USA > Maine > Gazetteer of the state of Maine > Part 35
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Hodgdon lies on the eastern border of Aroostook County. It is bounded on the north by Houlton, west by Linneus, south and east by New Brunswick. The area is 36 square miles. The surface is generally smooth ; but there is one considerable eminence known as Westford Hill. Meduxnekeag River runs through the western part of the town from south to north, furnishing at Hodgdon Village, about midway of the town, power sufficient for several mills. The manufac- tures here are long and short lumber, chairs, flour and meal, carriages, boots and shoes, harnesses, etc. There is also a steam lumber-mill. Houlton, about five miles distant, is the nearest railroad station. Hodgdon is on the stage-line from Houlton to Danforth, on the European and North American Railway.
The town was incorporated in 1833, having been formed from two half townships, the northern one being the Groton Academy grant, and the south half, the Westfield Academy grant. The first settlers were John Duval, James Daggett, James U. Parker, Joseph Kendall, Jabez Bradbury, Thomas Lander, Charles Lyon, Rufus Wiggin, James Ham, Joseph Gerow, Joseph E. Jackins, Daniel Smith and others. Their titles and the name of their town were from John Hodgdon, the pro- prietor ..
There are in the town Baptist, Free Baptist and Methodist societies. The number of public schoolhouses is nine ; and the value of the school property is set at $4,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $197,832. In 1880 it was $173,627. The population in 1870 was 989. In 1880 it was 1,047.
Hodgdon's Mills, a post-office in Boothbay, Lincoln County.
Holden lies in the south-eastern part of Penobscot County, 6 miles east of Bangor. It is bounded north and east by Eddington, west by Brewer and Orrington, and south by Dedham and Bucksport, in Hancock County. The surface is quite uneven, and somewhat elevated, but without high hills. Slaty ledges are common, and there is some granite. The soil, though stony, is productive; and the town has many excellent farms. Hay, potatoes, wheat and corn are all cultivated with success. The forests contain most of the trees native to the region.
At the south-west corner of the town is Brewer Pond, while on the cast are the Holbrook and Davis ponds, united by a broad stream. George's Corners, near the south-east side of the town, is the principal business centre. Holden has one lumber-mill, one lumber and box mill, and one carriage-factory, making about twenty carriages a year.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
Holden has a very good hall for town business and other public pur- poses. It was built at an expense of $5,000. Bangor furnishes an excellent market and railroad connection.
Holden was formerly a part of Brewer, and its early history is embraced in that of the parent town. It was set off and incorporated under its present name in 1850. The Congregationalists have a good church-edifice at Holden Centre. The number of public schoolhouses in Holden is eight, having, with their appurtenances, the value of $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $193,561. In 1880 it was $168,938. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 173 mills on a dollar. The population in 1870 was 758. In 1880 it was 717.
Holden Plantation, a district of Moose River Plantation, Somerset County.
Hollis is situated in the north-west part of York County, and on the west side of the Saco River. The town of Buxton lies across the river on the east, Dayton bounds it on the south, Waterborough on the west, and Limington on the north. The town contains about 13,600 acres of land. The Portland and Rochester Railroad passes across the southern part. The station is at Hollis Centre, about 20 miles from Portland. The other centres of business are Hollis Village, on the Saco River, in the south-eastern part of the town; Bar Mills, a mile above ; Moderation, opposite West Buxton; North Hollis, at the north-western angle of the town ; and Bonny Eagle Falls, on the Saco, at the North. At these points are lumber-mills, a spool- factory and turning-mill, wood-box factory, the Saco River Woollen Company, etc. Cook's Brook, which forms the southern line of the town, has two small saw-mills. A long sheet of water in the north- west part of the town called " Kelliock's Pond " is the only considera- ble body of water.
The surface of the town is not broken by any considerable eminences. Granite is the prevailing rock. The soil is about equally divided between clay and sandy loam. The principal crops are corn, potatoes and hay. Pine, oak and maple are the principal woods. A marked feature of the town is the water-powers that are found on all sides of it, furnishing employment to a large number of the inhabitants. These falls furnish some striking cascades and rapids, and along the river is much picturesque and beautiful scenery. The rocks along the river afford many traces of the glacial and drift periods.
