On loan from Phil Whitney. This turtle shell, according to Whitney family legend, is suspected to be from an 1825 whaling expedition to the South Pacific. It was kept in the family home until 1928, when the Spurling house burned down, and was rescued from the flames by islanders trying to salvage their possessions. The shell is that of a Hawksbill sea turtle, larger than most found today, and you may notice an indentation on the left side. Turtles are adept at recovering from injuries but they can’t grow back bone, so this is likely an injury sustained from when this turtle was far smaller.
Description: On loan from Phil Whitney. This turtle shell, according to Whitney family legend, is suspected to be from an 1825 whaling expedition to the South Pacific. It was kept in the family home until 1928, when the Spurling house burned down, and was rescued from the flames by islanders trying to salvage their possessions. The shell is that of a Hawksbill sea turtle, larger than most found today, and you may notice an indentation on the left side. Turtles are adept at recovering from injuries but they can’t grow back bone, so this is likely an injury sustained from when this turtle was far smaller. [show more]
A collection of shells and photographs taken from the Shell Midden on Fish Point. Some of the shells have holes in them, which may have been created by the indigenous people who hunted for them. Dating through the shell middens and other archeological remains, we know people have used this coastline and its plentiful marine resources for thousands of years. The Cranberries themselves were used by the indigenous peoples here, evidenced by the remains of a shell midden on Fish point (at the hook of the island) which isn’t accessible to the public. Shell middens are often referred to as trash heaps and they contain oyster, clam, and shellfish remains, along with ‘faunal remains’ which refers to the mammal, fish, bird, reptile bones and teeth that are found. A minor portion of the middens are often stone tools or their fragments, and pieces of ceramic pottery. Shellfish middens are phenomenal records of the lives lived in proximity to the coast, and they are often found in sheltered coves and bays, near small mudflats, and tidal/inland streams. They tell us which seasons people were occupying areas, their preference for sheltered areas with easy access to the ocean (for their canoes) and plentiful marine resources, such as shellfish flats, and spring runs of migratory fish. They are extraordinary records which are disappearing rapidly due to rising oceans.
Description: A collection of shells and photographs taken from the Shell Midden on Fish Point. Some of the shells have holes in them, which may have been created by the indigenous people who hunted for them. Dating through the shell middens and other archeological remains, we know people have used this coastline and its plentiful marine resources for thousands of years. The Cranberries themselves were used by the indigenous peoples here, evidenced by the remains of a shell midden on Fish point (at the hook of the island) which isn’t accessible to the public. Shell middens are often referred to as trash heaps and they contain oyster, clam, and shellfish remains, along with ‘faunal remains’ which refers to the mammal, fish, bird, reptile bones and teeth that are found. A minor portion of the middens are often stone tools or their fragments, and pieces of ceramic pottery. Shellfish middens are phenomenal records of the lives lived in proximity to the coast, and they are often found in sheltered coves and bays, near small mudflats, and tidal/inland streams. They tell us which seasons people were occupying areas, their preference for sheltered areas with easy access to the ocean (for their canoes) and plentiful marine resources, such as shellfish flats, and spring runs of migratory fish. They are extraordinary records which are disappearing rapidly due to rising oceans. [show more]
Photos of places, duck hunt, and whale on GCI. A= Bunker Boatyard 1965-1970s, B= Ice in the Creek Feb 12, 1934. C= Ice in the Pool Feb 6, 1934. D= town dock 1940s or 1960?. E= Cranberry Road from Dolly Hill. Duck and geese hunt on the El Pescado. G= Whale washed up on the back of the island (1919?), see report of Dr. Bowditch on Islesford.. H= Raymond Bunker's car on ice in the pool Feb. 12, 1934. I= Unknown car.
