The community of Sandy Point stretches along Highway 1 in Waldo County 12 or 13 miles northeast of Belfast, the county seat. When the writers of the American Guide series book, Maine, a Guide 'Down East', passed through Sandy Point in 1937 it was much the same as it is today. Their only references to the town concern the church, the cemetery and the rather interesting headstone of Captain Albert Partridge (1842-1901), the one with a polished granite globe atop, a world travelling ship's captain, and his wife Martha (1840-1914). They also mention the fact that there were many headstones of those who were lost or died at sea. We found that to be the case on our visit.
Captain Stowers was one of those unfortunate souls who perished while sailing the high seas. Born in 1819, he died on October 13, 1846 at the age of 27 years and 8 months. He was lost while with the Schooner
Italian off Southampton, Long Island. The likely cause of the ship's loss was the
1846 San Francisco de Borja hurricane (also known as the Great Havana hurricane of 1846), the most intense tropical cyclone recorded for 78 years. On October 13, the listed date of Captain Stowers' death, the storm was situated over New York, the location of the
Italian at the time.
Below is the excerpt from the book, Maine, a Guide 'Down East', page 273.
SANDY POINT (alt. no, Stockton Springs Town), 3.2 m., is an attractive settlement of green-shuttered, white frame houses retaining all the charm of old New England. The graceful facade of the white church in the center of the village looks toward Penobscot Bay, from which many men from this township departed for foreign ports. Immediately opposite the church is a small burial ground with many stones marked 'Lost' or 'Died at Sea.' The most pretentious monument is that in memory of Captain Albert Partridge; a globe of polished granite bears the names of the many distant ports he visited.
From Maine, a Guide 'Down East', Page 273