ORR'S ISLAND
One of America's famous authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe, made this island
stand out in the annals of Casco Bay by writing her popular story, "The
Pearl of Orr's Island." This story was published in 1862 when the island
itself was practically isolated and unknown. The appearance of this
story was a literary event for thousands of Mrs. Stowe's readers.
The island takes its name from two brothers; namely, Clement and John
Orr, who in 1748 bought the greater part of the island for two shillings
an acre. The brothers originally came from the north of Ireland.
Here on Orr's the treasure hunter will find at the north end of Long
Cove a small cove that is known as "Smuggler's Cove." Orr's Island is
probably the best known island in Casco Bay. In the old days a rickety
old wooden bridge was built by the settlers to connect the island with
the mainland, and it was really living dangerously to go over this
ancient structure. This old bridge has now been replaced by a modern
causeway.
On the Island of Orr's many Indian attacks were repulsed by the early
inhabitants. If you are real careful when searching with your detector,
you should find Indian relics or artifacts that were buried by the
sea-going population of the 1700's. Many a three- and six-masted
schooner sailed in and out of the harbor at Orr's Island. Who knows what
pirate ship visited this area in the dark of night with maybe a
contraband cargo?
In this area I think that I would check every little cove and inlet very
carefully. Most anything might be found hidden along the shores and,
also, near some of the old dwelling sites. A good check along the
roadway to and from the island might reveal a hidden article. Especially
check both sides of the roadway and work back a ways from the edge of
the road about twenty or thirty feet. The old road did quite a bit of
curving as it wound its way to the island. These curves have been
eliminated to a great extent with the building of the new road. As I
mentioned, if you grid the area well back from the road, you have an
excellent chance of discovering some by-gone article. It could be a
pewter mug, buckles from shoes, gold coins and who knows what else?
Take your metal detector and ply the ocean side of the island. This
section seems most likely to have been populated by the seaman,
smuggler, pirate or what have you. It may be, that during trading and
making business deals with each other, the seaman could have lost some
coins in the dirt to be buried over and lost for hundreds of years. Also
many of the natives, no doubt, kept their savings in the private caches
buried from sight at the rear of their cabins.
Another likely area to check out would be the area where the old ferry
used to dock. The ferry ran from Orr's Island to Bailey's Island. If you
wanted to take the trip you signaled the ferryman by lowering the flag
that was flying high on the tall flagpole. The ferry would proceed
across the narrow passage of water known as Will's Gut. The fare was
fifteen cents to Bailey's Island, but to return to Orr's Island, it
would cost you twenty-five cents.
The sea trip from Portland to Orr's Island by the island steamers of
Casco Bay is a journey to remember. You, of course, can reach Orr's
Island by automobile via a road that swings down to Orr's from
Brunswick, Maine. When you reach Brunswick just follow the signs and
soon you will be on the "Island of the Pearl." Good hunting to you.