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News Feature

Little Deer Isle
Originally published in Island Ad-Vantages, September 13, 2012
Bridge End property celebrated as community asset

Bridge End property on Little Deer Isle

Looking to the pier, which will eventually be demolished and possibly replaced with a system of finger floats as the project progresses.

Photo by Nat Barrows

Party-goers are already enjoying the shorefront.

Photo courtesy Steve Cartright

Deer Isle selectmen Lew Ellis and Twyla Weed cut the ribbon on Sunday, September 9, at the Bridge End property on Little Deer Isle. The ribbon-cutting was part of a party to celebrate the purchase and donation of the land, which now belongs to the town of Deer Isle.

Photo courtesy Carol Bridges

by Jessica Brophy

Despite a less-than-stellar forecast for the day, the weather cooperated on Sunday, September 9, for the Bridge End party.

More than 80 people attended the event, according to Bridge End Citizen’s Initiative member Jean Wheeler. Wheeler spearheaded fundraising efforts to raise the $400,000 needed to purchase the small property—formerly the site of Sisters Restaurant—where the bridge meets Little Deer Isle.

The party, which offered guests cake, watermelon and lemonade, celebrated the purchase of the property with the assistance of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, its deeding as public land and the donation of the land to the town of Deer Isle.

Many of the people who attended the gathering told stories of picnicking on the spot as school children, when the land was owned by the state.

Wheeler said people were still handing her checks, either of money previously pledged or money toward some of the work projects for the site.

Some initial cleanup has already happened at the site courtesy of a volunteer “work crew who mowed, chain-sawed, et cetera,” said Wheeler.

While the property is public, and now open to be used, Wheeler said it is important the public understand the pier is unsafe and is off-limits. There are still plans to tear down the first portion of the pier to keep the public from using it, and the long-term recommendation from the Bridge End committee is to tear down the entire pier and replace it with a system of floating docks.

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