Hank Raup's exhaustive work of MDI 'places' now in book form, a must-have for islander libraries
PA planner: AWL not 'light commercial'; Hall Quarry's Game of Stones (season 8)
SOMESVILLE - Like the author, the book cover is understated and simply designed, with his name in such small type, it’s barely legible. It is an extraordinary encyclopedic volume which took half a lifetime. And it’s finally been released in book form.
It’s Hank Raup’s 40-year labor of love, chronicling the history of every named place on MDI and its nearby islands.
Example: I have always been curious about the origins of Sutton Island.
Raup’s entry?
Sutton Island … Origin: For Ebenezer Sutton, of Ipswich, a contemporary of Abraham Somes and nominal owner of the island.
For Joseph Lancaster. “This Lancaster had on June 18, 1805, bought from the William Bingham heirs 65 acres, being all of the western part of Sutton Island, … [His house stood] on or near where ‘The White Hen’ now stands” …
“Joseph Lancaster of Sullivan and his wife, Nancy Rich, widow of Joseph Moore, and Isaac Richardson, son of James Richardson, the first town clerk of Mount Desert, were the first settlers on Sutton which was often spoken of as Lancaster’s Island during their residence there” …
Comment: The story of Ebenezer Sutton’s acquisition of the island has been retold frequently. It first was recounted in an 1816 letter from Abraham Somes to Eben Parsons, of Boston. On a 1755 visit to Mount Desert Island Somes “purchased” Greening Island from a Wabanaki chief for one gallon of rum. “Then the said Sutton asked the Chief how much for that island pointing to an island laying to the Eastward of the former island that I had bargained for [and] the Governor said two quarts. We paid them the rum”. The story is dubious suggest Prins and McBride (2007, p. 225; 2011, p. 53). “Although Eben Sutton never lived on his island, at least not long enough to have any record made of his residence, his name is attached to it” (Thornton 1938, p. 28). “Ebenezer left the region and never returned, but his surname survived … ”
QSJ profiled Raup in September 2020 (reprint of entire article below). He was able to get the Mount Desert Historical Society to assist with the editing and publishing of the work in book form.
Here is what Raup had to say about the essence of his work in an article which appeared on the society’s website.
“The landscape of Mount Desert Island and the immediately adjacent islands is enriched with more than 1,200 named physical features and locations.
“What may start out as ‘You know, that brook down by Richardson's place’ is shortened to Richardson's Brook and in time simply Richardson Brook.
“In addition, however, this island is distinct in having many names applied rather artificially during the hotel and cottage eras of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The various groups who have provided names - settlers, fishermen, cottagers, and others - have lent a place-name diversity that is not commonly found elsewhere.”
The book is available at the MDI Historical Society at 373 Sound Drive, Mount Desert. Tel: (207) 276-9323. The contribution price is $50.
QSJ REPRINT: What’s in a name of a place on MDI? Inside Hank Raup’s 38-year journey to find out ..
SOMESVILLE, Sept. 23, 2020 – Ever wonder why a place has its present-day name?
Some may be obvious. Eagle Lake. Beech Hill. Echo Lake.
But what about Acadia? The Bubbles? (hint: origin has an anatomical bent)
For 38 years, Henry A. Raup has been researching the origin of the names of places on MDI, where he spent his first summer vacation in 1959. Since then he’s been coming about “every other year.” The other years were spent mostly in Cape Hatteras in North Carolina. Three years ago he moved to Somesville permanently.
He was a professor of geography at Western Michigan University. As an academic, he was free to roam and study during the summer. He found Mount Desert, an 18-hour drive from Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Henry Raup hung his shingle as professor of geography.
Henry’s father had an interest in the origin of the names of places in Ohio and built an enormous archive of research. The son inherited that penchant. In 1982, Hank Raup began a similar project to categorize names of places on MDI. HENRY RAUP
His manuscript, which he calls gazetteer, is nearly complete and he has asked the Mount Desert Island Historical Society to help him get it published. This week a band of preservationists hailed by Tim Garrity, Mount Desert historian, gathered at Raup’s home in Somesville to help him push his tome through the last mile to publication.
“It is relevant to mention that Hank has developed a visual impairment that will make it difficult for him to review the manuscript at the level of detail that it deserves, thus our request for extra help,” Tim Garrity wrote in his call to arms.
Raup gave enormous credit to Tim Garrity for galvanizing his team to help bring this project to the goal line.
And what a project. The section of places starting with the letter “B” is 54 pages by itself.
I was reminded of Thomas F. Vining, author of Cemeteries of Cranberry Isles and the towns of Mount Desert Island, who recorded every grave in Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor and Tremont.
Both men are extremely private. Vining declined to be interviewed when I called him.
