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Volume 35 | Issue 7 | 2026

Maine’s History Magazine

Western Lakes & Mountains

Kingfield’s Stanley Museum

Rumford’s Chester “Chet” Bulger

Harrison’s Melville Ingalls

Sharing the traditions of Yankee ingenuity

After the whistle

The railroad man who helped shape the Midwest

www.DiscoverMaineMagazine.com

Western Lakes & Mountains

Inside This Edition

Maine’s History Magazine 3

I t Makes No Never Mind James Nalley

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Sebago Lake Summers Fishing on the flat rock Charles Francis

Kingfield’s Stanley Museum Sharing the traditions of Yankee ingenuity Jim Merrick

16 Rumford’s Chester “Chet” Bulger After the whistle James Nalley 20 Rangeley Lakes Region’s Adrian Brochu He provided views at Quill Hill Brian Swartz 23 The Legend Of Abel Blood Dover-Foxcroft’s first settler Charles Francis 26 Norridgewock’s Rebecca Sophia Clarke The beloved storyteller who gave childhood a voice James Nalley 30 Wilton’s Joe Knowles Real life Tarzan or north woods fraud Charles Francis 34 The Remarkable Journey Of Samuel Merrill From Turner to the Iowa’s Governor’s office James Nalley

WESTERN LAKES & MOUNTAINS

Publisher Jim Burch Editor Dennis Burch Design & Layout Liana Merdan Contributing Writers Charles Francis Terry Hussey Flora Noble Leysens Jim Merrick James Nalley Brian Swartz

Published by Burch, LLC

650 Main Street, Suite 204 South Portland, ME 04106 Ph (207) 874-7720 info@discovermainemagazine.com www.discovermainemagazine.com

38 The Shaker Movement In Western Maine Creating a heaven on earth Terry Hussey

Discover Maine Magazine is distributed to town offices, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, fraternal organizations, barber shops, beauty salons, hospitals and medical offices, newsstands, grocery and convenience stores, hardware stores, lumber companies, motels, restaurants and other locations throughout this part of Maine.

43 H arrison’s Melville Ingalls The railroad man who helped shape the Midwest James Nalley

NO PART of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from Burch, LLC

48 Fryeburg Fair - 2026 Press Release Maine’s Fryeburg Fair - Blue Ribbon Classic 52 When Mechanic Falls Was Bog Falls A vibrant town on the Little Androscoggin Charles Francis 56 My Days In A Rural Maine Schoolhouse Memories of yesterday Flora Noble Leysens

SUBSCRIPTION FORM ON PAGE 58

Front Cover Photo:

Main Street in West Paris. Item # LB2008.19.115913 from the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Co. Collection and www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org All photos in Discover Maine’s Western Lakes & Mountains issue show Maine as it used to be, and many are from local citizens who love this part of Maine. Photos are also provided from our collaboration with the Maine Historical Society and the Penobscot Marine Museum.

DiscoverMaineMagazine.com

It Makes No Never Mind

by James Nalley

y late August, Maine’s Western Lakes and Mountains region settles into a fleeting balance between summer’s warmth and autumn’s first whisper. Centered around towns, such as Rangeley, Bethel, Farmington and Kingfield, this rugged landscape offers a quieter, more reflective alternative to the state’s bustling coastline, especially for those who prefer their scenery without a side of traffic. At the heart of the region lies Rangeley Lake, where early morning mist drifts across glassy water and loons call in the distance with the kind of haunting clarity that makes you pause mid-coffee. By this point in the season, the summer crowds have largely packed up, leaving behind a stillness that feels less like emptiness and more like a well-earned breath. Kayakers glide along the shoreline, anglers cast for landlocked salmon, and even the most casual visitor notices subtle shifts in the hills: just a hint of gold here, a trace of red there, as if autumn is quietly testing the palette. Near Bethel, Steep Falls Preserve offers a perfect late-summer excursion. Its smooth granite ledges and gentle cascades invite visitors to linger longer than planned, partly for the scenery,

partly because leaving would require admitting you should probably get back to real life. Just beyond, Grafton Notch State Park unfolds in a series of waterfalls, rocky gorges, and forested trails, including a stretch of the Appalachian Trail that feels especially welcoming as the air cools and the bugs, mercifully, begin to lose interest. In Carrabassett Valley, the trails around Sugarloaf Mountain draw hikers eager to catch that first, almost imperceptible turn of the season. Mornings arrive cooler now, with a crispness that carries the scent of pine and the quiet suggestion that summer is, if not over, at least starting to pack a bag. Locals will tell you it is still peak season, but you might notice a sweatshirt appearing where a T-shirt was perfectly fine just days before. What makes this region so compelling in late August is its sense of transition. It is a moment when everything feels slightly heightened: the clarity of the lakes, the depth of the sky, the hush between passing cars on a back road. It is also a brief window before the leaf-peepers arrive in earnest, armed with cameras, cider plans, and a firm belief that they have discovered something no one else knows about.

For now, though, this region remains that perfect in-between, unhurried, and understated secret. It is the kind of place where you can sit by the water, listen to the loons, and feel like time has slowed down, right up until you check your phone, remember it is nearly September, and realize that you probably cannot stay quite as long as you had planned. On this note, let me close with the following jest: One night, a Bethel police officer knocked on a woman’s door. “Ma’am,” he said, removing his hat, “I’m here about your husband. We have bad and good news.” “Please, give me the bad news first,” the woman replies. The officer replied, “I’m sorry, but someone stabbed your husband in Portland and threw his body in the harbor.” The woman fell to her knees. Utterly despondent, she begged the cop: “Please, what could possibly be the good news?” He replied: “Well, when we pulled him up, he had 12 four-pound lobsters crawling on him. Would you like one?” Sobbing even louder, the woman shouted: “How DARE you! I’ve never been so insulted in my entire life!” The officer replied: “Well, if you change your mind, then we’re pulling him up again tomorrow morning.”

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Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Sebago Lake Summers by Charles Francis

Fishing on the flat rock

ate in his life Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote: “I have visited many places called beautiful in Europe and the United States but never have seen the place that enchanted me like that flat rock where I used to fish.” The flat rock was in Sebago Lake, which was in easy walking distance of Hawthorne’s uncle’s house, where the future author of The Scarlet Letter spent most of the summers of his youth. Most biographies of Hawthorne center on his years as a productive writer and primarily investigating those factors of his life which influenced his work. For example, much is

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made of his Puritan ancestry which was an important influence on a great deal of his writing. As far as his formative years are concerned, most biographers mention his growing up in Salem and, at the death of his father, being forced to accept the largesse of his mother’s family, the Mannings, who were prosperous Salem merchants. Little is made of the influence of Maine in his life except for his being a member of the most famous Bowdoin College graduating class ever, the Class of 1825, which included Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and future president Franklin Pierce. Regardless, Maine did have other influ-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com ences on Hawthorne, and they occurred in the little Sebago Lake town of Casco, which was then a part of Raymond. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1804. The Hathornes (Nathaniel added the ‘w’ to the name when he graduated from Bowdoin) had been one of the most influential families of the colonial era. William Hathorne, Nathaniel’s first ancestor in the New World, had been a magistrate who, among other acts, sentenced a Quaker woman to a public whipping. William’s son John had been one of the judges who presided at the Salem witch trials. However, by the time Nathaniel was born, the family fortunes had seriously declined. Some Hawthorne scholars say Hawthorne saw this as some form of divine retribution for the acts of his judicial ancestors. When Hawthorne was four, his father, who had been an unsuccessful merchant and sea captain in a town full of successes, died of yellow fever. This

left the family, which included two girls in addition to Nathaniel, destitute. Except for the wealthy Mannings, the Hathornes would have probably ended up on the streets. The Mannings were Salem merchants. The only one who was not was Nathaniel’s uncle Richard Manning, who was a prosperous Raymond farmer and store owner. Richard Manning took special interest in his sister’s destitute family and took them in each summer. Moreover, he took it upon himself to tutor his nephew in such subjects as geometry, trigonometry, and geography. Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Sebago Lake summers must have been idyllic. Hawthorne later wrote of exploring the woods, fishing, and reading on the sunny shores of the lake. He also had a companion for his rambles, a black youth by the name of William Symmes. When the weather was bad the two would go to Richard Manning’s store and listen to the men who con-

gregated there tell stories. It was at this time that Hawthorne began to keep a journal. One entry describes how his uncle introduced “Long Red” potatoes to Maine. Others identify people that he met and some of their experiences. Later, some of Hawthorne’s journal entries from his time in Raymond would serve as subject material for short stories. It was because of Richard Manning that Hawthorne entered Bowdoin. Here he made the acquaintance of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Franklin Pierce. The three would remain lifelong friends. Longfellow and Hawthorne would influence each others work. Hawthorne is credited with providing Longfellow with the storyline for Evangeline. And Pierce, as president, would appoint Hawthorne to a consular level position in Liverpool, England. Hawthorne, in turn, would write a biography of Pierce. After graduating from Bowdoin, Hawthorne returned to Salem deter(cont. on page 6)

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6 (cont. from page 5)

mined to support himself by writing. His first attempts were failures, however. Penniless and desperate, Hawthorne spent a year at Bronson Alcott’s experiment in utopianism, Brook Farm, where he hoped to keep himself fed, and write at the same time. Farm labor was so arduous, however, that Hawthorne was always too exhausted to write. In 1837 Hawthorne published the first work which would bring him a degree of recognition. This was Twice Told Tales. Unfortunately, the work was not accompanied by any financial rewards, and some believe Hawthorne thought that he might still be subject to the family misfortunes stemming back to colonial times. This theory would be expounded by twentieth-century English literary critic William Empson, who wrote an essay on Maule’s curse in his classic Seven Types of Ambiguity. Maule’s curse, which dooms future descendants of one of Hawthorne’s fic-

tional characters to failure and destruction, occurs in the House of the Seven Gables. William Empson, who was the first literary critic to successfully apply psychological principles to literary criticism, saw the curse as Hawthorne’s way of dealing with his guilt for his ancestors’ parts in the persecution of the Quakers and the supposed witches of colonial times. It was, Empson said, the reason Hawthorne changed the spelling of his name when he graduated from Bowdoin. By the early 1840s Hawthorne was finally supporting himself as a writer. In part, this was because he was writing about what he knew. One of the short stories from this period was Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe. The central character of the story was named Dominicus Pike. Pike was based on an itinerant peddler who had frequented the Sebago Lake region, named Dominicus Jordan. Pike, like his re-

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al-life counterpart, told ghost stories. In 1842 Hawthorne married Sophia Peabody. The newlyweds rented a house in Concord, Massachusetts named the Old Manse, which later became the subject of Hawthorn’s most famous essay of the same name. At the time of his marriage, Hawthorne’s most famous works, like The Scarlet Letter, were still to come. William Empson thought Hawthorne’s use of Puritanical subject matter to expiate his feelings of guilt enabled him to write. Perhaps, however, it was his use of his experiences as a youth in Raymond on the shores of Sebago Lake which first allowed him to deal with what today is called writer’s block.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

Kingfield’s Stanley Museum Sharing the traditions of Yankee ingenuity by Jim Merrick

he Stanley Museum, founded in 1981, is based in Kingfield, the birthplace of the Stanley family, best known for the Stanley steamer automobile. “The Stanley Museum keeps and shares the traditions of Yankee ingenuity and creativity as exemplified by the Stanley Family in order to inspire these values in children and adults.” – Mission Statement. Kingfield’s Georgian-style Stanley School, commissioned and paid for by the Town and partially designed and supported by the Stanleys in 1903, houses the Museum. The Museum was started to preserve the old schoolhouse from being demolished.

