Somesville, Maine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Somesville Historic District
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| Location | Somes Harbor and its environs, Mount Desert, Maine |
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| Area | 400 acres (160 ha) |
| Architect | Deane, Benjamin S.; Noyes, John M. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000092 |
| Added to NRHP | January 8, 1975 |
Somesville is a very old village located on Mount Desert Island in southeastern Maine, United States. It sits at the northern end of Somes Sound. This village was founded by Abraham Somes, who was the first European settler to live on the island. Many people came to Somesville because it had busy mills and quarries. Today, the entire village is recognized as the Somesville Historic District.
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A Look at Somesville's Past
The story of Somesville began a very long time ago. Even before European settlers, Native Americans visited this island. They came as far back as 4000 B.C., though they didn't live here permanently.
First European Settlers
The first European families arrived in 1761. These were Abraham and Hannah Somes, along with James and Rachel Richardson. The governor of Massachusetts, Francis Bernard, asked Abraham Somes to settle here. He wanted Somes to build mills for the area.
The settlers named their new village Somesville. They also named the nearby water inlet Somes Sound, both after Abraham and his family. This rich history still makes Somesville a special place today.
How Somesville Grew: Its Industries
Somesville became a very busy place because of its many industries. As more people settled on the island, these businesses grew. There were lots of job opportunities for everyone.
Main Jobs and Businesses
People could find work in several areas. These included logging (cutting down trees), fishing, building ships, and trading goods along the coast. Many also worked in the granite quarries, digging out stone.
The island had many logging mills, a shoe factory, and a woolen mill. By 1840, the Somes family became the wealthiest on the island. This was thanks to their businesses, along with the Whiting family. They owned many warehouses and other companies.
Mills and Quarries
The mills in Somesville, which processed lumber, grain, and wool, were powered by several dams. The granite quarries were also a huge part of the local economy. In 1886, workers shipped over 3,500 tons of cut stone each year. This booming industry quickly attracted more settlers. By 1950, the population of Somesville had tripled.
The Land Around Somesville
The land of Mount Desert Island, where Somesville is located, has a fascinating geological history. It was mostly formed about 380 million years ago. This happened when a continent and a chain of islands crashed into each other.
How Mountains and Sounds Formed
This collision created the granites and other igneous rocks that make up most of the island. It also formed the mountains you see there today. Much more recently, about one million years ago, a huge glacier covered the area. This glacier was a mile thick and moved slowly, just a few yards each year.
As the glacier moved, it carved out Somes Sound. This created a curved, U-shaped valley, which is a common sign of glaciers. Today, the island has many types of rock. These include granites and volcanic rocks from that ancient collision.
Ancient Rock Formations
These granites and volcanic rocks sit next to older rocks. These older rocks are about 400 million years old and are called siltstones and sandstones. They are found on the inland side of the island, where the village of Bar Harbor is located.
The mountains of Acadia National Park show us a huge tectonic event. This was soon followed by more continental collisions. These events led to a major period of mountain-building in the Northern Appalachians, known as the Acadian Orogeny.
Somesville's Historic District
In 1975, the main part of Somesville village and its harbor area were officially recognized. They were listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. This means the area has special historical importance.
What the District Includes
The historic district stretches along Main Street. It goes from Denning Brook all the way to Maine State Route 3. It also includes the entire shoreline of the harbor. This goes as far south as Mason and Squantum Points.
Inside the district, you can find some very old buildings. These include the Isaac Somes House, built in 1828, which is the oldest house in the village. There's also the Union Church, built in 1852.