Hollis was a part of the tract purchased by Small and Shapleigh of the Indians. Their trading house stood about ten miles above Saco River Lower Falls. The town was first known as a part of Little Falls Plantation, and settlements probably began along the Saco River within its limits in 1753. The township was incorporated under the name of Phillipsburg in 1798; and in 1811 the name was changed to Hollis. Dayton was taken from Hollis in 1854. In the war of 1812 a few men were drafted for the coast defense; and in the war of the Rebellion the town sent 108 men into service, paying $45,000 in bounties.
The town has religious societies and churches of the Methodists, Free Baptists, Christian Baptists and Advents. There are fourteen schoolhouses, valued at $4,000. In 1870 its estates were valued at
283
HOULTON.
$444,428. In 1880 at $418,761. The rate of taxation in 1880 was 21 mills on the dollar. Its population in 1870 was 1,541; and in 1880 it was 1,542, an increase of one inhabitant.
Holt's Mills, a small manufacturing and post village in Garland, Penobscot County.
Hope is situated on the north-eastern side of Knox County, on the eastern tributary of the St. George's River. Camden bounds it on the south-east, Appleton on the north-west, Union on the south- west, and Searsmont and Lincolnville, in Waldo County, on the north- east. The Lake, Lermond, Hobbs, Southern Hobbs, and Fish are the names of the ponds. The first, lying in the western part of the town, has an area of two square miles. On the outlets of these ponds are several water-powers. There are three considerable elevations of land, -Mount Hatchet near the centre, and two others in the northern part. The surface of the town is generally uneven. The soil is a rich loam, and other agricultural requirements are of the best character.
Hope Village and South Hope are the principal centres of business. The manufactures at the former place are boots and shoes, sleigh-tops, cider vinegar, staves, etc. At the latter place the manufactures are sash, doors and furniture, lumber, staves and heads, carriages, mowing- machines, meal and flour. Hope is 14 miles distant from Rockland and 20 from Belfast, which are the nearest railway stations.
The settlement of the town began about 1782. It was a tract of land which had been purchased by Charles Barrett, of New Ipswich, N. H., who sold to the settlers. The plantation was from him called Barrettstown. Reuben and Simon Barrett, Reuben Safford, Enoch and Walter Philbrick, Samuel and Daniel Bartlett, William Howett, Sampson and Stephen Sweetland, Micah Hobb, and Fergus McLain were among the early settlers, coming from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The town was incorporated under its present name in 1804. It originally had a territory of 33 square miles, but in 1843 2} miles on the north-west side were annexed to Appleton; taking from it St. George's River and two small villages.
Hope has two Universalist societies, and one each of the Method- ists and Baptists. There are seven public schoolhouses, and the total school property of the town is valued at $3,500. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $251,650. In 1880 it was $211,985. The popula- tion in 1870 was 907. In 1880 it was 830.
Houlton, the shire town of Aroostook County, is situated on the eastern border of Maine, about half way between Calais and Grand Falls on the St. John, near the north-eastern angle of Maine. It is 250 miles from Portland, via the old "Military Road " from Bangor. The New Brunswick and Canada Railway terminates here; and hence start the stage-routes to Caribou, Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Linneus, Danforth and Patten, in Maine, and Woodstock, in New Brunswick. The town is bounded on the north by Littleton, south by Hodgdon, west by New Limerick, and east by Richmond, in New Brunswick. In the north-western part of the town are two large " Horse-backs;"
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
but the surface generally lies in large swells. The soil is a deep, rich loam, underlaid by clay, and yielding abundantly of the usual farm crops of the region. The Meduxnekeag River, a branch of the St. John, flows from south-west to north-east through the midst of the town. Bog, Moose and Cook Brooks, tributaries of the Meduxnekeag, are the other principal streams. The powers on the river are known as the Cary, Page and Madigan, Ham, Logan, Mansur, Cressey, and Houlton water-powers. The manufacturing is chiefly on the Cary power in the south-western part of the town, and on the Cressey and Houlton powers, at Houlton Village, a little south of the centre of the town. There are two cheese-factories, two or more starch-factories, a canning-factory, a woollen-mill, four lumber-mills, three flour-mills, one tannery, two iron-foundries and machine-shops, two printing offices, and a sash, blind and door-factory. Other manufactures are bark-ex- tract, harnesses, boots and shoes, carriages, marble-work, cigars, etc. Houlton is the centre of trade for the county, and is a busy and thrifty town. The village has many handsome residences, and there are sev- eral well-shaded and very attractive streets. The Houlton Savings Bank, in May, 1881, held $60,000 in deposits, from its 500 depositors. There are two lively newspapers published in the village, the " Aroos- took Pioneer," and the " Aroostook Times." The first is an excellent county newspaper for the family circle; the other is independent in politics, and has done good service for the community in which it is published. The Houlton Academy has done noble service in the cause of education. Many who have already gone out from its walls have achieved distinction in their callings ; and there is every reason to hope that its future work will surpass that of its earlier period. The building is a good one, and occupies ample grounds.
