{"id":13037,"date":"2017-06-09T12:39:46","date_gmt":"2017-06-09T16:39:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=13037"},"modified":"2017-06-09T12:39:46","modified_gmt":"2017-06-09T16:39:46","slug":"dream-islands-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/dream-islands-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Dream Islands 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Summerguide 2017 | view this story as a .pdf <a href=\"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/pdf\/SG17%20Dream%20Islands%20Part%201.pdf\">PART 1<\/a> | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/pdf\/SG17%20Dream%20Islands%20Part%202.pdf\">PART 2<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-13112\" src=\"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/SG17-Dream-Islands-part-2-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"SG17-Dream-Islands-part-2\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/SG17-Dream-Islands-part-2.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/SG17-Dream-Islands-part-2-200x150.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/>A <strong>private island<\/strong> opens a door to Nirvana. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>\u201cNights and days came and passed<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>And summer and winter<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>and the rain.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>And it was good to be a little Island.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>A part of the world<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>and a world of its own<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p3\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>All surrounded by the bright blue sea.\u201d <\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Margaret Wise Brown, <\/em>The Little Island<em>, Maine, 1947<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\"><strong>By Colin W. Sargent &amp; Willis Kuelthau<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p8\"><span class=\"s2\">When John Muir described an \u201cinfinite storm of beauty,\u201d he must have had a Maine island in mind. In particular, House Island deserves that distinction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p10\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>House Island, $6.9M Acreage: 13<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Looking for front-row tickets to the show? The northeastern half of House Island, with nearly 4,000 feet of shorefront and sparkling views of Portland\u2019s skyline, tops the summer market.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Like a beckoning finger, the enclave\u2019s new long pier draws you in from Casco Bay. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">This is the part of House Island once known as the \u2018Ellis Island of the North,\u2019 where hopeful immigrants from Europe and the Mediterranean were processed from 1907 to 1937. Three years ago, when Vincent \u201cCap\u201d Mona bought this vast parcel, the ghostly imprint of the Immigration Center was still here, despite generations of neglect and the presence of a strangling invasive plant, Black Swallow wort, that was \u201ckilling everything in sight.\u201d Lovely in its ruins, the old Doctor\u2019s Cottage still watched from the top of its hill. Near the water\u2019s edge, the weatherbeaten wreck of the former Immigration Intake Station seemed a total loss, exploding with decay.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Who is this Don Quixote who would tackle such a challenge, fully restoring this lost kingdom while never tilting at windmills but instead harnessing solar power? Once triumphant, why would he ever relinquish this dream? <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">What did this island do to sweep you away?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">The very first time I felt it was coming back from a dinner with our friends in his boat. It was a gorgeous fall night. The weather could not have been better. I was on Cloud Nine, breathing in the sweet, crisp air of Casco Bay, and my friend mentioned this island was for sale. The first thing that came to my mind was how gorgeous the surroundings were in close proximity to Portland Harbor. The sun had already set. In the darkness, I wasn\u2019t able to see far into the island. Later on, I\u2019d realize it was so overgrown with invasive vines it would take quite a lot more effort, inspiration, and money to bring it up to the level where it should be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">My next thought was, this isn\u2019t Florida; it\u2019s not New York or Connecticut. Maybe I could afford this island!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\"><em>The Mosquito Coas<\/em>t meets Casco Bay. What was it like to explore here?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">When the realtor took us to the island, we were in awe of the potential this property could hold in the future. But it was a mess. The ever-growing and deadly invasive Black Swallow wort had killed a vast amount of native vegetation and trees. There were three 1907-era buildings. When we walked into each building, it was almost overwhelming\u2013the degree of neglect, the water damage from roof and wall leakage. But being in the construction industry for many decades, I knew that while the challenges were obviously numerous, there was reason to be excited here.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">When we first went into the lodge, it was reminiscent of the 1960s lobster or crab shacks familiar along Maine waterfronts.The historical significance was not quite obvious until we understood this was the Ellis Island of the North in its day. The realization of the island\u2019s former use was beyond amazing, especially when we found a \u201cQuarantine: Keep Out\u201d sign in the old intake station [now remodeled as Cappy\u2019s Lodge].