The name "Ayers" is a derivative of the original name "Eayers", who were among the first white settlers in Orono. The Eayers family settled in Orono in 1774. Their daughter, Esther Eayers was the first non-native person born in Orono. This is the same family whose name is on the monument stone in front of the Post Office and whose name does the local DAR Chapter adopt.

Ayers Island has been an industrial site in Orono for at least 170 years. Surveys from 1838, located in the Page Farm and Home Museum at the University of Maine Orono Campus, show numerous sawmills on the island. There are also mills located on the mainland surrounding the island. The name “Basin Mills” has been affixed to the entire area.

The 1838 survey shows a bridge connecting Ayers Island to the mainland via the street Broadway in Orono. The existence of this bridge is controversial, because sometimes survey maps depict development plans that are subsequently never executed. However, two pieces of evidence support the existence of some form of a bridge. First, it is found on 2 separate surveys prepared by different persons at different times. One of the surveys was prepared to show available hydrostatic pressures from existing dams. That survey also shows a bridge connecting Ayers Island and Broadway. The second piece of information is physical evidence that has been found on the north end of the island. There is a power line that crosses the river at the north end of the island. Directly under the power line is earthwork that has the appearance of an early bridge abutment. There is a rock retaining wall holding up an earthen bank that could have been the approach to a bridge. This bridge was at least a log boom bridge that floated in the river. Oral histories obtained from native Orono residents relate how fathers used a log boom bridge to reach work on Ayers Island from the “Tough End” neighborhood served by Broadway. Children also used it to deliver their father’s lunches at noon time.

Photographs show the Orono Pulp and Paper Company in operation. These pictures are not dated, but they show many of the features seen in the existing buildings today. Particularly prominent are smokestacks that correspond to those found at present. These photographs also depict “The Basin,” a large retention pond containing logs between the mainland and the island. The current bridge on Island Avenue appears as a long causeway and a dam that created this millpond. The island in these pictures is covered with many buildings and large log piles. The remains of the log watering system are still present on the island.

Logs were carried to the millpond by a canal that originated on the Stillwater River. This canal is documented from old maps, various histories, and the remains are visible in aerial photographs.

The majority of the buildings constituting the present Ayers Island structure were constructed in 1907. There is a concrete plaque on the roof cast with this date. The riveted girder construction of much of the building is consistent with this date. These structures were probably constructed by Italian immigrants who arrived by rail from Boston after their transatlantic journey. There is one area of the mill that appears to be older: a brick arch foundation support system in one part of the basement probably predates the girder construction. It could have supported an earlier building that was subsequently incorporated into the current structure.

The post and beam barn on the island has been tentatively dated circa 1860. It is quite similar to the barn housing the Page Farm and Home Museum on the University of Maine, Orono campus. It is almost identical in size and manner of construction. Extensive foundation repairs were made in 1999. The barn is being renovated for holding public events on a seasonal basis.

There was housing on the island until 1935, including some large dormitory type housing. These buildings appear in photographs, and the foundations still exist. There is a 1931 fire insurance blue print that shows the configuration for Eastern Manufacturing Co., which was the successor to the Orono Pulp & Paper Co. This print shows a railroad system, the woodpiles and the sprinkler system that covered much of the island. Old photographs corroborate these features. Some of the railroad trackage was on 2 trestles. Trains dumped coal from these trestles into piles underneath that were used to fire steam boilers. The steam was used to produce electricity on site as well as heat the pulp digesters and the building. Striars constructed the newest parts of the mill in 1963 and 1966 after the conversion to textile manufacturing. These buildings are made of cinderblock with welded steel framing. They used a portion of the old railroad trestle system to support the roof on one of the buildings. The dates for these buildings were obtained from a fire insurance blue print from 1995. The 1907 date mentioned previously is also found on this 1995 blueprint for numerous parts of the mill.

Penobscot County records indicate that the Striar Company purchased the island property and the mill in 1946 for textile manufacturing. They purchased the island as 2 separate parcels, owned by Bangor Hydro Electric Co., and Dead River Co. The textile manufacturing involved taking scrap wool in the form of used clothing or scrap pieces, oiling them and then converting them to fibers through the use of picker machines. The fibers were then baled and sent elsewhere for conversion into blankets, pea coats and yarn. The textile mill closed in October 1996 due to default on bank loans. The contents of the mill, but not the mill itself were sold at auction. Salvage operations resulting from this auction concluded in 1997. At that time, heavy industrial use of the island ceased for the first time since the 1800s.

The Town of Orono waived foreclosure on several liens due to unpaid sewer bills and taxes. After two years of the Striar Mill being idled, foreclosure was allowed to occur in April 1999. In June 1999, the Town entered into a lease-purchase agreement with George Markowsky to develop the property as a location to develop and test new technology. George created the company SciCloid, LLC, to develop the island for this purpose. SciCloid, LLC is now doing business as Ayers Island, LLC. In June, 2003, SciCloid, LLC obtained title and the deed to Ayers Island from the Town of Orono. In January, 2004, Trefoil Corporation relocated its headquarters from downtown Orono to refurbished offices on Ayers Island.

Included in the plans for the development of Ayers Island in addition to technology space, are nature trails with public access, a canoe and kayak club to take advantage of the access to the river, an outdoor amphitheater, a museum, and a conference center. An outdoor sculpture garden is also envisioned. The public aspect features will be part of the plan to make Ayers Island an attractive place to work and enjoy.

By,
John Hackney, V.P. for Development
June 29, 2004