Maine Memory Network

Historic Hallowell - Prisons and Firearms

"Prisons and Firearms The information found in Hallowell’s annual reports described the Maine State Prison in the 1800’s."

Freedom & Captivity Portal

The Freedom & Captivity digital collection in the Maine Memory Network, and the complete digital archive housed at Colby Special Collections, is a repository of personal testimonies, ephemera, memorabilia, artifacts, and visual materials that capture multiple dimensions of the experiences of incarceration for individuals, families, and communities, as well as for survivors of harm.

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Prison Industries

"Prison Industries Quarry, State Prison, Thomaston, Maine c 1870Thomaston Historical Society Throughout the years, work industries programs for…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Maine State Prison

"Maine State Prison Model, Thomaston, MaineThomaston Historical Society The Maine State Prison stood in Thomaston from 1824 until it was razed in…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Prison leaves Thomaston - 2002

"The old prison was demolished in April of that year, leaving a wide empty grassy field and the southeast corner of the former prison wall remaining."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Prison is built - 1823 to 1824

"All transfer of prisoners was under the supervision of Dr. Daniel Rose, who had been appointed the first State Prison Warden."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Prison Fires - 1849 to 1924

"The hospital and some of the workshops were spared. None of the prisoners were hurt and many worked with fire fighters in helping to extinguish the…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Prison is Established - 1823

"He had a great interest in the reformation of criminals and became very involved in the layout of the new prison."

Aroostook Historical and Art Museum

View collections, facts, and contact information for this Contributing Partner.

Bath's Historic Downtown - Bath Savings Institution and Hyde Block

"Daniel's partner was sentenced to life in prison without chance of parole. Swanton Infantry Election Papers, Bath, 1863Patten Free Library Bath…"

Life on a Tidal River - Bangor and the Civil War

"Andersonville Prison Above is a sketch of Andersonville Prison as it appeared on August 1, 1864 when it contained 35,000 prisoners of war."

Life on a Tidal River - Bangor and the Civil War Resources

"… of United States Officers and Soldiers While Prisoners of War in the Hands of the Rebel Authorities."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Additions and New Wing - 1824 to 1843

"Prison Cells, Maine State Prison, Thomaston, Maine c 1900Thomaston Historical Society By 1843, after calls by inspectors for a new more humane…"

Swan's Island: Six miles east of ordinary - II. Pinkies, wherries, skiffs and chebaccos: Early Settlement

"Pelagie in 1830, an old man who now knew the prison as his home. After three days of freedom, Swan set out to turn himself back in, but died on the…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - The Carr O'Brien Block

"… sail loft, boot and shoe factory, clothing factory, and now houses the Prison Showroom, a retail outlet for products manufactured by prisoners."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Early Wharves and Yards - 1795 to 1825

"… Narrows on the George's River, an area below the prison site. J. Palfrey, a rigger, also worked at Paine’s wharf."

Malaga Island: a story best left untold - Maine State documents and Proclamations

"The report covers education, prisons, and libraries, among other topics. Of interest to the Malaga discussion is the report from the Committee on…"

Life on a Tidal River - Bangor and Social Reform Movements of the 1800s-1900s

"However, at one point Bangor also had what was called the Bangor Plan, which allowed hotels and such to serve alcohol if they went to court and paid…"

Eastern Maine Medical Center

View collections, facts, and contact information for this Contributing Partner.

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - The Paine House

"He carried on a successful trade in a store on the site of the Prison Store at the corner of Wadsworth Street."

Biddeford History & Heritage Project - The Civil War/Reconstruction Era as Experienced in Biddeford & Saco - Page 6 of 17

"… in Biddeford & Saco Report on cotton for prison, New Orleans, 1862Maine Historical Society Raw cotton was imported from the Southern States…"

Blue Hill, Maine - John Edward Horton, Civil War Soldier

"His diary of prison life tells of the horrendous living conditions at the prisons. Numerous people died every day."

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Notable Residents

"1871Thomaston Historical Society Benjamin Carr, Prison Warden from 1839-1850, and Edward O’Brien, shipbuilder and owner, built the Carr & O’Brien…"

Thomaston: The Town that Went to Sea - Home

"… of Major General Henry Knox EXPERIENCE the dark history of the Maine State Prison IMAGINE the hey-day of Thomaston's lucrative Shipbuilding era."