Who Owns the Wreck of the Schooner Delhi? Maine Asks a Judge to Decide That the State Does. 1893 wreck inspires current court case. Carrie Jones Apr 25, 2026 A local salvage company on Mount Desert Island is trying to claim a ship that sank in Somes Sound (show above) more than 130 years ago, but Maine officials say that the abandoned shipwreck now rightfully belongs to the state. Credit: Aislinn Sarnacki / BDN File courtesy of BDN. MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Back in April 1893, the Delhi, a two-mastered schooner sank as it was leaving Somes Sound. Last week, the state asked a judge for possession of that shipwreck, which is still beneath the water. According to an 1893 edition of the Ellsworth American, the Delhi sank in 25 fathoms of water. “In beating out of the Sound, she struck a heavy cake of ice and foundered almost immediately, the crew having barely time to escape in their boat,” the short, paragraph-long report reads. There were 32,000 Baltimore pavers on board that had been loaded by Campbell & Macomber of Quarryville. Campbell & Macomber had a granite quarry in Mount Desert. At the time, its granite had been used to construct banks and libraries throughout the northeastern portion of the United States. “In March 2024, JJM LLC filed a salvage rights claim to the ship in U.S. District Court of Maine in Bangor,” Marie Weidmayer of the Bangor Daily News wrote earlier this week. ”The company is seeking ownership rights to the wreckage, but the state challenged that claim, saying that federal law has established that unclaimed shipwrecks lying in state waters are the property of the state.” The state, Weidmayer reported, hoped for a jury trial. However, Judge John Nivison will instead have a written opinion about the case. No company has claimed the ship’s title, according to Assistant Attorney General Lauren Parker, Weidmayer reported. This, Parker argued, means the ship is abandoned. “We are talking about a pile of stones underneath the pile of trash,” Weidmayer quoted JJM attorney Ben Ford as saying. “This is not a shipwreck in the sense that one might imagine a shipwreck to be. The Delhi is no longer there.” Part of the issues are a dispute over how much of the boat exists; how much is not embedded in the floor; and whether or not it would require more than hand tools to remove. “A JJM diver was able to pick up a granite paver by hand and return it to the surface in a basket, Ford said. There are definitely pavers on the surface of the ocean floor, but some may be under garbage that has accumulated on top of the wreck, he said,” Weidmayer wrote. According to Weidmayer, the salvage company wants to recover pavers and artifacts, which it would donate to museums. “The salvage firm filed suit in September against the National Park Service after the service determined the shipwreck is eligible for listing in the National Register. That lawsuit is still pending,” Weidmayer wrote. The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Brochures of Maine. HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other. We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going. If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship. It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light. Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now. Thank you so much for being here. Founding member information can be found here. Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you. Share Bar Harbor Story Share Leave a comment Discussion about this post

Who Owns the Wreck of the Schooner Delhi? Maine Asks a Judge to Decide That the State Does.

1893 wreck inspires current court case. Carrie Jones Apr 25, 2026 MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Back in April 1893, the Delhi, a two-mastered schooner sank as it was leaving Somes Sound. Last week, the state asked a judge for possession of that shipwreck, which is still beneath the water. According to an 1893 edition of the Ellsworth American, the Delhi sank in 25 fathoms of water. “In … Continue reading Who Owns the Wreck of the Schooner Delhi? Maine Asks a Judge to Decide That the State Does.

Mount Desert Election and Town Meeting Coming Up!

Mount Desert Election and Town Meeting Coming Up!

Carrie Jones Apr 25, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Restaurant Barn. MOUNT DESERT — Mount Desert voters have a chance to support town officials in multiple uncontested races, Monday, May 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting on those candidates happens May 4 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the town office meeting room at 21 Sea Street. The annual … Continue reading Mount Desert Election and Town Meeting Coming Up!

Southwest Harbor Budget Ready For Voters Chance to meet the select board candidates, April 29.

Southwest Harbor Budget Ready For Voters

Chance to meet the select board candidates, April 29. Carrie Jones Apr 24, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Psychiatry. SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The town’s budget and its warrant articles are ready for town meeting. Last week, the Southwest Harbor Select Board unanimously approved the final draft of the FY27 town warrant for its May 4 town meeting. There are multiple increases in areas … Continue reading Southwest Harbor Budget Ready For Voters

Former Maine Senate Candidate Pleads Guilty to Mount Desert Vandalism. Vandalism occurred on Land and Garden Preserve Property.

Former Maine Senate Candidate Pleads Guilty to Mount Desert Vandalism.

