Author details The Great Fire of 1947 in Bar Harbor in latest book

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - Mac Smith joined WABI to discuss his newest book, “The Great Fire of 1947 and the Loss of Bar Harbor’s Golden Era.”

Summary:

“The Great Fire of 1947 and the End of Bar Harbor’s Golden Era tells the riveting story of the desperate evacuation of residents through the heart of an uncontrolled forest fire burning all across Mount Desert Island. After an extremely dry summer, all areas of Maine spent the month of October fighting fires, with the island seeing the worst of the damage. Soon after the first flames were spotted, in a last, desperate and deadly escape from the quickly approaching and ever-growing flames, many Bar Harbor residents found themselves fleeing to the water, while others fled in a caravan for the causeway behind a bulldozer that cleared the way, all the while watching the loss of many of the mighty cottage-mansions and historic hotels that once symbolized the island’s heritage as a summer playground for the world’s richest people. Through extensive and meticulous research, Maine author and historian Mac Smith brings this important part of the state’s history to life.”

No part of the book has been fictionalized.

Smith says he was inspired to write the book because he wanted to capture the drama of the evacuation at the height of the fire. He says he also enjoys writing about Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island in general.

“The Great Fire of 1947 and the Loss of Bar Harbor’s Golden Era” can be purchased at the Briar patch, all Sherman’s bookstores, as well as online.

For more information, click here.