In a tragic testament to the impact of climate change on cultural heritage sites, three historic fishing shacks in South Portland, Maine, were demolished due to a record high tide. The incident raises potent questions about how to strike a balance between efforts to preserve such cultural treasures and the need to adapt to environmental changes.

The shacks’ dramatic collapse was captured on video by Michelle Erskine, who filmed the last two wooden shacks sliding into the ocean at Willard Beach in South Portland. The event marked a sorrowful day for the local community as a tangible piece of their history was washed away.

The shacks were owned by the city of South Portland and had just been freshly repainted in October, a testament to the community’s commitment to maintaining them. They were the last in a series of fishing shacks that predate the city’s incorporation, making their loss even more poignant.

The destruction was caused by a record 14.57-foot high tide measured in Portland, Maine. This historic water level was the result of a storm surge that amplified the month’s highest tide, breaking the previous record set in 1978. The surge didn’t only claim the shacks, it also flooded some homes in Old Orchard Beach and Kennebunkport in Maine, and Hampton Beach in New Hampshire.

In response to this devastating loss, the South Portland Historical Society is appealing for donations to rebuild the shacks. In foresight of such an event, the society had enlisted architects and engineers to create drawings for reproductions of the shacks. This forward-thinking move now provides a glimmer of hope that the lost heritage can be recreated.

Adding to the dramatic turn of events, the powerful winter storm that caused the record high tide also unearthed a shipwreck from 1911 at Acadia National Park. The remains of the schooner Tay, buried for decades, were revealed, adding another layer to the historical narrative of the day.

This event underscores the vulnerability of coastal areas to climate change. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events pose an imminent threat to coastal communities and their heritage, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable solutions to mitigate these effects. The loss of the South Portland shacks serves as a stark reminder of what we stand to lose if we do not act urgently to address climate change.

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