Squirrel Island, Maine
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Squirrel Island is an island in the
Gulf of Maine The Gulf of Maine is a large gulf of the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast of North America. It is bounded by Cape Cod at the eastern tip of Massachusetts in the southwest and by Cape Sable Island at the southern tip of Nova Scotia in the northea ...
and
village A village is a human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet but smaller than a town with a population typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand. Although villages are often located in rural areas, the term urban v ...
within the town of
Southport, Maine Southport is a New England town, town and island in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 622 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It includes the neighborhoods of Cozy Harbor, Newagen, Pine Cliff, West Southport, an ...
, United States. It was established as a summer community in 1871. The origin of the name is not related to its squirrel population, since according to island chronicler Charles McLane " uirrels do not inhabit the island (or if they do now, they did not in early times according to local pundits)," but, rather, refers to the shape of the island which, when seen from above, resembles a squirrel holding an acorn.


History

Farmers and shepherds have resided on Squirrel Island since the
American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
. The summer colony was created with the formation of the Squirrel Island Association in 1871, and the subsequent establishment of a village corporation within the town of
Southport Southport is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It lies on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, West Lancashire coastal plain and the east coast of the Irish Sea, approximately north of ...
, the first of a handful of communities so governed in the state of Maine, in 1903. The "village corporation" adds an additional layer of control within the town government to meet the island's unique needs that arise from the fact that most island residents are not year-round residents of Southport and therefore have no right to vote in local elections. Residents of Squirrel Island pay taxes to Southport, a portion of which is rebated for expenditure on the island, and an additional tax that is locally controlled and spent. Most land parcels are leased from the Squirrel Island Association, subjecting the lease to land-use rules similar to a restrictive covenant or homeowner's association. There are approximately 100  parcels, each with one one-family cottage. Most cottages were first built between the 1870s and 1920s; however, most have been remodeled and enlarged over the years. The island was once home to a casino and hotel, both of which burned down in the 1960s.


Accommodations & infrastructure

Residents of Squirrel Island vacate during the winters because above-ground plumbing is drained to prevent freezing. Residents enjoy beaches,
tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...
,
boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, suc ...
, a local restaurant,
library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...
, and
chapel A chapel (from , a diminutive of ''cappa'', meaning "little cape") is a Christianity, Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. First, smaller spaces inside a church that have their o ...
. All island facilities and equipment (including the mooring fields, floats, tennis courts, beaches, dinghies and kayaks) are maintained by the taxpayers of Squirrel Island for the use and benefit of residents and their guests. The island has no medical facilities or stores. Transportation around the island is by foot; residents are not allowed to bring motor vehicles. The island receives telephone, electric, and water utilities via undersea cables and pipes from the mainland. A
ferry boat A ferry is a boat or ship that transports passengers, and occasionally vehicles and cargo, across a body of water. A small passenger ferry with multiple stops, like those in Venice, Italy, is sometimes referred to as a water taxi or water bus. ...
(the ''Novelty'') runs regular trips from
Boothbay Harbor, Maine Boothbay Harbor is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,027 at the 2020 census. It includes the neighborhoods of Mount Pisgah, and Sprucewold, the Bayville and West Boothbay Harbor villages, and the Isle of Sp ...
.


See also

*
List of islands of Maine Maine is home to over 4,600 coastal islands, ranging from large landmasses like Mount Desert Island to small islets and ledges exposed above mean high tide. The Maine Coastal Island Registry (CIR) The Maine Coastal Island Registry (CIR) ca ...


References


External links


Town of Southport, Maine
* {{authority control Islands of Lincoln County, Maine Islands of Maine Coastal islands of Maine