Maine life – Maine Terrain https://www.maineterrain.com Secret Destinations in and around Acadia National Park Tue, 05 Jul 2022 07:54:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.8 Milbridge, Maine: A Helpful Guide 2022 https://www.maineterrain.com/milbridge-maine-guide/ https://www.maineterrain.com/milbridge-maine-guide/#comments Fri, 06 May 2022 19:40:12 +0000 https://www.maineterrain.com/?p=1429

Milbridge, Maine:
A Helpful guide for 2019

April 3, 2019

SO2

Written by Stephen Ondich

The town of Milbridge, Maine is the first town to be featured in our series, Down East Destinations. Below is a comprehensive helpful guide to the Milbridge. We cover community history, things to do, economy, trends and more.  

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Milbridge, Maine

Location

Milbridge, Maine is 43.1 miles from Acadia National Park.

Thus, Milbridge, Maine is Acadia Adjacent.↵
 
It is located on the coast of Maine, where the Narraguagus Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Milbridge is located south of Cherryfield, east of Steuben and West of Harrington. Narraguagus Bay comprises its southern border.

Areas of Milbridge

Downtown Milbridge is pedestrian friendly. Thus, many of Milbridge’s shops and restaurants are here. Roughly speaking, the epicenter of downtown is where US-1 (Main Street) intersects with US-1A (Kennedy Highway). 

The Harbor Area starts at the mouth of the Narraguagus River and continues to the bay, leading out to the Atlantic Ocean. Also, in the harbor area there are restaurants, fresh local seafood offerings, and boat tours. Additionally the Milbridge historical Society Museum is located in the harbor area.

Rural Areas comprise a majority of Milbridge’s land area. Accordingly, these designated rural areas have limitations on development. 

Conservation Areas are designated as places of vital importance to Milbridge’s natural resources. Very limited development is allowed. Also, there is a minimum lots size of 10+ acres. Additionally, these designations are primarily in coastal or island areas of Milbridge.

 

Beals Pier Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Beals Pier by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

Milbridge History 

Town of Milbridge was founded in 1765. It was created from the town of Harrington in Plantation Number Five.

According to Maineanencylopedia.com, the original spelling was “Millbridge.” Interestingly, I recently confirmed this when I searched Maine: A History, Volume 4 online for “Milbridge.” When my search yielded no hits, I realized that the text used the earlier “Millbridge” spelling.

Harrington Connection

Unfortunately many of Milbridge’s early historical records were stored in Harrington when a fire swept through town. I can find no mention online of when that fire took place. However, those early Milbridge town records were lost.

Gallison Library in Harrington, Maine
I stopped into the Harrington’s Gallison Library to find early Milbridge records. Photo by maineterrain.com

 

In July of 2019, I stopped into the Gallison Memorial Library in Harrington to see what remained of early Milbridge town records. Unfortunately, most of the early records inside were genealogical and provided by individual families. However, sifting through the folders I found an interesting document. It showed that in 1960, Mrs. Mildred Coffin donated a large map of early Washington County, Maine to the library.

Harrington Historical Document
This document revealed a large Washington County map was in the library somewhere.

I looked up from my table and saw the map!

Early Map of Washington County Maine with a closeup of Narraguagus Bay
Here is a closeup of the Narraguagus area of the wall map donated by Mildred Coffin in 1960. Photo by maineterrain.com

 

Significantly, the Coffin family was one of the early settlers of Harrington, Maine. V.L. Coffin and Sons,, was the primary store in town selling dry goods for many decades.

1848 Separation from Harrington

Almost 90 years later on July 14, 1848, it split off from the easterly neighboring town of Harrington. Subsequently, Milbridge expanded in 1876 and 1907, taking over land from its neighbor on the west, Steuben.

In the 19th century Milbridge served as a receiving point for lumber sawn in Cherryfield. An entire industrial complex was set up on the Narraguagus River involving multiple shipyards and businesses that served the boat building trade. Then, as now, Milbridge hosted fishing and seafood processing businesses including a lobster canning factory.

Milbridge’s population stands at roughly 1300 residents. This has been a relatively stable count for the past three decades.

 

Early Native American Presence in Milbridge

Pre-colonist records of Native Americans in the area now known as Milbridge are sparse. In part, this is due to the fluidity of tribes over time. Once Europeans arrived in the area the 1500’s Native Americans bore the brunt of newly introduced illnesses. As a result, surviving Native American assimilated into new groups regularly.

Here is a list of tribes with ties to Milbridge:

Red Paint People 

The Red Paint People are the oldest known inhabitants of the Milbridge area. Very little is known about  the Red Paint People.  

They lived in coastal areas of Maine and New England approximately 2000-6000 years ago. Excavation of their burial sites revealed stone tools and artifacts covered in iron oxide, ie red paint.

Abenaki – Wawinkak

The Abenaki settled in villages close to rivers and/or flood plains. 