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com chives, which have over 2,000 items of relevance to the Stanley story, and excellent examples of the prized Stanley Steamer automobiles, are represented at the Museum. Airbrush portraits, oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, engravings, photographs, violins, letters, essays, books, and other memorabilia round out the collection. Starting with airbrush portraiture, Francis Edgar (F.E.) Stanley became involved with photography in the late 1870s. By the early 1880s he had created a dry plate formula for making photographic images. His twin brother, Freelan Oscar (F.O.), joined him in business in 1884 and together they went on to invent a dry plate coating machine, patented in 1886, that thrust them into national competition. To meet the increased market demand, they moved to Newton, Massachusetts in 1890 to gain better railhead connections to their markets.

Steam powered the Industrial Revolution. The Stanley Brothers’ choice of steam to power their cars was not out of the ordinary; the Stanley steamer gained its place in the history of transportation on the merits of power, functionality, reliability, and manufacturing longevity. After building their first prototype in 1897, the Stanleys went on to spend 20 years designing and producing the Stanley Steamer. A consortium of dealers continued from 1917 to 1924. Part of Stanley fame is due to the dramatic achievements of the cars: F.O. made the first automobile ascent of Mt. Washington in New Hampshire in 1899; F.E.’s Stanley Racer (the “Rocket”) broke the world’s speed record in 1906 at 127.66 mph, a record which stood for four years, broken only by 4 mph in 1910. Four working examples of the Stanley steamer automobile, a 1907 “Vanderbilt Cup” replica race car, 1909

roadster, a 1910 touring car, and a 1916 condensing car, and a 1905 runabout on loan interpret that part of the Stanley legend at the Stanley Museum. As boys in Kingfield, the Stanley twins continued a family tradition of violin making. As their success in other areas of life increased, so too did their association with music — the largest rooms in their homes were music rooms, and in both Newton and at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, the Stanleys performed in and sponsored musical events. After the Stanley Motor Carriage Company went out of business in 1924, F.O. Stanley and his nephew Carlton Stanley went into the violin-making business together. By the time Carlton stopped producing them in 1953, he had made and sold over 500 violins. Chansonetta Stanley Emmons, the twins’ only sister, started as a painter, producing sketches and engravings as (cont. on page 10)

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(cont. from page 9) well. Today she is best known for her photography. Her talent for composition and her ability to capture the life and times of rural, turn-of-the-century New England and the South has made her one of the beloved photographers of her day. The Stanley Museum owns the country’s primary collection of her photographs and glass plate negatives and her brilliantly hand-colored glass lantern slides. The Museum exhibits her work at home and loans it out for travelling exhibits around the country. Chansonetta’s daughter, Dorothy Stanley Emmons, was one of Maine’s most celebrated American Impressionist painters, and, since her death in 1960 her work has become prized by collectors. The Museum collects and exhibits Dorothy’s work as well, another tribute to the quality and depth of artistic talent in the Stanley family. The Stanley family immigrated to this country in the 1600s from En-

The Stanley Museum, located at 40 School Street in Kingfield. (Courtesy of the Stanley Museum)

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com gland, settling first in Attleboro and Topsham, Massachusetts, and then on the “frontier” of Winthrop and Kingfield, Maine. F.E., F.O. and Chansonetta Stanley lived in a time known as the New England Renaissance, a flowering in the arts, industry and literature which bloomed throughout New England. Primarily self-educated and self-trained, they made significant contributions as artists, scientists, engineers, writers, musicians, and social critics. Farsighted vision, the breadth of their undertakings and their dedication — all distinguish the Stanleys. Once they took hold of an idea, they rarely let go before it was brought to life. Thus, they represented the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the late industrial revolution. The Stanley Museum celebrates this commitment to the fulfillment of vision, the hallmark of the Stanley brothers and their sister Chansonetta.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

Rumford’s Chester “Chet” Bulger After the whistle

by James Nalley

he morning sun had barely crested the rooftops of Chicago when Chester “Chet” Bulger laced up his cleats in the dim locker room of the Chicago Cardinals. The air carried the sharp scent of liniment and worn leather, while the distant shrill of coaches’ whistles echoed down concrete corridors. It was 1947, and the stakes were high, a pivotal game in a season that demanded consistency. For Bulger, a rock-solid tackle and quiet anchor of the line, the task never changed: block, protect, endure. For him, preparation was less about spectacle than repetition; long before kickoff, his work had already been done in the quiet discipline of practice fields and film sessions.

— Chester “Chet” Bulger — (Courtesy of Ron Moody)

Born on September 18, 1917, in Rumford, Bulger grew up in a mill town where grit and persistence shaped daily life. After graduating from Stephens High School, he earned a track and field scholarship to Auburn University. Football was not initially part of his path, but he walked onto the team and quickly proved his worth. Coaches soon recognized his combination of size, balance, and discipline, qualities that translated naturally from track and field to the demands of line play. In an era when opportunities were scarce and competition unforgiving, players either established themselves quickly or disappeared. Bulger did the former. By 1942, he had joined the Chi-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com cago Cardinals, stepping into the demanding role of tackle during one of professional football’s most uncertain periods. He played through the war years, often lining up alongside men whose careers had been interrupted by military service. The war reshaped professional football, with depleted rosters and constant turnover forcing teams to rely on adaptability. In 1944, that instability reached an unusual point when the Cardinals and Steelers merged their franchises for a single season, splitting home games between Chicago and Pittsburgh. The combined team struggled through a winless year and became informally known as the “Car-Pitts,” a nickname reflecting just how overwhelmed the roster was. In that environment, durability and consistency were invaluable. Players like Bulger, who could be counted on week after week, formed the backbone of the league. While he was never a headline

Chester “Chet” Bulger (Courtesy of John Griffith)

figure, teammates relied on his overall steadiness and physical presence in the trenches. His reputation for endurance and quiet dominance took shape during these seasons. One of the clearest examples came in the 1945 opener against the Detroit Lions on September 23, a “home” game played in West Allis, Wisconsin. The Cardinals lost

10–0, but the performance told a different story. An observant scout told the Chicago Daily News that “if they scored this game on Bulger’s offense, the Cards would be leading the league.” Reporter Harry Sheer captured the unusual spotlight falling on a lineman, especially remarkable given that Bulger had broken his back just three years earlier and had been advised to quit football. “Usually, the morning after story is about some guy who passed for five touchdowns, ran for three more, and tackled a rival halfback just inches short of a fourth-down touchdown,” Sheer wrote. “Imagine a Cardinal tackle getting all this notoriety.” Sheer described a performance defined by relentlessness. Bulger played for the full 60 minutes and repeatedly broke through Detroit’s line, stopping plays deep in the backfield. In rainsoaked conditions, he appeared almost (cont. on page 18)

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immovable, disrupting the Lions’ offense at will. Five times, he stopped plays for a combined loss of 42 yards. Even in defeat, his performance stood apart as a rare display of individual dominance from a lineman in that era. Performances like this rarely translated into headlines for linemen, but within the game itself, they carried enormous weight, shaping control of the line of scrimmage. Two weeks later, on October 15, 1945, the Cardinals defeated the Chicago Bears 16–7, snapping a 29-game winless streak. The victory marked a turning point for a struggling franchise and underscored the stabilizing presence Bulger provided. Just two years later, the Cardinals claimed the 1947 NFL Championship, with Bulger again anchoring the line. His toughness and consistency, traits rooted in his upbringing in Rumford, were widely seen as central to the team’s success. He

retired from professional football in 1951, leaving a legacy defined less by accolades than by reliability. Chicago remained his home long after his playing days ended. Bulger transitioned into coaching and education at De La Salle Institute, where he served as a teacher, coach, and eventually athletic director. Under his guidance, the school’s athletic programs flourished, emphasizing not only performance but discipline and personal development. He remained at De La Salle until 1982 and continued contributing to its development office into the early 1990s. In 2007, the school renamed its main athletic field in his honor, recognizing decades of service and influence. Even in retirement, Bulger maintained close ties to football and to Chicago. He attended games regularly, mentored young coaches, and stayed connected to the sport’s evolving community. He also returned often to

Maine, maintaining a lifelong connection to the place that had shaped his character. His life reflected a steady balance of personal integrity and professional dedication. Chester Bulger passed away on February 19, 2009, at the age of 91 in Fairfax, Virginia. He was laid to rest at Queen of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois, closing a life that spanned from a small mill town in Maine to professional football and decades of service in education. In retrospect, Bulger’s career — from overlooked walk-on to NFL champion and educator—illustrates the enduring value of discipline, persistence, and quiet leadership. His legacy lives not in statistics or headlines, but in the teams he strengthened and the students he guided. In this way, his influence endured quietly, carried forward in the habits and values of those he coached and taught.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

