Island History

Susquesong and Pemasong

 

Native American peoples have inhabited the land now called Maine for more than 12,000 years and it was stewarded by members of the Wabanaki Confederacy. The Wabanaki are also known as the People of the Dawnland (so-called as the people first to greet the sun). The Confederacy comprises five principal nations, the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Abenaki. The Abenaki homeland includes what is now modern day Yarmouth and they called these beautiful islands Susquesong (Cousins) and Pemasong (Littlejohn).

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We acknowledge the painful legacy of the region’s colonial history. If you would like more information regarding the Wabanaki Confederacy and forebearers of this land, the Abenaki people, you are encouraged to visit Wabanaki REACH, Abbe Museum, and watch An Introduction to the Maine Wabanaki, gkisedtanamoogk at TEDxDirigo.

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Cousins and Littlejohn

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Colonists arrived to the islands as early as 1628, calling ​both islands as Hogg Islands. In 1645, John Cousins bought both islands from Richard Vines, Steward General and Councilor for Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Five years later, Cousins sold half of the land to Richard Bray and the other half Mary Sayward in 1679.

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Over the years, the islands have been home to two small shipyards (one on Sandy Point, the other on Birch Point), a blacksmith’s shop, religious communities, schools, multiple hotels, a quarry, a summer camp, stores, and post offices. For many years, the islands were largely, but not exclusively, occupied by summer residents. By the early 1900s, there were 10 families that lived on the islands year-round.

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People traveled between the two islands by boat or using steppingstones when the tide was right. In 1896, a bridge was built between the two islands. The bridge was eventually replaced in 1941 and again in 1968 with the causeway that exists today.

 

During World War II, the islands were home to 15 soldiers, who were stationed on Cousins’ Sandy Point and on Littlejohn near the wharf. A submarine net was strung between Littlejohn and Chebeague, and from Sandy Point to the mainland, to protect Portland Harbor.

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In 1955, a bridge was built to Cousins Island to facilitate the construction of Wyman Station, which was finished two years later. With a bridge in place, more residents could now live on the islands year-round and Central Maine Power (CMP) played a significant role in the development of homes on the islands for its employees.

 

Tinker Preserve

 

Prior to CMP’s development of the island, large fields were located across the street from the Community House, and the islands played host to baseball teams from all over the region. “Tinker Field” was owned by Katherine Prescott Tinker, professor of astronomy at Vassar College. Now known as the Tinker Preserve, the land was donated in 1970 and shall remain “forever wild.”

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Thank you to the Kenneys, longtime Harmony Hill residents, for providing a historical narrative of the islands, and to Jay Selberg and John Robinson for the photos.