Passamaquoddy

Passamaquoddy Native Americans were seasonal settlers. In summer, they stayed in coastal areas. For the winter months, they migrated inland.

Prior to European contact, the Passamaquoddy history was passed down verbally without written records.

 

1675-1760 Series of  Six Indian Wars

Until 1675, relations between English settlers and Native Americans were mostly amicable. However, the following 85 years brought a series of conflicts known as the Indian Wars.

These battles pitted Native Americans and their French allies against English colonists.

 

Post Native American settlement by Colonists

The earliest known European settlers in the Narraguagus area were Jebez Dorman, John Densmores and Ichabod Willey. They established themselves in the Narraguagus region just Prior to the revolutionary war in the mid 1750s.

At this time, the cultural center of what is was then part of Harrington (now Milbridge) was on the Narraguagus Bay. Everything was developed with the goal of harvesting lumber and getting it to market or into maritime production. Since no roads were in existence, everything centered around the waterways.

An early population boom occurred as a direct result of the colonists victory over the British in the revolutionary war. Soldiers were partially paid in Maine land grants.

As the population grew, Milbridge was used as a stop for a steamboat service that passed between Milbridge, Machias and Portland several times a week. The ship-based access to Milbridge continued throughout most of the 19th century.

Roads improved and cars came into favor in the early part of the 20th century. Accordingly, downtown Milbridge displaced the Wyman industrial district as the town’s focal point at that time..

 

Historic Sites in Milbridge

Petit Manan Light Station 

The Petit Manan Light Station is operational. The island it occupies also hosts a puffin colony!  It is not open to the public. However, public boat tours are available.  As a matter of fact, Milbridge’s own Robertson Sea Tours offers Fall boat tours of three area lighthouses:

  1. Petit Manan Lighthouse
  2. Narraguagus Lighthouse
  3. Nash Island Light Station

 

 

Narraguagus Light Station House maineterrain.com
Narraguagus Light Station courtesy of Maine An Encyclopedia

Narraguagus Light Station

The Narraguagus Light Station was taken out of operation in 1934. Now privately owned, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1987. 

 

Everett Wallace House maineterrain.com
The Everett Wallace House courtesy of Maine An Encyclopedia

Everett Wallace House

The 1937 Everett Wallace House is located at the intersection of US-1 and Wyman Road. 

It is notable for being a modern example of Queen Anne architecture. Additionally, the home was made as a reproduction of Wallace’s previous 1800’s era Queen Anne home which was lost in a fire. 

 
Milbridge Blueberry harvest Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Blueberry Barrens by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

Economy of Milbridge

The natural resources surrounding Milbridge have shaped the towns activity since it’s inception. Not surprisingly, shipbuilding, lumber production, agriculture and fishing comprise much of this activity. More recently, tourism has played a role, as well.

Currently, blueberry production, commercial fishing, timber harvesting and wreath production drive the Milbridge economy.

Smaller farms, including organic, are emerging as a growth industry.

 

Agriculture

The largest agricultural crop in Milbridge is the blueberry. The biggest blueberry operation in town is the Wyman Company. 

 

Jasper Wyman Milbridge maineterrain.com
Jasper Wyman & Son courtesy of Maine An Encyclopedia

 

The Wyman Company

In the late 19th century, despite the booming lumber trade, one of the most important companies then as now, was the Wyman company.

Wymans of Maine was founded by Jasper Wyman in 1874 and is still family owned today. In addition to his Milbridge business interests, Jasper Wyman (1852-1923) served two terms as a state senator for Maine in 1906 and 1908. 

Wyman’s is to Milbridge what Burt’s Bees is to Dover-Foxcroft, with one important exception. Wyman’s is still operating out of its home town

Originally primarily a seafood canning company, Jasper Wyman started the company where he grew up in Milbridge, Maine. By the turn of the century, the focus of the company had shifted from seafood to wild blueberries.

Subsequent generations of the Wyman family continue to acquire land and blueberry barons over the years.

The company owns more than 10,000 acres of blueberry barons in addition to contracting out with other growers in Maine and Canada.

Additionally, Wyman’s conducts an ongoing campaign in support of food and worker safety.

In 2012, Wymans was certified for compliance in the Global Food Safety Initiative. In addition to health care benefits for employees, the company provides housing and competitive wages for its seasonal workers.

I contacted Wyman’s to ask if they provide  factory or barren tours to the public. Unfortunately, they do not.

According to company spokesperson Pat, Wyman’s receives frequent requests for company tours. They are considering options that comply with their insurance regulations. I will post an update if public tours become available.  

Wild Blueberry Land Columbia Falls Maine
“Wild Blueberry Land – Maine” by Dougtone is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Blueberry Overproduction: Milbridge and Down East 

2018 was a difficult year for the Down East blueberry industry, in general.

