Maine Memory Network

Downed power lines, 1969

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 1969 Media: Photographic print

Tree on car, Auburn, 1943

Contributed by: Maine Historical Society Date: 1943-11-23 Location: Auburn Media: Photographic print

Wired! How Electricity Came to Maine

As early as 1633, entrepreneurs along the Piscataqua River in southern Maine utilized the force of the river to power a sawmill, recognizing the potential of the area's natural power sources, but it was not until the 1890s that technology made widespread electricity a reality -- and even then, consumers had to be urged to use it.

A Riot of Words: Ballads, Posters, Proclamations and Broadsides

Imagine a day 150 years ago. Looking down a side street, you see the buildings are covered with posters and signs.

Historic Hallowell - The City of Hallowell

"Police officers were dealing with downed power lines, blocking them off and removing them if they were deemed unsafe."

Historic Hallowell - St. Matthew's Episcopal Church and the Hubbard Free Library

"But branches and power lines were down and the heat and electricity was off. Q: Did people still go to church? A: Yes, they still had services by…"

A Maine Family's story of being Prisoners of War in Manila
by Nicki Griffin

As a child, born after the war, I would hear these stories - glad they were finally written down

Learning to fly and instructing cadets at West Point during WWII
by Vera Cleaves

West Point during World War II