07/05/202305/04/2024 Maine

Vinalhaven, North Haven and Hurricane Island : 1936

The Fox Islands, 12 miles off midcoast Maine comprise of two islands, North Haven (the island I grew up on) and neighboring Vinalhaven, which is the larger of the two and more populated. North Haven’s year round population is about 380 people. Vinalhaven’s population is just over 1200 people.

In many ways the islands are similar, yet growing up there, they can feel quite different in ways. The accents are even a bit different and that may only be noticeable by a native (or not – I think the difference is very noticeable). My parents and grandparents (and great grandparents) grew up with lots of friends on Vinalhaven and my brothers and I are still friends with kids of my parents generation.

My Grandfather Argyle was actually born on Vinalhaven, but lived his life on North Haven. Those layers of generations weaving in and out of history has always fascinated me. Recently, I noticed an article in the Bangor Daily News about a man named Richard Burton, whom while at a flea market in New Jersey a few years ago discovered an archive of old photography from 1936 that was taken on Vinalhaven and Hurricane Island. Some may be North Haven, it’s hard to tell as they all look so familiar. The images are beautiful and capture the essence of the islands, the landscape and the people.

So many faces look familiar and I can’t help but think the ancestors of these people might be friends or relatives. Thank you to Richard Burton for sharing these images that capture a beautiful place at a special time. -angela
Tide going out. Crane is loading granite paving stones onto the ship. Vinalhaven has 10-12 foot tides.Sailboat entering Vinalhaven harbor.Cascade Bowling Alley and Shooting Gallery.Dried codfish ready for market.Drying and salting codfish.
Rocks along the shoreline of Hurricane Island
Sheep on the edge of the old quarry. Hurricane Island
Not much farmland on an island made of granite.
Blacksmith at the Pink Granite Quarry. He is seen here sharpening and hardening the tools used by the quarrymen Pounding steel wedges into the drill holes to split the stone.