News
Archives and Museum Opening July 13! – Summer 2021 Update
We are pleased to announce that the archives and museum will be re-opening in July for Tuesday afternoons (1-3 p.m.), and we will be hosting the following programs this summer. Thank you to all who joined us on Zoom these past months. We hosted four History Hour programs with over 140 attendees. You can view the recordings for the first...
It Took a Village: A Short History of the Clint Ritchie Gymnasium
As Sumner Memorial High School prepared to open its doors in the fall of 1952, the towns of Sullivan, Sorrento, Winter Harbor, and Gouldsboro looked to the new area high school as a promise of better education and opportunities, more than any individual town could afford. However, as the school grew nearer and nearer to completion, it...
“This is a Robbery”: Notorious Art Thief Got His Start in Sullivan
Over fifty years ago, Myles Connor Jr., rock ‘n’ roll singer turned legendary outlaw and suspect in one of the largest art heists of all time, made his first big move in Sullivan, Maine. It was July of 1965, and Connor was visiting family in Sullivan where he had spent many summers growing up. While eating dinner at his granduncle’s...
Alice Turner Curtis, Sullivan-born Author
The Turner House in Sullivan Harbor.Alice Turner was born on September 8, 1860, the youngest child of John and Susan Speare Staples Turner of Sullivan, ME. John, a sail maker, was employed across from their home in Sullivan Harbor on what is sometimes called Little Sail Island. Alice had two sisters—Anna S. who was twelve years older...
The First Sawmill in Sullivan
One of the original proprietors of Sullivan was John Bean of York who came with family members before 1760 to settle here. As an original proprietor, he was granted 200 acres, land around Morancy Pond and land at Waukeag Neck (Sorrento). His children were Samuel, who married Elizabeth Johnson, James, who married Lucy Preble, John, who...
Reverend William E. Foy
Reverend William Ellis Foy(e) was one of the least known yet most significant figures in American religious history to live in Hancock County. William E. Foy was born a free Black in Belgrade, Maine to Joseph and Elizabeth Foy around 1819. Although Maine was a “free” state and there were few Blacks and enslaved people, Maine still had...
The Swiss Chalet and the Manor
In 1886, Clyde Hunt and some associates formed the Sullivan Harbor Land Company. They purchased 500 acres of land in Sullivan Harbor, hoping to sell property and make a good profit. In 1887-1888, they had built the Swiss Chalet Restaurant to attract summer people from Bar Harbor to Sullivan. Advertizing brochures contained information...
Upcoming Programs – Announcements & Survey
Sunrise on New Year’s Day from Pigeon Hill in Steuben. Did you know there was a silver mine on Pigeon Hill in the 1800s? Happy new year! At the Society, we are very excited to be planning some new programs in the coming months. These will be held virtually for the time being and in-person as soon as we are able to do so safely. As we...
Backyard Archeology Project Uncovers Assortment of Historic Artifacts
Seamus Schunk, 10, first spotted something unusual and distinctly metallic protruding from the ground in his backyard in April. He returned with a spade and started to dig, finding an old metal arrowhead. He quickly realized that there was an outline in stones on the ground and explored the whole area. Over the following weeks, Seamus...
Island Fellow Begins Work for Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society
September 2020--Raina Sciocchetti began working with the Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society Aug. 31 as the society's Island Institute fellow. Raina is a recent graduate of Unity College, where she majored in environmental writing and media studies with an emphasis in sustainability societies. She hails from a small coastal community...
Sullivan-Sorrento Historical Society Summer 2020 Update
August 2020--Due to the COVID-19 situation, not much at S-SHS can be considered normal. All of our Bi-Centennial programs, except the Historic House Project, have been cancelled or re-scheduled to 2021. The Archive/museum will not have regular hours, but individual visits may be scheduled by calling us at 422-0995 or e-mail at...