Shipbuilding in Hulls Cove
In the 19th century, Hulls Cove was home to a thriving shipbuilding industry, centered around the work of master shipbuilder Edward Brewer, who settled here in 1817 in what is now the former Tool Barn and current Brack home.
That same year, he built his first vessel, the Huldah and Judah (95 tons), at nearby Hadley Point. This marked the beginning of a prolific career building schooners and brigantines that supported both the fishing and coasting trades of the Atlantic.
Among the many vessels Brewer constructed in Hulls Cove were:
- Mary Jane (1825)
- Exchange (1829)
- Cabinet (1831)
- E.T. Hamor (1889), his final known ship
These ships played a vital role in the West Indies trade and regional commerce, transporting goods and fish along the eastern seaboard.
To support his shipbuilding operations, Brewer built a sawmill along Breakneck Stream, just above the head of tide at what is known as Breakneck Hollow, near the current site of the sculpture garden. The stream provided essential water power for milling lumber used in ship construction.
During this period, Hulls Cove was one of the most active maritime hubs on Mount Desert Island. Its protected shoreline, abundant natural resources, and access to freshwater made it an ideal site for building and launching ships.
Today, while no traces of the shipyards remain, the legacy of Brewer’s craftsmanship and the Cove’s maritime past continues to shape the story of this historic site.