Rangeley Lakes Region’s Adrian Brochu by Brian Swartz

He provided views at Quill Hill

ntil 2013, the best views of the Rangeley Lakes Region existed atop the local mountains, accessible only on foot. Adrian Brochu changed everything in 2013. Route 16 runs through a valley from Rangeley to Stratton. Located east of the road about equidistant from both towns, 2,848-foot Quill Hill stands alone, and Adrian recognized the peak’s viewshed potential some 50 years ago. Born to Emile and Jeanette Brochu in Quebec Province in 1946, Adrian moved with his family to Jackman in 1946. Leaving school after eighth

grade, he joined his older brother, Andre, and their father to work in the woods. Adrian served with the Army in Vietnam before returning to Maine in mid-1968. He married Celine Drouin that November and moved to Stratton, where he and Andre started the A&A Brochu Logging Company, now in its third generation of family ownership. Adrian and his brothers later helped launch Stratton Lumber Inc. Selling their share in that company in 2004, they purchased Pleasant River Lumber, which operates modern lumber mills in

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Dover-Foxcroft and West Enfield. Emile Brochu constructed a logging road toward Quill Hill in the 1960s. He, Adrian, and Andre hiked to the 2,848foot summit one day in the 1970s and took in the views. Adrian so enjoyed them that in 2008 he started building a four-mile gravel road that would make the summit accessible by motorized vehicles. After flagging the road’s route that February, Adrian worked from early March to early June to complete the road’s lower section. Trees needed cutting, boulders needed moving: No mat-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com ter the work, Adrian was involved in it, and he pushed the project forward to its official public opening in 2013. Painted brown with white-andyellow letters, a sign on Route 16 announces, “Welcome to Quill Hill,” and a yellow arrow points visitors in the right direction. The sign indicates that it’s a “12-minute drive to the top.” The road is open “24/7” from May to October to motorized vehicles, including ATVs and motorcycles. Snowmobilers access the road in winter. Traffic can stir up dust, and drivers must watch for oncoming traffic. Views start to appear, then the road reaches the summit, and it’s all views from there. In fact, a summit information panel states that Quill Hill “is the only mountain in Maine with 360° views that are accessible to car, bike, ATV, and snowmobile.” At the parking area, signs identify the handicap-accessible trail entrance, where “no motorized vehicles” are al-

lowed “except wheelchairs.” The “easy walk” trail leads to a “lower scenic view.” Stone steps rise from the parking area to the summit, which offers picnic tables, information panels, and an incredible view extending all around the compass rose. Immediately to the east run the 4,000-footers like Mount Redington, Crocker Mountain and its slightly shorter neighbor, South Crocker, and Spaulding Mountain. Sugarloaf Mountain and the Carrabassett Valley are not visible. Bigelow Mountain forms the northeastern horizon. Visitors can easily see The Horns and East and West peaks. As the view swings to the north, Flagstaff Lake emerges from behind Bigelow. Beyond Flagstaff, Kibby Mountain and other peaks form the northern horizon. Shifting westward, the view first encompasses East Kennebago Mountain and its West Peak and then moves

on past West Kennebago Mountain (with Kennebago Lake visible below it), Burnt Mountain, and Stub Hill, 29 miles away in New Hampshire. Specific Rangeley lakes now appear: first Cupsuptic and then Mooselookmeguntic and Rangeley lakes. The section of downtown Rangeley between the lake and Haley Pond is identified on an information panel — as is Mount Cabot — 58 miles away in the White Mountains. Saddleback Mountain, The Horn, and Saddleback Junior form the southern horizon. Adrian Brochu continued finetuning the Quill Hill access road and overlooks until not long before he died on October 27, 2019. He requested and received one final ride to the summit. “I did it,” Adrian said as he traveled down Quill Hill that day. “You all thought I was crazy, but I built this thing, and people came. And when I’m gone, they will keep coming.”

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The Legend Of Abel Blood Dover-Foxcroft’s first settler by Charles Francis

bel Blood was the first white man to cut a tree in Piscataquis County. That’s part of his legend. Abel, it is said, was a pioneer in making clearings. Sometime before 1799, Abel purchased a tract of land a mile square in the area that would later be known as Dover. In June of 1799 he and seven others came to the area to see what they could find. They traveled by way of Norridgewock, a distance of some fifty miles, by wagon, canoe, and by foot. They came. They looked around. They cut trees and they left. That’s how Abel Blood was there to cut the first tree. I heard the story of Abel Blood cut-

ting the first tree in what would be Piscataquis County from Ruth Blood of Maine, a Blood family historian and genealogist. It’s a good story — one that must bear a degree of truth given when Abel came to the Piscataquis region. One suspects, however, it would be better to say Abel Blood cut the first tree in Dover. There are a number of fascinating stories about Abel Blood. You can find some of them in old Maine histories. One in the History of Piscataquis County has him the son of Revolutionary War hero General Francis Blood of Concord, New Hampshire. The General also lived in Temple, New Hamp-

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shire. Temple is where this history says Abel is supposed to have come from. I happen to have had a cousin named Ruth Blood, not the Ruth Blood mentioned above. My cousin passed away a number of years ago, but the first mentioned is very much alive. My cousin was a resident of Laconia, New Hampshire. Cousin Ruth was a very serious family historian and genealogist. She traced the antecedents of Abel Blood, our subject, to Groton, Massachusetts. Cousin Ruth said our Abel was the son of Simeon Blood. There are sources that corroborate this. There is also an Abel Blood who is supposed to haunt a graveyard in Hol-

(cont. on page 24)

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lis, New Hampshire. Some folks say it is the same Abel Blood that cut that first tree in Piscataquis County. It can’t be, though his father was named Francis. The dates for the Abel who haunts the graveyard don’t quite fit, but there is a coincidence. The Hollis Francis Blood served in the Revolution as a private. Then there is the tale of our Abel Blood skipping town under a dark cloud of suspicion. What is the true story here? He disappeared for some twenty-five years only to turn up in Ohio. The town Abel Blood left in a hurry was Dover. You see, Abel returned to his tract of land in time to raise a crop of corn for the fall harvest of 1800. That crop, by the way, is supposed to be the first corn crop in the county. Abel Blood lived in Dover until about 1811. He seems to have been a reasonably hard-working individual. He had a wife and family to support.

If Abel had a problem, it would seem to have been a tendency to overextend himself. He contracted to build a saw and grist mill but transferred the contract to others. He built the first brick kiln in the county, but others took over its operation. Overextension usually means financial problems. Twice Abel sold off some of his land. On May 16, 1805 he and his wife executed a deed conveying two hundred acres to Eli Towne. Later another parcel or else all of what Abel owned passed to John Dow. The source for these two latter points is cited in the History of Piscataquis County coming from papers of the Piscataquis Historical Society. The same records say Abel’s brother Royal occupied some of Abel’s land for a time. Temple, New Hampshire records do not support Royal being Abel’s brother, however. The same Piscataquis Historical Society re-

cords say Royal was one of “the sons of Gen. Francis Blood, a Revolutionary officer.” So far we are having a certain degree of difficulty pinpointing anything really out of the ordinary as to Abel Blood’s behavior. Yet there is the statement contained in the Piscataquis Historical Society record that, “It is well known that, about 1811, he [Abel] fled suddenly to parts unknown, and his brother Royal assisted his family to return to Temple.” The above anecdote concludes with another. It seems twenty-five or so years later, Abel was discovered in Ohio. As this story goes, one of Abel’s old Dover neighbors, “who also found it for his interest to seek a new home among strangers, emigrated…” west. There he recognized Abel. There, both would seem to have agreed “to remain strangers, to let bygones be bygones.”

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com I chose the word anecdote to apply to the above accounts purposefully. An anecdote is by definition the weakest of all possible evidence. The problem with these two tales is that they do nothing toward clearing the purported cloud Abel Blood left town under. The best that can be done at this late date is to again visit the historical records. One presents itself. Abel is said to have acquired his land under questionable terms — terms that cannot be completely ascertained. Most of the early township lots of what would become Dover were sold by proprietors. Abel Blood is believed to have acquired his square mile directly from Massachusetts. The question is, did he? Considering how he left town the assumption is no. But could he have left out of shame of his business failures? Could he have left because of his failed business ventures? Others have

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acted in similar ways for similar reasons. It is worth consideration. This leaves us with the question, just who was Abel Blood? Was he Abel the son of Francis Blood of Temple, or Abel the son of Francis Blood of Hollis or Abel the son of Simeon Blood of Groton? Temple, New Hampshire records clearly indicate Royal Blood lived there. The same claim cannot be made for Abel. As an aside, Francis Blood of Temple was not a Revolutionary War general as Piscataquis histories state. During the war, he was a Temple selectman. He was also a lawyer. Abel Blood of Hollis, New Hampshire was born in 1797. He died in 1867. Hollis town records show him living there all his life. His mother, Abigail Woods, was from Groton, Massachusetts. As to the haunting, Abel’s headstone has a finger pointing heav-

enward on it. At night, people say the headstone changes. The finger points to the ground. Groton, Massachusetts church records list Abel Blood as being admitted to full church membership in 1789. Abel’s mother was Sarah Gilson. Abel had two brothers, neither of whom lived in Maine. This, of course, leaves us with the nature of the relationship of Abel Blood and Royal Blood. Here is an explanation. All those bearing the Blood name in this piece were descended of Richard Blood. In short, they were related, albeit not as closely as Piscataquis histories represent. This would explain why Royal helped Abel’s family if indeed he did. In the meantime, we are left with the legend of Abel Blood.

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Norridgewock’s Rebecca Sophia Clarke The beloved storyteller who gave childhood a voice

by James Nalley

n the little riverside village of Norridgewock, where the Kennebec River curves under tranquil skies, one of the country’s early champions of children’s fiction began a lifelong creative journey. Rebecca Sophia Clarke, better known to generations of readers by her pen name “Sophie May,” took the ordinary rhythms of smalltown life and transformed them into stories that sparked joy, mischief, and empathy in young hearts across the nation. Today, her legacy shines not just in nostalgic memory, but in her influence on the shape of children’s literature.

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Born on February 22, 1833, to Asa and Sophia Clarke, Rebecca grew up in an environment rich with books and learning. She was educated both privately at home in Greek and Latin and at the Norridgewock Female Academy, an unusual foundation for a woman of her time that helped lay the groundwork for her future as an author. Clarke’s literary career began with a note of gentle uncertainty. In 1861, after returning home from a decade of teaching school, reportedly cut short by her growing deafness, she submitted a piece to the Memphis Daily Appeal.