Description: Photos of places, duck hunt, and whale on GCI. A= Bunker Boatyard 1965-1970s, B= Ice in the Creek Feb 12, 1934. C= Ice in the Pool Feb 6, 1934. D= town dock 1940s or 1960?. E= Cranberry Road from Dolly Hill. Duck and geese hunt on the El Pescado. G= Whale washed up on the back of the island (1919?), see report of Dr. Bowditch on Islesford.. H= Raymond Bunker's car on ice in the pool Feb. 12, 1934. I= Unknown car.
Photographs. Collage of colorful dog photos made by Susan White dogs identified as: Jack, Casey, Ollie, Loki, Brady, Sailor, Hermiga (?), Cappy, MyaLunaTide and Rosie. Unknown date but modern 2010ish? Black frame.
Description: Photographs. Collage of colorful dog photos made by Susan White dogs identified as: Jack, Casey, Ollie, Loki, Brady, Sailor, Hermiga (?), Cappy, MyaLunaTide and Rosie. Unknown date but modern 2010ish? Black frame.
A multiple page document about the effects of the Hemlock Looper. The Hemlock Looper is a caterpillar that eat the needles off of Hemlock trees. This causes Hemlock trees to die within a year of the caterpillars eating them. The document suggests that the forest service takes a look at the trees so that they can determine the life span. It goes on to say that the trees can be spread with a replant for the looper, and that the state could pay for up to 50% of the cost.
Description: A multiple page document about the effects of the Hemlock Looper. The Hemlock Looper is a caterpillar that eat the needles off of Hemlock trees. This causes Hemlock trees to die within a year of the caterpillars eating them. The document suggests that the forest service takes a look at the trees so that they can determine the life span. It goes on to say that the trees can be spread with a replant for the looper, and that the state could pay for up to 50% of the cost. [show more]
Description: Constructing the first floor of the three-story addition to Cranberry House. First floor will be the environmentally controlled archive addition.
Photo, Back from deep sea fishing. Nathan Rome with largest catch by Jud (Reed ?)- a cod. Wilbur Reed and unidentified children looking on - Cranberry Isles, Maine (circa summer 1958)
Description: Photo, Back from deep sea fishing. Nathan Rome with largest catch by Jud (Reed ?)- a cod. Wilbur Reed and unidentified children looking on - Cranberry Isles, Maine (circa summer 1958)
Newspaper clipping, Mount Desert Islander, 17 Jun 2004, "Heck of a Halibut... Cranberry Isles fisherman Junior Bracy caught this nearly 200-pound halibut while out fishing off Duck Island on June 7. It dressed out at 154 pounds. Mr. Bracy and his sternman, son Scott, are third and fourth generation fishermen from Cranberry Island."
Description: Newspaper clipping, Mount Desert Islander, 17 Jun 2004, "Heck of a Halibut... Cranberry Isles fisherman Junior Bracy caught this nearly 200-pound halibut while out fishing off Duck Island on June 7. It dressed out at 154 pounds. Mr. Bracy and his sternman, son Scott, are third and fourth generation fishermen from Cranberry Island."
Letter, from Henry B. Bigelow, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge MA, 1 Sep 1955, to John L. Saltonstall, asking for sample teeth from shark that attacked boat (see items 400-406)
Description: Letter, from Henry B. Bigelow, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge MA, 1 Sep 1955, to John L. Saltonstall, asking for sample teeth from shark that attacked boat (see items 400-406)
Letter, from Henry B. Bigelow, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge MA, 6 Sep 1955, to John L. Saltonstall, identifying man-eating shark that attacked boat
Description: Letter, from Henry B. Bigelow, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard College, Cambridge MA, 6 Sep 1955, to John L. Saltonstall, identifying man-eating shark that attacked boat
Newspaper clipping, Boston Globe, 5 Aug 1955, "John Saltonstall, 77, kills attacking shark", with photo of John Saltonstall, also with envelope that held the clippings
Description: Newspaper clipping, Boston Globe, 5 Aug 1955, "John Saltonstall, 77, kills attacking shark", with photo of John Saltonstall, also with envelope that held the clippings