Our Staff

Erin Cough
Executive Director
(207) 288-0000 ext.101 or (207) 560-9128
Erin is a long time resident of Bar Harbor, living downtown with her husband Joe and dogs. Her lifelong love of history led her to a Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation from SCAD and restoration of several historic homes along the East Coast. She is a partner in the fabric and craft store, Fabricate, and has been involved in MDI businesses both private and public organizations for the past 20+ years. Erin is a Bar Harbor Town Councilor, Board member of the BH Village Improvement Association, and Board member at Acadia Community Theatre. She loves to cook, bake, and enjoys her front porch with her friends and family.

Laura Johnson
Operations Manager
(207) 288-0000 ext.104 or (207) 613-0973
Laura is a resident of Mount Desert and Bar Harbor, and a retired Director of Summer Programs at College of the Atlantic. She came to waitress one summer and ended up staying to raise a family and work at COA. She enjoys learning about Bar Harbor’s past and seeing how it has shaped its future. As the town continues to evolve with new people, development, technology, she hopes the community can always appreciate its history and the special town created by those who came before them.

Emily Cough
Development and Marketing Associate
(207) 288-0000 ext.103 or (207) 573-7365
Emily is a Bar Harbor native with a love of history, despite graduating with an English degree from Thomas College, which made working for the Bar Harbor Historical Society an exciting venture for her. She also loves traveling, cooking, and baking in her spare time.

Mazie Smallidge
Collections and Programs Manager
(207) 288-0000 ext.102 or (207) 560-9973
Mazie grew up in Blue Hill and spent lots of her childhood on MDI visiting her grandmother in Seal Harbor. She graduated from College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor with a degree in Human Ecology, focusing on folktales and illustration. Mazie’s love of history led her to volunteer at the Bar Harbor Historical Society and now is working to digitize our collections. Her work at the Historical Society has made her interested in pursuing a Master’s in Archival Studies in the near future. She enjoys learning the history of the island and uncovering the stories of people who lived in the area before her.