Raup calls himself a “hermit,” although he did agree to this interview. He has given himself a deadline of January to complete the manuscript. The project then will be in the hands of the editing team at Mount Desert Historical Society.
Raup is a serious scholar and took pains to ensure the true historic dimension of each name. When I brought up the surprising genesis of “The Bubbles,” he was quick to point out that the fishermen who gave the name to the twin peaks were practical people who needed effective ways to identify landmarks and that it did not necessary have a “salacious” origin.
This work is about to join the pantheon of books about the island we treasure. In addition to Vining, I recommend “Roots in the Rocks,” by Charles Child, “A Maine Hamlet” by Lura Beam, “A History of Little Cranberry Island” by Hugh L. Dwelley, “Traditions and Records of Southwest Harbor and Somesville” by Mrs. Seth S. Thorton, “Crossing Lines” by Judith S. Goldstein and “Maine Ways” by Elizabeth Coatsworth and “The Stanleys of Cranberry Isles” by Ralph Stanley. Each has its special place but none with the scope and reach of Henry Raup’s opus.
Seasoned planning commissioner posits why glamping resort not ‘light commercial’ use
TREMONT - Many locals don’ like to be told what to do with their town, especially if you are from away and live here seasonally.
But Chuck Yeiser is not just anyone from away. He is a 20-year veteran of the planning commission of Lower Frederick, PA., with a population of 5,000 - about the same size as Bar Harbor. He is the elected chair of the township’s board of supervisors. And he is an engineer familiar with all the infrastructure requirements of a project like Acadia Wilderness Lodge.
You would think that local elected officials would seek out the likes of Yeiser and Rick Cohen for their informed views. Cohen was the appellate New Jersey judge who was first rejected by the Tremont select board for an appointment to the appeals board until there was a citizens’ uprising.
Reiser was prohibited from speaking at a Planning Board workshop last summer by Chairman Mark Good when he sought to advise board members from his experience in planning.
Last week Yeiser sent a letter to board members which contained his in-depth analysis of the impact of the project on traffic and occupancy, two key elements, he wrote, which are generally accepted as “reliable measures of land use intensity.”
He compared his data for the density of the proposed glamping resort against residential dwellings. Only this way can it be determined whether AWL is a “light commercial use,” Yeiser wrote.
“Comparing AWL's forecast vehicular trips with those based on a conservative residential buildout of 20 dwelling units demonstrates that AWL's proposal results in a 371% increase in the total daily trips and a 420% increase in the peak hour trips. So, in the context of considering whether AWL's proposal constitutes a Light Commercial use in the RB zoning district ... Is a projected 400% increase in traffic volume above what a residential use would generate acceptable?
“Squishy is the appropriate adjective here... While having a squishy planning process isn't necessarily bad, approvals must be made carefully and contain substantive conditions. Should you consider approving AWL's latest proposal, how are you going to assure that AWL's promises to the community are going to be kept – quiet hours, seasonal operation, non-guest use of amenities, no generators, no RVs, smokeless fire pits, marked boundaries, storm water BMP inspection/maintenance, etc?
“Any contemplated approval must address all of AWL's promises to the community and consider what might happen if the lodge changes ownership (life happens and people move on). In my opinion, the Planning Board would be doing a disservice to the community by rushing a decision to approve AWL's proposed land development project at its upcoming meeting.”
The issue of compliance was raised at the last PB meeting by the attorney for the campground opponents that AWL doubled its footprint for its smaller campground on Kelleytown Road without PB knowledge.
QSJ asked Jesse Dunbar, chief enforcement officer who approved the change to yurts from cabins in August, whether he was aware the dwelling footprint had increased dramatically. Dunbar did not answer the question, saying he needed to research documents.
The Planning Board will be asked this question at its meeting Tuesday. What is its position on an applicant changing the size of approved dwellings? What’s the point of having an application process if an applicant can come in after the fact and re-arrange everything? You may read Reiser’s entire letter here.
I can’t imagine this happening in Bar Harbor or Mount Desert. Anything can happen in Southwest Harbor, which is the Wild West. But Tremont still has a chance to stay true to its comprehensive plan. Is the PB up to the task?
Yeiser added: “Lastly, I have noticed that some of your ordinance language is at odds with current Maine statute. These discrepancies are as follows:
Dwelling Unit (Definition) – Title 30-A, M.R.S., § 4401(2)
Subdivision (Definition) – Title 30-A, M.R.S., § 4401(4)
Municipal Decision (Time Limits) – Title 30-A, M.R.S., § 4403(5)
Review Criteria (Comprehensive Plan) – Title 30-A, M.R.S., § 4404(9)
“While I am not sure how Maine law handles discrepancies between municipal ordnances and state statute, I know in other states, like PA, state statute prevails – often times, even when a municipality is operating under a Home Rule Charter. As some of these discrepancies are relevant to the current AWL proposal, I trust that you will ask your legal counsel for guidance.”