<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">We sensed it further when we walked to the grassy knoll going up to the old doctor\u2019s house on top of the hill (which is now Christina\u2019s World, named for my former wife and the famous 1948 painting by Andrew Wyeth). <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">Because House Island is hidden in plain sight in Casco Bay, it\u2019s likely only a few lobsterboat crews would have heard the hammers ringing while you were making repairs. Has word gotten out about the improvements? <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">It was an unbelievable experience with fantastic results. I hate even to put it on the market, but I realize I\u2019m a contractor. I did my part. The new owner has got to be a hospitality expert with experience in events for corporate and families as well as continuing [to develop and host] our very upscale weddings. Our first high-end wedding included a massive fireworks display and fabulously catered meals. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Our first high-end corporate event was for Mercedes-Benz International last September, showcasing the new models. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">There\u2019s some fast company. How did you pull that off?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">We were approached by a top New York City marketing firm wanting to rent our island for \u2018an international high-end auto manufacturer.\u2019 That was quite a phone call! <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\"> Has anyone \u201cYelp-reviewed\u201d House Island, so to speak?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\">A local TV reporter pulled me aside on the island. He said, \u201cI can\u2019t believe that [during one of the worst winters] you took three dilapidated old structures from 1907, took them down to the bare bones, and rebuilt these three skeletons into these gorgeous houses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">We\u2019d also built a brand-new caretaker\u2019s cottage. All of the properties are solar powered with backup generators, new wells, new septic fields, and all new plumbing lines. Our brand-new dock is 375 feet long. It cost almost $450,000.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">The sales portfolio for your half of House Island suggests that 10,000 square feet of the larger immigration building is grandfathered as a commercial location for a possible island boutique hotel in the future. Did you sense this from the beginning?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\">No, we really didn\u2019t consider the 10,000-square-foot foundation as a footprint for future building originally. Instead, we were busy cleaning up the island. I was personally there for a number of weeks, helping to clean up the mess. [Developer] Mike Scarks, the former owner, had already removed 10 or 15 huge dumpsters full of junk that the previous owner had hoarded and left on the island, including a large fire engine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\">In the very beginning, our plan was to renovate just one house per year. But later on, we realized how important that 10,000-square-foot structure is. We, or the owners after us, could have one beautiful bed-and-breakfast or a small, quality boutique hotel, along with [guest residences] in some of the other historically significant structures.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s4\">We\u2019re negotiating with Central Maine Power to bring power and internet to the island. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">Meanwhile, you\u2019ve ventured bold use of solar power. What was the inspiration there?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">In the beginning, we felt solar would be the best bet because the power company wanted over $500,000 to bring in power. But now they need us, and the price is reduced by more than half.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">We were very fortunate to have a good solar-power solution contractor, Maine Solar Solutions, owned by Sam Zuckerman.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">What\u2019s the most telling advice someone else gave you about the island when you bought it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s5\">Some people I knew warned me that the cost of transportation was going to be unbelievable. They were correct! Looking back, we spent almost $1 million in transporting lumber and products, equipment, tools, concrete, vehicles, sand, gravel, mulch\u2013even the trailers and RVs and the food required to house and feed a small army of workers each day. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">During exploration and excavation, what did you find?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">We found a graveyard where a British sailor is buried. We also found a keg made by Watney Combe Reid &amp; Co. Ltd., of London that dates to the 1800s. [We traced the company records in] the national archives. Some liquid was still in the keg.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">What\u2019s the most unusual thing you ever saw that floated onto your shore?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">A poor dead baby seal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">What does House Island <em>sound<\/em> like?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Sometimes, music floats in across Portland Harbor at night.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p14\"><span class=\"s3\">Where do you think new buyers might be standing when they fall in love with House Island? <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p16\"><span class=\"s2\">Anywhere. If you get within eyesight [of a dream], anything draws you in.