In July of 2018, I briefly spoke to Marie Emerson on a family trip to Wild Blueberry Land in neighboring Columbia Falls, Maine.  Interestingly, she said the biggest issue facing North American blueberry farmers is competition from hybrid lab-grown blueberries. Also, they are fast growing, large in size and often imported into the US in large quantities. 

According to Emerson, their  taste is bland are they are not Wild Blueberries. However, they are plentiful and inexpensive.

Blueberries are currently overproduced. Significantly, domestic and overseas government subsidies are a factor, in addition to  natural market forces.  

Currently, the price of blueberries is at a 3 decade low. Good for consumers but not sustainable for suppliers.

Unfortunately, in 2018 the choice for smaller politically unconnected blueberry operations was an unenviable one.

  • Produce at a loss.  
  • Discontinue the operation.

Anyone who has spent time in the Pine Tree State knows that throwing in the towel goes against the Maine spirit (sometimes called moxey).  Thus, many producers forged ahead and lost money last year.

Kelco Industries building in Milbridge, Maine
Photo by Maineterrain.com

Kelco Industries of Milbridge

Kelco Industries primarily manufactures and sells wreath making supplies. They are one of the larger employers in Milbridge despite the work being somewhat seasonal.

I’ve see the Kelco name online and around town but was not familiar with the company. The name struck me as one of those vague sounding 1980’s era conglomerates. The type of enterprise that gobbled up smaller companies and put them all under one name. However, that is not the case, at all. 

Kelco, like Wyman’s is a home grown Milbridge company. 

Doug Kell

Doug Kell founded Kelco in 1955. A former New Jersey resident and ship captain, he did not relax in the off season winter months. Instead, Doug saw an opportunity to distribute Maine Christmas trees in New Jersey. Hauling trees was his side-hustle before there was such a term.

Soon, Doug expanded into making and distributing machinery for processing tree and creating wreaths. Kelco’s mechanical innovations allowed many small scale mom and pop shops to sell and market their own wreaths. 

With the success of his business, his family moved with him to Maine. Evidently, Doug’s charter boat days were behind him. The next six decades Doug focused on the Christmas tree industry. 

I intend to get an update soon but as of 2013, Doug had a familiar stable of loyal employees. Referred to as the Golden Girls, these workers have been with Doug since the 1950’s. That is both heartwarming and rare in today’s business world. Kudos, Kelco! 

An entire article could be written on Doug’s accomplishments. In addition to what is above, here are a few highlights of his storied career:

  • Licensed ship Captain
  • Pilot’s license
  • Air Force veteran
  • Art Gallery proprietor
  • Tree farmer

In 2015, Doug graciously donated his beloved twin engine GA-7 airplane to the Down East Emergency Medicine Institute to assist with search and rescue missions.

Boat in Bay Milbridge Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Boat in the Bay by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Fishing

Lobster is the most important product in Milbridge’s fishing industry. Other sea products include marine worms and clams.

Much of the commercial fishing activity takes place around the Town Marina and Jordan Pier. Thus, if you spend some time watching the incoming  fishing boats you’ll see lobster, shellfish, eels, urchins and more.

Tourism

Milbridge is riding the wave of increased tourism throughout Washington County. It  anchors one end of the Bold Coast Scenic Byway.  Visitors often choose Milbridge as their quiet home base for Acadia National Park trips.

From my own experience, people who specifically travel to Milbridge fall into one of three categories.

  1. Down East Explorers. These tourists cover a lot of area in Washington County and Mid-Coast. They need a somewhat centralized home base. Milbridge is a good choice.
  2. Acadia National Park visitors on a budget. People visiting Acadia in Summer or Fall face steep lodging rates if they’re looking to stay in Bar Harbor. Sticker shock makes them look elsewhere. Going South or West won’t save you much. However, looking in Milbridge offers substantial savings when compared with Bar Harbor or Mount Desert Island. Besides, it’s a scenic 40 minute drive to the park. A small price to pay to save a hundred dollars a night for a waterfront stay!
  3. People Who Love Milbridge. Many tourists come to Milbridge regularly despite not having any family roots or previous ties to the area. Often, what keeps them coming back is the memory of that first Milbridge trip. I call it Maine-fever. It’s a phenomenon that is certainly not unique to Milbridge. However, Milbridge has a lot of the characteristics that tend to make people fall in love with the area: coast, convenience, rivers, charm, friendly locals, etc.

 

Geology of Milbridge

Much of Milbridge’s beauty is associated with its rugged coastline and river valleys. The character of its terrain did not just simply appear overnight.

The Ice Age

The landscape of Milbridge was carved out by glaciers over a million years ago. Thick ice pushed its way through the Narraguagus Valley. In the process, land was contorted, rocks were moved, rivers and valleys were created.

Soil 

The soil in Milbridge is more suited to forestry than traditional farming. USDA Prime Farmland Soil represents a paltry 2% of Milbridge’s land area.