Vandalism occurred on Land and Garden Preserve Property. Apr 24, 2026 by Sabrina Martin/BDN MOUNT DESERT—A Mount Desert man who has run for several elected offices pleaded guilty Thursday morning to a misdemeanor charge after he allegedly vandalized signs at a Mount Desert Island land preserve. Ian J. Schwartz is accused of defacing multiple signs and trail markers at the Mount Desert Land and Garden preserve … Continue reading Former Maine Senate Candidate Pleads Guilty to Mount Desert Vandalism.

Trenton Tables Proposal to Study Leaving School System Amid Budget Concerns. Board Authorizes Comprehensive Planning Committee.

Trenton Tables Proposal to Study Leaving School System Amid Budget Concerns.

Board Authorizes Comprehensive Planning Committee. Shaun Farrar Apr 23, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Bar Harbor Music Festival. TRENTON—In late 2019 or early 2020, the Trenton School Evaluation Options Committee (SEOC), after several months of meetings, interviews, and research, created a “purely hypothetical” chart that indicated that Trenton’s education budget could rise from around $3.5 million in FY2014/15 to just under … Continue reading Trenton Tables Proposal to Study Leaving School System Amid Budget Concerns.

Bar Harbor Affirms Its ICE Policy Ahead of Maine Statute Enactment. Town Council Aligns with Maine LD 1971 Concerning Interaction with Federal Immigration Enforcement Activities.

Bar Harbor Affirms Its ICE Policy Ahead of Maine Statute Enactment.

Town Council Aligns with Maine LD 1971 Concerning Interaction with Federal Immigration Enforcement Activities. Carrie Jones Apr 23, 2026 BAR HARBOR—The Bar Harbor Town Council’s decision to affirm the town’s policy regarding immigration and align it with state statutes was met with thanks from those attending the April 21 meeting. “I know what a difficult and challenging decision this has been for all of you … Continue reading Bar Harbor Affirms Its ICE Policy Ahead of Maine Statute Enactment.

Is Northeast Creek Watershed Healthy? Bar Harbor Begins Its New Search for Answers. Why This 11-Square-Mile Watershed Matters.

Is Northeast Creek Watershed Healthy? Bar Harbor Begins Its New Search for Answers.

Why This 11-Square-Mile Watershed Matters. Carrie Jones Apr 23, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by the Maine Seacoast Mission. BAR HARBOR—How healthy is the Northeast Creek Watershed on Mount Desert Island? The town of Bar Harbor, led by Staff Planner Hailey Bondy, hopes to find out. Bondy presented data from the beginning of the watershed testing to the Town Council, April 21. The … Continue reading Is Northeast Creek Watershed Healthy? Bar Harbor Begins Its New Search for Answers.

“It Can’t Just Be Grass.” Bar Harbor loved Glen Mary Wading Pool, but it doubts it can it afford to bring it back the same way.

“It Can’t Just Be Grass.”

Bar Harbor loved Glen Mary Wading Pool, but it doubts it can it afford to bring it back the same way. Carrie Jones Apr 22, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management. BAR HARBOR—Bar Harbor is a town full of opinions, but there was one thing that everyone gathered before the Parks and Recreation Committee one Monday night back in … Continue reading “It Can’t Just Be Grass.”

Bangor Man Who Crashed Car Into Bar Harbor Police Cruiser Charged with Attempted Murder. Summoned for Assault in the Emergency Room.

Bangor Man Who Crashed Car Into Bar Harbor Police Cruiser Charged with Attempted Murder.

Summoned for Assault in the Emergency Room. Carrie Jones and Shaun Farrar Apr 22, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Coastal Kayaking Tours and Acadia Bike. BAR HARBOR—A Bangor man who allegedly was speeding on Route 3, Saturday night, before smashing head-on into a Bar Harbor/Mount Desert police cruiser at approximately 9:16 p.m., has been charged with attempted murder. The suspect, Maine State Trooper Hunter Fernald wrote … Continue reading Bangor Man Who Crashed Car Into Bar Harbor Police Cruiser Charged with Attempted Murder.

Phase One of Proposed Bar Harbor Marina Will Likely Cost Millions. Council says it's ready to take next steps.

Phase One of Proposed Bar Harbor Marina Will Likely Cost Millions.

Council says it’s ready to take next steps. Carrie Jones Apr 22, 2026 The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden. BAR HARBOR—The first phase of a draft plan to redevelop Bar Harbor’s ferry terminal into a marina has a current estimated cost of $11.6 million. This cost, presented to the Town Council, April 21, by GEI, a contracting firm, is the … Continue reading Phase One of Proposed Bar Harbor Marina Will Likely Cost Millions.