A Brief History of Railroads Maine Railroad technology was first developed in Great Britain, and included Richard Trevithick’s steam locomotive of 1804 and George Stevenson’s locomotive “Rocket” of 1829. In addition to the standard gauge (width) lines reviewed here, narrow gauge railroads also had a special role to play in the state. The first railroad…
Starting in the latter part of the 19th century, Maine had a unique system of railroads that ran on rails only two feet apart. Eventually five of these railroads…
YEAR RANK MAINE U.S. Agriculture Land in Farms, Percent 1992 43 15% 43.6% 1997 40 6.7% 42.2% 2002 49 6.9% 41.4% 2007 49 6.8% 40.8% Land in Farms, Acres 2000 43 1,270,000 943,090,000 1992 43 1,258,297 945,531,506 1997 42 1,211,648 931,795,255 2002 40 1,369,768 938,279,056 2007 41 1,347,566 922,095,840 Average Acres per Farm 1990 36…
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…
Scallop landing by commercial fishermen spiked in 1961 and in 1991, followed in each case by years of reduced landings. Total value was low from 1950 through 1970, regardless of the volume of meat obtained. Since 1970 total value has generally followed the trend of the landings. Price per pound has remained above $5.00 since…
is both an unorganized township and a lake created by the Seboomook Dam. Just north of Moosehead Lake, half the township and all of the lake are in Maine Public Reserved Land protective status. The 6,880-acre lake has over 69 miles of shoreline, with the dam at its eastern end where it spills into the…
(1896-1900) was born in Bath, son of one of the City’s first shipbuilders, in whose shipyards he worked learning the trade. In 1854, he and his brother Edward formed E. & A. Sewall continuing their father’s business. It became Arthur Sewall & Co. when his brother died. Arthur Sewall’s firm built 80 ships over 50…
Despite an increasing tonnage of shrimp landings by commercial fishermen in recent years, the 2013 season will feature a landing quota equal to about 25% of the 2012 season’s landings. Historically the shrimp populations have varied substantially. Marine scientists believe that the resource is again under pressure with the threat of another population decline. …
When John Steinbeck was traveling the country in 1960, he noted that states had interesting differences expressed in their signs: The New England states use a terse form of instruction, a tight-lipped, laconic style sheet, wasting no words and few letters. . . . I am an avid reader of all signs, and I find…
`Do you know why it’s called a whiting?’ [said the Gryphon] `I never thought about it,’ said Alice. `Why?’ `It does the boots and shoes.’ the Gryphon replied very solemnly. Alice was thoroughly puzzled. `Does the boots and shoes!’ she repeated in a wondering tone. `Why, what are your shoes done with?’ said the Gryphon. `I mean, what…
Since 1973 the commercial fishery for skate had two, short lived, peaks. It has yet to recover from the decline that began in 1995. The return had been modest at best, reaching $.25 per pound briefly. No landings were recorded from 2006 to 2009, and 2011-2016. YEAR POUNDS VALUE PRICE/LB 1973 3,320 $268 $0.08…
A summer recreational center, it hosts the bulk of two of the Belgrade Lakes: North Pond and East Pond. East Pond is home to several summer camps for young people, some that cater to adults, and some that are individually owned summer cottages. See photos. The main village is on the eastern shore of North Pond, where a sandy beach attracts area residents and summer visitors.
[pp. 13-17] LIST OF EMPLOYMENTS. Women were found engaged in the following employments. Artists. Art stores. Bazaars. Cigar stores. Crockery stores. Confectionery stores. Dry goods stores. Dry goods and notion stores. Dry goods and carpet stores. Dry and fancy goods stores. Drug stores. Drug and perfumery stores. Fancy goods stores. Fruit stores. Glove stores. Jewelry…
STATISTICS FROM A SURVEY FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRIAL AND LABOR STATISTICS REPORT, 1892 [pp. 150-151] Out of a total of 2,583 there are 115 who cannot read and 124 Who cannot write the English language, or between four and five per cent. They are found in seventeen different industries which are given, together with…
Also known as North Yarmouth Academy Grant Township, it lies just east of T1 R5 WELS. It has no settled village. Macwahoc Stream and an associated bog dominate the northeastern portion. The only improved roads are U.S. Route 2 in the west (where the town line photo was taken in 2014) and U.S. Route 2A…
Tidal flats are a substantial resource harboring a variety of species, including clams, quahogs, marine worms, lobster larvae, and crabs. These resources are endangered by polluted water runoff from residential and commercial activities. The video clip below shows clam survey activity and small crabs scampering under an incoming tide during an educational event in 2012.…
The following indicates the total value of all landings from commercial fisheries in Maine. It includes shellfish as well as fin fish. Since about 1975, the rate of change in current dollars has increased, especially since 1990. YEAR TOTAL 1950 $13,781,792 1951 $14,757,348 1952 $17,034,440 1953 $16,036,300 1954 $16,187,634 1955 $15,323,204 1956 $16,397,465 1957 $16,008,084…
For the earliest residents, Native Americans, dugout canoes were the vehicles of choice along the coast. Full use of rivers, lakes and streams awaited the invention of the lighter birch bark canoe, which could be carried from one water body to another, creating important links inland and to the north. After the Europeans arrived, rivers…
Highway Mileage Between Selected Points Here are highway mileage measurements between selected points in Maine:
Average annual unemployment in Maine’s economy was consistently higher than the national average from 1969 through 1980. For the next decade, 1981 through 1990, the opposite was true! Since then, Maine’s annual unemployment rate has generally tracked the national rate, though usually a bit higher than the New England rate. Over the four decades, 1969-2010,…