Maine Memory Network

Home: The Longfellow House & the Emergence of Portland

The Wadsworth-Longfellow house is the oldest building on the Portland peninsula, the first historic site in Maine, a National Historic Landmark, home to three generations of Wadsworth and Longfellow family members -- including the boyhood home of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The history of the house and its inhabitants provide a unique view of the growth and changes of Portland -- as well as of the immediate surroundings of the home.

Designing Acadia

For one hundred years, Acadia National Park has captured the American imagination and stood as the most recognizable symbol of Maine’s important natural history and identity. This exhibit highlights Maine Memory content relating to Acadia and Mount Desert Island.

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.

Putting Men to Work, Saving Trees

While many Mainers were averse to accepting federal relief money during the Great Depression of the 1930s, young men eagerly joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of President Franklin Roosevelt's most popular programs. The Maine Forest Service supervised the work of many of the camps.

George F. Shepley: Lawyer, Soldier, Administrator

George F. Shepley of Portland had achieved renown as a lawyer and as U.S. Attorney for Maine when, at age 42 he formed the 12th Maine Infantry and went off to war. Shepley became military governor of Louisiana early in 1862 and remained in the military for the duration of the war.

We Used to be "Normal": A History of F.S.N.S.

Farmington's Normal School -- a teacher-training facility -- opened in 1863 and, over the decades, offered academic programs that included such unique features as domestic and child-care training, and extra-curricular activities from athletics to music and theater.

Home: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Portland - Census, Timeline

"… 1860 census, PortlandMaine Historical Society 1880 census page, PortlandMaine Historical Society 1900 census page, PortlandMaine…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Temperance Membership

"1850 Silk satin Collections of Maine Historical Society 2002.062.010 Men and women in Temperance societies wore ceremonial regalia at their meetings…"

Reuben Ruby: Hackman, Activist

Reuben Ruby of Portland operated a hack in the city, using his work to earn a living and to help carry out his activist interests, especially abolition and the Underground Railroad.

Home: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Portland - People of the Wadsworth-Longfellow House

"1880Maine Historical Society Only two families occupied the house – the family of Elizabeth Bartlett and Peleg Wadsworth who lived here between 1785…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Reform and Repeal

"Overindulgence post card, 1938Maine Historical Society I'm Making Whoopie-e at Old Orchard Beach, 1938 Postcard Collections of Maine Historical…"

Music in Maine - Kimball Drum, ca. 1860

"1860 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description Written on the top of the head of this drum is, "Frank C."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Bootleggers vs. Police

"X Still Copper Collections of Maine Historical Society 1998.39 a-c Cache of liquor, Portland, 1920Maine Historical Society/MaineToday…"

Maine and the Civil War - Letter from Daniel Lord to his wife, July 21, 1861

"… July 21, 1861 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description Daniel Lord wrote to his second wife, Lydia Patterson Lord of…"

Music in Maine - B-flat fife, ca. 1860

"1860 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description This fife was used by John Robbins when he was a drummer in the Civil War."

Music in Maine - Drumsticks, 1861

"Drumsticks, 1861 Contributed by Maine Historical Society Description Franklin C. Kimball (1844-1912) used these drumsticks while serving…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Quenching the Thirst

"… College, 1881 Collections of Maine Historical Society 378 B674Q-b Athian Lewey, West Grand Lake, 1898Maine Historical Society Atbian Lewey…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Politics and Enforcement

"1930Maine Historical Society City Hall Rum Room ca. 1911 Postcard Collections of Maine Historical Society X Big But Harmless The Maine…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Taverns, People, and Scenes

"Tavern sign, Raymond, ca. 1850Maine Historical Society Tavern Sign Maine, mid 19th century Painted wood Collections of Maine Historical Society…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Business as Usual

"1920Maine Historical Society John Ford ca. 1920 Collections of Maine Historical Society, Gannett Glass Plate Negative Collection One of the major…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Influential & Interesting Documents

"1803-1831 Watercolor Collections of Maine Historical Society This watercolor shows nearly every type of vessel involved in the Caribbean rum trade…"

Music in Maine - Music and Television

"… Historical Society Dave Astor show sign, ca. 1970Maine Historical Society Dave Astor's Horn, ca. 1960Maine Historical Society"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Neal Dow

"1885Maine Historical Society Neal Dow (1804-1897), ca. 1880 Collections of Maine Historical Society; gift of Nathan Goold X The Portland…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - A Call to Temperance

"… 19th century Collections of Maine Historical Society; gift of Marian Bucholtz, 1965 Broadside 282 This verse summarizes the hope of moral…"