Mackworth Island

Mackworth Island is a small, 100-acre island/state park just North of Portland. In the middle of the island you’ll find the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing / Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD). It’s off-limits to the public. But there is a very pleasant loop trail that goes around the outer ring of the island.

Trail

Once you cross the causeway at the mouth of the Presumpscot River, you’ll come to a standard state park entrance. Pay your $3/person fee (not usually manned) and park. Dogs on leashes are allowed. It can get quite crowded and parking is limited so don’t be surprised if you have to wait to get in.

From the parking lot, you follow the very well-marked 1.5 mile trail that takes you around the outside of the island. It is basically a wide, flat trail with near-constant views of Casco Bay. Along the path are quite a few benches, chair swings, and picnic tables. The remains of a stone pier can also be walked on – this was built during the Civil War for union soldiers stationed at Mackworth (which was known as Camp Berry). You can make your way down to the beach and explore or swim if you feel like it. You can see Fort Gorges, Munjoy Hill and quite a few of the islands.

Pet Cemetery

Near the Northern tip of the island, you’ll find the Baxter Pet Cemetery. 14 of Governor Baxter’s beloved Irish Setters, along with one horse named Jerry Roan, are buried there. The cemetery is surrounded by stones and there are a few markers for the deceased.

Not only did Percy love his dogs enough to create a cemetery, but while Governor, he ordered the flag flying at the capital in Augusta be lowered for the death of his beloved Irish Setter Garry II. He got quite a bit of flack for this, especially from Veteran’s groups who felt he cheapened the gesture and dishonored all of the good men who had just died in WW1. The Governor did not back down and instead insisted that pets should be viewed as veterans themselves since so many had died in the war as well. Ignore the fact that Garry II did not see any service overseas.

“It was my desire and my plan to have the flags lowered during the period of Garry’s journey homeward to the graves of his ancestors at my island home”

Fairy Village

Just past the pet cemetery, you’ll find a Fairy Village where young and old are encouraged to grab sticks and build little fairy houses. It is officially known as the Mackworth Island Community Village.

A Gorges Gift

The “founder” of the Province of Maine, Sir Ferdinando Gorges, gifted the island to Arthur Mackworth in 1631. Mackworth was the first settler in Falmouth. Fort Gorges in Casco Bay was named after Sir Gorges. But here’s an interesting fact: even though Sir Gorges founded the Province of Maine, he never actually visited the New World. Remote work.

A Little History

In 1885, James Phinney Baxter purchased Mackworth Island. He had John Calvin Stevens design and build a 22-room summer cottage where the Baxter family spent a lot of time, frolicking in the woods and water with their famous Irish Setters. James Baxter was elected Mayor of Portland 6 times, was a philanthropist, and was the force behind the creation of Baxter Boulevard.

The original cottage was eventually moved and in 1916, a larger mansion was designed and built by Steven Thompson. This is the home that eventually became housed the deaf school.

Gifted Again

James’ son Percival inherited the island and mansion upon James’ death in 1921 and continued to enjoy summers there with his dogs. Then in 1943, the then Maine Governor Percival Baxter sold Mackworth Island, along with the mansion, for $1 to the State of Maine. His goal was to provide a new home for the existing Portland School for the Deaf which was founded in 1876 on Spring Street in Portland and must have needed more space. He also donated $500,000 to build the school and an addition $175,000 to build a causeway. Construction began in 1954 and in 1957, Maine formally opened the Maine School for The Deaf on Mackworth.

Governor Baxter made the original gift with two very specific requirements: that the rest of the island aside from the school become a public nature preserve, and the second was that his dog cemetery remained forever.

The School

From 1957 to 2009, the school provided education for deaf children grades K-12 along with some preschool services. Students lived on campus in dormitories.

From 2006 to 2015, Friends School of Portland, an independent Quaker preschool through eighth grade school, was located on Mackworth Island. It eventually relocated to Cumberland.

Today, a preschool for deaf and hard of hearing children operates on the island. The school’s administrative offices are also housed there.

Abuse

A dark part of the school’s history was brought to light in 1981. After receiving many reports of abuse by staff, the state began an investigation. This ultimately led to the resignation of the Principal, Superintendent, and Dean of Students, and a formal apology by the State (along with a lot of money being paid to survivors). Maine Public aired two specials documenting this sordid history: Sounds of Silence (1994) and Broken Trust (2009).