Since its founding in 1905, Maine Seacoast Mission has faithfully served the residents of Maine’s coast and outer islands. When founded as Maine Sea Coast Missionary Society, its goal was “to sail a sloop…from Kittery Point to Quoddy Head, in all kinds of weather [and]…call on families on isolated islands, visit the lightkeepers and the lifesaving stations.”
Over the past eighteen months, the Mission has begun digitizing its historical records and photography. Previously, these objects and materials were organized, inventoried, and stored in archival-safe boxes and binders on the third floor of the Mission’s previous Bar Harbor home, La Rochelle. Digitizing materials preserves fragile documents and permits access without causing damage to items. In addition, materials become available to the public for research and inclusion in exhibitions.
The Mission now has a history timeline on the website, which provides insight into programming and highlights organizational milestones. For instance, education and togetherness have been an important value in Mission programming. The Christmas Program has been a part of the lives of Downeast and Island residents for more than 100 years when the first presents were given to children attending the Sea Coast Sunday School in 1908. Scholarships were first gifted to two young island women in 1911 so they could continue their high school education. Today, more than $3 million in scholarships have been awarded. The Mission’s first nurse joined the staff in 1920 and continued to provide care until the mid-1940s. The timeline also includes each of the boats, from Hope and Morning Star, to each of the five Sunbeam vessels.
This look back into our history unearthed some hidden knowledge. While many know how Angus and Alexander MacDonald founded the Mission in 1905, some of the first Mission employees were women. The first hired missionary was Rev. Hannah Powell in 1910 and her role was to conduct religious services, but she was also instrumental in educating children. In the 1912 Annual Report, it notes that on Frenchboro she “opened and reorganized the school.” Powell was also a member of the Sigma Kappa Sorority which helped cultivate a partnership that continues to this day. The first permanent, year-round member of the Mission staff was Alice “Ma” Peasley. “Ma,” as she was known for her 36 years at the Mission, was responsible for the Hooked Rug program, which was one of the Mission’s first programs designed to allow people to support themselves.
The timeline also highlights a few other notable employees. This includes Neal Bousfield, who served as superintendent for 34 years during the Depression and World Wars as well as Ruth Roades Lepper, who was hired as a Mission artist. It also features information on Edith Drury, who brought the Mission to national prominence through her writing of “God’s Tugboat” for Maine Coast Fisherman magazine and National Fisherman magazine.
By the early 1960s, the Mission started focusing on its work Downeast in earnest, which led to the starting of education programs on the Cherryfield campus in the 1970s and the food pantry by the late 1980s.
By the early 2000s, the Island Health program started on the Sunbeam and EdGE began on the Downeast campus. Both of these initiatives have become synonymous with the Mission today. And the Mission continues to meet the needs of the community today with the launch of the Davis Maine Scholarship program in 2019 and its efforts to vaccinate islanders in 2021.
EdGE summer campers experienced a return to normal this year with a range of adventures. From kayaking and garden visits to team sports like volleyball and basketball, campers enjoyed over 700 hours of programming this June and July.
Each week, children visited the Incredible Edible gardens in Milbridge, an initiative from partner nonprofit Women for Rural Healthy Living. They also visited Folklore Farm where they explored the inner workings of a working farm in their own backyard. Digging in the ground and learning more about plants prompts campers to think about food, how it’s grown, and the function of outdoor spaces. During another outing at the Monteux Music Festival, classical songs flooded campers’ ears, exposing them to not only this genre of music but also saw the interesting career paths of instrumentalists and budding conductors.
These trips gave students a chance to explore their own communities, but they also gained rich experiences without ever leaving their elementary school campuses. Three schools in Washington County participated, including D.W. Merritt Elementary in Addison, Milbridge Elementary, and Rose M. Gaffney Elementary in Machias.
At camp, the students rotate through a variety of activities during the day engaging in STEM, arts and crafts, and physical activities. They create art, work cooperatively to build structures using LEGOs or natural materials, play games, and of course, hit the playground. Camp counselors which include parents, older teens, and teachers dedicate time to building social skills. EdGE programming aims for certain impacts on students, which includes:
understand and manage emotions;
make healthy, responsible decisions;
set and achieve positive goals;
feel and show empathy for others; and
establish and maintain positive relationships.
Children’s author Jocelyn Lacey observed these impacts firsthand when she visited all three summer camps in July. “The kids have a safe place to go in the summer where they can socially progress, have fun, and learn together,” she says. Jocelyn accompanied Director of Development Erica Hutchinson on an all-day excursion to read a few of her books to summer campers. She read three books, including Coral’s First Sleepover, Pierre the Peacock, andWhat Do Police Officers’ Do?. After reading each child picked a book to bring home and the Mission purchased a book for each child, made possible by Barrett Foundation which funds EdGE summer camp literacy curriculum. Before distribution, Jocelyn made time to inscribe a personal message for each child.