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com Signing it as simply “Sophie,” she added with characteristic humility: “Well, I’ll call it May, for I may write again and I may not.” From that casual whim came the name Sophie May, which would appear in more than 40 books published over four decades. While much of her early work appeared in local periodicals, such as Sara Jane Lippincott’s Little Pilgrim and the Boston Congregationalist, it was Clarke’s ability to capture the spirit of childhood itself that quickly won her a wide audience. At a time when many children’s books were rigidly moralizing or overtly informative, Sophie May’s stories offered a refreshing contrast. As noted in Encyclopedia Britannica, her work found popularity for “her humor, her fidelity to the ways and thoughts of children, and her avoidance of the wooden didacticism of much of the literature intended for young readers of that day.” Her breakout series, the Little Pru-

Rebecca Sophia Clarke with her nieces, the inspiration for Prudy, Susy, and Dotty Dimple.

(cont. on page 28)

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dy books, debuted between 1863 and 1865, and were quickly followed by the Dotty Dimple, Little Prudy’s Flyaway, Flaxie Frizzle, and Quinnebasset series. In these stories, mischievous girls and their friends navigate scraped knees, playful schemes, and heartfelt discoveries. Clarke’s characters were relatable because they were not perfect: they were spirited, funny, curious, and, most importantly, true to the unpredictable nature of childhood. As Little Prudy exclaims in one scene, “O, dear, dear, what shall I do? I am so glad! I wish I could jump clear up to the sky of this room!” This line captures the bright imagination and unfiltered joy of Sophie May’s young characters. Contemporary reviewers praised her for bringing children vividly to life on the page. As one historical reviewer put it, “the younger ones were constantly creating chaos, getting lost, fighting with each other,” yet remained lovable

Cover of the 1868 book Little Prudy’s Dotty Dimple.

because of their humanity, not despite it. One admirer of her Little Prudy books, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, went even further: “Genius comes in

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with ‘Little Prudy.’ Compared with her, all other book children are cold creations of literature only; she alone is the real thing…” Higginson’s words capture what made Sophie May’s work distinctive: her refusal to reduce children to moral symbols, instead celebrating their complexity and humor. While Clarke’s contemporaries and early 20thcentury children delighted in her tales, modern readers find both charm and complexity in her work. On the positive side, historical commentary emphasizes her realism and the authentic voice she gave to her young characters, a quality unusual in children’s fiction of the late 19th century. Her early stories portray children with personality and a degree of independence, and critics of her time appreciated the lively, gentle tone she brought to everyday narratives. However, modern critics, especially those reading her work through a 21st-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com century lens, also note elements of her writing that may not fully align with contemporary sensibilities. Some readers highlight Victorian sentimentality, moralizing passages, or language that now feels dated or even uncomfortable. On platforms, such as Goodreads, responses range from warm nostalgia to criticism of disciplinary themes or character behavior that can seem rigid by contemporary standards. For example, in reviews of Little Prudy, some readers note that character behavior, disciplinary methods, and casual expressions of cultural attitudes reflect the norms of another era, which can feel awkward to modern eyes. According to one reviewer, the book “is a product of its time,” adding that “Victorian sentimentality and children who are too good to be true aren’t my thing.” Another reader critiqued aspects such as how discipline and moral lessons are portrayed, suggesting that some inter-

actions might feel harsh or outdated for contemporary families. These varied responses reflect the enduring fascination with Sophie May’s work, inviting both warm remembrance and critical reflection across generations. Though nationally known, Clarke never truly left Maine. She spent occasional winters in warmer climates, but her heart remained in Norridgewock, where she lived with her sister, Sarah Jones Clarke (also an author who wrote under the pen name “Penn Shirley”). Together, they cultivated a life rooted in creativity and community, with their home serving as a hub for letters and storytelling. In 1903, Clarke gave back to her hometown by donating the building that became its first public library, cementing her belief in the power of story and learning. This Greek Revival structure, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, continues to serve as a

cherished local archive and library. Clarke died on August 16, 1906, but her influence endures in Maine, on the pages of her books, and in the continued evolution of children’s literature toward authenticity and empathy. She helped steer children’s stories toward a more honest and heartfelt portrayal of childhood. While some elements of her work reflect the conventions of her era, the humor, warmth, and spirited voice she brought to her characters continue to inspire. Her legacy reminds us that the best stories honor the full spectrum of childhood, embracing its laughter and heartbreak, its mischief and wonder, without sacrificing depth for simplicity. As Little Prudy herself declares, “I mean to make the best of every little thing,” a sentiment that perfectly captures the optimism, curiosity, and joy at the heart of Sophie May’s work.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

Wilton’s Joe Knowles

Real life Tarzan or north woods fraud by Charles Francis

ate in the afternoon of October 9, 1913, a line of some four hundred glowingly healthy, rapt young college coeds filed by a half-naked, tanned, forty-four-year-old man. The man was half-naked because he had just doffed the garment which covered his upper torso. That garment was a bear skin. The man, who some called the Tarzan of the Maine woods, was Joe Knowles of Wilton. The four hundred young women were students at Paul Dudley Sargent’s Physical Training School for Women in Boston. They marched by Knowles because they had been granted the unparalleled honor of touching his mid-

dle-aged, sun-bronzed epidermis. For a brief period in the pre-World War I years, Joe Knowles was one of the biggest stories in the country. The basis for his short-lived fame was his alleged tale of primitive survival in the Maine woods. On August 7, 1913, Knowles set off into the north woods in the Eustis area almost as naked as the proverbial jaybird. (For the sake of photographs destined for the Boston Post, he wore an athletic supporter.) Sixty days later, Knowles emerged from the wilderness near Megantic, Quebec, wearing a bearskin cloak, deerskin leggings, and moccasins. Joe Knowles’ exploits led his fans

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and supporters to dub him the Maine Tarzan, a rival of Sandow, (a strong man of the day), the American Adam, and a modern-day primitive man. He was compared to Thoreau. An M.I.T. economics professor even called him the Original Nature Man. Then his detractors began to get their views in. One of the latter was none other than Helon Taylor, the now-legendary superintendent of Baxter State Park. Before the critics had their say, however, Knowles signed on for a twenty-week lecture and vaudeville tour at twelve hundred dollars a week. He would go on to write a best-seller, Alone in the Wilderness. Even with a

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com ghostwriter, the work was plagued with poor grammar. It would sell 300,000 copies though. Joe Knowles entered the Maine woods in his birthday suit as a publicity stunt. His chief backers were the Boston Post and Paul Dudley Sargent. At the time, the Post was involved in a bitter rivalry with the William Randolph Hearst-controlled Boston American. Sargent was the foremost spokesman of the day for the inclusion of physical education in all levels of schooling and as a lifelong pursuit. The basic idea behind the stunt was to prove that a man in good physical condition could survive in the wilderness with nothing more than his wits. (Knowles did take a tinderbox with him.) The American Adam came out of the woods claiming he had killed a deer and a bear with his bare hands. He said he put the deer away by wrestling it and breaking its neck. He said he dug a pit

for the bear and then dispatched it with a club. Joseph Knowles was born in Wilton in 1869. At the age of thirteen, he left home to go to sea. He returned to Maine after a stint in the Navy to make a living as a tour guide in the Sugarloaf area. At this time he began to paint. He would later experience success producing paintings of ships and wilderness scenes for calendars, and with a series of western murals and still-lifes. His greatest notoriety as a painter came at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933. It was nothing like the acclaim that first heralded his return to civilization in the fall of 1913, however. The Original Nature Man came out of the north woods in Quebec in order to avoid arrest by Maine Fish and Wildlife authorities. His violation of any number of laws from hunting out of season to setting a fire without a permit had, of course, been reported in the newspaper.

He did return to Maine, though, dressed in his bear and deerskins, and did pay a fine for his wilderness transgressions. Newspapers reported that Knowles was greeted in Kingfield and Farmington by crowds that treated him as if he were a conquering Roman general. Wilton gave him a parade. His real goal was Boston, however. He wanted the coverage from the Post, as it needed him. After a formal ceremony where he was greeted by the Mayor of Boston and the Governor of Massachusetts, Knowles headed off for a physical with Paul Dudley Sargent. Sargent had given him a physical before he entered the woods. According to Dr. Sargent (Sargent was a medical doctor), the Maine Tarzan was in “the pink of condition... [with] the staying power of three Sandows.” Shortly after this, the detractors started in. Knowles had said he spent most of (cont. on page 32)

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his time in the general area of a little spot of northern Maine known as Lost Pond. He also said that he had no support at all while he was in the woods. The problem was that he in truth had a friend in the same area as Lost Pond by the name of Michael McKeogh. McKeogh was a freelance reporter who delivered the weekly reports Knowles wrote on birch bark to the Post. McKeogh lived in a comfortable camp with a large supply of Knowles’ favorite bottled beer. The first problems regarding Knowles’ claims came from detractors who said that it was impossible to dispatch a deer and a bear the way the Maine Tarzan said he had. Then someone said his bearskin had been tanned. Later, bullet holes were found in his handmade berry basket. The Post, however, found reputable authorities who said that it would be possible to kill animals in the man-

ner Knowles claimed. Knowles was willing to prove it too. He went and got a bear and had it placed in a pit in the area of Lost Pond. Then with a number of witnesses looking on, he clubbed it to death. (It was now winter and the bear was just barely removed from a state of full hibernation.) The next thing Knowles did was to find a sharp stone and commence skinning it. That seemed to settle the matter, and all would have been well except Knowles was then caught in a bold-faced lie. As the American Adam and his observers left the area they passed by Lost Pond. There, members of the party asked him about a newly constructed camp that was readily visible on the shore. Knowles said he had never seen it. One of the party was Helon Taylor. Later Taylor said that he knew Knowles was lying and that he lost all faith in him at that moment. Knowles had to

have known about the camp which had a four-foot pile of tin cans and beer bottles out back. In 1917 Joe Knowles moved to Portland, Oregon. Here he worked for a Boy Scout camp and began a relatively successful career as an artist. His commissions went as high as $5000. Today, Joseph Knowles is known for works like Indians on Horseback and Deserts Edge. They provide him with a legacy far removed from his notoriety as the north woods Tarzan. Joseph Knowles died in 1942. At the time of his death, the Portland Press Herald paid tribute to him as “Maine Woods Victor.”

