Friends of Peary's Eagle Island
Eagle Island State Historic Site is closed for 2024.
This past winter's storms destroyed the pier and eroded the shoreline in front of the house as well as the east seawall and bastion.
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Eagle Island Journal is published twice a year by The Friends of Peary's Eagle Island. All of the Friends' Journals can be read in their entirety below by clicking on the appropriate button.
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Below is a brief summary of Journals which can be read in their entireity by clicking on the buttons on the bottom of this page.
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Volume XX, Number 2, Fall 2015. Eagle Island's National Historic Landmark Site Designation Ceremony is covered with articles and pictures. "Reflections" by Dr. Susan Kaplan is included. A message from The Friends' President Admiral Harry Rich,"The Summer of 2015" by Zane Wallace, Park Ranger on Eagle Island, "With A Little Help From (rather, more than a few) Friends' by Beth O'Connell, Treasurer, The Friends of Peary's Eagle Island, online updates, and a shout out for volunteer docents.
Volume XX, Number 1, Spring 2015. Included is The President's Message mentioning National Historic status and the passing of Ned Dewey, the introduction of Gaye and Wayne Miller as co-coordinators of the Eagle Island Docent Program, a call for gardening help, an introduction to a Friends' project with Arcadia Publishing for a book about The Pearys of Eagle Island, A remembrance of Ned Dewey, a description of all Ned Dewey meant to The Friends organization, and information regarding how Eagle Island came to be a National Historic Site.
Please note there was no Fall 2014 Journal published.
Volume XIX, Number 1, Spring 2014. This issue prints in it's entirety "Eight Months at Cape Sabine", an article written by Admiral Peary describing his 1900-01 wintering-over in the Arctic. It's a vivid description and well worth reading to get a real picture of his exploration. Friend's president Harry Rich, brings us up-to-date on the Welcome Center, and also announces that Eagle Island has been nominated by the National Park Service as a National Historical Landmark. Final decision by the Secretary of the Interior is expected in the Fall.
Volume XVIII, Number 2, Fall 2013. The Friends family has now suffered another great loss, with the death of Ed Stafford, the Admiral's grandson. This issues is devoted almost entirely to a review of Ed's life and accomplishments.
Volume XVIII, Number 1. Spring 2013. This issue starts with announcement of the death of our first and long term president, Oliver Brown. What a great loss! Then there is an updating of progress on construction of the Welcome Center.
Volume XVII, Number 2, Fall 2012. This issue describes the wonderful progress we've made in the construction of the Welcome Center. Steve Ingram our Board member in charge of the construction has written a fascinating story of the project, including some fine photos.
Volume XVII, Number 1, Spring 2012. We devote the entire Journal to reproduction of an article written by Admiral Peary about a little known event, the Admiral's recovery of the "Cape York Meteorites" from their location in Greenland, and transport (with extreme difficulty) to their resting place in the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Volume XVI, Number 2, Fall 2011. In this issue we sadly announce the resignation of Jeanie Dorrington, long time Park Manager at Eagle Island. Also included is an article, Airmanship and Aerial Strategy, written by Admiral Peary, probably about 1916, in which he foresees the importance of aircraft in warfare.
Volume XVI, Number 1, Spring 2011. This issue includes an interesting and little known story about a monument, built in 1932 at Cape York, Greenland, as a memorial to Admiral Peary. The Admiral's daughter, Marie (the 'Snow Baby') tells much of the story in her own words.
Volume XV, Number 2, Fall 2010. We report on the Eagle Island Northwest Wall Restoration project, a major undertaking to protect the property. Also, a review of a fascinating new biography of Donald MacMillan, the Arctic explorer with a long association with Admiral Peary and Bowdoin College. Finally, read our plans for constructing an historically accurate small building on the Island, to serve as a much needed visitors' center.
Volume XV, Number 1, Spring 2010. This entire issue of the Journal is devoted to an article written by historian John Davis, who has exhaustively researched a little known part of the Admiral's career: his purchase of a number of islands in Casco Bay, in 1907.
Volume XIV, Number 2, Fall 2009. The Anniversary Year is drawing to a close, and we turn our attention to one of the other major accomplishments of the year: the return to Eagle Island of the player piano which had relieved many long dark hours aboard the S.S. Roosevelt 100 years ago. It's a fascinating story.