USA > Maine > A gazetteer of the United States, comprising a series of gazetteers of the several states and territories. Maine > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14
Norridgewock Falls are on the Kennebec river, and situated between the towns of Anson and Madison. The river here "precipitates itself about ten feet, over ledges of hard argillaceous slate passing into mica slate and a fine-grained grau- wacke, containing crystals of pyrites and specks of iron ore." Below the falls the rapids extend about two miles, formed by ledges and loose boulders lodged in the bed of the river. At the foot of these rapids, in a bend of the river, is the site of the village of the celebrated tribe of Norridgewock Indians. This village contained a church, with a bell, now in the cabinet of Bowdoin College. It was destroyed by a party of whites from Massachusetts, on the afternoon of August 23, 1724, and the Jesuit, Ralle, their priest, was slain. A monument has been erected upon the spot where the church stood, to his memory.
Rumford Falls "are produced by the bounding waters of the Great Andros- coggin, as they sportively leap over abrupt and craggy ledges of granite rocks, and dash their spray high in the air. This spot presents some mnost picturesque scenery, and many facts of scientific importance.
"There are at present three or four water-falls at this place, while, anciently, there must have been others of greater magnitude ; for deep holes are seen worn high up on the rocky banks, where the waters never ran in modern times. Now the whole descent is divided into two principal and two minor falls-the first two being from 6 to 10 feet; the middle, 75 feet perpendicular, and the fourth, 20 feet ; while the whole pitch is estimated at 180 feet. It is the middle fall, however, that will attract the attention of the traveller; for there the torrent of water, pouring down with the noise of thunder, and dashing itself into foam as it chafes the rocky walls, produces an effect full of grandeur." These falls are in the town of Ruin- ford, Oxford county, about 20 miles N. N. W. from Paris.
Saco Great Falls is the largest fall on this river, which abounds in falls. It here plunges over a ledge stretched across the river, in a fearful cataract of 72 feet. They are situated in the town of Hiram. There are several other heavy falls on this river-Steep Falls, at Limnington, 20 feet; Salmon Falls, at Hollis and Buxton, 30 feet ; and Saco Falls, 42 feet. The latter are about four miles from the mouth of the river in the town of Saco.
Salmon Falls are in the town of North Berwick, York county, on the Salmon river. These falls "are produced by the ledges of slate rocks, and the river rushes down over their out-cropping edges with great force, and whirls its foaming waters
23
MAINE.
over their rough and craggy surface. The first pitch of water is 14 feet, the second is 20 feet fall."
Salt Falls is a nanie given a powerful current of water formed by the ebb and flow of the tide, in the town of Sullivan, as it flows into and returns from Taunton bay, which contains about 20 square miles of water. This bay has to be filled by an inlet about 100 yards wide, formed by a point of land projecting at right angles from the Sullivan shore. When the ebb tide falls off from high water so as to equalize the surface of the water within and without the bay, it is perfectly smooth at the inlet, and safe navigation for vessels of 250 tons. But as the tide continues to fall off below so much faster than it can possibly discharge itself above, it soon begins to run with tremendous power and fury. When the tide in the lower bay begins to flow, it soon rises to a level with the water above, making another slack tide. But as the lower bay fills up much faster than the inner, the water soon begins to rush through this passage with the same fury that it flowed out. So that there are two high-water and two-low water slack tides in twenty-four hours. The fall is about the same on flood as on ebb tide, which is about ten feet on the strength of the tide. Such is the scenery around these falls, that it is a place exceedingly beautiful and romantic.
Skowhegan Falls are on the Kennebec river, between the towns of Bloomfield and Skowhegan. They are produced by the falling of this river over a rocky ledge, to the distance of from 10 to 12 feet, and forming rapids for nearly a mile below, formed by loose rocks and points of the broken ledge in the bottom of the streamn. Through this whole distance the river is walled in by rocks which bear evident marks of having been worn and broken through by the action of the water. The falls, undoubtedly, were once at the foot of these rapids.
Ticonic Falls are in the town of Waterville, at the village. "The Kennebec is there observed rushing through a breach which has been formed by the disruption of stratified argillaceous slate, the strata being turned up, so that on the western side of the river they dip to the N. W. 80", while on the eastern side the inclination is to the S. E. 80°. The fall of water is from a ledge of these rocks, and varies from 18 to 20 feet, according to the state of the river."