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Western Lakes & Mountains

The Remarkable Journey Of Samuel Merrill

From Turner to the Iowa’s Governor’s office by James Nalley

n the early 19th century, the town of Turner was a quiet agricultural community where the seasons dictated daily life, and most families had roots stretching back generations. It was here, on August 7, 1822, that Samuel Merrill was born, the youngest son of Abel Merrill Jr. and Abigail Hill Merrill. Few in the small Oxford County town could have imagined that the boy raised among fields and stone fences would one day become a Civil War colonel and later the governor of a rapidly growing Midwestern state. In rural Maine during the 1820s and

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1830s, education was one of the few reliable paths to advancement. Merrill attended local schools and displayed early intellectual promise. As a young man, he began teaching himself while also instructing others — a common practice in New England, where bright students often became teachers for the next generation. A contemporary account in the Annals of Iowa later observed that Merrill had grown up in “a region where education and moral independence were considered essential virtues,” values that would shape his later political convictions.

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er town of McGregor, Iowa, along the Mississippi River. There he entered the mercantile trade, establishing a drygoods business that supplied settlers and farmers throughout the region. McGregor, a booming shipping point for grain and supplies, quickly became the backdrop for Merrill’s emergence as a respected businessman and civic leader. But national events would soon redirect his path. When the Civil War erupted in April 1861, Merrill joined local leaders in organizing volunteer regiments. He became colonel of the 21st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment, leading men from across the state. In a wartime letter to Iowa Governor Samuel J. Kirkwood, Merrill expressed the sense of duty that motivated many Union officers: “The men under my command are determined that the Union shall not perish. They understand the cause for which they fight and are ready to en-

Other 19th-century accounts describe Merrill as a serious and disciplined young man who valued learning. Reflecting on his upbringing, he later wrote, “The culture of our New England towns…placed strong emphasis on education and civic responsibility. Every man was expected to take part in the welfare of the community.” By the 1840s, as Merrill reached adulthood, the United States was grappling with increasingly bitter debates over slavery and national identity. Seeking opportunity beyond rural Maine, he traveled south to teach, hoping to build a career. The experience would profoundly shape him. In the slaveholding South, Merrill encountered a social system that clashed sharply with the moral outlook he had absorbed in Maine. The sight of enslaved people and the rigid racial hierarchy deeply disturbed him, and he did not keep his views private. Openly

criticizing slavery and its contradiction with the nation’s founding ideals, he quickly drew hostility from residents. In a society where the institution was both an economic system and a deeply defended social order, the young schoolteacher was seen as an unwelcome agitator. The tension soon made his position untenable, forcing him to return north. Years later, he reflected on the experience as a formative moment. “The system I witnessed,” he wrote, “was wholly at variance with the principles of liberty upon which our republic rests. I came away convinced that such an institution could not endure in a nation dedicated to freedom.” What began as a search for professional opportunity had become a moral awakening. Like thousands of Americans seeking new prospects in the mid-19th century, Merrill eventually looked west. In 1856, he settled in the frontier riv-

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dure whatever hardships may come.” The 21st Iowa saw action in several major campaigns. At the Battle of Black River Bridge, the regiment charged across open ground under intense fire, helping to break the Confederate line and force a retreat toward Vicksburg, Mississippi. The fighting was brutal. Merrill was seriously wounded in the hip but refused to leave the field until the Confederate defenses had collapsed and the bridge was secured. A regimental report described the moment: “Colonel Merrill, though severely wounded, remained calm and resolute while the line advanced. His courage steadied the regiment as they pressed forward against the enemy works.” The victory at Black River Bridge opened the final path to Vicksburg. Within days, Union forces began the siege that culminated in the city’s surrender on July 4, 1863, giving the Union full control of the Mississippi

Battle of Big Black River Bridge, from Harper’s Weekly in June 1863.

River. Merrill’s wound ended his active command, but his leadership in the campaign cemented a reputation for bravery that would propel him into political office. In 1867, he was elected governor of Iowa, becoming the state’s seventh

chief executive. His tenure coincided with a period of dramatic growth. Railroads rapidly expanded, linking agricultural communities to national markets and helping transform Iowa into one of the nation’s leading farming states. Merrill emphasized the impor-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com tance of education and infrastructure in building a prosperous society. In one address, he declared, “The strength of a commonwealth not only lies in its fields and commerce, but in the intelligence and virtue of its people,” reflecting the same New England values that had shaped his early life in Turner. After leaving the governorship in 1872, Merrill remained active in business and public affairs. Later in life, he moved west again, eventually settling in California. He died in Los Angeles in 1899 at the age of 77. The journey of Samuel Merrill — from a farm boy in Maine to a Civil War colonel and governor — captures the restless energy and moral conviction of a nation in expansion. It also reminds us that the leaders who shaped the United States often began in places far from the centers of power, guided by principles instilled in their earliest years.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

The Shaker Movement In Western Maine by Terry Hussey

Creating a heaven on earth

he Shakers who lived in Maine were part of a larger movement that had quite a large following in the nineteenth century. It is estimated that seventy thousand people in the United States dwelled among the Shakers for all or part of their lives. Their colonies spread from Maine to Indiana, and the colony at New Gloucester and Poland was one of the last that was active in the movement. The colony in Gorham closed in 1819, the one in Alfred not until 1932. Longest lasting of the communitarians, they were far ahead of their time in a number of ways. They

gave equal rights to women, equality to all races, opposed war, and sheltered the poor and homeless. They showed enormous ingenuity in their work and strove for perfection in all phases of their lives. The Shakers were founded by Ann Lee who was born in England in 1736. Even as a child she was endowed with divine gifts of visions, revelations, and prophecies. She was, early in her life, affiliated with the Quaker movement in England, and as such was bitterly persecuted. She was stoned and imprisoned, and yet seemed always to be able to rise above her persecutors. So great

was her wisdom and faith that her followers always called her Mother Ann. Mother Ann received a revelation in 1774 that she should go to America. She and eight followers took off on a vessel called the Mariah which had been condemned as unseaworthy. On board ship, the little group continued with their usual forms of worship even though the Captain threatened them with death. Their loud singing and dancing offended the Captain, but they continued on. Suddenly a terrible storm struck the little ship, and the boat sprang a leak. The Captain told his pas-

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com sengers there was no hope. Surely they would all be drowned. “Nay, Captain,” Mother Ann countered with absolute certainty, “Be of good cheer. Not one hair of our heads shall perish.” She had seen a vision of two angels standing by the mast. Her prophecy proved correct. A sudden pounding wave replaced the board which caused the leak and all were spared. The storm abated, and the group landed safely. Mother Ann and her followers settled in Niskayuna, New York, north of Albany. Mother Ann and her followers also went out on the road to recruit new members. They were frequently persecuted because their religion seemed to break up families and churches. The Shakers seemed to be fearless in facing angry mobs, but the beatings and hardships they suffered shortened their lives. Mother Ann died at the age of forty-eight. In November of 1783, Elisha Pote,

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Nathan Freeman, and Enoch Waite came from the Shaker colony at Gorham to what was then called Thompson Pond Plantation. We know this area today as Sabbathday Lake and the towns of New Gloucester and Poland. Their singing and dancing attracted many new believers to the sect. People came from miles around to watch the dancing for which they were known and some stayed to become members. They believed the dancing and shaking rid them of sin. A Shaker Society was organized in New Gloucester in April of 1794 under Elder John Barnes, who presided over the Society in Alfred as well. They raised a meetinghouse in the Dutch style, a style which we today characterize as Shaker. “Put your hands to work and give your hearts to God,” said Mother Ann, and they did. The life of the community was patterned after that of the first Christians

as described in the New Testament. Renouncing marriage and personal property, they lived simply and selflessly. They believed that the personal ties of marriage would distract them from their call to serve God. They shared all their belongings and lived together in common. They built a grist mill, a sawmill, a carding machine, and a large three-story stone dwelling house and chapel which could accommodate a hundred worshippers. Not only was the community self-sufficient, but they also made wooden articles and sheeting and shirting to sell in Portland. They packaged seeds for sale and did hand weaving of very fine cloth on a loom which they had constructed. They took into their number orphans and unwanted children, widowed mothers, and handicapped children — a real service to society at a time when there was no Department of Welfare. So great was their industry that they

(cont. on page 40)

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Western Lakes & Mountains

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were able to acquire more land in time, holding over nineteen hundred acres, most of which is in the town of New Gloucester, the remainder in the town of Poland where they operated a farm. In 1794, a decade after Mother Ann’s death, there were ten Shaker communities in New England — New Lebanon, New York; Harvard, Hancock, Tyringham, and Shirley in Massachusetts; Enfield in Connecticut, Canterbury and Enfield in New Hampshire; and Gorham, Alfred, and New Gloucester in Maine. “Make room for thousands,” was their cry, and the members sacrificed in order to bring their message to others. In 1805 three Shakers from the New Lebanon community put their baggage on a single horse and walked the twelve hundred miles to Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, where they believed they were called to bring great numbers into their fold. By the middle of the nineteenth century, there were eighteen

Shaker Societies and a membership of six thousand. The Shakers were organized under a ministry of four persons, two of each sex, who presided over two or more societies. They directed the spiritual affairs, advised in temporal affairs, and had authority to appoint members to office. Next of importance were the elders, who presided at the head of each family, led the meetings, and directed all minor matters pertaining to the family. The trustees were two or more persons who composed the board which was entrusted with the management of the temporal affairs of the community. It was their belief in celibacy that ultimately led to the demise of the Shakers as a religious force in this country. They separated husbands and wives who came to them. They separated children from their parents and then separated the boys from the girls. All the adults were responsible for all

the children. They raised hundreds of children who came to them, but few of the children they raised remained to sign the covenant and give their lives to God. It was even said that there were many a “winter Shaker” who would put up with what he felt was a lot of foolish religious ceremony in order to guarantee a warm, well-fed winter. The last male Shaker at the Sabbathday Lake colony in Maine died in 1961. Nine of the sisters outlived him, but the end of the community was clearly in sight. The Sabbathday Lake colony supported themselves by leasing their fruit orchards and selling their corn and potato crop. They also maintained a woodlot and three gravel pits. They made craft items and packaged herbs which they sold at fairs and at a shop at the community. In 1984 Sister Mildred of the Sabbathday Lake community, in her nineties, won a National Heritage Fellowship for keeping alive the rich

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com inheritance of Shaker song which she learned as a child among the Believers at the Alfred community. Even at the death of the last Shaker, the community leaves behind a rich heritage of song (more songs than any other religious denomination it is said), architecture, and furnishings. More than most reformers, they succeeded in creating a heaven on earth. They showed the world it was possible to live self sufficiently in harmony and peace. They were the first to promote true equality of the sexes, and they lived in warm, loving communities with no crime and no poverty. As Mother Ann had instructed, they gave their hands to work and their hearts to God.

