The first trader or shop keeper to settle here was Walter Bagnall. He traded with the Indians and got along fine until he started to cheat them. That was his undoing, as they found it out and later killed him. This island was “the” trading post of the area. People came by boat and overland to trade here.
Richmond’s Island today is rather a deserted place compared to the old days. There used to be thirty-five or forty houses here, plus two or three churches.
The leading industry of the island was the curing and drying of salt fish that were caught just off shore. You can walk around the entire shoreline of this island in about an hour and a half. A metal detector should react here to something buried long ago. The island, being a trading post, should reveal some treasures of the bygone era. The island has a wonderful beach on the westerly side. If you also happen to be interested in shells you will find many “sand dollars” here. A “sand dollar” is a shell fish shaped like a silver dollar. They are very interesting to study.
There is a breakwater from the mainland out to this island and you can cross over at low tide, but the walking is pretty rugged due to the large granite blocks used in construction. These blocks were placed at various angles so it is hard to walk over them. The best way to the island is by boat, either from Breakwater Point or from Crescent Beach, Cape Elizabeth. A small rowboat is all you need, as the inlet that you cross is not very wide.
Richmond’s Island is owned by a gentleman who lives on the mainland. I would most certainly get his permission before landing on the island. We treasure hunters want to live up to our good reputation, so don’t spoil it by trespassing without the owner’s O.K.
CHAPTER X
TURNER’S ISLAND
This small island was settled by Ralph Turner in 1659. He was a farmer who kept his cows and garden on this island. He, however, did not live on the island, but had a house on the mainland of the Cape. The river on which the island was located was called Casco River. It is now called Fore River and is a part of Casco Bay, or an inlet from the Bay.
Turner’s house was located near Barbeery Creek, which now is industrial property in South Portland.
I mention this location because of its early settlement. If this area was screened carefully some mighty interesting relics could be revealed.
To reach this area you proceed to South Portland, then on to the Pleasantdale area. Anyone there can tell you how to get to Turner’s Island. Of course the island is not an island any longer, as the gap between the island and mainland has been filled in and today the island appears to be part of the mainland. You can see with careful study that the terrain still resembles the little island of 1659.