The number of people who have lived quietly outside of society in rural Washington and Charlotte counties is not easily determined. Due to the nature of hermits, few records or testaments remain of their existence. However, there are several known and rumored hermits across history in the area, each of whom has left some imprint in the historical record.

The Dark Harbour hermits
     Easily the best documented hermits in the area are William "Darby" Greene and Lewis "Lucy" Greene, two brothers born in 1861 and 1863, respectively, who made their home in Dark Harbour on Grand Manan for more than three decades.
     Along with harvesting dulse, the Greene brothers were exceptional artisans and performers and attracted swaths of tourists from all over the world between the 1920s and 1930s. While their affinity for the public makes them atypical in the world of hermits -- with Darby's camp, The Bat, recording more than 300 visitors in one year in its guest book -- their connection with the land and removal from society earns them a place on this list.
     People came to see the Greene brothers to hear them sing, recite poetry and to appreciate their elaborate and highly imaginative crafting ability. Lucy in particular was known for creating unique gunstocks made with inlaid silver and brass, as well as fashioning dioramas that captured life in fishing villages from places both real and imaginary.
     While the Greene brothers became popularly known, they are far from the only hermits to seek out the islands as their chosen residence. Sea captains occasionally suggest the presence of hermits in their logs and sometimes become hermits themselves -- such as Captain Ray Phillips, the hermit of Monhegan Island.
     More locally, the hermit trail becomes somewhat sparse, though snippets suggest the presence of hermits throughout history.

The Kendall's Head hermit
     A story that attracted attention recently on social media is that of Al Parker, pictured in a book from the Compass American Guide series that was written by Charles C. Calhoun in 1995. The caption from the photo of Al Parker, which is dated January 9, 1920, describes how Parker lived on Kendall's Head in Eastport in a "cave" for two decades, sometimes using a dilapidated cabin outside the cave to sleep in. He is noted as being helpful and friendly to the community, doing odd jobs and wresting his food "from the sea and woods."
     According to the caption, "[Parker] declares he prefers solitude to living among his fellow men because he likes to think undisturbed."
     Efforts to validate Parker's presence haven't yet been fruitful. The photo has a numerical ID tag and comes from the Underwood Photo Archives, but further attempts to uncover the paper it ran in or to reach the book's author have been unsuccessful.
     Local historian Wayne Wilcox shares that in his conversations with elder Eastport residents such as John Pike Grady and Hollis Matthews "they never, ever mentioned stories about a hermit on Kendall's Head" -- further putting Parker's existence into question.

Making a mint at Moneymaker Lake
     Sometimes people withdraw from society for less than scrupulous reasons. Ebenezer Ball opted for the private life in Robbinston while living around what would become known as Moneymaker Lake for the sole purpose of embellishing his wealth with handmade ingenuity. When Ball was born, currency was extremely limited in Downeast Maine, with businesses relying on Spanish doubloons through the early 1800s.
     A shortage of doubloons prompted Ball to start making his own from the shelter of his quiet camp. He'd take pewter coins and finish them over in a coating of gold before stamping them with the mark of Ferdinand VII, King of Spain at the time. It's possible Ball's work at his camp would have continued without issue if a surveyor hadn't stumbled upon it.
     Ball wasn't a hermit in the proper sense, as he maintained a house along what is now Rt. 1 near Brooks Garage, and it was here that he was arrested after a shooting that left Deputy John Downes dead not long after. Ball was soon hanged for the offense.

The wild man of Calais
     Other times, people become hermits due to being unwell in the body or the mind. Such is the case for the "wild man" of Calais, who briefly caused panic and unrest in the area as a result of his unsettling appearances.
     Known only as Whittridge, he is believed to be native to the Kennebec River area. He relocated to Bog Brook in Maguerrowock around the time of World War I, finding work in the settlement doing basic jobs.
     That changed when Whittridge became afflicted with a severe case of typhoid fever. While under the care of local nurses, he escaped from his room through an open window and headed into the woods to start a new way of life. With no sign of him anywhere, the search parties were eventually called off, and it was widely believed that he most likely perished in the woods.
     After three months had passed, Whittridge was sighted by a man walking along the Canadian shore as he looked across the river. Though naked and unkempt, Whittridge was recognized, and the search parties began their efforts again -- to no avail.
     Whittridge's location remained a mystery even as sightings continued around Calais. Vegetable patches were occasionally looted, with only a naked footprint left behind. On one occasion a young woman who had recently come from Ireland had the misfortune of seeing Whittridge as she worked in a field. Screaming at the sight of the naked, filthy man, she wasn't able to react before he hit her across the head with a switch.
     This went on for a period of time, despite the winters in the area, until the sightings abruptly stopped. Local resident William Gephard was out walking his dog in the Maguerrowock and was presented with a human bone by his animal companion. Knowing it to be human, Gephard followed the trail to a skeleton wearing only a cloth collar around its neck; the remains were soon buried, and Whittridge was finally put to rest.
     Later, during the routine removal of a great stack of hay left in a field, a nest was found with collected items that suggest Whittridge had made his home there.

The Quoddy Hermit
     Captain William Fitz William Owen, originally of England, is the last hermit to be included here, and he is known as a hermit more from his personal perspective rather than living away from society in the traditional sense. In 1839, Owen lived on Campobello Island in Welshpool with his family.
     While staying on Campobello, Owen became interested in religious and philosophical matters, culminating in the publication of a small book called The Quoddy Hermit. The book was designed in conversation format, with 16 different sections, one of which was an autobiography.
     At the time, The Quoddy Hermit was not well received, and most copies were destroyed following a recall from publication. Since then, it has been reprinted and is available through online sources for those wishing to explore Owen's understanding.
     Whatever their motivations for departing physically or psychologically from society, the hermits of the area are clearly colorful and varied. Looking back at them today provokes feelings of wonder and curiosity, perhaps as people consider how they would fare venturing into the literal or metaphorical wilds.