Only two areas in Milbridge have ideal soil for traditional (non-blueberry) farming, Pond island and select portions of Fickett Point.

 

Climate in Milbridge

 

Weatherspark.com summarizes Milbridge’s climate this way:

“In Milbridge, the summers are comfortable, the winters are freezing and windy, and it is partly cloudy year round. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 15°F to 73°F and is rarely below -0°F or above 80°F.”

Milbridge Narraguagus Winter Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
 Narraguagus Waterfront Winter by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Winter in Milbridge

By Maine standards, Milbridge has a relatively mild winter season. However, everything is relative. If you are used to shoveling snow in Buffalo, New York, Milbridge winters will be easy. If you’re coming from Florida, it will take some getting used to.

Milbridge is located on the coast of Maine. Average coastal winter temperatures are higher than inland communities experience. The reason for this is that water has a higher heat capacity than ground coverings and rocks. Thus, the ocean holds onto its warmth while land inland cools rapidly. 

Snow season in Milbridge lasts just under 6 months. Typically, snow falls early November through mid-April.

Weatherspark.com calculates a tourism score based on the estimated percentage of rainless days with temperatures between 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Based on that index, the best time to visit Milbridge is early July though early September. Peak tourist weather occurs the second week of August.
 

 

Read About Milbridge

Books

You may be able to pick up some of these on Amazon but I recommend ordering through the Milbridge Historical Society. They really appreciate the support!

The History of Milbridge by Terry Hussey

Drops of Spray from Southern Seas by Lucy Brown Reynolds

Cemeteries of Milbridge by Diana Bartlett, Alice Beal & Beverly Pinkham

Pond Island Heritage by Anne C. Nash

 

Periodicals Serving Milbridge

Ellsworth American

Bangor Daily News

Milbridge Historical Society Newsletter

 

Watch Milbridge

Extreme Home Makeover – Milbridge

In 2007, ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover came to Milbridge. The show featured the Ray-Smith family. Spoiler alert. Their house was made over in a most extreme way. The episode aired in 2008. Season 5, epsiode 10.

Black Rock

Milbridge’s own Katie Aselton directed the 2012 motion picture Black Rock. Filming took place in Milbridge as well as other Down East locations. Kudos for bring the work back home Katie!

The Puffy Chair

This 2005 movie The Puffy Chair was filmed on location in Milbridge. Directed by Mark and Jay Duplass, the film also stars Milbridge native Katie Aselton. It won the Audience Award at the 2005 South by Southwest Film Festival.

Additionally, the film crew stayed at Aselton’s parent’s home during production.

 

Building Styles

Milbridge offers a mix of building styles, from simple 1970’s-era mobile homes to tastefully constructed resort style vacation homes.

Much of the architecture reflects Milbridge’s boom years of the mid to late 19th century. Fortunately, many of the stately homes from that time period have survived.

 

Large Milbridge Victorian House
Milbridge Victorian House courtesy of Maine An Encyclopedia

Victorian Architecture

A walk thorough of Milbridge’s older areas gives you a sense for the Victorian style architecture that predominated from the late 1800s through the early 1900s.

Purple Victorian Queen AnneHome off Main Street
Purple Queen Anne home
at 70 Main Street is on the market as of July 2019. Photo by maineterrain.com

 

The Victorian homes are interesting to observe and offer a glimpse into Milbridge’s past. Accordingly, it’s understandable that residents advocate for their refurbishment at every opportunity.

Milbridge Congressional Church Victorian style
Milbridge Congressional Church courtesy of Maine An Encyclopedia

Victorian architecture is characterized by:

  • Irregular layouts
  • Multiple gabled roofs
  • Asymmetrical window & door patterns
  • Complex shapes
  • Walls of varied textures 

Cape Cod  Architecture

Cape Cod style homes are also found in Milbridge’s historic areas. Significantly, the simple boxy style and straight lines are in start contrast to the area’s Victorian homes.

Cape Cod architecture is characterized by:

  • Simplicity
  • Symmetrical lines
  • No overhang from the roof
  • A front-to-back design
Milbridge Theatre building
The Milbridge Theatre building exhibits simple Cape Cod style architecture. Photo by maineterrain.com

 

Quality of Life in Milbridge

According to the latest comprehensive plan created by the town of no bridge, The top priority of the town is to protect his vital natural resources. The plan clearly spells out the quality of life factors that Milbridge residents value .

Clean air
Clean water
Low crime
Low traffic congestion
Lack of noise and light pollution levels
Access to goods and services
Good employment opportunities

While economic growth and income opportunities are addressed in the plan, the priority is clearly focused on maintaining environmental quality-of-life. To this end no bridge passed a 2009 ordinance that required a minimum of 6 acre lots on any rural property where housing is built.

Currently, here is what  Milbridge’s land composition looks like:

Milbridge has done an admirable job of addressing the goals laid out in its general plan.