To these we might add many other falls of less magnitude, but not less beautiful. Almost all the falls in Maine afford very excellent water-power, little of which is occupied, except with such machinery as the necessity of an agricultural population require, and in the newer portions of the state with machinery for the manufacture of lumber.
Capes.
There are no capes of magnitude in Maine. Those peninsulas jutting out into the sea, and which, on the map of Maine, are denominated capes, are rather enclo- sures of harbors, than uncultivated and dangerous head lands between large bays. The principal capes in Maine are as follow :-
Split, Cape, is on that part of Addison which lies between Jonesboro' harbor and Pleasant bay. It is a place of considerable business.
Rosier, Cape, is in the town of Brooksville, about six miles south from Castine. It has a bold shore and high projecting rocks. It derived its name from a Mr. Rosier, who came to this country with Capt. Weymouth in 1605.
Newaggen, Cape. This cape lies at the eastern side of the entrance into Ken- nebec river, in the town of Boothbay.
Small, Cape, or Cape Small Point, is in Phipsburg, near the mouth of the Kennebec, and the eastern boundary of Casco bay.
---
24
GAZETTEER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Elizabeth, Cape. This is the largest cape in Maine, and forms the western boundary of Casco bay. Its point is about 8 miles from Portland. See Light Houses.
Porpoise, Cane, lies in the town of Kennebunk Port, at the eastern entrance into that harbor.
Neddock, Cape, is the eastern limit of York harbor.
Bays and Harbors.
The sea-coast of Maine is far more extensive than that of any other state in the Union, and through its whole extent it is indented with bays and harbors, which af- ford innumerable facilities for all the various branches of commerce. Most of the bays and harbors are of easy access, and well sheltered from storms, and some of them are very spacious, and equal in beauty to any thing of the kind in the known world.
In this article we shall give the names of the principal bays and harbors in Maine, with such a description of each as we are able.
Passamaquoddy Bay lies in the south-east part of Maine, on the border between this state and the province of New Brunswick, and mostly within the province. It opens out of the strait between the main land and the island of Grand Menan, and is completely land-locked.
Lubec Bay is said to have one of the most irregular and complicated coasts in the whole state, and to extend more than 150 miles. It opens out of the strait lead- ing into Passamaquoddy bay on the west side. The shores of this bay present many very curious geological appearances. This and Cobscool bay are the same.
Cobscook Bay opens out of the strait leading to the Passamaquoddy bay, direct- ly opposite Moose island, upon which Eastport is situated, to the west. It is a large and very irregular shaped bay, completely enclosed by land on all sides and indented by it. Indeed, it is little more than a collection of creeks conveying the waters of numerous ponds to the bay, a part of which it makes.
Machias Bays. There are two bays of this name, called Little Machias and Great Machias bays ; but they are parts of the same body of water. This bay makes up from the ocean in a northern direction about ten miles, and is about four miles wide at its mouth, between Cross island and the main land. It contains several coves, harbors and beautiful islands.
Bucks Harbor is 6 miles from Machias Port. It is a secluded bay, containing several islands, and presenting many curious geological appearances. It is noted for a beach of silicious sand, used in making glass, found on one of its islands. It opens out of Englishman's bay on the north.
Englishman's Bay is at the west of Machias bay. It contains a number of isl- ands and a number of fine harbors, and is bounded on the west by Head Harbor island.
Cape Split Harbor is a bay situated between Addison and Jonesborough. It contains a large island near its northern extremity, and is separated from the ocean by a cluster of numerous small islands.
Pleasant River Bay is a small bay, containing many islands, south of the town of Addison, and receives the waters of Pleasant river.
Narragnagus Bay lies at the west of Pleasant River bay, and is connected with it at its mouth. It is situated south of Harrington, and between that town and Steu- ben. It contains a number of considerable islands, and has a good passage into Pleasant River bay.
.
25
MAINE.
Pigeon Hill Bay is a small bay in the south-east part of Steuben, and opens into Narraguagus bay at its mouth.
Dyer's Bay opens at the west of Petit Menan island and light, and extends near- ly through the centre of Steuben. It is about 9 miles long from Petit Menan Point.
Goldsborough Harbor is situated between the towns of Goldsborough and Steuben, andes a capacious harbor, easy of approach by almost any wind. At its mouth there is a number of small islands.
