Sutton Island facts for kids
Sutton Island is a small, private island in Maine, United States. It is located in Hancock County. The island sits south of Mount Desert Island and north of the Cranberry Isles. Sutton Island is about 2.1 kilometers (1.3 miles) long from east to west. It is also about 1.1 kilometers (0.7 miles) wide from north to south.
Sutton Island is one of five islands known as the Cranberry Isles. The other islands are Great Cranberry Island, Islesford (also called Little Cranberry Island), Baker Island, and Bear Island. Sutton Island is the second smallest of these islands. It is very close to Northeast Harbor. People only live on Sutton Island during the summer months.
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Island History
For many years, Harvard University owned two properties on Sutton Island. Each property had a house by the sea. One house was given to the university in 1958. The other was given around 1942. Harvard did not use these homes very often. In 2007, Harvard sold both properties. This was because it cost a lot to take care of them.
Mail Service on the Island
From the 1950s until 2008, Sutton Island had a special way to get mail. A private ferry would deliver mail to the island. The mail was left in a special trash can on the dock. People would then pick up their mail from there.
In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service stopped this practice. They were worried about safety. Now, people who live on Sutton Island must travel by boat. They go to the post office in Northeast Harbor to get their mail.
Life on Sutton Island
The number of people living on Sutton Island changes with the seasons. Today, people only live there during the summer. However, in the past, some people lived on Sutton Island all year round.
The famous poet Rachel Field had a summer home on the island. She enjoyed spending her summers there.
Getting Around Sutton Island
Sutton Island does not have any roads. There is no bridge connecting it to the mainland. It also does not have an airstrip for planes. Most people get to the island by mail boat from Northeast Harbor. Others use a ferry or water taxi from Southwest Harbor, Maine.
There is also a cemetery located on Sutton Island.
Island Wildlife
Sutton Island is home to many interesting animals. There is a very old osprey nest on the island. This nest is over 100 years old. It is built on a group of rocks sticking out from the land.
Sutton Island is also known for a fun old story. It is the legend of Christopher Adams. He was a sailor who was shipwrecked on the island in the early 1800s. People say that his special whistle can still be heard by those living on the island today!
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Sutton para niños
