Ashland

[ASH-lnd] is a “two township” town in Aroostook County, incorporated on February 18, 1862 from the township of T11 R5 WELS. In 1869 its name change to Dalton, then back to Ashland in 1876.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sheridan plantation was organized on May 21, 1878 from T12 R5 WELS, then annexed by Ashland in 1901 to form its present boundaries.

ReEnergy Ashland uses biomass as its primary fuel to produce 284,000 net megawatts of electricity each year, enough for about 37,000 homes.

Lumbering was once the major industry, but that activity peaked early in the 20th century. Ashland’s Logging Museum commemorates the industry’s past glory. However, Moosewood Millworks produces hardwood flooring and Katahdin Cedar Homes serves the housing market.

 

 

 

 

 

Two villages, Frenchville on Route 227 and Sheridan on the Sheridan Road, are north of the main community of Ashland, which is at the junction of state routes 11, 163, and 227 east of Mapleton and Presque Isle.

Regional headquarters of two state natural resources departments are located in Ashland, not far from the village. Main Street is a mixture of commercial buildings, residences and the veterans memorial.

 

 

 

 

 

The Aroostook River passes through the town where it is joined by the Machias River, which emerges from Big Machias Lake in Township T12 R8 WELS.  (This is not the Machias River found in Washington County.) A public boat launch area built by the Aroostook River Fish & Game Club allows “camping & tenting at your own risk.”

 

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Form of Government: Town Meeting-Council-Manager.

 

 

 

Additional resources

Brown, Theodore Roosevelt, 1906-1981 collector. Theodore Roosevelt Brown Map Collection, 1917-1976. Cataloger NOTE: “63 surveyor’s maps drawn or collected by Theodore Roosevelt Brown of Eagle Lake, Maine, date range: 1917-1976. Includes original maps by Brown, tracings by Brown and others, and several unsigned/undated maps. Maine townships covered: Ashland” and others.  Theodore Roosevelt Brown map collection, MCC-00035, Acadian Archives / Archives acadiennes, University of Maine at Fort Kent.

Franklin, Lynn. Interview with George “Pete” Sawyer. [sound recording] Gorham, Me. Lynn Franklin., 1974. [2 sound cassettes (90 min.) + 1 booklet (12 leaves). Field work was done in Ashland, Maine. Material was acquired for the Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History, Maine Folklife Center, University of Maine, Orono Northeast Archives number: 930. Audiotape numbers: T922-T923 Booklet contains description of material on tape. Depositor’s permission to publish required until 12/31/85. Interview with George “Pete” Sawyer of Ashland, Maine, concerning his life and his activities as a forester.

McNally, Mike. Ed. The William Dalton Historical Society Presents Ashland From 100-150 Years: 1937-1987. Ashland, Me. William Dalton Historical Society. c1994.

Munsungun. With Rod and Rifle in Northern Maine. 1903? University of Maine at Presque Isle, Special Collections.

Nelder, Oscar. Ed. Aroostook Reflections. Presque Isle, Me. Polar Star Associates. 1980.

Parker, Terrence C. Country Cop. Princeton, Me. Thitayas Publishing Co. c1983 (St. Stephen, N.B. Blue Heron Printing Co.)

Reflections Of Early Ashland: 1837-1937. Compiled by the Ashland Sesquicentennial Book Committee. Ashland, Me. The Committee. 1987.

Tasker, William J. The pioneer Homes of Ashland, Maine : Aroostook’s first lumber town.
Caribou, Me.  Monkey Publishing. 2010.

Winslow, Dena Lynn. History Of The Greater Ashland, Maine, Area. Presque Isle, Me. The Author. c1983.