Perhaps their most ambitious goal is that of bringing new jobs into town. For better or worse, job creation is tied to the health of its core natural resources rather than government subsidies or aggressive commercial growth strategies.  

In Milbridge, slow and steady wins the race!

Moving to Milbridge

Despite the stable population of Milbridge, people are moving into the area. Many recent Milbridge transplants are middle age or above. The Milbridge cost of living /quality of life ratio is a big draw. 

One of my neighbors, Dave, is one such transplant. He lives most of the year in Massachusetts but has a second home in Milbridge. I asked him how he ended up in Milbridge. “I wanted an affordable place on the coast. I put my finger on a map of Maine, starting in Portland and followed it North till I found a town on the water we could afford,” he answered. 

That is the same logic that brings many people to Milbridge.

 

 

Milbridge Visitor Information

Pronunciation

I don’t think I’ve ever heard an egregious mispronunciation of Milbridge, although I’m sure it happens. However, some neighboring town names are regularly butchered by visitors from away.

From Away

On a side note, if you are not a local resident, you are from away. Do not read too much into it. It means exactly what it says, nothing more. In my experience, it doesn’t (necessarily) have a negative connotation.

Pronunciation Rule

This rule is not perfect. However, if you want to guess on the correct pronunciation of a Down East town, here’s my suggestion.

Either pronounce with no accent at all or place the accent on the last syllable rather than the first.

For example:

Steuben

  • stu-BEN = correct
  • stu-ben = passable
  • STU-ben = definitely from away

Again, this tip will not work in every situation but I like your odds!


 

Airports

The closest airport is Hancock county bar harbor airport. However, The closest major airports are Bangor international airport, Portland international, and Manchester, in that order.


 

Get Around in Milbridge

Public Transportation

Milbridge offers limited public bus service. The once-daily  service is along a route that runs on Us-1 from Calais to Bangor. West Bus Service‘s Milbridge pick up location is at:16 West ManorMilbridge, ME 04658

Milbridge Rural Road Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Milbridge Rural Road by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Walk

Milbridge is pedestrian-friendly. Although rural areas lack sidewalks, traffic is sporadic. Conversely, the downtown area is easy to navigate with clearly marked streets.
 
Additionally, the recently opened Milbridge Commons Walking Trail provides another great walking option. Located in the downtown area, this nature walk takes you along the Narraguagus River. Also, it is a paved path, ideal for strollers, wheelchairs or anyone requiring sure footing on their nature treks.
 

Drive

Fortunately, Milbridge is easy to navigate by car. The lack of traffic lights is indicative of typically low traffic levels. 
 
Although many people visit Milbridge to reconnect with nature, we do recommend having an automobile. 
 

Ride Bike

The Bold Coast Scenic Bikeway is the first of its kind in Maine! It covers over 200 miles on the rural roads from Gouldsboro to Calais, with a stretch running through Milbridge.
 
The bikeway is routed through scenic rural areas with low-speed limits and low automobile traffic.
 
Read Peggy Grodinsky’s account of her 2017 Bold Coast bicycle trip in New England Magazine here.
 
More information on biking the Bold Coast here
 
Also, here is a map of Bold Coast bike routes assessed by safety of use.   
 
 

Uber, Lyft or Taxi in Milbridge

None of these options are available in Milbridge, to the best of my knowledge. However, services like Uber and Lyft are growing by the day and do not require the infrastructure or customer base that a taxi company does. Thus, I recommend checking their Apps to verify current availability in Milbridge and other Down East areas.  
 
Milbridge Sunrise Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Milbridge Sunrise by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

 

Scenic Areas of Milbridge

The Bold Coast Scenic Byway Project was created in 2011, in partnership with the state.

Milbridge is the first stop at the easternmost point of the bold coast scenic byway. The gold coast scenic byway is a worthwhile 125 mile drive that spans over 20 communities on the coast of Down East Maine.

Milbridge’s areas of note according to the Downeast Coastal Scenic Inventory database.

McClellan Park Fog Rainbow Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
McClellan Park Fog Rainbow by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

McClellan Park
Beaver Brook Meadow
Back bay
Mill river

Public Access to Waterways of Milbridge

Recreational boating access is available within the town limits.

The Town Marina

The Town Marina is located in downtown Milbridge on Narraguagus Bay. This marina is open to the public. For your boat launching needs there are boat ramps and a pier. Accordingly, this is the most popular public access water point in Milbridge for both commercial and recreational boaters.

Stover Cove Nikki Graham Milbridge Maine maineterrain.com
Stover Cove by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

Stover Cove Boat Launch

Also open to the public, this launch is suitable for smaller watercraft.

Jordan Pier

This boat launch is for the exclusive use of commercial fisherman.

Ray’s Point

Rays Point public access is open to recreational users.

