Settled in 1772, the town lies southeast of Unity on Maine Route 139. See photos. While once a farming community, as most Maine towns, Thorndike counted the railroad as a major element in its economy. The remains of that era are obvious in the village. The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad was the latest to use the line.
in York County, incorporated 1794, probably named for settlers from Cornwall, England. The main street features tourist attractions such as lodging, eating, and antiques. Cornish village is located where the Ossipee River feeds into the Saco River. Little River enters the Ossipee just before its link to the Saco. See photos.
As Maine communities began to lose some of their frontier aspects in the early 19th century and assumed a more settled appearance, civic improvements were initiated. Among these was the regulation of livestock which, in contrast to earlier times, were becoming numerous. Swine, although useful for consuming garbage, in themselves provided a health hazard. No…