Mary Dorr

Mary Dorr

Courtesy of the National Park Service, Acadia National Park

Quick Facts

Significance:

Mother of George Dorr and Bar Harbor VIA Incorporator

Place of Birth:

Boston, MA

Date of Birth:

1820

Place of Death:

Boston, MA

Date of Death:

October 21,1901

Often considered the "Father of Acadia", George Dorr and his passion for nature are largely a credit to his upbringing. Mary Ward Dorr, his mother, was instrumental in shaping George and his persuasive ability to get the momentum for founding Acadia National Park 

Born in 1820 to an affluent and prestigious family, Mary grew up in an urban Boston environment before the advent of the Civil War. As a young woman, she held friendships with transcendetalists Margaret Fuller and Julia Ward Howe. She married Charles Hazen Dorr in 1850, bringing together two families of high traditional social status and immense wealth. Mary and Charles lived in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston and had two sons, William and George, between the years of 1851 and 1853.  

In 1868, Charles Dorr purchased the land that would become the Old Farm estate on Mount Desert Island. However, it wasn’t until the death of William in 1876 that the family began to invest in the property’s development more intentionally. Through the 1870’s Mary and her family enjoyed traveling abroad. She had a particularly keen interest in the styles of European gardens. During their time in Europe, the Dorr family was invited to visit various estates that highlighted beautiful gardens and woods. Mary spent these years exploring Spiritualism and landscape artistry while coping with her son’s death.   

In 1881, the Old Farm manor was completed, and the Dorr family began to establish their presence at the estate. Through the 1880’s Mary Dorr turned her attention to the development of the property gardens, planting a variety of shrubs, flowers and fruits; many of which were transplants from their home in Jamaica Plain. Beatrix Farrand, who would eventually work on landscaping of the park’s carriage roads, wrote journal entries detailing the plantings at Old Farm during these early years.  

In the early 1880’s, Bar Harbor saw quick development and commercialization. Mary and her husband were some of the incorporators of a new organization called the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association (VIA). The VIA’s mission was to “preserve and develop the natural beauties of the place, and to enhance their attractions”. Mary took on the role as chairman of the Committee on Trees, a committee focused on the clearing of downed trees and installation of new plantings. She authored annual reports for the committee and was recognized for her “good taste in planning improvements and energy in carrying them out”.  

Mary passed away in 1901 before the 19th amendment was ratified, granting women the right to vote. Yet, she was skilled in her ability to make her voice heard. In honor of his mother, in 1909 George donated the land for a bicycle path he had constructed for her that led from the Old Farm estate to Beaver Dam Pool. This was his first large donation of land to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservation, which would become a part of Acadia National Park. 

References:
Epp, RH 2016. Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George Bucknam Dorr. Friends of Acadia.

Brown MC. 2006. Pathmakers: Cultural Landscape Report for the Historic Hiking Trail System of Mount Desert Island - History, Existing Conditions, & Analysis. Cultural Landscape Report. ISBN 0-9779833-0-7. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Northeast Regional Office. Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, National Park Service, Boston, MA

Duym EB. 2016. Cultural landscape inventory and assessment for Oldfarm. Somes Pond Center, Mt. Desert, ME and Friends of Acadia, Bar Harbor, ME. Bar Harbor, ME

Jesup Memorial Library Archives