<br \/>\n<em>\u2013By Colin W. Sargent<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Greer Island, $499,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 5.1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Scandal alert! For decades, owner Elizabeth Arey believed she could build her dream home on this small isle off Vinalhaven. After all, Greer Island had been in her family for over a century. But in 2005, the town told her to dream on. Vinalhaven placed Greer Island under \u201cResource Protection,\u201d prohibiting any development that exceeds 600 square feet or involves plumbing. Most scary for Arey: \u201cThe town surveyor thought the island was under three acres and didn\u2019t survey it. Greer is 5.1 acres in size.\u201d Since then, the town hasn\u2019t budged, and the island remains restricted for now. Greer Island still includes a ramshackle shelter near its rocky shoreline. Only 1,000 feet from the shore is Geary\u2019s Beach, a photogenic landing with views of Penobscot Bay and Isle au Haut.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe had a rowboat. We used to go mackerel fishing all the time. We\u2019d catch lobsters and cook them on the shore. [Our kids] had a lot of fun treasure hunting.\u201d A mere two-minute boat-taxi ride lands you in North Haven. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">However deferred her dream, Arey has a knack for gardening with love. She\u2019s transformed this place. \u201cWhen I married my husband it was barren,\u201d says Arey of the now tree- and wildflower-covered isle. \u201cMy husband and I spent the last 40 years planting trees.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $2,274<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Brown Island, $599,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">In the early years of the 20th century, Dr. Arey Alonzo Butterfield of Boston decided to divide his wealth between his two sons. Each would be given his own island\u2013all they had to do was head to Maine and pick out their favorite. We don\u2019t know which island the goofy brother stumbled onto, but the smart one fell in love with this small island in the corner of Nicatous Lake. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Current seller Phil Brown bought this forested jewel to escape the press of modernity. The problem was, did he dare to give it a new name? Surrounding Brown Island are 22,370 acres of state-protected land, including the elaborate coves and beaches of Nicatous Lake, on whose waters not even jet skis are allowed to make waves. Good <\/span><span class=\"s3\">riddance, interlopers!<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s3\">The main house is surrounded by four guest cottages, a free-standing summer kitchen\/living room, and a generator cabin. \u201cYou have all the creature comforts,\u201d says agent John Calannino. The island\u2019s five acres are covered with mature pine and birch trees. \u201cThere\u2019s a little network of trails, and you can swim almost anywhere off the island.\u201d Because while you\u2019re luxuriating in all this silence, who\u2019s going to stop you?<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">As for Phil Brown, escape was exactly what his family needed. \u201cWe lived in downtown Boston only three blocks from the \u201cCheers\u201d bar on Beacon Hill,\u201d says Brown, a former employee of the Department of Corrections. \u201cYou spend 11 months there, and you need to get the hell out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $734.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Phoebe Island, $339,000 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 0.11<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">In the 1930s, no roads reached Sebec Lake. Enter an indefatigable dentist who decided to build a cottage on tiny Phoebe Island, its .11 acres set just 100 feet from the shore. Materials were shipped out on the ice after the lake froze. Eight decades later, the cottage is still standing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s1\">Nowadays, Phoebe is a birdwatcher\u2019s paradise. \u201cWe watch our eagles\u2019 nest with the adults going in and out and the young learning to fly,\u201d says seller Jay Bailey. Ospreys, cormorants, and raucous kingfishers do drop in. Because the cottage sits so close to the water, stunning views are right on your doorstep. \u201cYou\u2019re having your coffee at the table in the morning with the loons swimming by you,\u201d says Bailey. \u201cThe loons even sound different out here. They have a lonelier cry.\u201d All the while, hummingbirds battle for position at feeders outside the cottage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s3\">Th<\/span><span class=\"s1\">e cottage has been renovated with an updated interior of polished pine panels and rustic wooden furniture. Phoebe Island sits only a hundred feet from the shore, with two acres of shoreline and a utility boat for loading and transportation included in the sale.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Bangor International Airport is an easy hour\u2019s drive away. Thirsty for beauty? Sebec Lake sits directly south of Mt. Katahdin and the Hundred-Mile Wilderness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">\u201cYou\u2019re away from everybody,\u201d Bailey says. \u201cYou\u2019re away from the big, stupid boats going by, the planes\u2026everything,\u201d he says. \u201cThis place is spiritual.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $850.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>High Island, $1.675M <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 26<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">According to Charles McLane\u2019s <em>Islands of the Mid-Maine Coast<\/em>, the first recorded deed for High Island was conveyed for just $65 back in 1805. Factoring in inflation, that\u2019s a 1300-percent increase in value.