The Islander Magazine "Going to see the cannon " 1898. Photos courtesy of Bar Harbor Historical Society. Cannon in The Dooryard by Frank Matter 1898. The forces which were to for- -and deliberated -and deliberated. In Little did George Hale know, when ever alter his peaceful retreat were set the meantime the infamous "yellow he built his summer cottage in 1876, in motion in the harbor of another press" of the day was fanning the fires that within a few years his property island - many, many miles away. On of hatred against Spain, in whose would be a footnote in military his- the night of February 15th, 1898, the hands Cuba was then held. tory books. battleship Maine was lying at anchor Finally, after more than two The site he chose for his residence in Havanna Harbor. Suddenly there months of discussion, the Court was one of great beauty. Schooner was a tremendous explosion and be- announced its findings on April 24th. Head is a massive projection of stone fore anything could be done the ship Spain was responsible and we were at which extends into the sea just four and 260 officers and crew were sent war. Maine newspapers heralded the and a half miles from the then bur- to the bottom of the sea. Newspapers announcement with headlines such geoning summer resort of Bar Har- in the United States demanded an as: bor - remote enough to be peaceful answer to the question of "What had SPAIN DECLARES but just a short horse-ride away from happened." SHE WILL BOMBARD the social life and gaiety that filled The government's response was the AMERICA'S NORTHERN COAST the warm summer days of the popular establishment of an official Court of Inquiry. Moving with typical govern- To this day no one knows the resort. All went well until the Winter of mental speed, the Court deliberated continued on next page 3 The Islander Magazine origin of such claims but the effect the site of a government run light- visitors alike constantly trooped to the was immediate. Near hysteria seized house, but the Schooner Head pro- site to see their security being assured. the inhabitants. After all, wasn't it perty was the front yard of Mr. Hale. The Spaniards sued for peace on obvious that Spain had designs on Oh well, sacrifices must be made by July 30 and an armistice was signed this part of New England. Why else some for the sake of others, SO on August 12. During the "war" no would she have begun her infamy without further discussion an "x" was Spanish ships were ever sighted in the with the sinking of our namesake.? placed on the map where Hale's waters off New England's shores. The The newspapers in Bar Harbor beautiful front yard looked out past construction of the gun mount con- began to carry speculations about the Egg Rock to sea. tinued unabated, however. forthcoming summer season. Would The locations for gun im- Finally finished a month behind the influential summer residents placements having been arrived at, schedule, the cannon sat stoically return or would the fear of an immi- the next step was to find suitable or- through the snows of winter, never nent Spanish bombardment keep dinance. Time was of the essence SO having been fired. In fact, no am- them at home in New York and Bar Harbor would have to make due munition was ever brought to the Boston? This question raised more with what the government could site. than casual conversation. After all, find. After a diligent search of our On April Fool's Day, 1899, the the economy of the island was tied armories, four time-worn civil war Government notified Mr. Hale of directly to the life style of those who cannons were found and earmarked their intention to remove the gun graced our shores for four or five for Bar Harbor's defense. during the forthcoming summer. In months each summer. The Town According to the local newspapers, correspondence with the Army, Hale Council began to petition our Con- the 10' gun destined for Mr. Hale's did not accept the offer because "it gressional representatives. Something yard arrived in June. It's massive might cause further injury to his road- had to be done to protect Bar Har- weight of 15,000 pounds required the way and lawn." He offered to buy it. bor from the obvious threat she faced. widening and strengthening of the The Army quickly agreed since it After all, everyone knew that New- bridge to the Island. This accom- would cost more to remove the in- port, R.I., (our social counterpart) plished, the gun was carted the fif- stallation than the gun was worth. had a military base and installations teen miles to its new site. That is how Mr. Hale acquired his to protect it. Why should we not ex- There is no record of Mr. Hale's own personal cannon, for defense pect the same level of protection? thoughts as the gun was pushed and only, of course. Aided by the influence of some of dragged up the rise, past his cottage; the summer people, the pleas for help only to be left lying in the yard as the The cannon adorned his dooryard were heard in Washington. Judging workmen began the construction of for nearly 45 years. Finally, in 1943, by the response, however, the pleas the platform on which it would be William Dolliver was hired to haul it must have sounded like murmurs mounted. Due to the need for haste, away and sell it for scrap- to help the rather than shouts. A quick review of the government had authorized a war effort. Once again an uninter- our coastline yielded the information "temporary" platform of uncreosoted rupted view of the ocean was returned that installations located on Turtle yellow pine. The published schedule to Mr. Hale's home. Unfortunately, Island, Egg Rock, and Schooner Head called for completion by September it would be enjoyed for only four would provide the protective field of 1. Judging from the photographs more summers. In September of fire needed to discourage an attack on which are available, watching the 1947, Mr. Hale's home was destroyed the village of Bar Harbor. Turtle construction was one of the highlights in the disastrous fire which consumed Island was uninhabited, Egg Rock was of the summer season. Locals and much of the town of Bar Harbor. ############## Mr. Hale's dooryard is converted into a fortress. 4