Maine Memory Network
Maine's Online Museum

Stacked long lumber, Starbird Lumber Co., Strong, ca. 1957

Contributed by: Strong Historical Society

Date: circa 1957

Location: Strong

Media: Black & white photograph

Bangor Lumber Company lumbermen, ca. 1910

Contributed by: Bangor Public Library

Date: circa 1910

Location: Bangor

Media: Postcard

Bangor lumber mill workers, ca. 1905

Contributed by: Bangor Public Library

Date: circa 1905

Location: Bangor

Media: Custom Postcard

Lumber Storage and Mill, Brown Wharf Mill Building, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: F B Irvin Lumber Company

Use: Lumber Storage and Mill

155 Preble Street, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: Seavey Lumber Company

Use: Stable

464-464 Commercial Street, Portland, 1924

Owner in 1924: Wilson Lumber Company

Use: Office

Cooks and Cookees: Lumber Camp Legends

Stories and tall tales abound concerning cooks and cookees -- important persons in any lumber camp, large or small.

Princeton: Woods and Water Built This Town

Princeton benefited from its location on a river -- the St. Croix -- that was useful for transportation of people and lumber and for powering mills as well as on its proximity to forests.

Yarmouth: Leader in Soda Pulp

Yarmouth's "Third Falls" provided the perfect location for papermaking -- and, soon, for producing soda pulp for making paper. At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, Yarmouth was an international leader in soda pulp production.

Lincoln, Maine

The history of a long-time mill town as depicted by seventh and eighth grade students at Mattanawcook Junior High School, with help from Lincoln Historical Society and Lincoln Memorial Library. The site includes exhibits on the paper industry, founding fathers, wartime Lincoln, Main Street, influential institutions, and communication and transportation.

Strong, a Mussul Unsquit village

The history of a small western Maine community north of Farmington as told by a team consisting of Strong Historical Society, Strong Elementary School, and Strong Public Library. Exhibit topics include Strong's prominence in the wood products industry (it was once the "Toothpick Capital of the World"), the "Bridge that Changed the Map," schools and educational history, clubs and organizations, "Fly Rod" Crosby, the first Maine guide, and a rich student section related to the Civil War and post-Civil War era in the town.

Western Maine Foothills Region

Eleven communities comprise the Western Foothills Region, all interconnected yet each with its own unique, rich history. This site is the beginning of the towns sharing their stories with the world, each other, and the next generation. Working closely with local schools, six historical societies came together to help the next generation understand the heritage of their area. We invite you to explore our exhibits that celebrate the individuals and events that formed our communities.

Canadian immigrant founds worlds largest paper company in 1898

by Hugh J. Chisholm

Hugh J. Chisholm founded International Paper, which was the world's largest paper company in 1898.

I feel like there will always be a need for Paper

by Patricia Richards

The Paper Industry is very important to people in the Jay, Livermore Falls, and Rumford areas.

It was like a family in the mill

by Arnold R. Couture

I saw a lot of changes at the International Paper Otis Mill during my 26 years as an electrician