Charles Best (1899-1978) was born to Canadian parents who were living in West Pembroke, at the time. [Frank A. Beard photo] He grew up there, graduated from the local high school, then attended the University of Toronto where he received his M.D. degree in 1925. In 1921 he, along with his colleague Frederick Banting, discovered…
a town in York County on the New Hampshire border, incorporated in 1713, named for an old English town in Dorsetshire. Settlements were made as early as 1624. In the mid-1600’s substantial lumbering began and a sawmill was built. In 1660 a group of Friends or “Quakers” sought refuge from persecution and settled here.
a town in Kennebec County, was incorporated as Sebasticook in 1842. Its name was changed to Benton in 1850 in honor of Missouri Democratic U.S. Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Benton Station is a location near the Maine Central Railroad tracks and the Kennebec River. The Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge manages a refuge in Benton. See photos.
(1804-1876) a U.S. Representative, was born in Winthrop on November 28, 1804. He received instruction from private teachers and attended the Monmouth Academy, was graduated from Bowdoin College in 1825. Benson studied law, was admitted to the Kennebec County bar in 1828, and began his practice in Unity. He returned to Winthrop and practiced…
is a town in Waldo County, incorporated in 1814. As is the case in many mid-coast communities, Belmont has a small but rapidly growing population, expanding by over 25% between 1990 and 2000, and again between 2000 and 2010.
Named for Belgrade, Serbia, it is a center for the Belgrade Lakes Region that attracts summer visitors to enjoy fishing, boating and lakeside cottages. Great Pond dominates the town. Belgrade Lakes village at the north end of the pond stands between Great Pond on the east and Long Pond on the west. Belgrade’s population has showed continuous growth for the past several decades, slowly changing from a rural resort community to a residential suburb of Waterville and Augusta. See photos.
its historic district features a variety of architectural styles, primarily from the booming 19th century economy. Located on Penobscot Bay, its shipping and shipbuilding brought a population explosion between 1810 and 1850. In the mid-20th century, Belfast was home to the chicken broiler industry. It has transformed into a tourist destination, touting its historic structures. See video and photos.
(1790-1857) a U.S. Representative, was born in Hallowell on February 23, 1790, he attended the rural schools and the local academy at Hallowell from 1805 to 1807. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and began his practice in Farmington in 1812. In Farmington, he served as Town Clerk from 1814 to 1819. Belcher…
(1880-1947) a U.S. Representative was born in Phillips on August 3, 1880. He attended the public schools of Lewiston, was graduated from Bates College in 1903, and from the law department of Yale University in 1906. Carroll Lynwood Beedy was admitted to the bar in 1907 and began his practice in Portland. He served…
Part of the Bingham Purchase, it was named after a borough near London, England. Fully 10 percent of the area is water, primarily in the form several lakes. Blueberries have been a staple crop for much of the town’s history.
is located on Moosehead Lake in the town of Beaver Cove, just north of Greenville. It occupies 925 acres of a broad peninsular bounded by the lake and Rowell Cove. The park features two camping areas bordering the lake with 90 campsites, a sandy swimming beach, playground, two trailerable boat ramps, and a 2-mile, shoreline…
named for the cove in the southeastern corner of Moosehead Lake that cuts into it, is north of Greenville on the Lily Bay Road. Lily Bay State Park is nearby. It is an access point for Elephant Mountain and the site of a B-52 bomber crash in 1963. See photos.
Leon Leonwood Bean (1872-1967) was born and raised in Greenwood in rural Maine. Orphaned at an early age, he worked at odd jobs, including a stint on a farm in Hebron, and did as much hunting and fishing that he could. It was not until he was 39 years old in 1911 that his business…
is the northern most campground in Baxter State Park. The site, in T5 R9 WELS township, offers tent sites, cabins, a bunkhouse. Canoeing and hiking provide opportunities for sweeping scenic views, and wildlife observation. Hiking trails are well marked as the signs at left attest. Black Cat Mountain or Traveler Mountain await a climb with…
Russell Pond campground and Russell Pond are in T4 R9 Township and in Baxter State Park. It is a 7.2 mile hike from Roaring Brook campground, also in Baxter State Park , the location for nearest automobile access. Hikers may choose to begin on the Sandy Stream Pond trail, which, northwest of the Pond, links…
Established in 1938, Chimney Pond campground, one of the “backcountry” sites in Baxter State Park, is a 3.3 mile hike from Roaring Brook campground, the location for nearest automobile access. It has its own ranger station, lean-tos and one bunkhouse, but no showers. This spot offers the best and closest access to the east side…
Abol, Chimney Pond, Daicey Pond, Katahdin Stream, Kidney Pond, Nesowadnehunk Field, Roaring Brook, Russell Pond, South Branch Pond, and Trout Brook Farm are the major campsites in Baxter State Park. Chimney Pond and Russell Pond are not accessible by automobile. The south entrance provides access to Abol, Daicey Pond, Katahdin Stream, Kidney Pond, Nesowadnehunk Field,…
At night, he saw the stars in the sky in their fixed positions and the crescent of the moon floating like a boat in the blue. He saw trees, stars, animals, clouds, rainbows, rocks, herbs, flowers, stream and river, the glistening dew in the bushes in the morning, distant high mountains which were blue and…
Mount Battie and the picturesque stone mountain tower, located in Camden, are rich in legend and history. In 1897, Columbus Bushwell, a Camden resident, built a carriage road to the top of the mountain. Today this old carriage road is part of the 25-mile hiking trail system in Camden Hills State Park. In 1898, Mr.…
(1831-1921) moved to Portland from Massachusetts with his family when he was nine years old. He had a varied education in academies around Portland and Lynn, Massachusetts, including classical and legal training. Baxter, in partnership with William G. Davis, established dry goods and wholesale businesses which prospered and led to their founding the Portland Packaging…