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Birch Island, Maine

Coordinates: 43°49′12″N 70°00′24″W / 43.8200°N 70.0067°W / 43.8200; -70.0067
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Birch Island
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Location in Cumberland County and the state of Maine.
Coordinates: 43°49′12″N 70°00′24″W / 43.8200°N 70.0067°W / 43.8200; -70.0067
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountyCumberland
TownHarpswell
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code207

Birch Island is an island and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Harpswell, Maine, United States. It is part of the PortlandSouth PortlandBiddeford, Maine Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The 43-acre (17 ha) island is believed to be one of Casco Bay's first settlements. Indigenous people traveled along the Androscoggin River to establish summer fishing camps on nearby islands.[1]

Geography

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Birch Island is located in Casco Bay, around 0.36 miles (0.58 km) southeast of the southwestern end of the Harpswell Neck, a long peninsula, extending from Brunswick, which forms the southern bounds of Maquoit Bay.

Little Birch Island is located around 1,950 feet (590 m) northeast of Birch Island.

Norton Preserve

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Norton Preserve, owned by Harpswell Heritage Land Trust and maintained by the Maine Island Trail Association, is located in the northeastern section of the island.[2] It is named for conservationists Helen and Walter Norton.[1][3] Walter died in May 2016, aged 91.[4] Helen owns School House 1913, a restaurant in Harpswell.[5]

Publications

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Richard F. Snow published A History of Birch Island in 1992.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Birch Island South Preserve". Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Helen and Walter Norton Preserve on Birch Island". Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Helen Norton". Press Herald. November 24, 2016. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Walter Norton Obituary (1925 - 2016) - Portland, ME - Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram". Legacy.com. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  5. ^ Oliver, J. W. (December 20, 2023). "Future of School House 1913 restaurant uncertain after fire". The Harpswell Anchor. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  6. ^ Snow, Richard F. (1992). A History of Birch Island, Casco Bay, Maine: Richard F. Snow. S'no Hill Publications.
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