Eagle MilbridgeNikki Graham maineterrain.com
Eagle in Milbridge by Nikki Graham. Used with permission

 

 

Wildlife of Milbridge

The bays, flats and river areas of Milbridge provide both natural resources and an ideal habitat for wildlife. Federal, state, and local laws are in place to protect these habitats.

 

Milbridge Squirrel Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Milbridge Squirrel by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Popular Hikes In and Around Milbridge

Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge

Inside Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge you’ll find both Petit Manan and Nash Island Light Houses. 

Petit Manan Light Station is the second tallest light station in Maine. Additionally, it is also home to a colony of Puffins.

Both lighthouses are on islands only accessible by boat. 

Petit Manan is known as a premier bird watching location. 

Birch Point Trail (Steuben)

Birch Point Trail is just over 4 miles, round trip. It leads through a range of habitats and is well maintained, according to noted Maine outdoors- woman, Aislinn Sarnacki.

This trail runs through blueberry fields so snacks are readily available for the taking

There are also a series of wooden informational signs that provide interesting facts about the area you are exploring.

Pigeon Hill

The Pigeon Hill Trail in Steuben is a moderately difficult hike at 1.4 miles. Additionally, there are elevation changes.  There are spectacular view at the 300 foot+ summit of Pigeon Hill.

On the way back down, you’ll see the remnants of an old silver mine.

 

Foliage on Hollingsworth Trail Steuben
Hollingsworth Trail by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Hollingsworth Trail (Steuben)

Steuben’s Hollingsworth Trail is a 3.4 mile round trip. Additionally, hikers report that Hollingsworth is a good trail for kids.

Wildlife is plentiful and easy to spot. Also, the trail runs through  a cedar bog. Feel free to bring your dog (on leash only). 

One of the most interesting features of this trail is the rapidly changing ecosystem. One moment you are warm and surrounded by blueberries. Ten minutes later the blueberries are gone, replaced by cedar trees and bog water. Next, the flat ground turns uneven with rocks and brush. The temperature fluctuates wildly. It’s hard to believe these changes transpire over the course of only a few miles!

Alltrails.com rates this hike 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Hazel Stark leading family on hike through Hollingsworth Trail in Steuben
Hazel Stark of Maine Outdoor School leading our family hike on the Hollingsworth Trail.

 

Milbridge Commons Wellness Park

The newly opened Milbridge Commons Wellness Park is located downtown and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant. This pleasant in-town walk takes you on a scenic on a 72″ wide paved trail along the Narraguagus Bay. It is stroller and wheelchair friendly.

If you want to check it out virtually before going, follow this link.

Trail Maps

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has an easy to read map of the Petit Manan and Gouldsboro trails. Also, provided are directions on how to drive there. Download their free trail map here (printable PDF).
 

Birding Trail Map

With its miles of coastline and pristine nature, Maine is a birder’s paradise. According to the Audubon Society, Maine has over 17 million acres of important bird areas.

Accordingly, it’s no surprise that Milbridge and its surrounding communities have well established birding trails.

Here is a link to a detailed Downeast birding trail map, courtesy of Mainebirdingtrail.com.

 


Museums

 

Milbridge Historical Society

The Milbridge Historical Society Museum offer free admission. However, check ahead for hours which are seasonal, like many businesses Down East.

This museum features rotating exhibits by local artists. Also, events featuring speakers of note take place periodically. 

 

Events

Milbridge Days Festival

One event that is unique to Milbridge is the Milbridge Days Festival.

This event has be an annual town showcase for over three decades. Typically, Milbridge Days takes place over a weekend in July. 

Contestant in the Milbridge Days Codfish Relay Race
Codfish Relay Race 2019 contestant waiting to run.

 

Festivities include:

  • Downtown Parade
  • Blueberry Pie Sale
  • Silent Auction
  • Car Show
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Games
  • Library Book Sale

The Annual Codfish Relay Race.

Sure, you may have been to dozens of other codfish relay races but you haven’t lived until you’ve seen Milbridge’s.

 
The 2019 Milbridge Days festival takes place July 25-28. The theme is Superheros. I am in the process of trying to talk my wife into the Codfish Relay (kids have committed). I hope to see you there! 
 

Parks in Milbridge

Low Tide Milbridge Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Low Tide in Milbridge by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

McClellan Park

McClellan park is used for picnicking and camping as well. Significantly, McClellan park covers 10 acres on Tom Leighton Point. It features 14 campsites, refurbished fire pits, picnic tables and perhaps most importantly of all restroom facilities.

McClellan Park’s History

Does the name McClellan sounds vaguely familiar?  The park is named after Civil War General George McClellan’s son, George McClellan Jr.

Unfortunately, despite an admirable career in public service, George McClellan, Jr stood in George McClellan Sr.’s shadow.  Junior served as the 93rd Mayor of New York. Additionally, he unsuccessfully vied for Democratic nomination for for President in 1904.

