Somerville

[SUMM-er-vil] is town in Lincoln County, incorporated on March 25, 1858 from Patricktown Plantation. The plantation had existed at least since 1813. On April 17, 1937, in the depth of the Depression, the town surrendered its organization. It returned to its status as a town on February 6, 1974.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sheepscot River runs through the western portion of the town, and through Somerville Village itself.

 

It widens into Long Pond (once known as Patricktown Pond), on which the town has substantial frontage.  Smaller James Pond sits in the northwestern corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the late 19th century, the Sheepscot River provided water power to a lumber mill and a flour and grist mill.  The grist mill was relatively large, having three set of grindstones, an example is on display in the town of Mercer.

Other lumber mills in town, in addition to lumber, made clapboards, shingles and laths.

Somerville village is east of Windsor on Route 105, and north of Jefferson following Route 206 to 105. South Somerville is at Jones Corner where Route 17 intersects with the Jones Road and the Hewett Road.

This rural town has had a small, but growing population. Since the 1970’s it has grown to two and a half times its size then.

Form of Government: Town Meeting-Select Board.

Additional resources

Then & Now: Patricktown/Somerville. Somerville, Me. Somerville Historical Society. 1998- [University of Maine, Raymond H. Fogler Library, Special Collections; Maine State Library]