Indian, Prospect, Birch and Mosquito Harbors are four small harbors in the south part of Goldsborough. Mosquito harbor opens out of Frenchman's bay, at its mouth, and the other three on the east side of the bay, and between it and Goldsborough harbor.
Frenchman's Bay is a large bay between Mt. Desert island and the town of Goldsborough, in the south-east part of Hancock county. It is an important bay, 20 miles long, and about 10 miles wide at its mouth. It is easy of access, never obstructed by ice, and well protected from storms. It contains a number of excel- lent harbors and beautiful islands.
Bluehill Bay contains a number of considerable islands on the inside, and a large island, called Burntcoat, with a large cluster of small islands on the outside at its mouth. This bay is situated between Deer island and the towns of Sedgwick and Bluehill, and receives Union river at the north-east. It is a very convenient harbor for vessels, and upon its shores is found an inexhaustible supply of excellent gran- ite. It is connected with the Penobscot bay by a passage between the islands and main land.
At Deer Island there is a number of bays and harbors, among the principal of which are Buss, North-cast, and South-west harbors. All these harbors afford an in- exhaustible supply of a coarse variety of sienite and granite, and some of them have several kinds of iron ores on their shores.
Penobscot Bay is one of the largest and most beautiful bays in the state, if not in the world. It lies between Hancock and Waldo counties, and is about 30 miles long, and 20 miles wide between Owl's Head and the Isle au Haut. It contains a great number of pleasant islands, the principal of which is Long Island. There are two entrances to this bay, one on the east, and the other on the west of Fox islands.
Belfast Bay is the north-west part of Penobscot bay, and is a safe and handsome harbor, upon which is situated the flourishing village of Belfast. It seldom freezes over.
Castine Harbor is a deep and spacious harbor, open at all seasons of the year, and with sufficient depth of water for the largest class of vessels, and well protected from storms, being completely land locked.
Clam Cove is the harbor at East Thomaston village. It is shallow and very much exposed to north-east and south-west winds. None but the smaller class of vessels can come to the wharves.
Muscongas Bay is large, and situated between the towns of Bristol and Bre- men on the west, and St. George on the east. It contains numerous harbors, coves and inlets, and an immense number of islands. It opens into the ocean between Pennaquid Point and St. George's islands, a distance of about 10 miles.
Townsend Harbor " is one of the most frequented on the eastern coast of the state, and is a favorite resort for invalids during the summer season, on account of the purity of the air, and the facilities of bathing in clear sea water. This harbor is well protected from the swell of the sea. and has an excellent light-house, placed at its entrance upon Burnt island."
4
26
GAZETTEER OF THE UNITED STATES.
Small Point Harbor is in the south part of Phipsburg, west of Sequin, and is noted for its mica slates, some of which are very beautiful.
Merry-meeting Bay is at the junction of the Androscoggin with the Kennebec, about five miles above Bath. It is a large expanse of water, and contains Swan and other beautiful islands. It has the appearance of a lake; its shores are highly picturesque, and a passage over its sparkling bosom, in fine weather, is a treat which all voyageurs to and from the capital of the state cannot fail to enjoy.
Casco Bay is the largest bay in the state, and extends from cape Sinall Point on the east, to cape Elizabeth on the west. It is a splendid bay, filled with small islands, many of which are of superior beauty. From cape Small Point to cape Elizabeth is about 20 miles.
Saco Harbor is at the entrance of Saco river. It is small, and has a light at its entrance on Wood island. It has a bar, and not above 10 feet over it at high water.
Kennebunk Harbor is at Kennebunk Port, has a bar at its entrance, and is a small harbor.
York Harbor is a small harbor in the town of York ; and Broadboat Harbor, in Kittery, is also small. All the harbors between cape Elizabeth and Kittery Point are small, the water of most of them shallow, many are barred, and nearly all diffi . cult of entrance.
