Islesboro Historical Society

05/29/2026

Welcome to our summer 2026 smorgasborg of events. We will be sending emails prior to events this summer as reminders, but our website also has the complete list of events here: https://www.islesborohistorical.org/calender.html

First on deck is the Student Art Show. The opening reception event will take place on June 4th from 3-5pm at the Islesboro Historical Society. Laura Read and her students have assembled another spectacular show for everyone to enjoy. The show will be open June 5–8 & 12-17, 12:30-4:30pm.

We look forward to seeing you at this IHS 2026 opening event!

Islesboro Historical Society

04/27/2026

Please join former IHS president Patrick O’Bannon at the Alice Pendleton Library on Saturday May 9 for an introduction to Find a Grave. Find a Grave is an online database of cemetery records, headstone photographs, and biographical data, and is a valuable tool for family historians and genealogists. Volunteers create “memorials” for individuals with information from headstones, as well as photos and transcriptions of markers. We’ll be looking at how to use the free mobile app to document memorials, upload photographs, and suggest edits to existing memorials. The long-term goal is to accurately record every marked gravesite on Islesboro. This requires some “rigorous” training, so come learn how to use the app! Later this spring we’ll do a test run in some cemeteries and make sure you’re able to use the app and website on your own. We’ll then get together over the summer to visit other island cemeteries and grave sites.

02/05/2026

In September 1948, the Belfast Republican Journal reported on a sizeable wild fire on Islesboro. According to the newspaper, the fire started in an area of slash "near the shore road not far from the ferry" and nearly the entire island turned out to help contain it, along with six mainland fire departments. It threatened 8-10 homes and reportedly burned the island fire truck. Weirdly, there is no mention of this fire in the Town's annual report. Does anyone remember this fire?

08/29/2025

Does anyone remember a time when we DIDN'T wave to oncoming cars?

08/15/2025

Please join us at the Historical Society on August 17th from 3:00 to 5:00pm for Members Day. The museum will also be open, and light refreshments will be served.

This year Carlisle Rex-Waller and Carrie Thomas, will provide a tour of our extensive collection housed on the third floor. The tour will include:

an overview of the archiving and cataloging process;

an introductions to our online digital catalog, comprised of more tan 20,000 individual items, and;

a small representative display of the treasures in our care, from our Charles Dana Gibson library to Civil War letters, from early-20th-century Islesboro postcards to prehistoric arrowheads, from kid slippers to musical instruments, from daguerreotype portraits to Dark Harbor memories.

Come visit the history factory to see how "the sausage is made"!

08/05/2025

I'm getting old and forgetful. We have two important events happening this week, and I'm just getting around to announcing them. Sorry.

At 7pm on Thursday August 7 our very special guest, James Francis, the Penobscot Nation's Director of Cultural and Historic Preservation and Tribal Historian, will give a presentation on "Penobscot Sense of Place."

And on Saturday August 9, at 9:30am, we'll meet at the Maddie Dodge parking lot for a walk out Hewes Point Road, where I'll talk about the development of this area. With any luck some Hewes Point residents will join us and help keep me honest!

Please join us!

07/21/2025

Our first history walk of the season will be this Saturday, July 26, beginning at 9:30. Last year we tried this walk in a pouring rain with a handful of hardy, snorkel-equipped, souls. The weather forecast for this year looks much better.

Please drive out Keller Point Road and we'll help you park so that we don't block any traffic. Car pool if you can!

We'll stay on Keller Point Road and talk about the Williams and Keller families, Louise Grace and her Hermit Point estate, and the lime kiln. We'll also see where one of the island's Center Lines begins and talk about the importance of these lines.

Hope to see you there!

07/17/2025

Richard (Dick) E. Pulliam, a longtime resident of Islesboro, who died March 18, 2009, was born in Chicago on October 18, 1913, the son of Edward R. and Augusta Mattison Pulliam. Dick served in the Air Force during WWII, worked in advertising in New York City and Chicago, was an avid collector and lover of literature, and travelled extensively in Europe. He was best known for his predominately abstract artwork, which is being shown at the Historical Society starting this evening thru July 27.

Margaret Nevens Pulliam of Islesboro was his wife; and Gregory Nevens and his wife Debi Devine and Sandy Nevens and his wife Willette were his eldest stepsons. His youngest stepson, Alex Nevens, and his wife Rachel, have graciously helped mount this exciting show of Pulliam's works The painting, "Buoy 2"" was featured on the cover of Downeast Magazine in August 1981, and its variation is up for auction at the show. You're all welcome to join us for the opening reception, this evening from 5-7pm at the Historical Society.