Bustins Island is an island in inner

Casco Bay Casco Bay is an inlet of the Gulf of Maine on the southern coast of Maine, New England, United States. Its easternmost approach is Cape Small and its westernmost approach is Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth. The city of Portland sits along its south ...

Maine Maine () is a state in the New England and Northeastern regions of the United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Quebec to the northeast and north ...

, United States. It is part of the town of Freeport, in

Cumberland County Cumberland County may refer to: Australia * Cumberland County, New South Wales * the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, Australia Canada *Cumberland County, Nova Scotia United Kingdom *Cumberland, historic county *Cumberlan ...

. Although physically located within Freeport, the Bustins Island Village Corporation is a self-governing entity. The island has approximately 117 summer cottages. The island's main road is Bustins Island Road, which loops around the island for about . It is bisected by offshoot roads. Every island building stands beside one of the roads, allowing for easy access for trash removal. The island operates its own ferry, the ''

Lilly B The ''Lilly B'' is a ferry owned by Bustins Island, Maine, United States. It runs several times daily between South Freeport and Bustins Island from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. It is named for Lilly May Brewer (1906–1977), who, along with he ...

'', which debarks from the South Freeport town wharf. Typically, the ferry operates from

Memorial Day Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for mourning the U.S. military personnel who have fought and died while serving in the United States armed forces. It is observed on the last Monda ...

weekend through

Columbus Day Columbus Day is a national holiday in many countries of the Americas and elsewhere, and a federal holiday in the United States, which officially celebrates the anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas on October 12, 1492. ...

weekend. Archie Ross formerly captained the ferry for over fifty years. The ferry arrives at public dock at the southwestern tip of the island, but there is also a steamer dock on the island's western side. A public landing ramp is located at the northern end of the island.An Owner's and Renter's Guide to Bustins Island, Summer 2011
- BIVC.net The island's interior is undeveloped because it is part of a resource protection area, which comprises parcels of land that are now protected against development. It, as with the rest of the island, is under constant threat of fire. There is no pressured water on the island, and since all of the cottages are over one hundred years old, they can be easily set alight accidentally. Six houses have burned to the ground over the years, the last in 2007. Due to this risk, no open fires or fire pits are permitted. The island is named for John Bustion,''Ancient North Yarmouth and Yarmouth, Maine 1636-1936: A History'', William Hutchison Rowe (1937) while its ferry, the ''Lilly B'', is named for Lilly May Brewer (1906–1977), who, along with her husband Ralph (1900–1968), was the caretaker of Bustins during the 1950s and 1960s.

Amenities

The Store

The Store is located on Bustins Island Road, near the public dock. It was originally a general store that adjoined the former Ships Inn Restaurant. The two buildings are now the home of the island's post office, the library, nature center, Ships Inn museum, first-aid room and offices for the Bustins Island Village Corporation (BIVC).

Community House

Located closer to the center of the island, the Community House is the hub of many activities on the island.

Schoolhouse

Standing beside the Community House, the schoolhouse was built in 1888. Its first teacher was John Hackett, who had eleven pupils. It has been renovated by the Bustins Island Historical Society (BIHS).

Fire Barn

Also located next to the Community House, the fire barn is home to two of the island's four fire trucks, as well as its tractor and utility trailers.

Brewer Cottage

Owned by the Brewer family, the cottage is a central meeting place for the island's committees.

Recreation

The island has a six-hole golf course, on its eastern side, and tennis courts, at the island's center, behind the fire barn.

Notable people

Cole Porter Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film. Born to ...

was a camper at the island's all-boys summer camp, run by Admiral

Donald Baxter MacMillan Donald Baxter MacMillan (November 10, 1874 – September 7, 1970) was an American explorer, sailor, researcher and lecturer who made over 30 expeditions to the Arctic during his 46-year career. He pioneered the use of radios, airplanes, a ...

, the former arctic explorer.

Bibliography

* ''History of Bustins Island, Casco Bay, 1660''–''1960'', George B. Richardson (1960)

References

External links

Island government website
Islands of Cumberland County, Maine Islands of Casco Bay Freeport, Maine Islands of Maine {{Maine-geo-stub