Maine Memory Network

Rum, Riot, and Reform - The Continuing Debate

"Wine with dinner, beer at a ballgame, and champagne at a wedding are pleasures that many adults can enjoy without difficulty or overindulgence."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Reform and Repeal

"X Who Profits from Beer? Christian Civic League of Maine Collections of Maine Historical Society Coll."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1620 to 1820: New England's Great Secret

"… who had the right to drink the final allotment of beer. Considered medicine in Europe, where much of the water was polluted, alcohol was consumed…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Society Copes

"X Hires Root Beer Early 20th century Collections of Maine Historical Society 1997.248 Hires Root Beer was marketed as a "great temperance drink."…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Business as Usual

"… of Will Anderson and The Great State of Maine Beer Book X Portland City Directory 1903 Collections of Maine Historical Society While it…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Drinking Implements

"… a year, their home was intact and the jug of beer untouched. "Our fathers, having discarded everything else, betook themselves for recreation to…"

Prohibition in Maine in the 1920s

Federal Prohibition took hold of America in 1920 with the passing of the Volstead Act that banned the sale and consumption of all alcohol in the US. However, Maine had the Temperance movement long before anyone was prohibited from taking part in one of America's most popular past times. Starting in 1851, the struggles between the "drys" and the "wets" of Maine lasted for 82 years, a period of time that was everything but dry and rife with nothing but illegal activity.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Acknowledgements

"Adams Will Anderson, The Great, State of Maine Beer Book Bangor Historical Society Debra Verrier Barry Baxter Memorial Library Bowdoin College…"

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Politics and Enforcement

"Haley bought a beer manufactory in Biddeford and began bottling non-alcoholic beverages such as root beer in 1871."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - 1865 to 1919: The Drys Gain New Adherents and Leaders

"… their native culture through traditional beer or wine making. College students continued to see social drinking as a rite of passage."

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Drinking: Elegance and Debauchery

"X Ginger Beer Bottle, ca. 1825-1850 Bourne, Denby, England Stoneware Collections of Dyer Library / Saco Museum Increasingly soft drinks were…"

Sugar and Spice: Our Vintage Recipes

Sugar and Spice: Our Vintage Recipes showcases historic recipes, dating from the 18th century to the 1950s, like sweet treats, traditional favorites, promotional printings, medicinal concoctions, curious libations, and recipes that have fallen out of favor.

Rum, Riot, and Reform - Women Leaders and Temperance

"… carrying signs such as "Bread is better than beer". X W.C.T.U. Prohibition Progress ca."

Maine Eats: the food revolution starts here

From Maine's iconic lobsters, blueberries, potatoes, apples, and maple syrup, to local favorites like poutine, baked beans, red hot dogs, Italian sandwiches, and Whoopie Pies, Maine's identity and economy are inextricably linked to food. Sourcing food, preparing food, and eating food are all part of the heartbeat of Maine's culture and economy. Now, a food revolution is taking us back to our roots in Maine: to the traditional sources, preparation, and pleasures of eating food that have sustained Mainers for millennia.

Bookplates Honor Annie Louise Cary

A summer resident of Wayne collected more than 3,000 bookplates to honor Maine native and noted opera singer Annie Louise Cary and to support the Cary Memorial Library.

Passing the Time: Artwork by World War II German POWs

In 1944, the US Government established Camp Houlton, a prisoner of war (POW) internment camp for captured German soldiers during World War II. Many of the prisoners worked on local farms planting and harvesting potatoes. Some created artwork and handicrafts they sold or gave to camp guards. Camp Houlton processed and held about 3500 prisoners and operated until May 1946.

Sagadahoc County through the Eastern Eye

The Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company of Belfast, Maine. employed photographers who traveled by company vehicle through New England each summer, taking pictures of towns and cities, vacation spots and tourist attractions, working waterfronts and local industries, and other subjects postcard recipients might enjoy. The cards were printed by the millions in Belfast into the 1940s.