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Peaks Island is a small island lying about 3 miles east of and a 15 minute ferry ride from Portland, Maine.
The year round population is about 1100. Summer residents total nearly 4000. In addition, the island is a popular
destination for daytrippers. The harborside (Forest City) is the village section of the island where most of the
year round homes, shops, restaurants, churches, school, health center, post office, police and fire departments
are located. The Trefethen-Evergreen section is largely a summer colony. The interior and backshore are heavily
forested with just a few homes. Most of this area is city or state parkland.
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Jones Landing, Peaks Island c. 1865
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Peaks was a favored by the Abnaki Indians who summered there for generations. Until recently shell middens left by
them were clearly visible along the backshore. A few European settlers maintained fishing shacks as early as the mid
1600's. Attempts to permanently settle the island were unsuccessful until the end of Indian hostilities around 1700.
Between that date and about 1880 two separate and distinct villages (Forest City and Trefethen) were established
at opposite ends of the island by a handful of families (the Bracketts, Trotts, Sterlings, Trefethens, Skillings,
Parsons and Woodburys). At the turn of the century most of the land on the island still belonged to these families,
who, by that time, were very much interrelated by blood or marriage.
By the 1890's Peaks began to benefit by the enormous changes occurring in American society. The growing urban
population (both native and immigrant) had more time and money to spend on recreation. Peaks residents met their
needs by providing all types of accommodations, entertainments, and other facilities. 16 hotels and inns, and
hundreds of cottages were built; 3 summer theatres and an amusement park were established; dozens of shops and
restaurants lined the streets of Forest City; and a dancehall was established at Trefethen. Twelve steamboat
lines brought thousands of visitors to Peaks daily during the short summer season. The press labeled Peaks Island
the "Coney Island of Maine".
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Balloon ascension on Gem Hill, c. 1900
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As automobile ownership became commonplace and roadways built into areas that had previously been inaccessible
about 1915, the island's popularity declined. The Depression added to the loss of tourists - with no job, it was
difficult if not impossible to vacation.
World War II brought new people and government dollars to the island. The Peaks Island Military Reservation was
built as the principal defense of Portland Harbor. 800-900 soldiers were stationed on Peaks. Many brought their
families, causing overcrowding in the island's four room school. After the war ended most left only to be replaced
by a new generation of young families.
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Battery Steele, 1942
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Today Peaks is a neighborhood in the city of Portland as are several other islands. Most people commute
daily to jobs on the mainland as do middle and senior high school students. The island also has its fair
share of retirees and new people "from away." Many descendants of the first settlers still live on the island.
compiled by Kim MacIsaac
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