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Historical Items

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Item 11985

James Irish Letter to Samuel Cook, June 12, 1826

Contributed by: Cary Library Date: 1826 Location: Houlton; Houlton; Fredericton Media: Ink on paper

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Item 177

Observatory timber contract, Portland, 1807

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 1807-04-08 Location: Portland Media: Ink on paper

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Item 16805

Pickaroon, ca. 1850

Contributed by: Davistown Museum Date: circa 1850 Media: Forged iron and natural steel

Online Exhibits

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Exhibit

Southern Cross commemorative print, ca. 1928

Big Timber: the Mast Trade

Britain was especially interested in occupying Maine during the Colonial era to take advantage of the timber resources. The tall, straight, old growth white pines were perfect for ships' masts to help supply the growing Royal Navy.

Exhibit

The Life and Legacy of the George Tate Family

Captain George Tate, mast agent for the King of England from 1751 to the Revolutionary War, and his descendants helped shape the development of Portland (first known as Falmouth) through activities such as commerce, shipping, and real estate.

Exhibit

Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine

As early as 1633, entrepreneurs along the Piscataqua River in southern Maine utilized the force of the river to power a sawmill, recognizing the potential of the area's natural power sources, but it was not until the 1890s that technology made widespread electricity a reality -- and even then, consumers had to be urged to use it.

Site Pages

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Site Page

Shipbuilding Hewing Axe, Shipyard. Hallowell, ca. 1850's

Historic Hallowell - Shipbuilding

"… ship's knee above (a bracket to strengthen deck timbers) is of particular interest because it was found near the site of the City Wharf Shipyard…"

Site Page

Hallowell viewed from Chelsea, Hallowell Chelsea Bridge, ca. 1865

Historic Hallowell - In the Beginning - Raw Materials - Quarrying

"… in Maine the resource first exploited was timber, processed into potash was for export to Britain's soap-making industry."

Site Page

Peter Clark, Jr. House, Gows Lane, Hallowell, 1968

Historic Hallowell - A Bay State Exodus

"… worsening scarcities of land, hay, fish, lumber, timber and firewood in Southern New England’s old towns." A better life beckoned in the District…"