Fandy, Bay of. This bay washes a part of the eastern shore of Maine; and, as it is an important channel of commerce between the United States and the British provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, it may be useful to notice it. This large and important bay sets up N. E. round cape Sable, the most southern point of Nova Scotia, in N. lat. 43º 24', WV. 65º 39', and crosses to the shore of Maine a little west of Frenchman's bay. From the mouth of Frenchinan's bay to cape Sable is about 150 miles ; from Eastport to St. John, N. B. is 60 miles; from St. John to Annapolis, in a bay of that name on the Nova Scotia side, is 40 miles ; from thence to Halifax by land is 80 miles. From Eastport direct to Annapolis, across the bay, is about 70 miles. The bay of Fundy is divided near its head by cape Chignecto. The north-west part is called Chignecto bay ; the south-east part, the Basin of Mines. From Eastport to Cumberland, at the head of Chignecto bay, is about 170 miles; to Windsor, at the head of the Basin of Mines, is about 150 miles. From Windsor to Halifax, in N. lat. 44° 30' 20", W. lon. 63º 36' 40", is 45 miles.
The commerce on this bay with our friends and neighbors, the English, is very considerable. While they receive bread stuff's and other productions of our soil, we are indebted to them for vast quantities of grindstones and gypsum to sharpen our tools and renovate the soil. The gypsum is principally from the Basin of Mines ;- it lies imbedded in elevated masses along the shores of the bay andis easily quarried and taken on board of vessels by the sides of the cliffs. This gypsum is of a fine quality, and it is doubtful whether any has been discovered in our country as good. The grindstones from Cumberland, or Chignecto bay, are every where celebrated. The source is inexhaustible, and the manufacture immense.
The tides in the bay of Fundy are supposed to rise to a greater height than in any other part of the world. Their elevation increases as you ascend the bay. At Eastport they rise 25 feet; at St. John, 30; at cape Split, 55; at Windsor, 60; and at Cumberland, at the head of Chignecto bay, they rise to the enormous height of 71 feet. These tides announce themselves, some time before their approach, by a sound resembling that of a rushing wind in a forest: they dash against the shore with a reddish hue, the color of the clay bottom over which they pass, with frightful violence, at first, to the height of from 8 to 10 feet, overwhelming all within their reach.
There are but few islands within this bay. Grand Menan, and a cluster of small
27
MAINE.
islands round it, off West Quoddy Head, and Campo Bello, near Eastport, are the principal. They belong to the British. A small island about five miles off the south-west part of cape Chignecto, called Isle de Haut, contains beautiful specimens of asbestos.
The rapidity of the tides within this bay, the fogs which frequently prevail, and the absence of good harbors between Eastport and St. John, and from St. John to cape Chignecto, render the navigation difficult, and often dangerous.
The harbor of St. John is easy of access, safe, and of sufficient expanse for a large fleet of any draught of water. The city of St. John contains about 15,000 inhabitants. It is located at the outlet of the great river whose name it bears, in N. lat. 45° 20', W. lon. 66°.
St. John river rises in Canada. (For a description, see page 19.) About a mile above the city of St. John is the only entrance into this river. It is about 80 or 100 yards wide, 400 yards long, called the falls of the river. It being narrow, and a ridge of rocks running across the bottom of the channel, on which there are not above 17 feet of water, it is not sufficiently spacious to discharge the fresh waters when the tide is up. The common tides here rising above 20 feet, the waters of the river at low water are about 20 feet higher than the waters of the sea ; at high water the waters of the sea are about 5 feet higher than those of the river : so that at every tide there are two falls, one outwards and one inwards. The only time of passing with safety is when the waters of the river and of the sea are level, which is twice in a tide, and continues only about 20 minutes each time.
Such are the principal bays and harbors in Maine. Besides these there are innu- merable smaller and less frequented bays, harbors and coves, many of which are very excellent and delightful, affording good protection in storms to vessels of almost any class, and are easy of access.
Islands.
The coast of Maine is thickly studded with islands ; and in some of the bays they forni beautiful archipelagoes. Many of these islands are rich and fertile, covered with wood, or cleared and cultivated, while others are nothing but barren rocks, producing little but a few stinted bushes springing from the crevices in the rocks. Some of them are low and swampy, while others are high and broken into moun- tains. A very considerable number of the larger islands are thickly inhabited by people who give some attention to agriculture, but devote most of their time to the fisheries or the coasting trade.
We shall give the names of the principal islands, with such information concern- ing them as we can obtain, and deem important and interesting.
Passamaquoddy group is a collection of islands in Passamaquoddy bay. The principal of these are Moose Island, on which Eastport is built; Deer Island, in the bay, north of Eastport, distant about one mile; Campo Bello, at the entrance of the bay, east of Eastport, distant about two miles. Beside these there are several small islands, as, Rogers' Island, Hog Island, &c. off Lubec, and near the shore ; and Spence and Indian Islands, near Eastport.
