in Maine followed national trends and identities from the very beginning of statehood. Party alignments of national consequence began to form before the end of Washington’s first term. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was the master politician of the Federalists. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, in cooperation with his fellow Virginian, James Madison, led…
The population of Maine is measured every ten years by the U.S. Census Bureau, and is estimated annually by the Department of Human Services. The graph at right illustrates the increases since 1742 and the declining portion of the U.S. population beginning early in the 19th century. (The U.S. Census began in 1790.) The decline…
Maine continues to see a migration of its population away from the most northern areas and toward the south and mid-coast. Within counties such as Oxford and Penobscot, their southern most communities are growing while the smaller northern towns decline in population. Trends over two decades affirm the north-south divide in terms of population. This…
Political party platforms during the past 100+ years track the changing values and goals of Maine people. Major themes include the role of government, conflicts between labor and business, efforts at spurring economic development sometimes restrained by the emerging concern over environmental degradation.
Nature Preserves Appalachian Trail, Eliotsville Twp. Six miles of trail along the Barren Mountain ridge are protected by The Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation. The Trail south trends westward over Barren Mountain to Wilson Stream, then south to Little Wilson Falls, one of the highest in Maine with a drop of about 40 feet.…
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, is in Alton and Old Town. The site of an archaeological project along the Pushaw Stream, where evidence suggests occupation by prehistoric Indian cultures dating back approximately 7,000 years. Although no excavation is presently going on, and much of the excavation site has been back-filled, there is written information about the project…
An Appalachian Trail Hiker Savors the Colorful Fall View [PEERCE POND] a township in Somerset County, is home to all but a small portion of Pierce Pond, all of Upper Pierce Pond, Grass Pond and half of Kilgore Pond, which it shares with Bowtown Township to the east. Pierce…
Plantation form of government was at first indistinguishable from that of a town. As Massachusetts gradually gained more Jurisdiction in the Province of Maine, the General Court would occasionally place a tax on a new tract and the inhabitants then met and elected plantation officers for the collection of that tax. After Maine became a…
The Reuben Colburn House in Pittston, Maine is the site of one of the original settlements in Maine. Built in 1765, it was one of the first on the east side of the Kennebec River in an area later known locally as Colburntown. See photos. The house and carriage house is now owned by the Arnold Expedition Society. The village of East Pittston is located on the Eastern River near the town line with Whitefield. Route 194 serves the village and the Pittston Fair Grounds nearby.
in the Kennebec River between Richmond and Dresden in Sagadahoc County is the only state-owned wildlife management area that is also a game preserve providing sanctuary for migrating waterfowl and the resident white-tailed deer. It is also the only management area where camping is allowed and programs are provided for visitors. The 1,500 acre island,…
Peary (1856-1920), who summered on Eagle Island, received a degree in civil engineering from Bowdoin College in 1877. He then returned to his boyhood home in Fryeburg and worked as a land surveyor. He later became a noted Arctic explorer, famous as the discoverer of the North Pole, though many experts believe that the claim has not…
is the least populous of the sixteen counties, located in north central Maine. Formed on April 38, 1838 from portions of Somerset and Penobscot counties. Initially it had twenty-two towns, two more were incorporated later, Dover and Foxcroft combined, and seven towns surrendered their organization, becoming townships. The well-known Baxter State Park is located on…
is the thirdlargest in population of the sixteen counties, located in east central Maine, bisected by the Penobscot River and, the newer avenue of transportation, Interstate 95. Formed on April 1, 1816 from the northern part of what was then Hancock County, it later gave up territory to form Piscataquis and Aroostook counties. As with…
Frederick G. Payne (1904-1978) a Senator from Maine; born in Lewiston on July 24, 1904. He attended the public schools of Lewiston and the Bentley School of Accounting and Finance in Boston. During early school days he worked as a newsboy, usher and doorman in a theater, and as a reporter for a weekly newspaper.…
(1864-1921) born in Unity on November 5, 1864, attended local schools, and after receiving his degree from Columbia Law School in 1887, he was admitted to the Maine bar. Parkhurst joined his father in a leather goods business of which he later became president. He served on the Bangor Common Council and in the Maine…
(1865-1943) born in Bangor on July 26, 1865, served as Governor 1911-1913. His father, Harris M. Plaisted, was a Republican governor from 1881 to 1883. After attending local public schools and St. Johnsbury Academy in Vermont, Frederick put his interest in journalism to work by becoming, as was his father, the owner-editor of the New…
Llewellyn Powers (1836-1908) a U.S. Representative, was born in Pittsfield on October 14, 1836. He attended the common schools of Pittsfield and St. Albans Academy. He was graduated from the Coburn Classical Institute and attended Colby College. Powers was graduated from the law department of Union University, Albany, New York in 1860, was admitted to…
(1828-1898) a U.S. Representative, was born in Jefferson, Coos County, New Hampshire on November 2, 1828. He attended the common schools, and was graduated from Waterville College in 1853 and from the Albany (New York) Law School in 1856. His son, Frederick W. Plaisted was governor 1911-1913. Plaisted was admitted to the bar and commenced…
(1819-1907) a U.S. Representative, was born in Woodstock on March 27, 1819 where he attended the common schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He later became a resident of nearby Paris. A member of the Maine House of Representatives in 1854, he served as speaker. A supporter of alcohol prohibition, in 1857 he spoke in…
(1788-1857) was born in Hebron, Maine (at that time a part of Massachusetts) on January 19, 1788. He was a cousin of Virgil Delphini Parris also a U.S. U.S. Representative. Albion Parris, a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts and a Senator from Maine, graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1806; studied law; and was…