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Between then and now, 26-acre High Island (one of the Muscle Ridge Islands off Spruce Head) underwent extensive quarrying in the early 20th century. Two large boarding houses hosted hundreds of quarrymen, among them many Italian immigrants. Conditions were poor. Food often consisted of \u201chard-boiled eggs like golf balls or doughnuts that would make good links for a stone chain.\u201d To make matters worse, \u201clocal liquor laws led to periodic raids by the county sheriff and the confiscation of the red wine necessary to the morale of the luckless Italians.\u201d The pink granite from the quarries made it all the way to Philadelphia, where it was used to make bridge seats for the Pennsylvania Railroad.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">The boarding houses are long gone, but the steep ledges of the quarry, the stone foundations, and the beautiful granite wharves (built for loading the stones) survive to this day.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Among the spruce woods and heirloom apple trees are several new building sites, meaning the next chapter in this island\u2019s history is still to be written.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $1,914.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>White Island, $1,675,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 61<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s1\">Sailing enthusiasts, set your course for White Island. \u201cWe\u2019re surrounded by a lot of very interesting boats,\u201d current owner Bill Boyd says. And they\u2019re drawn here for a reason. Brooklin\u2019s Wooden Boat School and the renowned Brooklin Boat Yard sit just a short ride across Eggemoggin Reach, a stretch of water that the Boat Yard calls \u201cthe best cruising grounds on the coast of Maine.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Once you\u2019ve tied up at the island\u2019s deep-water dock, turn your gaze inland toward a sweep of granite bluffs and sandy beaches surrounding sixty acres of forests, fields, and freshwater springs. On a clear day, your seaward view extends all the way to the rolling greenery of Acadia National Park. A cozy A-frame cottage and guest house provide three-season shelter on the northernmost point of the isle. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">And who says island life is isolating? \u201cThe neighborhood is really exceptional,\u201d says Boyd. \u201cWe know people on almost all the islands out here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $4,690<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Norton Island, $1,500,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 60<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">If you\u2019re hoping to expend no more effort than unpacking your bags, Norton Island is your gateway to stress-free island living. The 3,000-square-foot self-sufficient residence was built only 10 years ago, meaning it\u2019s probably younger than those jars in the back of your fridge. A vast stone fireplace and solarium will ensure you stay warm during the Maine winters. Solar panels and a complete septic system and a freshwater well service the property. A few yards away, hidden from sight by a row of fir trees, is a cozy guest house with sleeping loft and an ocean-facing deck. The surrounding woodlands give way to lush meadows, scattered blueberry and cranberry bushes, and sandy beaches totaling 55 acres, plus an additional five acres on the South Addison shore that comes complete with boathouse. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $15,634<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p22\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Lower Birch Islands, $1,295,000<\/strong><\/span> <span class=\"s7\"><strong>Acreage: 28<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\">Here\u2019s a pretty pair of islands: 23.6 acres and 4.4 acres connected by a tidal land bridge.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Included in the price is 3 acres on the mainland, where you can park your gas guzzler.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">Think you\u2019re tough enough to live out here? Before current owner Stephen Broyhill bought these islands, the previous couple who lived here lasted only one night under the stars before leaving and putting the property up for sale in the 1980s. <em>Maine: Not Exactly For Everyone.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Had they stayed longer, they might have seen deer who occasionally swim out to sneak a night bite of the apples ripening in the orchards.\u201cYou\u2019re truly out in nature. It\u2019s quiet and undisturbed,\u201d Broyhill says. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">An elegant post-and-beam home<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>crowns the hill on the bigger island. A wraparound deck overlooks a meadow leading down to the shoreline. All new furniture complements a stone fireplace and hardwood floors. Utilities are fed by an updated solar system and a drilled well. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">\u201cFor anybody who likes to be in nature or is creative, it\u2019s just ideal,\u201d says<br \/>\nBroyhill. He drops his voice confidentially. \u201cI get tired of being around people. What I like is being able to get totally away.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $8,898<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Pine Island, $550,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 1<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Just an hour from Portland, on Long Lake in Naples, Pine Island is so lovely you sometimes have to repel explorers. \u201cOne Fourth of July, I came face to face with a boatful of would-be island partiers,\u201d says seller Jay Bailey. \u201cThere were about 25 people on it, all hanging off the sides. When they saw that we were there, they anchored off the island instead and partied there all day.\u201d Since then, \u201cI make sure to go back every year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s2\">What Bailey values most is that \u201cit\u2019s very heavily treed\u2013it\u2019s like a park.