Dean Unger Wants Just Three Minutes of Your Time
BAR HARBOR—Did you know that Beech Hill Road is considered the oldest road on Mount Desert Island? Or that at the end of the Revolutionary War, both Sir John Bernard (the son of the Massachusetts governor) and Madame Barthelmy de Gregoire (Sieur de Cadillac’s granddaughter) both claimed Mount Desert Island, and the island’s ownership was split in half by the Massachusetts Legislature. Bernard received the western half. De Gregoire received the east.
Or that the ckuwaponahkiyik met on Pesamkuk, the island, in the summers to gather, fish, trade, and hunt? That there was a portion of Bar Harbor known as Wickedville? And in a 1975 real estate transfer it even says “in Wickedville.”
How about that there was once a Cap’n Jack Bunker who grabbed a canoe, paddled it to Wiscasset, a trip of 100 miles, and captured a British supply ship right out of the Sheepscot River. He brought that ship back to Norwood Cove and then gave out the provisions to those assembled.
If not, that’s okay. It was a long-time ago. And you can still find out.
That “finding out” is part of the mission of Dean Unger, Mount Desert Island’s three-minute historian. This summer, he is sharing stories—both the well known as the obscure—at events, at sites, and just with those who will listen.
Unger can do this work thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Maine Community Foundation. The goal, according to the Bar Harbor Historical Society is to “energetically engage citizens in the history of Mount Desert Island.”
It’s quite a history. And it’s one that continues to be made.
Unger attended the Flamingo Festival in Southwest Harbor. Just last weekend, he went to book sales in Somesville and Bar Harbor.
He blends knowledge, kindness, and enthusiasm in his interactions as he gently explores local history with tourists and residents.
Along with “no way,” “wow,” and “that’s so interesting,” an excited “I did not know that!” is a refrain heard again and again during his interactions.
The three-minute historian is a collaboration between the Bar Harbor Historical Society and Mount Desert Island Historical Society. Included in the grant is support for the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s new Acadia Writers Guild, with the idea that local writers would contribute to the stories told and shared. That society met earlier this spring and again, August 21.
“Our idea was to kindle interest in history; look up, look around, hear a story from a stranger about the place you are standing, ask a question, be curious,” said the Bar Harbor Historical Society Experience Manager Nikki Moser.
”We think it's cool because it's free, free, free to the public!” Moser said. “We are bringing island wide local history to the people who live here and who are visiting. Three-minute historian is analog local history in the streets, yet offers the digital combined knowledge of the History Trust Partners as back up.”
According to a 2022 Island Institute article by Raina Sciocchetti, “The idea for the History Trust began to take shape nearly a decade ago when a group of island historical societies, libraries, museums, Acadia National Park, and College of the Atlantic came together seeking to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Mount Desert Island. Known as Friends of Island History, the group cited inspiration from the leaders of the land conservation movement, particularly those who recognized the importance of caring for the island and sparked the movement to place privately-owned lands into trust that ultimately led to the creation of Acadia National Park.”
They hope to find funding to continue the program next year.
According to both historical society board member Earl Brechlin and Executive Director Erin Cough, stories abound in both the island and the historical La Rochelle, which houses the society and whose curated exhibits, grounds, and buildings are open to the public for tours.
Unger said that he sometimes feels nervous before heading out to tell stories.
“The hardest part is getting someone’s attention. I have to just jump into it,” he said.
But once he starts, he has the best time talking about history, sharing images and stories of Mount Desert Island’s past. One of his favorite stories centers around Norwood Cove.
“I love talking about the battle of Norwood Cove because it always sparks interest of locals around the quiet side,” he said.
Unger came to the island in 2020 to attend the College of the Atlantic.
“I just recently graduated this past June and plan to spend another year on the island,” he said. “Some of my interests include education, music production, and farming.”
And history in three minute increments.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
Jennifer Booher’s website interview with Tim Garrity about Norwood Cove.
https://www.newspapers.com/article/ellsworth-american/153715346/
Mount Desert Historical Society
Rich, Meredith and Riebel, Charlotte. The Battle of Norwood’s Cove: Southwest Harbor’s Victory over the British in the War of 1812. Southwest Harbor Public Library, 2014. Full text here: http://swhplibrary.net/digitalarchive/items/show/10888
Street, George E. and Eliot, Samuel A. Mount Desert, A History. Houghton Mifflin, 1905. Full text here: https://archive.org/details/mountdeserthisto00stree.
THE BAR HARBOR HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOURS:
For updates, Head to its Facebook page for more event information.
Hours
Monday thru Saturday 10 am to 2 pm
Museum Admission Ticket Prices
General Admission – $18
Seniors, students, veterans – $16
Group – $13/each (10 person minimum)
Youth (7-12) – $10
Children (6 and under) – Free
Active Military – Free
Guided Tour
Learn about Bar Harbor’s history and La Rochelle in a comprehensive way with a lively, knowledgeable tour guide!
Guided tours will be held at 10 AM every Wednesday and Friday. Tickets can be purchased online now in advance below.
Guided Tour Prices
Guided Tour – $23;
Guided Tour (Seniors, students, veterans) – $21
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The History Trust alliance now has 16 member organizations sharing the histories of the communities of the Blue Hill and Frenchman bays region. Search your history: https://historytrust.org/