Maine Memory Network

Presque Isle: The Star City - Potato Harvest Memories - Page 1 of 5

"The bigger the potato field, the longer it would take to pick the potatoes. The pickers would make about 25 to 30 cents for a barrel."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Potato Harvest Memories - Page 2 of 5

"The seeds were potatoes from the year before. The potatoes would be on a rack and as they went by, Edwena would cut them into four pieces."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Potato Harvest Memories - Page 5 of 5

"There were good times in the potato fields and there were also bad times, too. But they always got though it."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 5 of 13

"Harvesting Potatoes INTO THE BASKET FIRST Potato Picker's Basket, Presque Isle, ca. 1940Presque Isle Historical Society After the potatoes…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Potato Harvest Memories - Page 4 of 5

"Potato Harvest Memories Out in the fields there were no outhouses. If the workers had to use the bathroom, they would put barrels around themselves."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 9 of 13

"Harvesting Potatoes A POTATO HARVESTING SCENE A Potato Harvesting Scene, Presque Isle, 1945Presque Isle Historical Society This painting by…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 10 of 13

"See how Presque Isle Middle School student Isaac's grandmother occupied her time in the potato field"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 6 of 13

"… farmers in Aroostook County used barrels to move potatoes from the field to storage. Other areas of the country used bags or baskets to do this."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 3 of 13

"This slowed things down, but gave a break to the potato pickers and other field workers. Worn lags would have to be replaced with new ones."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 8 of 13

"The truck was driven back to the potato field so that the empties could be dropped onto the picker's sections."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Harvesting Potatoes - Page 7 of 13

"Harvesting Potatoes ONTO THE TRUCK Sweetser Farm, Presque Isle, ca. 1900Presque Isle Historical Society Around 1900, barrels were transported…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Growing Up in Masardis - Page 3 of 4

"When they were old enough to earn money, they would order clothes through a catalog. Glenna walked to grade school, which was up in the field behind…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Moving to Maine: There to Here - Page 2 of 3

"My mother and father did have sweet potatoes, but they were the size of a twelve year-old’s fist. It was normal to eat only lunch and dinner in…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Fred Urquhart Farm, Presque Isle

"… fertilizer per acre, yielding 217 barrels of potatoes this field. Common fertilizers are rated as having certain variable percentages of nitrogen…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Native Americans

"With mechanization of logging and potato farming, the tribe’s economic role disappeared. The people were left to fend for themselves without any…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Birds Eye mobil combine, Aroostook County, ca. 1960

"… A Birdseye mobil combine for processing pea vines in the field. View additional information about this item on the Maine Memory Network."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Northeast Airlines DC-3, Presque Isle, ca. 1945

"… Mechanic Street bordering Presque Isle Army Air Field. Northeast Airlines DC-3s (as redesignated C-47s) and Northeast Airlines air crews performed…"

Presque Isle: The Star City - Moving to Maine: There to Here - Page 3 of 3

"She liked to pick flowers in a local field, and watch the clouds go by. Growing up, my mother didn’t have a TV or toys."

Presque Isle: The Star City - Riverside Park and Arboretum

"… 4.4 acre park space includes soccer and softball fields, a 30’ x 90’ support building, a lighted multi-use area, playground and picnic areas, boat…"

Acadian Archives

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

Aroostook Historical and Art Museum

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Guilford, Maine - BUSINESSES - Page 3 of 3

"Potatoes had given them a bigger profit when the times were getting hard. By 1879 over $25,000 worth of potatoes had come through Guilford."

Farmington: Franklin County's Shiretown - Agriculture

"Settled in 1780, the pioneers planted corn, potatoes and turnips to get them through the first winter."

Blue Hill, Maine - A Real Downeast County Fair

"… carameled apples to great French Fries from Maine potatoes to a lobster dinner. There is something for everyone."