As I turned out the light in my office, a small wink of another light flickered back at me. This firefly is a Maine native. Strangely, these “flies” are actually flying beetles. They use their lighting abilities in summer to attract mates by mixing certain chemicals in their bodies. Fireflies in some other states have…
These cute large rodents (thus a mammal) are entertaining to look at, but potentially dangerous and disruptive. A member of the squirrel family, it is also known as the “ground hog” or whistle pig. According to Scientific American, Groundhogs are also variously referred to as woodchucks, whistle-pigs, or land-beavers. The name whistle-pig comes from the…
According to the Maine Forest Service the browntail moth was accidentally introduced into Somerville, Massachusetts from Europe in 1897. By 1913, the insect had spread to all New England states, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Populations of this pest slowly decreased due to natural controls until the 1960s, when browntail moth was limited to Cape…
Most of this township is part of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. The exception is a portion in its northwest corner around Katahdin Lake, now part of Baxter State Park. The balance of the township is crossed with many miles of unimproved (dirt) roads. The National Monument here is accessible east of Stacyville…
This seven-inch gray bird with brown wings returns to southern Maine in early spring to build its nest, often in the usual place unless it has been destroyed. The insect eating Phoebe makes its news under overhanging structures, such as eaves, second floor decks, and bridges. It perches on branches or posts awaiting the unsuspecting…
This township lies at the base of Baxter State Park, encompassing the Park’s south access road from Millinocket and the eastern end of The Golden Road. Togue Pond Gate is the south entrance to the Park. The West Branch of the Penobscot River flows through its western region and includes…
North of Dallas Plantation, Lang Township (originally T2 R3 WBKB) is a rural area that has one major improved road, Maine Route 16, and the short Kennebago Road. While sources are sketchy, its population in 1870 was 36, in 1880, 31. A 1936 topo map appears to show about 15 buildings. U.S. Census does not…
Ripogenus (Abenaki for “gravel) is the name given for the dam and the lake created by it. Ripogenus Lake is essentially a human-made extension of Chesuncook Lake. The dam [N45° 52′ 47.64″ W69° 10′ 32.56″], completed in 1920, provides water power for McKay power station through an underground tunnel. In 1989…
Major State Agencies accounted for 98.7 percent of the total State budget. The $8 billion budget for the major agencies in fiscal year 2014-2015 allocated 47% of its funds for Human Services, 21% for education, and 9% for Transportation. Health & Human Services $3,769,766,585 Transportation Department $678,279,421 Administration & Finance $373,112,863 Labor Department $312,440,538 Defense,…
(1843- c. 1926) In 1911 Wilton was a thriving community whose merchants and factories supplied a wide variety of goods and services from automobiles to granite and steel. Like many of its contemporaries, Wilton had a free public library, an electric light and power company and a private academy. The town’s development was greatly facilitated…
Anything Is Possible (2017) My Name Is Lucy Barton (2016) The Burgess Boys (2013) Olive Kitteridge (2008) Abide with Me (2006) Amy and Isabelle (1998) Elizabeth Strout (1956- ) lived in Harpswell as a young girl. “My parents came from many generations of New Englanders, and they were skeptical of pleasure.” she told the New…
National Register of Historic Places – Listings – Lewiston Photos by James Henderson, and edited text are from nominations to the National Register of Historic Places researched by Maine. Historic Preservation Commission. Full text and National Register photos are at https://npgallery.nps.gov/nrhp Androscoggin Mill Block [269-271 Park Street] Due primarily to demands for an increasing labor…
Lighthouses are specialized architectural structures. As they dot the Maine coast, they are impressive as much for their settings as for their designs, of which there are many variations. Many are recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. To see names and locations, hover over an image with your mouse or click the image…
On New Years Eve 2012, Brady Williams and several fellow hikers mounted an expedition to climb Mount Katahdin in Maine’s Baxter State Park. Here are some of the dramatic images from that event. Photo credit: “Brady G. Williams, Maineanencyclopedia.com.” Each image original size = 12 megapixels.
Maine: An Encyclopedia Images at the size published in the Encyclopedia are available for use free if credit is attributed to Maineanencyclopedia.com Rates for Personal and Commercial Use of Digital Still Images Unless credited to others, all photos are available for purchase, whether in galleries or not. Full Size Commercial < – – – –…
Two Rockwoods Rockwood is actually two townships with virtually the same name: T1 R1 NBKP (in the east) and T2 R1 NBKP (in the west). They are adjacent to each other in a narrow strip together measuring about 11 miles east-west and 1 mile north south. The townships were probably named for Hiram Rockwood…
Soldiertown is one of two unorganized townships by the same name. This one is in Somerset County and is also known as T2 R3 NBKP. The other Soldiertown, known as T2 R7 WELS, is in Penobscot County. The Northern Road, which runs north from Rockwood Strip to Pittston Farm, hugs the eastern side of the…
This Cowbird, 6 to eight inches beak to tail, is a spring and summer visitor to Maine. Once a follower of bison on the great plains, these birds now inhabit the edges of woods, roadsides, and towns across the United States. Females lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, then abandon them to…
Butterflies in Maine Monarchs The colorful and common Monarchs range throughout the United States, including all of Maine, especially in rural areas with fields thick with milkweed. Wingspan ranges from 3½ to 4 inches. As forests reclaim abandoned farms and the remaining cropland displaces milkweed and similar plants, this butterfly has become less abundant in…
The first amendment to the Maine Constitution was initiated fourteen years after statehood. The next few decades produced amendments adjusting the structure and rules of the new state. As the 200th anniversary approached in the year 2020, 172 amendments had been approved. To understand the changes, one must refer to the articles of the constitution…