Jr.’s Wikipedia page mentions nothing about his connection to McClellan Park. However, I may update that.  It does refer to his Grinch-like executive order against celluloid movies in 1908. Also mentioned is his mutinous commandeering of New York City’s first public subway ride in 1904. 

Personally, I will remember McClellan, Jr. for McClellan Park. 

 

Riverside Park

This paved walking path his Americans with disabilities act accessible. It follows the Narraguagus river near the downtown area.

Milbridge Moon Nikki Graham mainterrain.com
Milbridge Moon by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Stargazing in Milbridge

Milbridge provides an ideal location to view stars at night. Two factors play a major role:

  • Low density population
  • Shoreline development  restrictions

In Milbridge, there are very few artificial obstacles to impede your view of the stars. 

To see how Milbridge and Maine, in general, stacks up against the rest of the country for light pollution, click here.

Tours

Robertson Sea Tours

Captain Robertson runs a variety of boat tours out of Milbridge. Additionally, he is a commercial fisherman who dives for sea urchins and scallops in the off-season. 

In Fall of 2019, Robertson’s Sea Tour’s  Captain Jim Parker was interviewed for an NPR news story. The story addressed warming sea waters and changing whale migration patterns. Accordingly, Parker’s boat tours diversified beyond whale watching. Parker explains:

“What I don’t want to do is put a half dozen people on the boat, have them all excited about going out and seeing whales when I know there’s not one there.”

source: Garcia-Navarro, L. (6 October, 2019), The Gulf of Maine is Warming and Its Whales are Disappearing. NPR.

 

Posing with Hazel Stark of Maine Outdoor School in parking lot of Hollingsworth Trail in Petit Manan Wildlife Refuge

Our family hike with Maine Outdoor School.

Maine Outdoor School

Maine Outdoor School (MOS) organizes custom and group field trips in throughout the Down East region. Read our interview with MOS founders Hazel Stark and Joe Horn here.

Milbridge Historical Society

 

Performing Arts

Milbridge Theatre

The Milbridge Theatre is currently operating as an outdoor only entertainment venue. Accordingly, their concert event schedule  runs from June through August.

Read our interview with Gateway Milbridge Chair Richard Bondurant  here.

 

Schools

Public school enrollment in Milbridge has been on a declining trend for the last few decades. This is primarily a result of a maturing population.

Milbridge Elementary School

The Bangor Daily News recently featured Milbridge Elementary School in an article on Downeast education. Click here to read the article.

Maine Outdoor School

Maine Outdoor School is the brainchild of co-founders Hazel Stark and Joe Horn.

Both are Naturalist Educators who teach children about their surrounding outdoor environment though field trips, camps and exploration


Shopping in Milbridge

Milbridge has an optimal combination  of convenience and serenity, in my opinion.

For example, there are many places you can in visit in Maine to “get away.” However, I want to connect with nature without giving up Wifi, plumbing, and some local shopping options.

Milbridge has enough shops that you can find what you need in town. However, if you need a big box store, Ellsworth (and the shopping crowds) is a 40 minute drive away. A perfect set-up for me.

Riverlily Milbridge Maine Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Riverlily Winter (former Cherryfield location) by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

 

Stores in Milbridge

Family Dollar Store in Milbridge, Maine
Everytime I’m in Milbridge I find myself in this store.

Family Dollar

The Family Dollar is the closest thing Milbridge has to a big box store.

Some residents feel it stands out too much from the local theme of downtown Milbridge. The controversy has more to do with the large signage rather than the actual store. However, I think it’s a great convenience to have a store like this in town. 

 

Riverlily Milbridge Nikki Graham maineterrain.com
Riverlily Milbridge by Nikki Graham. Used with permission.

Riverlily

Very cool gift store featuring many local items. Additionally, the store is air-conditioned which many find pleasant in the hot summer months. Regardless, it certainly adds to shoppers’ browsing time!

I included pictures of both Riverlily’s former Cherryfield location and their current  Milbridge location. 

Viking Lumber

Viking Lumber is a local chain of building materials stores.  It is more than just a retail hardware store. They have their own sawmill, too. They can help you with any repair needs that are specific to Milbridge or Down East life.

Napa Auto Parts

The place to go in Milbridge for your do-it-yourself auto repair needs.


 

Vasquez Mexican Restaurant in Milbridge
Photo by Stephen Ondich

Food in Milbridge

Milbridge is home to a few good restaurants. However, be sure to call ahead to check hours before driving to them. Many restaurants Down East are seasonal or may have seasonal hours. Thus, you should not assume that restaurants will be open based on their Yelp operating hours.   

 

Bayside Market

Bayside is my go-to place for groceries in Milbridge. They are open 7 days a week. I’ve always found the employees to be helpful. Size-wise, it’s somewhere between a  Kroger and Trader Joe’s, for reference.

