wildlife.
The island has several old cemeteries. You can also find the house of Dr. Silvester Gardiner, built around 1763. He was one of the first colonial owners of the island. His house is a rare example of 18th-century saltbox architecture in Maine.
