Maine Memory Network

Thomaston Academy and Congregational Meeting House, Thomaston, ca. 1855

Contributed by: Thomaston Historical Society Date: circa 1855 Location: Thomaston Media: Engraving, lithograph

Union Free Meeting House, Bingham, ca. 1890

Contributed by: Old Canada Road Historical Society Date: circa 1890 Location: Bingham Media: Photograph on heavy cardboard backing

Port of Portland's Custom House and Collectors of Customs

The collector of Portland was the key to federal patronage in Maine, though other ports and towns had collectors. Through the 19th century, the revenue was the major source of Federal Government income. As in Colonial times, the person appointed to head the custom House in Casco Bay was almost always a leading community figure, or a well-connected political personage.

Student Exhibit: Historic Buildings on Madison Ave in Skowhegan

Take a tour and see some of the beautiful old buildings that used to be on Madison Avenue, Skowhegan? A few still remain, but most have been torn down.

Farmington: Franklin County's Shiretown - Meeting House Park

"This green space became known as Meeting House Park. (And now you know that Church Street is named for John Church and not the North Church at the…"

Strong, a Mussul Unsquit village - Strong's History - Page 4 of 4

"Other ministers, including those from the Congregational Church, used the church building as they raised money to build their own church."

Reverend Thomas Smith of First Parish Portland
by Kristina Minister, Ph.D.

Pastor, Physician, Real Estate Speculator, and Agent for Wabanaki Genocide

History of Forest Gardens
by Gary Libby

This is a history of one of Portland's oldest local bars

Building Community/Community Buildings

Grade Level: 6-8 Content Area: Social Studies
Where do people gather? What defines a community? What buildings allow people to congregate to celebrate, learn, debate, vote, and take part in all manner of community activities? Students will evaluate images and primary documents from throughout Maine’s history, and look at some of Maine’s earliest gathering spaces and organizations, and how many communities established themselves around certain types of buildings. Students will make connections between the community buildings of the past and the ways we express identity and create communities today.