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Harrison’s Melville Ingalls

The railroad man who helped shape the Midwest by James Nalley

n the quiet town of Harrison, where pine forests edge up against clear lakes and life still moves at an unhurried pace, it is difficult to imagine that one of the most influential railroad executives of the 19th century once called this place home. But Melville Ingalls did just that. From these modest surroundings, he rose to play a key role in building the rail networks that helped define modern America. Melville Ingalls was born on September 6, 1842, in Harrison, where he spent his early years working on the family farm. In a town shaped by rural rhythms and close-knit community life, his path might easily have remained local. Instead, he began teaching at the

— Melville Ingalls —

age of sixteen, marking the first step away from the world he was born into. He continued his education at North Bridgton Academy before entering Bowdoin College, one of Maine’s most established institutions. From there, he went on to Harvard Law School, graduating in 1863. It was a trajectory that carried him steadily outward — from a small farming town into the professional centers of the Northeast. After completing his studies, Ingalls returned briefly to Maine to begin practicing law in Gray. But like many ambitious young professionals of his era, he soon moved again, this time to Boston, Massachusetts. There, he developed a strong reputation in corporate law, with (cont. on page 44)

Western Lakes & Mountains

44 (cont. from page 43)

expertise in transportation systems and railroad enterprises at a moment when rail lines were rapidly reshaping the American economy. That legal background would prove decisive. Ingalls entered the railroad industry not as an engineer or builder, but as a lawyer trained to understand contracts, systems, and the growing complexity of corporate organization. It was a skill set that aligned closely with the changing nature of American business in the post-Civil War period. His story mirrors a much larger shift. As historian Alfred D. Chandler Jr. famously argued, the rise of massive enterprises such as railroads brought about the “visible hand” of management, an era when coordination and organization began to shape the economy as much as markets themselves. Ingalls was one of the figures who made that system work in practice. Born into this new professional

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world of expanding opportunity, he built his career steadily, earning a reputation for discipline and administrative skills. Eventually, he rose to become president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad, known as the “Big Four,” a system that linked some of the Midwest’s most important cities. Running a railroad of that scale required more than ambition. It demanded coordination, precision, and long-term thinking. This was the kind

of leadership Chandler described, focused less on individual deals and more on managing complex systems. Under Ingalls’s direction, the priority was steady growth and dependable operation. Company reports spoke of maintaining the railroad “in a high state of efficiency” while ensuring the “steady development of its traffic,” language that reflects a careful, methodical approach rather than speculation. To understand Ingalls’s impact, it helps to consider what railroads meant in his time. They were not just a way to get from one place to another — they were engines of transformation. Economic historian Robert William Fogel showed how railroads dramatically reduced transportation costs and expanded markets. Farmers could ship crops farther, manufacturers could expand production, and cities could grow at unprecedented rates. To many observers, the change felt (cont. on page 46)

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46 (cont. from page 44)

almost unreal. Railroads seemed to annihilate space and time, bringing distant regions into closer connection. Through the lines he managed, linking Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis, Ingalls helped turn that idea into reality. Those cities would go on to become major economic centers, and the routes between them shaped the fortunes of countless communities along the way. Ingalls’s influence did not stop at the rails. In Cincinnati, he became a leading figure in business and finance, contributing to the city’s rise as a commercial center. Later, as president of the New York Central Railroad, he stood at the center of one of the most powerful transportation networks in the country. His career reflects a broader transformation in American business, toward professionally managed, large-scale enterprises. That legacy is not only abstract. It

is still visible in the physical and geographic landscape that bears his name. He financed the construction of the Ingalls Building in Cincinnati, completed in 1903 and widely regarded as one of the earliest reinforced concrete skyscrapers in the world. The town of Ingalls, Indiana, also carries his name, a quieter but lasting reminder of the reach of his influence beyond the railroad lines he once helped shape. Despite his national reach, Ingalls’s life ended far from his Maine beginnings. He died on July 11, 1914, at the age of 71 in Hot Springs, Virginia, and was laid to rest in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, a fitting resting place in the city where he had left such a lasting mark. And yet, there is something fitting about where his story begins. Harrison represents the kind of place that stood to benefit from the very systems Ingalls helped build — small communities

drawn into a wider national network. As John F. Stover observed, railroads “bound the nation together into an integrated economic unit.” Ingalls was one of the people doing that binding. Today, the world looks very different, but the patterns established during the railroad age remain. The cities once linked by the Big Four are still major economic centers, and the idea that connectivity drives growth feels almost self-evident. Melville Ingalls is not a widely remembered figure. He was not an inventor or a showman. His legacy lies in execution, in his ability to manage, expand, and stabilize complex systems during a period of rapid change. It is a quieter kind of legacy, but an enduring one. History is shaped not only by bold visionaries, but also by those who make those visions work, building the structures others come to depend on.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

ryeburg Fair, established in 1851, runs October 4-11, eight full days, Sunday to Sunday. This year is the 176th fair and, as always, is about agriculture, farming, history, and fall fun. President Dave Hastings says, “Every fall we welcome everyone to the greatest show in Maine. It’s like a big reunion. A wonderful tradition that we all look forward to.” Tickets are $15/day. Night Shows are included in that price. Children under 12 are always free. Tuesday, October 6th is Senior Citizen’s Day and fairgoers 65 & over are free. Daily tickets can be pre-purchased online or at the gate. Weekly passes (all 8 days) are $100 and must be purchased in person at the Fair. Gates are open daily at 7 am and close at 10 pm (later with large crowds).

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our Tractor & Big Rig Pull! The Lawn Mower Races were a huge hit in their first year. Bill Aube, Superintendent of this area, says, “We had an awesome crowd last year so we’ll keep going! We hope to have few more tractors this year. Jackson Schultz will be back to announce. He’s the announcer at Oxford Plains.” Good news – anyone can enter – but you have to pass through a tech inspection and follow strict rules which can be found on our website. This event is so fun to watch! George Weston, Livestock Chairman, says, “We’re looking forward to our usual big display of livestock. We’re pleased to report that we will be having duck herding again. We have the green light from the state on it after dealing with the bird flu.” George, now 83, has not missed a Fryeburg Fair during his entire lifetime! “I was

DiscoverMaineMagazine.com brought up with animals and the farm life at Fryeburg Fair. Every year I enjoy seeing the agricultural people come back and show. We have very loyal families. The camaraderie couldn’t be better. And I look forward to seeing the fairgoers too. I would request that we have some good fall weather!” David Andrews, General Superintendent, reports the Fair has built several new handicapped accessible picnic tables designed for wheelchair access. The main gate arch is being rebuilt and expanded after years of getting knocked about by big trucks coming and going. Regular repairs and maintenance to the buildings and grounds are ongoing and constant. Donna Flint, Head of the 4-H Department says, “At Fryeburg we have the largest group of 4-H youth showing livestock and exhibiting in the 4-H Hall. To support 4-H, I’d suggest fairgoers go through the Exhibit Hall, attend our AGDA dairy goat, market shows, Friday’s calf scramble and auction. On Saturday and Sunday we have dairy, sheep, swine, working steer, and beef heifer classes. In each livestock group, youth must demonstrate showmanship where they are judged on their appearance, knowledge of their animal and other breeds. They also must demonstrate knowledge of events happening in their industry. And most importantly they are judged on their attitude towards fellow showmen and the public. Come see the future of agricul-

ture in action!” We welcome everyone to be a part of the Fryeburg Fair family by exhibiting and entering your best garden vegetables, baked goods, quilts, canned/ jarred/preserved foods, photographs, artwork, oil paintings, plants, floral arrangements, crocheting, sewing and other areas of homemade and handmade items by you for judging at our Agricultural Exhibition Center. All details are on our website along with easy online entering. Deadline for entering is August 15th – go to www.fryeburgfair.org. Woodsmen’s Field Day is on Monday, October 5th starts at 9 am and runs all day. This 58th annual event is one of the largest spectator woodsmen’s event in North America. Contestants compete in 30 woods skills events such as log loading, grapple skidder, buck-

saw, chainsaw, springboard chop, log rolling and axe throwing. Steve Goldsmith, Co-Chair of Woodsmen’s Field Day, says, “We’re looking forward to another great year with our U.S. and Canadian contestants. We will miss our friend Dave Weathers, who was our head judge. Dave passed in March. He had been here forever and we always appreciated his exertise and contributions.” The Women’s Skillet Throw, open to all who want a chance to participate, starts at noon on Monday, October 5th followed directly by the Men’s Anvil Toss. Sign up on Monday by 10:30 am at the Livestock Office. Annette Bennett Metcalf, owner of The Country Skillet Restaurant in Naples, Maine, organizes and narrates the toss events and they are so fun! “The Fryeburg Fair Farm Museum (cont. on page 50)

