The Harpswell Islands

Harpswell Designs is located on beautiful Orr’s Island in the town of Harpswell, Maine. Spreading narrow fingers out into Casco Bay, “The Harpswells” are made up of a collection of peninsulas and islands running parallel to the mainland. The larger of the islands – Great Island, Orr’s Island and Bailey Island – are connected to the mainland and to each other by a series of bridges. Connecting Orr’s Island to Bailey Island is the world’s only cribstone bridge. Built in 1927, the bridge is made up of granite slabs laid in honeycomb fashion to allow the flow of tides through choppy “Will’s Gut” – the narrow strait dividing the two islands. At the turn-of-the nineteenth century, tales of old Indian curses and legends of slain pirates gave rise to a ripple of mysticism. Mrs. Leach, a medium, conducted successful seances; Judith Howard, who cured people back to health with brews and concoctions made of roots and herbs, was suspected of being a witch, as was Goodwife Hannah Stover, whose main crime was being a Quaker.