ABANDONED TRAILS OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: THE CASTLE OF SCHOOLHOUSE HILL

If anyone was to tell you there was a huge old castle in Bar Harbor I think many would think you were off your rocker, but not if your a local. In fact, most locals know of the Castle on Schoolhouse Hill and can describe it in detail, but the conversation always ends with - "but I have never been there." Why the Castle like structure was build seems to be no mystery, it seems a wealthy family had it constructed to entertain their guests at.
The Castle is made up of a number of above rock walled rooms, with a series of stone steps. The center piece of the Castle was a very large deep in ground swimming pool that had a series of round windows below the water level where people inside the castle could look out from below level into the pool while people were swimming. It is said that there was once a series of very tall columns rising skyward that over looked one side of the pool, like a scene out of a roman movie. The pool may still be there but the huge columns have been taken down.

Castle of Schoolhouse Hill - Bar Harbor, Maine

Three sides of the Castle grounds are encircled by high stonework walls like you see in many photos of old castles, and to one corner a stone tower rises up above the tall walls. From the Castle compound it is said you can walk down a stone staircase that leads into the tower, and from there down another set of steps which leads outside the Castle walls where a walkway leads you along a long section of a towering wall, where there is an entrance to the more fasinating section of the Castle. There is an underground room with a long hallway leading to yet anotther under ground room, just how many underground hallways and rooms remains a mystery, but I am told there are at least four rooms underground, each with hallways leading to them.

Maine Castle - Bar Harbor, Maine

I asked one local guy if he or anyone he knew had ever been in the underground section of the Castle, he replied that he had not but many people who go up to the castle to either party at night or crash for the night have, though he added people do so at their own risk. He said a number of thick metal poles have been put in place to make the underground section of the castle more structualy sound.
So I have asked a number of times over the years that if anyone had any photos of this mysterious castle to please send them to me, and some have, for which I am most thankful. Again, if anyone has photos they wish to share, please send them to me, as each new photo sheds a bit more light on this structure.

Bar Harbor Castle, Bar Harbor, Maine

As far as going to the castle, I have been told the land is posted and the current owner does not want anyone on the property.

If you wish to send along photos, fendermail56@yahoo.com

Castle of Schoolhouse Hill - Bar Harbor Maine

I also encourage anyone with knowledge of anything that has been written on this structure to let me know where I can find such articles.

Castle of Schoolhouse Hill - Bar Harbor, Maine

It is also worth noting that a number of locals have told me sections of the castle are slowly being torn down, so in time there will be no castle on Schoolhouse Hill. The compound is what locals refer to as an empty mansion on the hill overlooking the Castle.

VIEW FROM THE CASTLE - School House Hill Bar Harbor Maine

Castle of Schoolhouse Hill Map - Bar Harbor, Maine

So I just had some one send me a few more photos, have no idea of when these were taken, but some sections of the castle in these photos have since been torn down, some still stand. Sorry for the picture quality, I have no control over that.

BAR HARBOR CASTLE

Pool Area, now torn down - Bar Harbor Castle

THE CASTLE - BAR HARBOR MAINE
Schoolhouse Hill

THE CASTLE - Hamalton Hill
Bar Harbor Maine

THE CASTLE - SCHOOLHOUSE HILL
Bar Harbor Maine

ARTILLERY GUN - THE CASTLE
Schoolhouse Hill, Bar Harbor Maine

THE CASTLE - SCHOOLHOUSE HILL
Bar Harbor Maine

Keep in mind that this is post private property and the owners do not want people on the property.

UPDATE;

The reports coming from the area of Hamilton Hill (Schoolhouse Hill) are not good, much blasting has been going on in the area, and reports are that truckloads of dirt are being brought in and those poles of dirt are being bulldozed over sections of the castle, burying sections of it but leaving the otter walls in tact so you see the shell of what once was there. So far only one area of the castle has been buried but nearby piles of dirt await to be plowed over other areas of the castle. The turret or tower remains still up with its window overlooking Bar Harbor and the ocean, the fireplace inside the tower still in tact. It appears as if the tower might be left in place along with some of the castle walls, but other sections of the castle including several side rooms appear destined to be filled with dirt, and this most likely will include the pool area with its round windows and the underground rooms around the pool. In all directions trees are being uprooted and the land cleared and flattened, no doubt making room for new homes to be built. I have been told an entire sewer system is being installed on Hamilton Hill and for this work to be done many trees were taken out. As for the giant artillery gun, it no longer stands guard over the Castle. It appears Bar Harbor will lose some of its history but gain some nice fine summer homes in exchange.
The history of the Hill's true name is at last known as well. Locals today refer to the hill as Schoolhouse Hill, but many years ago, after the Hamilton Family purchased the property it soon began to be called Hamilton Hill, and true, there is nothing new there, but a couple recent articles I happened upon list the Hill's name before it started being called Hamilton Hill, and that was Malden Hill. Once I began doing research on Malden Hill I began to find several old articles on the hill I had not seen before.