\u201d The tall pines rocketing up from this one-acre getaway were once highly prized by shipbuilders, giving<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>names to both the island and its locale: Mast Cove. \u201cAncient sunken masts are still visible on the island\u2019s shores,\u201d Bailey says. Mingling with the pines are swathes of wild blueberry bushes surrounding\u2013what else?\u2013a \u201cHansel and Gretel\u201d cottage with sleeping loft. Off the back, a small sheltered beach is a great place for swimmers. Maybe you\u2019d like to hang out here too.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Tax: $5,500<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Wahl\u2019s Island, $250,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 41<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s1\">Once upon a time, passage onto Wahl\u2019s Island required the equivalent of a secret knock. \u201cWe used to drive to the boat landing and beep our horn three times,\u201d says owner Kathy Noddin, whose family has owned the island for 80 years. \u201cAnd then our grandfather would come out and get us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p12\"><span class=\"s5\">\u201cIt used to be a sheep farm in the 19th century,\u201d says agent John Lawrence of this 40-acre island that lies at the confluence of the St. Croix River and Grand Flow Lake. The island hasn\u2019t made leaps in development since its agricultural past, so the camp will need renovations. But for the adventurous, Wahl\u2019s Island is a pristine pocket of Maine only 10 miles from the historic border town of Calais and the Canadian frontier. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $951<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Campbell Island, $245,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 90 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Campbell Island may be the bargain of the bunch. For less than $250K, you get 90 acres of preserved wilderness ringed by 9,800 feet of ocean frontage. The island is under a conservation easement that allows for a 400-square-foot shelter, and existing campgrounds can currently accommodate up to eight visitors. Around the island, opportunities for hiking, camping, kayaking, and bird-watching are almost limitless. Nearby, the quiet town of Brooklin offers an escape from seclusion with establishments like Brooklin Candy, Mad Mama\u2019s Paint \u2019n Sip, and Flye Point Sculpture Garden &amp; Art Gallery. As with most good deals, there\u2019s a catch. The easement requires that the island must be kept open for public access, so your paradise will have to be shared with visitors. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $280<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Sand Island $1,900,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 1.5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">A Caribbean quay just half an hour from Portland might sound like fantasy, but Sand Island, located in Casco Bay east of Chebeague Island, comes close. The island is ringed by sandy beaches with deep-water anchorage for boat owners. There are no buildings on the island other than a basic \u201cBomba\u2019s Shack,\u201d but the sunny beaches provide an ideal vantage point for admiring passing yachts and the views of surrounding islands. Jeff England, owner of Sand Island for more than 25 years, believes wholeheartedly in his island\u2019s uniqueness. \u201cIf Casco Bay is the oyster, then Sand Island is the one and only natural pearl.\u201d At this price, he\u2019d better hope buyers agree.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $200<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Bare Island, $2,800,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 77<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">Don\u2019t let the name fool you&#8211;Bare Island is a hidden treasure. Located in Machiasport, Bare is one of the last harbor islands to retain all development and mineral rights, meaning you have total freedom to create your own paradise on its shores. There\u2019s already a seasonal four-bedroom, two-bath cottage tucked away on the sheltered western cove, plus 77 acres of forest and shoreline for you to play with. The island is just a ten-minute boat ride from the town of Machiasport, though the most dramatic arrival would certainly be by means of the bayside northeastern cove, which stays deep right up to the shore\u2013perfect for a sea plane.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $5,362<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p18\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Fisherman Island, $599,000<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p19\"><span class=\"s2\"><strong>Acreage: 50<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\">This island is flat and open, sprouting only a few trees and patches of scrub within its 50-acre spread where scattered meadows provide 360-degree views of both sea and mountains. While some might bemoan the lack of greenery, the island could be a blank slate for the right owner hoping to develop a family complex or even a private runway. Nearby, you\u2019ll find Great Wass Island Preserve and the fishing town of Jonesport. But if you\u2019re planning to visit, we suggest bringing along a book or two. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p11\"><span class=\"s2\"><em>Taxes: $4,413<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summerguide 2017<br \/>\nA private island opens a door to Nirvana.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[124],"class_list":["post-13037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","tag-summerguide-2017"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13037"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13114,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13037\/revisions\/13114"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}