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Western Lakes & Mountains

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is excited to welcome new and familiar faces this year at the 2026 fair,” says Curator Erlon Jones. “We have a wonderful array of live demonstrators that are educational and entertaining. This year we are adding homemade corn brooms, canoe making, and wooden spoon production. The museum has activities for all ages including the ever-popular rubber duck races, old-fashioned hand pumps and ice cream making that are always hits with visitors. We have made many improvements to the buildings this year and are featuring new educational exhibits. Come see us!” One of the best features of Fryeburg Fair – the FOOD options. Whether baked, fried, sizzled or grilled, you name it. Fries, onion rings, sausage, pizza, seafood, gluten-free, fruit crips, donuts, ice cream, soups, wraps, Mexican, Thai, Korean, the options are fun and yummy! The challenge is in deter-

mining what to pick! We have exciting Harness Racing at Fryeburg Fair! You can enjoy and bet on the races from the Grandstand, the infield area or the trackside Beer Tent by Rustic Taps located on the north side of the track. You’ll find super selections of beer and wine along with outstanding wood fired pizza. Harness Racing runs Tuesday thru Sunday with ten races a day. Superintendent Kim Pike, says, “Racing at Fryeburg Fair is a century old tradition and it’s fun to the finish, as they say! Our horsemen love Fryeburg because of the great track conditions and maintenance and the big crowds that always cheer them on. There’s nothing like an exciting afternoon at the races. It’s a Maine tradition.” We have a second Beer Tent by Rustic Taps on the south side of the Fair near the Natural Resources building. Our Mechanical Pulls start on Sunday, October 4th at 4 pm with the Trac-

tor & Big Rig Pull. The 4x4 Truck Pull is on the last Sunday, October 11th starting at 3:30 pm. This is the 51st year of Mechanical Pulls at Fryeburg Fair. Superintendent Matt Bryant has been involved since 2004 and says, “The pulls are very popular. The people who like it best are the ones doing it! You’ve also got to be a little crazy to do this as a hobby. It’s a noisy, gas-powered, diesel passion for many. And family spectators love it.” Matt has 18 employees working the pulls, keeping stats and making sure everything runs well and safely. On Tuesday tractor pulls at the Swine & Goat Grandstand start at 9 am and include lawn and garden size up to full-size tractors. Tuesday is also Antique Tractor Show Day and they are displayed on the north side of the Swine & Goat Grandstand. Ron Winship is the organizer of this display and says, “We have many different collectors with vintage tractors, some nicely

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com restored, going back to as far as the 30’s. Farmalls, John Deere, it’s a tribute to tractors of the past.” Dreamland Amusements, back for their 5th year at Fryeburg Fair, promises incredible Rides as always! Ride wristbands are the best bargain. $30 each (Monday thru Thursday), $35 for Fridays & weekend days. Follow our Facebook page for pre-Fair super bargain ride bracelet sales. Our 2026 Night Show Roster: Monday, October 5-Peter Allen & Hurricane Mountain (Country); Tuesday, October 5-Plain White T’s (Pop Rock); Wednesday, October 7-Craig Morgan (Country); Thursday, October 8-Recycled Percussion (High Energy Rock & Hip Hop); Friday, October 9-The Castellows (Country) with Fireworks and Saturday, October 10-Motor Booty Affair (70’s disco). All Night Shows start at 8 pm at the Grandstand and are included in our daily ticket price of $15.

Besides our Night Shows, we have five-day entertainment stages with spectacular talent performing at all of them. See who’s playing by referring to our Daily Entertainment Guide from our website or pick one up outside the Main Gate Office. The Grand Parade on Saturday, October 10th begins at 10 am and usually runs about 90 minutes. Lots of draft horse hitches, prize-winning oxen, cows and other livestock. Sit in the grandstand with some of our delish breakfast selections and coffee and enjoy this opportunity to relax before you launch on a big fair day enjoying the rides, the animal barns and very talented entertainers everywhere. Plenty of room to sit and rest on the fairgrounds as you take it all in. Camping at Fryeburg, Maine’s largest fair, provides the shortest commute! We have 3,000 campsites and one with your name on it. For reservations, call

207-935-2912 or email camping@fryeburgfair.org. Getting here & traffic – Our rural roads require everyone’s compliant participation. Traffic leaving from the Swan’s Falls Gate (south of the Main Gate) must turn South when exiting. North of the Main Gate must turn North when leaving. Our employees will direct you. Always best to arrive early and stay late. Plenty of seating and resting spots at the Fair. Weekends and perfect fall weather days are busiest. Adjust your plans accordingly. The good news – our ticket lines move fast and even faster if you buy them online! Follow us on Facebook & Instagram during Fair week for daily news and photos. Better yet come be in our news and photos! Fryeburg Fair. A family tradition since 1851. Love it as a child and come back with your own children and grandchildren. We’ll be waiting for you. www.fryeburgfair.org

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When Mechanic Falls Was Bog Falls A vibrant town on the Little Androscoggin by Charles Francis

n the 1920s the town of Mechanic Falls had the hustle and bustle of a city and also the small town charm of a New England village from the previous century. The town boasted lumber and paper mills, iron and steel foundries, marble and granite works, leather tanneries and brick manufacturers. Balancing these busy industries were the town’s old colonial style homes and more modest family dwellings set back from quiet elm and maple-lined streets. Since that time, Mechanic Falls has gone through a number of changes. In 1920 the town’s population was 1,614. Today it hovers near three thousand.

The industries of the 1920s have vanished. The last paper mill, Marcal Paper, closed its doors in 1981. The elms are gone as well, victims of Dutch elm disease. Yet there remains a sense of a small New England village of yesteryear. It dates back to the days when Mechanic Falls was still a part of Minot and Poland, and most everyone referred to their community as Bog Falls. Mechanic Falls was incorporated as a town on March 22, 1893. That name, or at least a form of it, was in use as early as the 1840s, however. In 1841 the first post office in the village center used the name of Mechanics Falls

for addressing purposes. The name was chosen for the number of machine-related industries in the community, which included shoe manufacturing, iron mongering, and lumber milling. The name Bog Falls, which the grandparents of today’s residents were quite familiar with, is even older. The name Bog Falls refers to the community’s geography. Mechanic Falls is situated on the Little Androscoggin River. A section of the community includes a long stretch of marshy land along the banks of the river. It was this marshy area that gave rise to the name Bog Falls.

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Businesses on Main Street in Mechanic Falls that suffered from a flood in 1896. Item # 6001 from the collections of the Maine Historical Society and www.VintageMaineImages.com

(cont. on page 54)

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Western Lakes & Mountains

(cont. from page 53) Canada. None other than the legendary Kit Carson swore by the Evans Sporting Rifle. Carson claimed to have shot the eyebrows off his wife from twenty paces with it. In a testimonial, Carson said, “I think the Evans is the safest and most complete repeating system ever devised.” He went on to say that this was why he used it in demonstrations where he shot an apple from his wife’s hand, a pipe from her mouth, and a penny from her fingers. Gun enthusiasts today regard an Evans Repeating Rifle as a great collectible. Another early Bog Falls industry, one that even predates papermaking, was the manufacture of shoes and boots. In the early 1840s Joseph and Josiah Appleton Bucknan opened J. & J.A. Bucknan, a company that specialized in the manufacture of cowhide boots and women’s and kids’ shoes. J.A. Bucknan was the dominant figure in the partnership. Over the years he

operated a variety of businesses in Bog Falls, with partners and on his own. They included a grocery store, a clothing store, and a hotel. Paper milling was, of course, the dominant industry of Mechanic Falls. The first mill was founded in about 1850. The Waterford Paper Mills were probably the most innovative and successful of the early ventures. Waterford also spanned the years before and after the incorporation of the town of Mechanic Falls. At its peak, Waterford Paper employed some three hundred workers, and had shipments averaging two hundred thousand dollars a month. Waterford imported bleached sulphate wood pulp for manufacturing bond, ledger, and writing paper. Its specialties included ruled paper for school use, billheads, statements, and similar products. It also produced writing pads and rolls for adding machines and registers. Freight car lots of Waterford products

were shipped as far west as California and as far south as Florida. While Bog or Mechanics Falls industries made their mark on the community, so did individuals who had nothing to do with manufacturing. One of these was an evangelist, Frank Lamb. Lamb, also a composer, was one of the most popular soloists of his day. In addition to writing the still popular The Bird with the Broken Wing and In the Crimson Blush of Morning, Lamb was song leader and soloist in over a hundred evangelical tours that traveled the eastern United States and Canada. Born in what was then a part of Poland, Maine in 1855, Lamb called Mechanic Falls home for his entire life. The early history of Mechanic Falls when it was Bog Falls and Mechanics Falls is a fascinating one. Modern town officials and residents are constantly working to adjust to the ever-changing economic demands of a new era.

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Western Lakes & Mountains

My Days In A Rural Maine Schoolhouse by Flora Noble Leysens

Memories of yesterday

When I started school in Hiram in 1924, the Mt. Cutler School consisted of a four-room building with eleven grades ranging from sub-primary through the second grade of high school. Sub-primary was a sort of “training camp” for children like me who would not reach their sixth birthday until January of the next year when they would be eligible for first grade. If you lived more than two miles from the school, you could be transported by a “school team” which was a horse and wagon or sleigh. Johnny, whose bulk took up more room than all his passengers combined, carried the “town” kids, and Emma was the driver for the ones who lived on Hiram Hill. The rest of us walked, regardless of weather, and Maine weather gives you just about everything. If Emma didn’t have a full load she would offer to pick up those of us who were trudging along, and if there were room for two, my friend Bernice and I would hop on, but if only one could go, we would both walk. We were practically joined at the hip throughout our school days and still share that friend-

ship even though we’re a thousand miles apart. Once inside the school, we hung up our coats on a row of pegs in the hallway and put our galoshes and lunch pails on the floor beneath them. We usually carried lunch in a lard pail and our backpacks were green felt drawstring book bags made by our mothers. No keys were needed for those lockers. During our first year in the primary room, Mrs. Giles was our teacher and we loved her. For some children the transition from the home nest to the outside world of school can be rough, but Mrs. Giles had that tender touch. On cold days she would put potatoes, each marked with a child’s initials, on a ledge inside the big furnace in the front of the room so we could have one hot item for lunch (maybe that was the start of the hot lunch program?). My favorite part of the day was the time she set aside to read and I still remember my favorite books — Arlo and Clematis. Going into second grade we had a new teacher, Mrs. Rankin, who was just as prim and proper as Mrs. Giles was lenient and motherly. She was a

no-nonsense disciplinarian and if you broke her rules you took the consequences. I recall one very humiliating occasion when two of the town ladies dropped by to visit the school, and there I was sitting front row center with a band of yellow arithmetic paper pasted across my mouth, doing penance for whispering in class, and wishing as I squirmed to make myself smaller, that I was anywhere except in that school room. However, I must say, Mrs. Rankin was an excellent teacher. She stressed the “three Rs” but she also read a lot of poetry to us and we were expected to memorize it. I left her class able to recite The Sugar Plum Tree, The Gingham Dog and Calico Cat, Eugene Fields’ Little Boy Blue, as well as others. It’s a digression, but during the birth of my third son, the attending nurse said that under sedation I recited The Incident of the French Camp and The Gettysburg Address from start to finish (Mrs. Rankin, see what you started?). About the time I went into the third grade, we kids saw an awe-inspiring change take place at our school. They