Vazquez Mexican Take-out

Great Mexican food at low prices at nice family business. What more can you ask? OK, maybe a few more tables, but that’s it.

I’ve been to hundreds of Mexican restaurants in California & New Mexico. Thus, I’m a bit of a Mexican food snob.  Vazquez is worth going to. They have a few picnic tables but most people take it to go. 

One of my favorite things to do is pickup Vazquez food and head down the street to McClellan Park and find a picnic table by the ocean. 

One time, we arrived into Milbridge late. Vazquez closed about 20 minutes earlier. They saw us and opened the kitchen back up. The kids were so happy. I’ll sing their praises to anyone!

 

44 Degrees North

44 Degrees North is a popular restaurant with both tourists and locals, alike. 

I’ve been there a few times for dinner. The service is friendly and welcoming. The food is good and there is a pub area, as well.

The Milbridge House

The Milbridge House is a popular breakfast and lunch destination for locals. Sadly, I have not tried it yet myself. However, I have heard good things from others who have.

Incredible Edible Milbridge

A few years back, Milbridge followed the lead of the English town of Todmorden and created Incredible Edible Milbridge. It is an ongoing campaign to plant locally grown fruits and vegetables throughout the downtown area.

Visitors are welcome to snack while they walk. The purpose is to promote locally grown produce and a healthy lifestyle.

 

Nikki Graham Milbridge photographer maineterrain.com
Nikki Graham, Photographer and Milbridge resident. Used with permission of Nikki Graham.

 


Featured Photographer – Nikki Graham

Nikki Graham’s photography can be seen on DownEast.com. Her tasteful images of Milbridge and Cherryfield garner praise on social media. Nikki’s art gives fans around the globe a taste of Down East life. Additionally, she takes a great selfie

Nikki was kind enough to sit down and answer a few of our questions.

 

Q&A with Nikki Graham

 

How long have you lived in Milbridge and what brought you here?

 
I moved to Cherryfield at the end of 2013 after living in Sarasota, Florida for 32 yrs. I bought a large Victorian in the historic district and lived there 4 and half yrs. Decided to downsize and since I loved the area and wanted to be on the ocean, I chose Milbridge. But living in Cherryfield, is basically like living in Milbridge since they are so close. I had been taking pictures in Milbridge the whole time.  
 

Are you a full time resident or seasonal?

Full time.

 

What type of camera/equipment are you using around town?

 
I have several cameras but I tend to favor Nikon. Recently, I got a new Samsung S10+ and the camera on it is fantastic so now I am also using that to take pictures. I use both DSLR and advanced point and shoot Nikons. 
 

Where are your favorite places to shoot in Milbridge?

 
McClellan Park, the town pier and the Milbridge Marina and my own backyard, which is a tidal cove. There are actually many spots to shoot along the coast that one can only find by driving around and exploring.  
 

What is the most surprising thing that you’ve captured on camera while shooting in Milbridge?

The tides.  
 

There are lots of great pictures floating around online of Washington County scenes. Has Down East Magazine or any other media sites reposted your pictures? If so, which ones?

 
They have reposted several but I haven’t had any published in their magazine yet. 
 

I have hundred of pictures of Milbridge and Cherryfield on my hard drive but only a handful of pictures that I’d consider decent. How do you capture the imagery of Milbridge that is in front of the camera onto the film, chip or paper in just the way you want?

 
Basically, I just try to capture what I see and don’t do a lot of editing. Whereas, I only try to make sure they look like they did when I took the picture. I have thousands of Cherryfield, Milbridge, Harrington, Franklin and basically the entire coast from Ellsworth on up to Lubec. 
 

Many of your pictures feature wild life.  How do you capture a good shot without scaring them off?

 
I think it’s a matter of luck most of the time. Sometimes, I spot a deer and stop the car and am able to get several shots and sometimes they run off immediately. I haven’t quite mastered the art of just sitting and waiting for wildlife to show up yet. LOL. But if I see it, I try to get it on camera! I especially love to photograph the beavers. I have actually gone to where they are and sat and waited to get shots of them doing anything! It is nice to have the Narraguagus River and the ocean and then all of the lakes we have access to. 
 

Moose are symbolic of Maine, however, they don’t often wander down toward the coasts. Have you ever spotted one in the wild? If so, what were the circumstances?

 
I have spotted them twice in this area. Once in a field along Black Woods Road and once on Tunk Mountain. I used to live in Alaska so I have seen a lot of moose in the wild and I was excited to move to Maine and see them again.
 

Milbridge (and Maine in general) is very scenic. It’s hard to take a really bad picture but it’s harder to snap a great one. Do you have any words of advice for amateurs who want to capture memorable of Milbridge on their iphone?

Good lighting is essential. 

Contact Nikki

You can see more of Nikki’s work online at:
 
 
Thank You Nikki!
 

 
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