A couple of years ago I spotted Mackworth Island on the map, wanting to find out more I did what everyone does, I Googled it. I first learned that it is a state park, then I learned that it was also the location of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. What I came across next was an editorial by a man who’s sister had been abused by members of the school administration, the indication is that the abuse of students had been going on for decades up to the early 1980’s. The title of the editorial was “Why I hate Mackworth Island”.
After reading the editorial my instinctual reaction was “there was no way I was going to visit a place where such horrible things had occurred.”
Last summer while driving down Route 1 I saw the sign for the school and curiosity had me turning down the road. As I crossed the bridge I could see the public beach was a very popular spot on that hazy, hot, and humid Saturday. There were absolutely no parking spaces so I turned around and headed back the way I had come. At the time the editorial was still front and center in my memory.
As I have expanded the list of Maine based people I follow on Instagram I have seen multiple pictures posted with only lovely things said about the location. Which beagn me questioning my initial reaction. Why was I condemning a place for the actions of people? It did not take long for me realize that my condemnation of the island based on that article was wrong and so the island has returned to my list of places to explore, and this past Saturday I was able to enjoy a beautiful morning walking the state park trails and seeing a spectacular sunrise.
I will admit that the editorial did creep back into my mind as I walked by the school, but rather than feel revulsion for the place I was moved to offer a simple prayer; for those who suffered to find peace, and hope for such a horrible thing to never happen again.
aspillingovermind 