North Maine Woods

The 20 mile North Maine Woods checkpoint in the Pittston Academy Grant (T2 R4 NBKP) (2008)

North Maine Woods In addition to be a general term for the forests of northern Maine, North Maine Woods is an organization that manages access to a specific area of mostly privately own land. Land Ownership                           The complicated historic land ownership in…

Nesourdnahunk Township

North Branch of Trout Brook on the Tote Road (2014)

Wholly within Baxter State Park, also known as T5 R10 WELS, it contains five mountains over 1,700 feet. Trout Brook flow through. Dwelley Pond is it only pond. The Dwelley Pond Trail follows the old Tote Road north to south from near Burnt Mountain to near Strickland Mountain for day hiking, canoeing and fishing.

Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike in Brewer (May, 2013)

A relatively shy and infrequently noticed bird in Maine, the northern shrike often perches atop a tree awaiting a food opportunity.  Unlike most songbirds, this one preys on small birds and rodents. This one, uncharacteristically, was in downtown Brewer near City Hall.  Their primary habitats in summer are open spaces in woods or swampy areas…

Nelson, John E.

John Edward Nelson (1874-1955), father of Charles Pembroke Nelson and a U.S. Representative, was born in China, Maine on July 12, 1874. He attended the common and high schools of Waterville, was graduated from Friends School, Providence, Rhode Island in 1894, from Colby College in 1898, and from the law department of the University of…

Northeast Carry

Moosehead Lake and Seboomook Wilderness Campground (2008)

Northeast Carry is a township on the northeast shore of Moosehead Lake, with a view of Mount Kineo (photo on left below – sharp cliff right of center). It connects the Lake with the West Branch of the Penobscot River by a “carry” corridor for portaging canoes. Henry David Thoreau used this connector twice during…

Norway

One of Several Houses of interesting design in Norway (2003)

Norway-South Paris is a community of two adjoining towns serving as a retail center for southern Oxford County. It includes a commercial strip with the usual array of auto dealerships and fast food. Pennesseewassee Lake, the largest of several in the town, abuts the main village and contributes mightily to local recreational opportunities. A clerical “correction” of the originally proposed “Norage,” the Indian word for falls, resulted in the name Norway.

Nourse, Amos

Amos Nourse, courtesy Maine State Museum

Amos Nourse (1794-1877) a U.S. Senator from Maine, was born in Bolton, Worcester County, Massachusetts on December 17, 1794. He pursued a preparatory course and graduated from Harvard University in 1812. Nourse served as postmaster at Hallowell 1822-1841, when he then moved to Bath and acted as collector of customs at Bath 1845-1846. He studied…

Northport

The modest Northport Music Theater features contemporary American musical theater. See photos. In addition to its long coastline facing Islesboro on Penobscot Bay, the town has frontage on the three-mile long Pitcher Pond and all of its Knight Pond. The historic Bayside village, of closely space summer cottages, lies off U.S. Route 1. St. Clair Preserve protects nearly all of unspoiled Knight’s Pond with 304 acres of mixed forest, bogs, swamps and fields has been home to black bears, bobcats, fishers, foxes, and deer.

Northfield

Location Map for Northfield

This sparsely populated, but growing community, is blessed with water resources including Bog Lake, Fulton Lake, the lower portion of Long Lake, and the winding upper reaches of the Machias River. See map. The main village lies on Maine Route 192 about ten miles north of Machias. A small settlement, Smith Landing, lies on the Machias River in the south of the town. Blueberries are the main crop produced in the old fields and harvested much the same way as in early times. Timber harvesting continues both privately by individuals and commercially by paper companies.

Northeast Harbor

The Sunbeam at its Berth (2001)

is a community in Hancock County within the town of Mount Desert. Its namesake harbor sits at the northeast side of the entrance to Somes Sound, which splits the island of Mount Desert. Routes 3 and 198 serve the village, passing Upper Hadlock Pond in Acadia National Park.  The pond had been a source of…

North Yarmouth

North Yarmouth’s rapidly growing community, nearly triplng its population since 1970, is within easy reach of Yarmouth, Brunswick, and the greater Portland area. King William’s War started here when Indians attacked the settlement in the late 1680’s.

North Berwick

Mill Buildings on the Great Works River (2002)

The North Berwick Woolen Mill is a historic landmark on the banks of the Great Works River that passes through the main village. See photos. More than a dozen National Register historic places testify to the town’s significant role in Maine’s early history.It is home to the historic Hussey Plow Company and a Pratt & Whitney defense plant.

Nordica, Lillian

Lillian Nordica, courtesy Maine State Museum

(1857-1914) was born on the family farm in Farmington as Lillian Bayard Norton. According to one observer, she was “America’s first and most glamorous opera singer to attain true international prominence.” After the financial failure of the farm and, two years later, the tavern they bought, her family moved to Boston in 1864. Eventually Lillian…

Norcross, Leonard

(1798-1864) was born on June 18, 1798 in Readfield and became a millwright and a mechanic. He later moved to Dixfield where he developed several inventions. According to Stover in Eminent Mainers, they included a threshing and separating machine, a nail-making machine, patented in 1824, an accelerated spinner for hand-woven wool, patented in 1835, a…

Nobleboro

Throughout its history Nobleboro remained a rural community, but because of nearby lakes, rivers, and seacoast, about 37% of its inhabitants are non-resident “summer people.” See photos. Damariscotta Lake is accessible and nearby Great Salt Bay is the state’s first marine shellfish protected area. Shipbuilding was once a major industry with twenty-six shipyards in town at the peak. Maine’s first recorded meteorite (and the second in the U.S.) arrived in 1823.

Newspapers

The history of the early press in Maine is marked by a decided lack of stability. Publishers often started a newspaper, formed a partnership, then moved on to begin another paper. Some of the papers endured, but few in their original form; many disappeared after several years. Almost one hundred years after New England’s first…

Newry

Built in 1872, the Sunday River Bridge, called “he most painted and photographed covered bridge in the state,” crosses the river of the same name. See photos. The Sunday River Ski Resort is located here. On Maine Route 26, Newry is the gateway to the hiking trails, including the Appalachian Trail, of Grafton Township. Step Falls Preserve, the first preserve of the Maine Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, has 24 acres of cascades and pools.