As a requirement for my Casco Bay Islands course, I visited the Town of Long Island, Maine. I was accompanied by two group members, and together we rode the ferry over, visited the school, the post office, and the conservation area before returning to Portland.
After getting off the boat, we hopped in a green Ford Windstar, with a "school bus" sign adorning its roof. The bus driver introduced himself as Chet, and joyfully gave us a brief synopsis of island history, pointing out all of the World War II buildings as we made our way to the school. The school consisted of two classrooms: K-2 and 3-5. There were two main teachers, an ed tech, a librarian, and several volunteers in addition to technology that connected all of the island students. The school appeared brand new and was absolutely beautiful. The students were cheery and enthusiastic about island life, reiterating time and time again how much they cherished their freedom.
Long Island was originally settled by members
of the Abenaki tribes of Maine. The island was primarily used as a summer
settlement due to the richness of marine food stores and farmable land. In
1706, John Russell of Boston was the first European settler to purchase the
island (Vertical File). For the next twenty-six years the island changed
ownership and became undesirable colonial property due to the frequency and
dangers of the Indian wars. However, in 1732 Captain Ezekiel Cushing exchanged
land in Portland and accumulated Long Island for his own family dwelling (Vertical
File). His family is considered the first permanent settlers of Long Island and
depended largely on their farming skills for survival. The Cushing surname is still
prevalent in Casco Bay today.
The nineteenth century witnessed a population
boom on the island and as noted in 1930: "in fact Long Island has since
its earliest history bred and raised a hardy race of sailors and
fishermen" (Vertical File). During the later half of the nineteenth
century and turn of the twentieth century, railroads and automobiles hastened
life on the mainland but also allowed Americans to road trip to nearby vacation
destinations. Due to the onslaught of technology on the mainland, island life
became more appealing for rusticators— Governor Cleaves sought refuge on Long
Island off and on from 1870-1921 (Vertical File). The rusticators’ influence is
evidenced as early as 1927 the first Catholic “summer” Church was built on Long
Island as a destination for summer residents (Vertical File).
Technology on the island also improved as
fishing equipment and commercial and recreational vessels transformed. Fishing
became Long Island’s claim to fame, though farming was still practiced by individual
families for their own subsistence. Furthermore, WWII brought technological
innovation to Long Island, with a naval base and the recreational
accouterments. Additionally, WWII exposed islanders to a large non-island
population. The remnants of WWII, both the physical and the sentimental, are
still relevant to today’s island culture.
The later half of the twentieth century was
largely responsible for Long Island’s transformation from a ward of the City of
Portland to an independent town. In 1953, the island built their first school
that served students K-6th grade. While the school faced closure in
1981, it has since survived and recently undergone $850,000 in renovations to
include a computer lab, library, and theater (Vertical File). In 1979, the old
naval fuel depot was investigated by the Maine Department of Environmental
Protection and in the last decade was turned into a conservation area that
attracts rusticators and playful island children, alike (Vertical File). Since
becoming a town in 1993, Long Island has not only refurbished their school and
built a conservation area; they have also purchased a new fire truck, school
bus, and a historical society to preserve their rich legacy.
Long Island serves as a microcosm for idealized Maine character: their work ethic, appreciation of simplicity, ability to rule autonomously, and socialization habits similar to those portrayed in Jewett's novel, The Country of The Pointed Firs.
Sources:
Vertical File at Maine Historical Society
http://school.long-island.lib.me.us