A representative for AWL did not reply to a request for comment.
EXPLAINER: What’s in BH vacation rental amendment?
BAR HARBOR - Now that it’s been determined only a majority vote is needed Nov. 2 to approve a cap on vacation rentals in town, an explainer is in order for this hugely complicated issue:
Goal: The town council is seeking to reduce the number of vacation rentals which are not the primary residence of the owner (VR2) to below 9 percent of the town’s total housing stock (2,795 dwellings). QSJ estimates VR2s comprise 16 percent at this point, or about 450 units. That could change as there are more than 100 pending applications waiting for VR registrations. The cutoff date is Dec. 2, 30 days after the Nov. 2 vote.
The amendment came about after town council members began to receive numerous complaints from year-round residents who were evicted because their landlords could make a month’s of rent in a week as vacation rentals, contributing to the affordable housing crisis on MDI.
The mechanism to cap the VRs is to disallow the transfer of a registration upon sale of the property. VR2 owners may continue to operate their rentals, but upon any transfer of the property the VR registration will not be part of the transaction.
Owners who are primary residents of their rentals constitute VR1s and while they also lose transferability, they will benefit from having the minimum rentals cut to two nights while VR2s will stay at four nights.
New owners of VR1s may retain the status if they make it their primary residence.
The website airdna.com, which tracks rentals on airbnb.com and VRBO.com, reported 560 active rentals Friday, while the actual number of registered RVs as of Friday was 628 - a gap of 68 properties. Over the past six weeks many applications have been filed by owners with no current intention of renting out their units, such as 74 of the workforce dwellings owned by Ocean properties.
In a survey done in 2020, when there were 518 VRs registered, there were 167 VR1s. QSJ assumed a slight increase in 2021 and used 175 VR1s to be subtracted from 628. The resulting 453 is assumed to be VR2. QSJ then used that against the 2,795 denominator to come up with 16 percent of the housing stock.
There is an excellent explainer of all the proposed amendments on the town website which may be accessed by clicking here.
For a list of new applications this year click here.
For a list of renewals this year click here.
Hall Quarry: A Game of Stones, Season 8
HALL QUARRY - The fight over the proposed resumption of granite extraction here - also know as the Full Employment Act for Lawyers - will enter its eighth season in January with an opening episode guaranteed to contain drama, intrigue and perhaps irony.
Actually, this timeline from 2014, when Harold MacQuinn Inc. applied for a permit to restart the stone cutting, does not account for the skirmishes between neighbors and the quarry operators dating back to 2012 and earlier.
On Wednesday, the Planning Board gave MacQuinn’s lawyer yet another swing at the pinata come Jan. 12 to prove they can secure the rights to build out a road which can handle the trucking activity or apply for a waiver from local ordinances. Lawyer Ed Bearor was one of five who spoke Wednesday. There were lawyers representing abutters, other neighbors and even a couple across Somes Sound. And of course the board had its own lawyer, the ever loquacious James Collier.
The one person not at the meeting and whose influence is felt at every step of the proceedings is Mike Musetti, owner of MCM Electric, whose estimable electricians work out of his offices in Hall Quarry.
Musetti also owns land on nearby Crane Road, the access in question because a subdivision ordinance requires that it be wide enough to handle the additional traffic, according to the code enforcement officer. Earlier this year Bearor produced what he claimed to be an easement, but upon closer scrutiny it was determined that Musetti could disapprove any construction activity on his land, including road widening.
The board Wednesday gave MacQuinn plenty of time to seek a new deal with Musetti.
Whatever it ultimately decides, the matter no doubt will land back in appeals. Last year the town appeals board had difficulty fielding a quorum and took four months to schedule a meeting. The matter likely will also end back in Superior Court where a judge overturned the Planning Board’s 4-1 rejection of the permit in 2018.
That should guarantee a ninth season of the Hall Quarry Saga, which would make it longer running than Game of Thrones.
Who wants to be on recreation board? No one in Tremont
TREMONT - Mount Desert isn’t the only town with board attendance issues.
The select board’s first action this week after dissolving the recreation board here was to shutter the money-losing vending machine on the town dock.
But a more serious dilemma for Maine municipalities like Tremont is how to run the town without volunteers to staff boards and commissions other than the planning board and select board where plenty of self-interested people are happy to use the opportunity to steer businesses.
The likes of David Campbell are also availing. Campbell is a retiree who has run for virtually every board in town. He is likely to have a key role as an alternate on the appeals board if and when the Acadia Wilderness Lodge application appears on the agenda, assuming Richard Cohen recuses himself as he said he would.
Town Manager Jesse Dunbar called a meeting of the rec board recently, but he reported to the select board that only one member showed up.
