Islesboro Central School was built in 1928 as a summer cottage by Mrs. J.T. Atterbury. The cottage was built for approximately $225,000 on a twenty-one acre site on Warren Mountain in the Dark Harbor section of the island. The structure was built from stone that was blasted from the original site. The twenty-five room mansion later became known as “Rock Ledge” when Mrs. Lillian Whitmarsh of New York owned the estate.
In the summer of 1952 the town of Islesboro offered to buy the residence from Mrs. Whitmarsh to be used as a school. However, at that time Mrs. Whitmarsh refused to sell the property. That December, at a special town meeting, the island residents voted unanimously to accept the gift of Mrs. Whitmarsh’s estate to be renovated and used as their new public school. Mrs. Whitmarsh had given the island what was described as, “The most wonderful Christmas gift ever”
