Harpswell

Harpswell’s uniquely scattered geography has shaped its destiny. With a long peninsula known as the Neck, three large islands–Orr’s, Bailey, and Sebascodegan–and more than thirty other islands of varying sizes, the town has, from the start, been a fishing and farming community. In the late nineteenth century, when Casco Bay steamboat lines made the area easy to reach, flourishing resorts developed, with numerous hotels and boarding houses catering to summer visitors. The photographs that make up this fascinating visual history bring to life the changes that took place in Harpswell between the 1870s and 1960s. Images of the early, sometimes-harsh life on the coast contrast with later postcard views of Harpswell as a family resort area, complete with favorite cottages and camps. Of particular interest are the many previously unpublished views of families and fishermen, shipbuilders and farmers who have called Harpswell home throughout the years.