In 1958, a father of four donated a small island to the town of Boothbay in memory of his wife. A plain brass plaque that was mounted in stone on the island in 1958 has recently been replaced with a beautiful sailboat inscribed brass plaque by the town.

The small cane shaped island situated on the Back River in Boothbay is approximately 800 feet in length and at its widest part on the north end 350 feet, with most of its length to the south, being roughly 100 feet in width.

In 1956, Hodgdon Island resident Delma Hodgdon, then a mother of one daughter and three sons, died at the age of 49 from then the relatively little known disease of cancer. Before she died, she asked that Knickercane Island, which she and her husband Richard Hodgdon Sr. owned, would be given to the town of Boothbay for a recreation area for present and future generations to enjoy. Richard or “Dick” Hodgdon, as he was called, did as his wife asked and gave Knickercane to the town of Boothbay in 1958 in Delma’s memory.

The original and the new plaque were placed at the east end of the Knickercane footbridge, where a graded parking lot lies in front and is surrounded by fragrant beach roses adding to the areas charm.

Since 1958, Knickercane has served many generations of families as an ideal place to bring loved ones to picnic and swim. One of the narrow island’s signature traits is its many pine trees which provide a canopy from the hot sun. Centuries of fallen pine needles form a sweet smelling carpet on the island, as visitors walk the sprill-covered paths. The island has served as many as 15 of Delma’s grandchildren, and countless great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews and neighborhood children who have plunged into the icy green water for summertime swimming fun. Lobstermen, wormers, boaters and now kayakers alike have utilized this beautiful and serene place because of the gracious and generous gift of Delma and Richard Hodgdon Sr.