Maine Memory Network

The fishing steamer "Novelty," Union Wharf, Portland, 1887

Contributed by: City of Portland - Planning & Development Date: 1887-02-21 Location: Portland Media: Photographic print

Strong Wood Turning Corp., Novelty Mill, Strong, ca. 1950

Contributed by: Strong Historical Society Date: circa 1950 Location: Strong Media: Photo negative

Fashion for the People: Maine's Graphic Tees

From their humble beginnings as undergarments to today's fashion runways, t-shirts have evolved into universally worn wardrobe staples. Original graphic t-shirts, graphic t-shirt quilts, and photographs trace the 102-year history of the garment, demonstrating how, through the act of wearing graphic tees, people own a part of history relating to politics, social justice, economics, and commemorative events in Maine.

From Sewers to Skylines: William S. Edwards's 1887 Photo Album

William S. Edwards (1830-1918) was a civil engineer who worked for the City of Portland from 1876-1906. Serving as First Assistant to Chief Engineer William A. Goodwin, then to Commissioner George N. Fernald, Edwards was a fixture in City Hall for 30 consecutive years, proving indispensable throughout the terms of 15 Mayors of Portland, including all six of those held by James Phineas Baxter. Edwards made significant contributions to Portland, was an outstanding mapmaker and planner, and his works continue to benefit historians.

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - III. Boom, bustle, bust: The Steamboat Years to WWII

"The first steam powered seiner, the Novelty, was commissioned in 1882, and was one of the largest vessels in the fishing fleet."

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - Baird's Quarry history

"Finally, the granite was loaded onto barges to be shipped to New York and Boston. Sometimes the barges were towed away from the wharf by a pulley and…"