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DiscoverMaineMagazine.com took away our long, wooden, out-door comfort station or “privy.” Whatever name you give it, a toilet is still a toilet. One side was for the girls, the other side for the boys, and there was always a lot of whispering and snickering among the boys who told the girls that they had drilled holes through the common wall so that they could spy on the girls. The girls, in turn, did a lot of tittering and giggling because they were hoping to find the holes so they could peek back at them. Anyway, this show was over because we suddenly found ourselves with indoor plumbing in the basement — tall cans (which posed a problem for us little, short-legged girls) with long chains that when pulled let loose a gusher, a cascade of water that was a joy to behold, particularly to those of us who didn’t have running water or electricity in our homes. Just pulling the chain was an adventure, and we made all sorts of excuses to go to the basement. The formal start of our school day was the march from outdoors up the stairs to our classroom, single file, boys first. Mr. Rowe stood like a sentinel beside the Victrola on the landing, ever alert for any disruption in the ranks. One day the boys started clutching the seat of the pants of the one in front of them and quick-as-a-flash a stentorian voice called out, “There will be no more grabbing in the rear, boys!” He must have had X-ray eyes — or could it have been the reflection in a framed glass picture at the foot of the stairs? Since those daily marches, I never fail to recognize The Washington Post March and Grieg’s Morning Song. Two events that I still recall from my grammar school days are the Improvement League Meetings (which bored me to yawns but were supposed to introduce us to parliamentary procedure), and the day of my Great Humiliation. From the first, I absorbed one thing, “Reading makes a free man, conversation a ready man, and writing an exact man.” Mr. Rowe decided to improve my enunciation because I wasn’t

Mt. Cutler in Hiram. Item # LB2007.1.101036 from the Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Co. Collection and www.PenobscotMarineMuseum.org

sounding the S on my plurals well. I had to stand in front of the whole room and do an exercise in pronunciation. He would say a plural word, which I was to repeat, emphasizing the last letter, such as, “girls - girlssss, boys - boyssss, flowers - flowerssss.” On and on this went, until finally we were down to just saying “ssss - ssss - ssss - ssss,” like two angry geese hissing at each other. I wanted to faint, die, or just be carried away by a big bird — anything to take me away from that awful humiliation. Nothing saved me, but to this day I don’t drop the S on plurals. I think I was in the seventh grade when our high school was discontinued and all the students were bussed to a larger school. Most of us went to Fryeburg Academy. The old textbooks were left behind and I used to browse through them, anticipating the time when I would be a “high-schooler.” I became fascinated by Latin, and for the first time, began taking books home and studying for fun. I pored over Latin 101, using the glossary and reading everything available. By the time I started high school in Brownfield, I was able to amaze my teachers with my translation of All Gaul is divided into Three Parts

and the story of Daedalus and Icarus. As a new student at The Bean Memorial High School, I felt like a stranger in a strange land. Getting through the eight years of basics at our school prepared us (we hoped) to become members of that institute of higher knowledge, a high school, and maybe for the more adventurous and wealthier, even college. For the time being we were just kids finishing another year of school, and we accepted as our due the closing day picnic provided for us by the parents and teachers. The older boys would put on an exhibition of broad-jumping, relay racing, rail balancing, and other sports. I will never forget the thrill of seeing Arthur Rankin sailing high over the bar in a pole vault. Younger students played games or had sack races and just reveled in their freedom, while proud mothers served lemonade from big, galvanized tubs, along with sandwiches, cake, and three-colored ice cream. For this final day of school each year, we could be as rowdy as we pleased (within limits, of course), and enter our summer vacation feeling well rewarded for our diligence.

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Golfers at the Poland Spring Resort in Poland, ca. 1925. Item # 156491 from the collections of the Maine Historical Society / MaineToday Media and www.VintageMaineImages.com

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Wilson & Co. ........................................................................14 Dan’s Automotive Repair & Sales..................................................6 Dark Star Fabrics.........................................................................20 Den’s Automotive Services, Inc. ................................................54 Design Architectural Heating......................................................38 Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers..........................................50 Dirigo Federal Credit Union.........................................................35 Dirigo Waste Oil...........................................................................14 Double T Fence............................................................................53 E.J. 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Hydraulic Solutions of New England...........................................27 Jackman Auto Parts......................................................................9 Jackman Motel............................................................................22 Jackman Power Sports................................................................21 Jimmy’s Shop ‘N Save...................................................................8 Joel Torrey Painting.......................................................................7 Joe’s Flat Iron Café......................................................................10 Johnny Castonguay Logging & Trucking.....................................32 Johnson Foundations..................................................................23 JT’s Superior Cleaning...................................................................7 JW Awning Co. ...........................................................................51 Keith Hadley Inc. ..........................................................................5 Kents Hill Orchard........................................................................33 Kersey Real Estate.......................................................................31 Kezar Realty................................................................................42 Kineo View Lodge........................................................................23 KP’s Seafood & Chicken..............................................................37 Kyes Insurance............................................................................28 L.R. Nadeau Inc. ........................................................................35 Lakes Region Power Systems......................................................17 Laney’s Pit Stop...........................................................................27 Langlois’ Collision Center Inc. ...................................................37 Larsen’s Electric.............................................................................5 Lavallee’s Garage...........................................................................8 Law Office of Brian D. Condon, Jr, Esq. ......................................34 Linkletter & Sons, Inc. ..................................................................5 Main Street Café.........................................................................50 Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.......................23 & 49 Maine Family Federal Credit Union.............................................36 Maine Historical Society..............................................................56 Maine Maple Products Inc. ........................................................10 Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.................................................16 Maine Pellet Sales LLC................................................................52 Mainely Puppies Plus, LLC..........................................................53 Mainely Veterinary Dentistry & Urgent Care..............................47 Maine’s Northwestern Mountains...............................................21 Mainiac Ink Screenprinting.........................................................20 Maynard’s in Maine.....................................................................21 McAllister Accounting and Tax Services.....................................51 McNaughton Construction..........................................................34 Mills Market..................................................................................6 Moose River Lodge & Motel.......................................................22 Moosehead Motorsports.............................................................22 Moulton Lumber.........................................................................55 Mount Blue Motel.......................................................................30 Naples Packing Co., Inc. ..............................................................6 NB Docks.....................................................................................20 Northeast Laboratory Services......................................................3 Old Mill Pub Restaurant..............................................................26 Oquossoc Grocery........................................................................17 Otis Federal Credit Union...........................................................31 Owls Head Transportation Museum............................................15 Oxford Casino..................................................................back cover Oxford Federal Credit Union.......................................................40 Pa’s Tradin’ Company...................................................................41 Pawz & Clawz Petz......................................................................54 Penobscot Marine Museum........................................................12 Pine Tree Orthopedic Lab.............................................................32 Pine Tree Paving..........................................................................41 Pitcher Perfect Tire Service..........................................................27 Pleasant River Lumber................................................................24 Presidential Pest Control.............................................................14 Prouty Auto Body........................................................................10 R&B’s Home Source.....................................................................25 R.E. Lowell Lumber Inc. ..............................................................38 R.S. Pidacks Inc. ..........................................................................51 R.W. Day Logging........................................................................55

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Rangeley Lakes Trails Center..........................................................6 Rangeley Region Sports Shop.....................................................19 Rangeley Saddleback Inn............................................................19 Rangeley Vacation Rentals..........................................................19 Rare Woods USA..........................................................................15 RDA Automotive..........................................................................52 Record Building Supply, Inc. ......................................................52 Redington-Fairview General Hospital..........................................26 Ricker Hill Orchards.....................................................................35 Rideout’s Seasonal Services........................................................24 Rio Bisbee Band..........................................................................14 Ron’s Market................................................................................50 Ron’s Transmissions.....................................................................51 Rottari Electric.............................................................................52 Route 26 Antiques & Flea Market................................................41 Rowell’s Garage Car Wash.............................................................9 Rowell’s Garage Sales & Service...................................................9 Russell & Sons Towing & Recovery..............................................42 S.A. McLean, Inc. .........................................................................44 Sackett and Brake Survey Inc.......................................................27 Sarge’s Pub & Grub......................................................................19 Seahorse Lounge.........................................................................17 Settlers Green..............................................................................13 Smile Again Dentures, Inc. ........................................................35 Smokin’ Good Times ME.................................................................9 Stanley Museum............................................................................8 Sterling Electric...........................................................................31 Stevens Electric & Pump Service Inc. ..........................................4 Strong Hardware & Building Supply..............................................7 Sturdy Hardware.........................................................................34 Styling Dog Grooming Boutique.................................................52 Sugarbowl Family Entertainment...............................................21 The Apple Farm...........................................................................28 The Black Horse Tavern...............................................................46 The Chapman House...................................................................37 The Farmer’s Daughter..................................................................6 The Lure Restaurant....................................................................17 The Meadows..............................................................................51 The Rangeley Inn & Tavern........................................................18 The Raven Collections.................................................................42 The Sterling Inn..........................................................................21 The Tribune Books & Gifts...........................................................53 The Village Donut Shop & Bakery................................................53 Thompson’s Orchard....................................................................38 Tim Merrill & Co., Inc. .................................................................25 Todd’s Discount & Gift Shop........................................................16 Town of Bridgton.........................................................................43 Town of Carthage..........................................................................5 Town of Mexico...........................................................................17 Trail’s End Steakhouse & Tavern...................................................8 U.F.O. Umbrella Factory Outlet...................................................45 Umbrella Factory Supermarket....................................................45 Valley Auto Parts...........................................................................8 Vasvary Electric...........................................................................51 Western Maine Glass...................................................................44 Whited Truck & Equipment Center..............................................37 Whitewater Farm Market............................................................11 Whittemore & Sons Outdoor Power Equipment..........................26 Willie’s Towing.............................................................................54 Wilson Excavating, Inc. ..............................................................53 Wilson Funeral Home....................................................................4 Windham Rental Center..............................................................47 Winslow Supply, Inc. ...................................................................11 Woodlawn Rehab & Nursing Center...........................................26 Wood-Mizer of Maine..................................................................11

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