Somesville, Maine

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Somesville, Maine

Somesville is the oldest village in the town of Mount Desert, on Mount Desert Island at the north end of Somes Sound. It was founded by Abraham Somes, the island’s first European settler, and named after him and his family. The inlet is called Somes Sound.

Long before Europeans arrived, Native Americans visited the island. In 1761, Abraham and Hannah Somes and James and Rachel Richardson settled there at the request of the Massachusetts governor to establish mills. The village grew because of its mills and quarries and drew many workers.

Industry and work were centered on logging, fishing, shipbuilding, coastal trade, and quarrying. The area had several mills, a shoe factory, and a woolen mill. By 1840, the Somes and Whiting families were among the island’s wealthiest due to their mills and warehouses. Granite quarries played a major role, with shipments of over 3,500 tons in 1886. The population rose quickly, tripling by 1950.

Geology and landscape: Mount Desert Island formed hundreds of millions of years ago, and Somes Sound was carved by glaciers, creating its distinctive U-shaped valley.

Historic district: In 1975, central Somesville and the harbor area were designated a historic district. The district runs along Main Street from Denning Brook to Route 3 and includes the harbor shoreline down to Mason and Squantum Points. Notable buildings include the 1828 Isaac Somes House, the oldest on the island, and the 1852 Union Church.