Birch Island, Maine
Birch Island | |
|---|---|
 Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine. | |
| Coordinates: 43°49′12″N 70°00′24″W / 43.8200°N 70.0067°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Maine |
| County | Cumberland |
| Town | Harpswell |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code | 207 |
Birch Island is an island and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Harpswell, Maine, United States. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The 43-acre (17 ha) island is believed to be one of Casco Bay's first settlements. Indigenous people traveled along the Androscoggin River to establish summer fishing camps on nearby islands.[1]
Geography[edit]
Birch Island is located in Casco Bay, around 0.36 miles (0.58 km) southeast of the southwestern end of the Harpswell Neck, a long peninsula, extending from Brunswick, which forms the southern bounds of Maquoit Bay.
Little Birch Island is located around 1,950 feet (590 m) northeast of Birch Island.
Norton Preserve[edit]
Norton Preserve, owned by Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association, is located in the northeastern section of the island.[2] It is named for conservationists Helen and Walter Norton.[1][3] Walter died in May 2016, aged 91.[4] Helen owns School House 1913, a restaurant in Harpswell.[5]
Publications[edit]
Richard F. Snow published A History of Birch Island in 1992.[6]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Birch Island South Preserve". Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Helen and Walter Norton Preserve on Birch Island". Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Helen Norton". Press Herald. November 24, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ "Walter Norton Obituary (1925 - 2016) - Portland, ME - Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram". Legacy.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Oliver, J. W. (December 20, 2023). "Future of School House 1913 restaurant uncertain after fire". The Harpswell Anchor. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
- ^ Snow, Richard F. (1992). A History of Birch Island, Casco Bay, Maine: Richard F. Snow. S'no Hill Publications.
External links[edit]
- Birch Island Harvey Property: Inventory of Natural Resources & Management Recommendations – Maine Island Ecologists, April 2015