Jocelyn regularly volunteers her time to causes she cares about. She learned about the Mission in her years as a Sigma Kappa sorority collegiate. “When I joined Sigma Kappa, I learned how the sorority started and about its early commitment to Maine Seacoast Mission. Living in Maine, I realized it would be nice to get involved as an alumna.”
Jocelyn was moved by the challenges communities face: poverty, addiction, domestic violence, and lack of infrastructure in comparison to neighboring counties. “These are difficult circumstances for children,” she shares, “I was amazed by the teachers who spend their summers providing good experiences for these students. It just spoke volumes to me about how much they and the Mission care in impacting these kids’ lives.”
After her trip, she committed to donate a percentage of book sales from Coral’s First Sleepover, which is about a young mermaid who lives off the coast of Maine. “Every little bit helps. And if I can help, I will because I believe in the Mission.”
This fall, EdGE afterschool programming returns so students can continue to challenge themselves, engage with their communities, explore the outdoors, and gain social and leadership skills to build personal, career, and post-secondary education aspirations. To learn more about the Mission’s afterschool, summer camp, and leadership programming, please visit the EdGE web page.
Join the Mission for a fun and competitive day of tennis on Saturday, September 9 at the Northeast Harbor Tennis Club. The EdGE Open Tennis Tournament supports the Mission’s signature education program in seven Washington County schools. In its 19th year, the tournament will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features men’s and women’s doubles playing at advanced and intermediate levels.
“I’ve been fortunate to be part of this Tournament as both a player and volunteer director for more than a decade,” says Jaime Weir, general manager of John Williams Boat Company and Mission board member. “Each event brings the tennis community together for a great day, all to benefit the kids of the EdGE program.”
The EdGE program offers collaborative and innovative afterschool, summer, in-school, and leadership activities to children. EdGE provides students opportunities to expand their knowledge and experiences through academic and social support, and peer mentoring. Students challenge themselves, engage with their communities, explore the outdoors, and gain social and leadership skills to build personal, career, and post-secondary education aspirations. Last year, EdGE offered more than 2,000 hours of afterschool, summer, and leadership programming at partner schools in rural Washington County. In this region, one in four children being raised below the poverty line as families face socio-economic challenges.
Registration for a team of eight is $1,400 and single player registration is $50. An organization, business, or person can also sponsor a team and the committee will assign single player participants. Interested players can contact Development Operations Associate David Snyder at [email protected] or (207) 801-6010.
See some of the Mission’s vast archives at the Great Harbor Maritime Museum this summer. Stop by the Museum at 124 Main Street in Northeast Harbor (right around the corner from the Mission’s administrative offices) seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to see “Beacons of Hope,” which highlights the Mission’s more than a century of work supporting island and coastal communities in Maine.
At the show, learn more about Mission’s history from our founding in 1905 and see how much of the work we did then is the same as it is today. From providing healthcare to education, while where and how may be different the goals are still the same: to strengthen coastal and island communities by educating youth, supporting families, and promoting good health.
Some of the things on display include: our portable dentist chair from the 1930s, models of Sunbeam III and Sunbeam IV, hooked rugs and quilt made by island residents, and much more.
The Mission’s corporate sponsors support the Mission’s work all year. Through their generosity and the generosity of all of our donors, the Mission can help sustain and strengthen families and communities.
Bar Harbor Bank & Trust is a community bank offering a full range of financial services to individuals, families, businesses, and non-profit organizations. Today, the bank manages over 50 locations throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. In 2020, they contributed more than $590,000 in charitable donations to more than 400 community organizations.
Wyman’s has been a family-owned business since 1874. They are dedicated to environmentally friendly growing practices that sustain our planet for future generations. Wyman’s supports a number of initiatives geared towards ensuring the viability of the regions they work in and partner with organizations who share their vision for healthier communities today and for future generations’.
Billings Diesel and Marine is a modern full-service boat yard located in Stonington that is steeped in the Maine traditions of craftsmanship and quality.
Coastal Kayaking Tours has been operating guided sea kayak tours in Bar Harbor, Maine since 1982.
First National Bank operates eighteen branch offices in Maine located along the coast from Wiscasset to Calais and inland in Bangor.
Maggie Keohan is the Boston Region Head for Goldman Sachs, a leading global financial institution that delivers a broad range of financial services to a large and diversified client base.
The Snowman Group is a family-owned company that has been serving their customer’s needs for over 90 years and is comprised of 4 companies: Snowman Printing, Presort Express, REMM Financial Services, and Snowman Direct.
We wish to thank each sponsor for believing in the thriving communities Maine Seacoast Mission seeks to assist on Maine’s islands and Downeast coastline. Become a sponsor for our organization and create a customized package to best fit your organization’s goals. To learn more about corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Development Operations Associate David Snyder at [email protected] or by calling (207) 801-6010.