TRIBUTE: LaVerne E. Redlon, witness to a century, 1921-2021
SOUTHWEST HARBOR - LaVerne E. Redlon, 100, died peacefully Oct. 13 at her home here with Jeanne, her daughter, by her side. She was born Jan. 25, 1921 in Morton, Illinois, the daughter of Rexford W.H. and Louise L. (Remus) Harris.
LaVerne served in the Navy during WWII at the Philadelphia Naval Yard from 1943-1946 where she worked in supply chain as storekeeper, and also supported payroll. While in the Navy, she met Paul R. Sencabaugh and they were married after the war. They moved to Duxbury, MA, built a house and raised two daughters, Gail and Jeanne. In Duxbury, Laverne worked 25 years for the U.S. Postal Service and finished her last 9 years as one of a few female US Postmasters. She met and married her late husband, Eugene F. Redlon in Duxbury.
In 1980, LaVerne and Eugene retired and moved to Southwest Harbor. LaVerne flourished in retirement, dividing her time between family, friends, community and travel. She often hosted family and friends at her home and showed them the beauty of Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. LaVerne always enjoyed hiking on different trails around the area with the “Footloose Friends”. She believed in giving to the community and was a member of Southwest Harbor’s Conservation Committee and, for 10 years, a key participant in the Southwest Harbor Library annual fundraising appeal. LaVerne loved gardening and freely volunteered at the Charlotte Rhoades Park and Butterfly Garden and, for ten years, meticulously supported the development of the Wild Gardens of Acadia.
LaVerne loved traveling and participated in many Elder Hostel programs around the US and Canada; she especially loved bird watching and wild flower trips. She also loved the animals of the world and planned a safari to Africa where she took magnificent photographs of lions, elephants, giraffes, birds, etc. and landscapes. Being an artist, she cherished a cruise on the Seine River, France, that unveiled the world of the impressionists, including a tour of Claude Monet’s house and private gardens. Before the Soviet Union dissolved, she traveled to the USSR two times to St. Petersburg, Moscow and other cities with the Surrey Opera Company on a cultural exchange program that focused on the minimization of the US/Soviet Cold War. As part of the cultural exchange, LaVerne lived with Soviets in their homes and then hosted Soviet musicians and citizens at her home in Southwest Harbor.
LaVerne is survived by her two daughters: Jeanne Boyd, Southwest Harbor, ME; Gail LeBart and husband, Don, Bend, OR; grandchildren Justin LeBart, Danielle (LeBart) Olszewski and husband, Scott, Bend, OR; great grandchildren Miles and Julian Olszewski, Bend, OR. LaVerne was predeceased by her husband, Eugene, in 1984 and he is survived by his daughter Betsy (Redlon) Battles, Carver, MA, grandson Scott Battles, Plymouth, MA and great grandson Martin.
At LaVerne’s request there will be no services. However, LaVerne greatly inspired and encouraged her family and friends; in gratitude, they all celebrate her life! Interment will be at Mt. Height Cemetery, Southwest Harbor, ME.
Those wanting to make contributions in LaVerne’s memory should send them to the Southwest Harbor Public Library, P.O. Box 157, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679 or Beacon Hospice, 1026 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor, ME 04401.
Arrangements by Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St. Mt. Desert. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com
TRIBUTE: Joan Y. Tyler, 1937-2021
NORTHEAST HARBOR - Joan Y. Tyler, 84, died peacefully at home Oct. 17. She was born Aug. 1, 1937, in Ellsworth, the daughter of Howard E. and Kathleen (Gray) Young.Joan graduated high school from George Stevens Academy, in Blue Hill.
She then went on to receive her teaching degree at Farmington State Teachers College. Her first job out of college was as a home economics teacher at Mount Desert Island High School.
It was while teaching, that she met her husband, Gary Tyler. They were married on Oct. 6, 1961. She stopped teaching soon after the birth of her first child to work at home as a seamstress. She sewed for the Lilly Pulitzer Store, the Kimball Shop Boutique, and most notably, for more than 50 years at the Holmes Store.Joan enjoyed the arts. She played the piano, did ceramics, and liked to paint.
She also enjoyed the outdoors, often taking her children and grandchildren hiking or to the beach.She is survived by her two children; Sally Hulme and husband Tony of West Simsbury, CT. and Jonathan Tyler of Sparks, NV; five grandchildren and one great grandson. Joan was predeceased by her husband Gary in 2018; two siblings Neal Young and Geneva Sylvester.Graveside Services for Gary and Joan will be held 1pm, Sun. Nov. 14, 2021, at Forest Hill Cemetery, Northeast Harbor.
Contributions in Joan’s memory may be made to the Northeast Harbor Ambulance, P.O 122, Northeast Harbor, 04662 or Beacon Hospice, 1026 Stillwater Avenue, Bangor, 04401.