Criehaven, Maine
Encyclopedia
Criehaven is an alternative name for Ragged Island, an unorganized territory in Knox County
, Maine
, United States
. Criehaven was formerly a plantation
including Ragged Island just south of Matinicus Isle
in outer Penobscot Bay
, plus Matinicus Rock
to its southeast, and Seal Island, the location of Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge
, to its northeast. Criehaven surrendered its organization and reverted to an unorganized territory in 1925, but the name persists.
, the location has a total area of 131.8 square miles (341.3 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it is land and 131.1 square miles (339.5 km²) of it (99.46%) is water.
With its population dwindling, Criehaven plantation dissolved in 1925 to revert to a 'wild land' obviating the need for town meetings and further taxation. The school managed to continued to operate until 1941. After the school's closing, the accelerating departure of year-round families cost the island its general store and post office as well. A "lively summer community of fishermen and vacationers" continues to occupy Ragged Island according to McLane, but there has "rarely been year round habitation in recent years."
Ragged Island on early charts in 1754, 1776, and 1819 is shown as "Ragged Arse Island." McLane asserts the name "Ragged Arse Island" might have been an attempt to render "Racketash," Abnaki for "island rocks." Charts in the mid-19th Century began calling it Ragged Island but, McLane asserts, the Matinicus lobstermen continue calling the island Ragged Arse "out of perversity." Ragged Island dubs itself the "Island of Lobsters," and boasts of being the farthest offshore inhabited island on the East Coast.
The island is the former home of writer Elizabeth Oglivie and the inspiration for her "Tide Trilogy." Writer Dorothy Simpson lived on Criehaven for many years.
Knox County, Maine
Knox County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 39,736. Its county seat is Rockland. The county is named for American Revolutionary War general and Secretary of War Henry Knox, who lived in the county from 1795 until his death in 1806. The county was...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Criehaven was formerly a plantation
Plantation (Maine)
In the U.S. state of Maine, a plantation is a type of minor civil division falling between township and town. The term, as used in this sense in modern times, appears to be exclusive to Maine....
including Ragged Island just south of Matinicus Isle
Matinicus Isle, Maine
Matinicus Isle is a plantation in Knox County, Maine, United States. The population was 51 at the 2000 census, although during the summer that number can triple or quadruple. Remote Matinicus Island is accessible by ferry from Rockland, located away, or by air taxi from Knox County Regional Airport...
in outer Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay originates from the mouth of Maine's Penobscot River. There are many islands in this bay, and on them, some of the country's most well-known summer colonies. The bay served as portal for the one time "lumber capital of the world," namely; the city of Bangor...
, plus Matinicus Rock
Matinicus Rock Light
Matinicus Rock Light, is a lighthouse in on Matinicus Rock, 18 miles off the coast of Maine.In 1827 the United States Lighthouse Service erected a pair of wooden light towers and a cobblestone keeper's residence on Matinicus Rock. The lights guided sea traffic until 1848 when they were replaced by...
to its southeast, and Seal Island, the location of Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge
Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge
Seal Island National Wildlife Refuge is a mile-long island off the coast of Maine near Matinicus Island. It is home to colonies of many types of seabirds, including Atlantic Puffins, Great Cormorants, Arctic Terns, Common Terns, and guillemots...
, to its northeast. Criehaven surrendered its organization and reverted to an unorganized territory in 1925, but the name persists.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the location has a total area of 131.8 square miles (341.3 km²), of which, 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it is land and 131.1 square miles (339.5 km²) of it (99.46%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2010 Census, there was one person living in the location. There are people who have houses on Ragged Island and some stay all summer and some people stay just part of every week. Seasonally there are ten lobster-fishing families and ten non-fishing families.About Criehaven
Criehaven is pronounced "cree-haven", after Robert Crie (1825-1901), an early landowner. He and his wife, Harriet Hall (1829-1919), moved to Ragged Island in 1849 where Robert became successful in farming and lumbering. Crie incorporated Ragged Island as the plantation of Criehaven in 1896, and for the next few decades it was thriving small community. Island chronicler Charles McLane asserts that after Crie's death, the "vigor of the community was gradually drained by natural disasters and changing times."With its population dwindling, Criehaven plantation dissolved in 1925 to revert to a 'wild land' obviating the need for town meetings and further taxation. The school managed to continued to operate until 1941. After the school's closing, the accelerating departure of year-round families cost the island its general store and post office as well. A "lively summer community of fishermen and vacationers" continues to occupy Ragged Island according to McLane, but there has "rarely been year round habitation in recent years."
Ragged Island on early charts in 1754, 1776, and 1819 is shown as "Ragged Arse Island." McLane asserts the name "Ragged Arse Island" might have been an attempt to render "Racketash," Abnaki for "island rocks." Charts in the mid-19th Century began calling it Ragged Island but, McLane asserts, the Matinicus lobstermen continue calling the island Ragged Arse "out of perversity." Ragged Island dubs itself the "Island of Lobsters," and boasts of being the farthest offshore inhabited island on the East Coast.
The island is the former home of writer Elizabeth Oglivie and the inspiration for her "Tide Trilogy." Writer Dorothy Simpson lived on Criehaven for many years.