ABBY'S RETREAT - LESS OF A MYSTERY TODAY

A fascinating mystery of sorts began to unfold one day while pouring over old maps, when my eyes fell upon two words - Abby's Retreat," which led me to my next body of research, what was 'Abby's retreat?  A nursing home?  A home for recovering alcoholics?  A private club where the wealthy gathered?  This name fascinated me from day one and I began diving through old records in search of an answer.   My research led me to an old treasure of a book titled  "Sherman's Bar Harbor guide" - a book loaded with gems from cover to cover, and what follows was taken straight from its pages;

THE HIGHBROOK ROAD

The Highbrook Road winds gracefully over the hills with many noble views of the bay and mountains.  Two of the chief cottages are close together on high ground, with prospects of amazing grandeur.  The larger of these is Mossely Hall, belonging to William B. Howard, a celebrated railroad king of Chicago.  It is said to have cost upwards of $100,000.  Not far distance is Stanwood, the summer place of the Hon. James G. Blaine, with rich flower beds and shrubberies, and fine views of Frenchman's Bay and its islands and Green Mountain.  On the crest of the hill stands the handsome red granite house built by McKim, Mead and White, in 1887-88, for Capt. George M. Wheeler, USN.  The hill was bought by Capt. James B. Eads, the engineer of the Mississippi jetties, and Capt. Wheeler, and on Capt. Eads death his portion was added to  the Wheeler estate.  For fifteen years this noble and sea-viewing eminence has borne the name of Abby's Retreat, in memory of a dear old island lady  who for many years use to visit its summit (then her own property), to look out over the ocean and dream long dreams of the past.  ( We are presented with an older woman looking back on her life  and dreaming of its recollections, and perhaps what might of been, the sea spread out before her with sky and birds above, her dreams richer then any of the views before her with perhaps a few conflicted feelings now and then, of regrets of having sold the property her heart found so much comfort in).   In the white winters of her fourscore years she asked the rich Bostonian who bought the place to give it her name and with gentle courtesy he did so.
To the westward of Abby's Retreat is Woodbury Park, with the new cottage built by W.R. Emerson for H. Le Barre Jayne of Philadelphia

The book reveals Abby's Retreat was both a person as well as a intriguing place, but one ghost the book never gives up is exactly who Abby was.  The property that made up Abby's Retreat was owned by Capt. George M. Wheeler, USN. and Capt. James B. Eads. , and in an age when homes had names, we are not provided with one here, but we do learn the home in question was a handsome red granite house built by McKim, Mead and White, and Stanwood, the summer place of the Hon. James G. Blaine, was nearby.  And while Abby herself may forever remain anonymous, we are teased with the fact that she was "a dear old island lady  who for many years use to visit its summit (then her own property), to look out over the ocean and dream long dreams of the past. "

Now if you have a nose for such things and experienced at digging through old deeds, you might be the one who finally reveals Abby's full name, a task I will leave to others to follow up on.   The insightful aspect to this story is that even after Charles T. How obtained the property it would continue to be recognized as Abby's Retreat.

 The Bostonian who ended up buying the place most likely was Charles T. How, as he owned some 100 acres in that general area at one time and he was from Boston, a lawyer and real estate dealer.  We also are treated to the fact  that Woodbury Park is located Westward of Abby's Retreat, this would place it in the area of the Hampton Inn and the edge of the cliffs by the Blue Nose Inn, as it is near the summit but on the crest of the hill.  Sometimes history can be a stubborn guidian of her past and it just may prove Abby's true identity will remain a mystery, poking her head out from old maps and books every now and then amazed at the effort we give to the chase, but as for Abby's Retreat,  it is much less of a mystery today and one can only believe with its inns and hotels, Abby would find comfort in the fact that people travel from near and far to do as she once did, take in priceless views and dream.

In the old map below the roads run differently then they do today, West Street Ext hasn't even been built yet.  On the map, Woodbury Park is the tiny triangle just above its name,  and just above that is the name Abby's Retreat, which would suggest its location might be just above its name.

So I just came across this piece in the Bar Harbor Record which now gives us the name of the estate before it became known as Abby's Retreat;

Bar Harbor Record
November 6, 1895

LIKES BAR HARBOR

Major George M. Wheeler, of the United States Engineering Corps and Mrs. Wheeler have returned to Washington.  They went in the drawing car Whitcomb.  Major Wheeler has been beautifying the grounds about Avamaya , his summer home here and delights staying in Bar Harbor until the snow flies.

Bar Harbor Historical Society on their Cottages section says this was latter named Blair Eyrie, was later torn down and Summit House built, which also was torn down to make room for the Hamption Inn.

Bar Harbor Record
October 16, 1895

Walter Paris, the celebrated artist, is spending a few days in Bar Harbor sketching the scenery.  Mr. Paris is preparing sketches from the tower of Avamaya, the summer home of Major George M. Wheeler on Highbrook Road which when transferred to canvas will make a panorama view about seven feet in length.  Mr. Paris like all other artists who visit Mount Desert Island is delighted with the scenery.

Bar Harbor Record

August 8, 1896

Miss Shaw's concert at the residence of Mrs. George M. Wheeler, "Avamaya," Norman and Highbrook Roads, crest of Abbie's Retreat Hill, kindly tendered Miss Shaw for the purpose, is to take place Saturday morning at eleven o' clock.  Miss Geraldine Morgan's artistic playing on the violin is a rare treat always, and Mrs. Perkins has a beautiful, pure soprano voice, and sings with artisic style and musicial taste.

Bar Harbor Times

September 15, 1920

Mr. Charles T. How is making a very pretty place of the cottage on the Abby's Retreat Road, which he purchased of Mr. James Eddy last autumn.  Its grounds will form a delightful preface and pleasing introduction to the beauties of Woodbury Park.