There is a group of islands extending along the entire coast of Washington county, from the town of Cutler to its western line. Some of them are large, sur- rounded by innumerable small islands. The principal of these, beginning at the cast, are, Cross Island, at the entrance of Machias bay, about one mile from the promontory forming the south-east side of the harbor, and is the south-west point of Cutler, called Grant's Point. This island "is covered with a thin but luxuriant soil, and bears a thick forest of spruce-trees, and ornamented by a great variety of
---
-
-
28
GAZETTEER OF THE UNITED STATES.
wild-wood plants. In autumn, the whole surface of the island is red with mountain cranberries, which furnish an abundant supply to the neighboring inhabitants." It "is remarkable for its lofty mural precipices, which consist entirely of greenstone trap, which on the south side attain an elevation of 166 feet above the level of the sea, forniing a steep and craggy escarpinent." On its western side is " a large vein of calcareous spar, which stands projecting four or five feet above the level of the surrounding rock." Connected with spar is found a " vein of bright green chlorite, which can be broken out in masses a foot square." It is so soft as to be easily cut with a Knife, and endures a high temperature without cracking. The Indians make tobacco pipes and other articles of this mineral.
In Machias bay there is a great number of small islands, but none particularly worthy of notice.
In Buck's Harbor, a secluded bay, six miles south from Machias port, on the west side of Machias bay, there are three islands situated in its mouth-" Bear's Island, which consists entirely of trap rocks; Buck's Harbor, and Yellow Head islands. Buck's Harbor Island is distinguished for being just in the mouth of the harbor. It consists of two high-rounded and barren hills near its centre, which are of that variety of trap rock called clinkstone. The base of the island, on its western side, consists of a beautiful rock, composed of crystalline red feldspar, with a few scat- tering and minute crystals of green hornblende, and may be wrought for architectural purposes." It surpasses the freestone in hardness and durability.
" Yellow Head Island lies to the eastward of that last described, and consists en- tirely of yellow compact feldspar or porphyry, which forms a steep precipice or bluff, rising 50 feet above the sea."
Lakeman's Island is in the mouth of the Little Kennebec river, and is composed of red sandstone and trap rock.
Great Island lies five or six miles south from Machias, on the west side of En- glishman's bay. It is composed of the new red sandstone, but so " strangely altered as to be recognized with difficulty, and has evidently undergone both heat and pressure." On the eastern side of the island is a deep cove, the shore of which " is composed of a beautiful white silicious sand, valuable in glass making."
At the south-west side of Englishman's bay, at its mouth, is a group of islands, the principal of which are Head Harbor and Beal's Islands, with a great number of smaller ones, the names of which are unknown. This group lies on the ocean side, and forms Mispecky Reach.
There is another group of islands in Narraguagus and Pleasant River bays, and another to the eastward, at the entrance of Cape Split bay ; but they are mostly small and of no great importance. On the south-west of Narraguagus bay, in the entrance of Pigeon bay, is Bowclear's Island, and south of this is Petit Menan, upon which there is a light.
There is a large group of islands on the coast of Hancock county, in which is included some of the largest islands in the state. They lie between Frenchman's and Penobscot bays. The largest of the group is Mt. Desert, which is one of the most conspicuous islands on the coast of Maine. It is distinguished for its moun- tains, of which there are eleven peaks, easily seen at a distance. Some of them may be seen 60 miles at sea. This island is composed of granite and sienite rocks, is 15 miles long, and 7 miles wide.
Cranberry Isles are situated at the south of Mt. Desert, and are incorporated as a town. The principal islands are four in number, called Great and Little Cranberry, Sutton's and Baker's Islands, on the last of which is a light.
At the south-west of Mt. Desert is a group of islands, the principal of which are Black's Island, where " is found bog iron ore in considerable abundance ;" Long Island and Burntcoat Island, and a large number of smaller islands. In Bluehill bay there is a large island called Long Island, where is found fluor-spar; and east
29
MAINE.
of it, near Mount Desert, is another considerable island, called Bartlett's Island. Mount Desert Rock is a naked rock, upon which is a light, standing out in the ocean, S. S. E. from Mt. Desert, and about 17 miles from Long island, at the south of Mt. Desert, which is the nearest land, bearing from it N. W.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.