painted plein air on Kennebunk Land Trust's Strawberry Island on June 21, 2025, 14" x 11" (w x h), using Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and Winsor & Newton watercolors, all selected for light fastness and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lbs. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper, framed.
$800
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Strawberry Island Mysteries
History / May 2, 2024
By Sharon Cummins
Source: Kennebunkport Historical Society (edited)
$800
My Plein Air Island Setup Space
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The Known History of
Strawberry Island
1
The Known History of
Strawberry Island
Circa 1895, fishermen Jed Prout, Sewell Hubbard, and Leander Littlefield, on Sewall Hubbard's Wharf on The Cove. Strawberry Island, barely seen in the background, has the same barn and shed arrangement seen in later photos.
This 1920 photos looking south shows Mt. Agamenticus in York, Maine in the background.
Strawberry Island in the 1930s
The old barn and shed still stood in this 1950s photo of Strawberry Island.
Strawberry Island Mysteries
History / May 2, 2024
By Sharon Cummins
Source: Kennebunkport Historical Society (edited)
In his books, Ancient History of Kennebunk, written in 1831 and History of Wells and Kennebunk, Edward E. Bourne wrote that Ephraim Poke built a house around 1731 "on the extremity of the point, where the sea has now washed off the earth" on what we now call Strawberry Island. At that time, it was known as Great Neck. Young newlywed Ephraim was referred to as Grandfather Poke. The land he lived on was dubbed Grandfather's Point. Ephraim and his horse drowned a few years later trying to ford the Mousam River during a higher-than-expected tide.
Nathaniel Spinney lived there next. He may have moved another house to the point from an inland Kennebunk Beach lot which was owned by John Webber.
John Gillespie took possession of the point in the early 1800s. From then on it was known as Gillespie's Point. When John Gillespie saw that the foundation of his house would soon be under water, he abandoned it, moving to the village. Perhaps that was the house Edward Bourne wrote that in 1831 the sea had washed off the earth.
William Gooch acquired Gillespie's Point in 1848. In 1882 Arthur Libby was deeded a 1/8 share of Gillespie's Point by William Gooch's wife and daughter. Then the island was deeded outright to Arthur Libby by Georgana Gooch Peabody in 1895. He clearly could not have built a fancy house on Strawberry Island in 1888 because he didn't yet own it. And by then the house built by Ephraim Poke or Nicholas Spinney, was already long gone. All that remained was a barn and a shed, as seen in an 1890s photograph.
On August 8, 1962, during the night, all buildings on Strawberry Island burned to the ground.
Nathaniel Spinney lived there next. He may have moved another house to the point from an inland Kennebunk Beach lot which was owned by John Webber.
John Gillespie took possession of the point in the early 1800s. From then on it was known as Gillespie's Point. When John Gillespie saw that the foundation of his house would soon be under water, he abandoned it, moving to the village. Perhaps that was the house Edward Bourne wrote that in 1831 the sea had washed off the earth.
William Gooch acquired Gillespie's Point in 1848. In 1882 Arthur Libby was deeded a 1/8 share of Gillespie's Point by William Gooch's wife and daughter. Then the island was deeded outright to Arthur Libby by Georgana Gooch Peabody in 1895. He clearly could not have built a fancy house on Strawberry Island in 1888 because he didn't yet own it. And by then the house built by Ephraim Poke or Nicholas Spinney, was already long gone. All that remained was a barn and a shed, as seen in an 1890s photograph.
On August 8, 1962, during the night, all buildings on Strawberry Island burned to the ground.
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This was the month before I began my freshman year at Kennebunk High School. I barely have a memory of the news of the fire. -Bruce
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