Bar Harbor, Then and Now | Geddy’s
Bar Harbor is the largest town on Mount Desert Island. It is steeped in rich and colorful history. Founded by the Wabanaki Indians, Bar Harbor was originally known as “Pemetic,” meaning “range of mountains.” In 1763, the town was settled by Europeans and, in 1796, incorporated as “Eden” – 
named after the English statesman, Sir Richard Eden. The town was renamed Bar Harbor in 1918, after the famous sandbar that connects the town at low tide to Bar Island, which is now part of Acadia National Park.
The Hudson River School Artists in Bar Harbor, Maine
In the 1840’s, as a result of its spectacular mountains and rocky coastline, Bar Harbor began to attract Hudson River School artists, including Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, and William Hart, followed by well-known authors, journalists, sportsman and “rusticators.”
The Gilded Age of Bar Harbor
Inspired by the beauty of these paintings and influential writings, wealthy and prominent industrialists began to flock to Bar Harbor from Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.
By 1880, during the Gilded Age, Bar Harbor had become the summer resort of the “rich and the famous,” rivaling Newport, Rhode Island. There were 30 glamorous hotels and estates of grandeur, called “cottages,” along the shoreline.
Bar Harbor’s Summer “Cottages”
These cottages were built by many of the wealthy industrialists, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Roosevelts, Morgans, Duponts, Proctors, Livingstons, Fords, Pulitzers, and Astors. Of which, the most opulent of these cottages had 110 rooms (30 for servants) with turrets, grand porches, balconies, and elegantly manicured gardens.
Summer Residents of Bar Harbor
Famous summer residents also included young Jackie Bouvier, the wife of President John F. Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis, and her sister, Lee Radziwill. They spent summers in Bar Harbor at the Auchincloss family estate, which burned down during the “Great Fire of 1947.”
Bar Harbor: “The Great Fire”
The Great Fire of Bar Harbor destroyed 67 of the famous summer cottages on Millionaire Row; five of the historic grand hotels; 170 permanent residences; and, over 10,000 acres of Acadia National Park. While the fire spared the downtown business district, it would forever change the landscape of Bar Harbor with many of the wealthy summer residents relocating to new areas. Most of the summer cottages that once grandly adorned the shoreline were either burnt down in the Great Fire or demolished after years of decay.
Today in Bar Harbor, Maine
Today, Bar Harbor is once again a vibrant and thriving summer resort community, albeit a bit less opulent than the Gilded Age. In addition, several of the descendants of the original wealthy industrialists still reside in the nearby area. Also, new celebrities and 
prominent figures now call Mount Dessert Island home – enjoying the privacy and serene lifestyle, the natural scenic beauty, the outdoor activities, and, of course, the fresh Maine lobster.
Famous Local Residents on Mount Desert Island
Some of those current famous local residents include: Martha Stewart, David Morse (St. Elsewhere), Susan Sarandon, Ned Johnson and daughter, Abigail (Fidelity Investments), Zbigniew Brzezinski (former National Security Advisor to Jimmy Carter), Fred L. Savage (well-known architect), and Roxanne Quimby (Burt’s Bees). Martha Stewart actually purchased the residence of Edsel Ford in 1997. Called “Skylands,” the home is 35,000 square feet and sits on 63 acres of forest and coastline. Susan Sarandon spent summers with her family on Mount Desert Island, later buying the home that they had rented when she was a child.
In Conclusion: Bar Harbor, Maine
Once again, Bar Harbor is a bustling summer resort community, enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. It is a quintessential New England town … and one of the most beautiful places on earth. Never been to Bar Harbor? Be sure to add it to your “bucket list”! You’ll be glad you did! Want to learn more about Bar Harbor? Check-out our other posts.
Cheers from Geddy’s,
Heather