The first settlers of Houlton were two families named Houlton and Putnam, who removed hither from Massachusetts about 1807. The town was incorporated March 8, 1831, taking the name of one of these first settlers. In 1830, a military station was established here by the national government, but the troops were removed in 1847, during the war with Mexico, and the place has not been re-garrisoned. The barracks occupy a position on the outskirts of the village near the rail- way station ; but are now greatly fallen to decay. The Aroostook County meridian line is established on the eastern side of the parade ground. A soldier's cemetery is near by. Nearer the village, on the south side, is a large trotting-park where many interesting shows have been held.
The county court-house and jail occupy a central position in the village. Near by is Liberty Hall, the place of public entertainments in their variety. The town has a building exclusively for its own use nearer the river. The attractive Free Baptist church and parsonage occupy a pleasant lot adjoining the academy grounds. The Baptists have a good church and parsonage on a neighboring street, and the Roman Catholics have a good church and ample grounds near the rail- road station. The town has also organized churches of the Congrega- tionalists, Unitarians, Methodists, and Episcopalians. Houlton has nine public schoolhouses; and the entire public school property in land and buildings is valued at $7,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $681,646. In 1880 it was $725,469. The population in 1870 was 2,850. In 1880 it was 3,228.
285
HUDSON.
Howard, incorporated a town in 1880, is situated on the west of Sebec Lake, in the southern part of Piscataquis County. It has an area of 23,040 acres, including portions of Ship Pond and Sebec Lake. The southern and the north-eastern portion of the township are moun- tainous, but there is much good farming land. Granite Mountain, on the western shore of Sebec Lake, contains an inexhaustible quantity of granite, said to be the finest found in the State. General A. Davis is the first known proprietor. At present 1,000 acres in the south-west corner, near North Guilford Mills, are known as the Harris tract. Adjoining this are 960 acres set off for the public reserves. Near the south-east corner is the Osgood tract, and in the north-east corner are 4,000 acres owned by the Howard Slate Company. The Messrs. Adams also hold a considerable quantity. No part has been opened for settlement ; yet there have been settlers for about fifty years, and there are now some thirty resident families. There is a saw-mill in operation on Greenwood Falls. A schoolhouse in the western part is also sometimes used for religious meetings. The Wil- limantic Thread Company of Connecticut, have recently purchased land in the township, and have erected a mill upon the north bank of Wilson's Stream for splitting out spool-timber.
Howland is a small, partially settled town in Penobscot County. It is situated on the west bank of the Penobscot River, and upon both banks of the Piscataquis River, which here discharges into the Penobscot. The town is bounded on the north by Matamiscontis, on the west by Maxfield, south by Edinburg, and east by Enfield, from which it is separated by the Penobscot. Little Schoodic Lake lies in the northern part of the town. Some of the streams flow through rich intervals, and present many scenes of verdurous beauty. The Piscataquis passes through the midst of the town, furnishing near its mouth by means of a dam, a fine water-power of 20 feet fall. The Enfield station of the European and North American Railway is about three miles distant on the eastern side of the Penobscot.
Howland was incorporated Feb. 10, 1826. There is one public schoolhouse, valued at $200. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $40,665. In 1880 it was $30,341, The population in 1870 was 176. In 1880 it was 137. .
Hudson is a town of Penobscot County, situated 15 miles north of Bangor. Bradford bounds it on the north, Alton and Old- town on the east, Glenburn and Kenduskeag on the south, and Corinth on the west. The land is rather stony and hard, but yields well in potatoes and hay ; and considerable stock is kept. The principal rock is slate. About two square miles of Pushaw Lake lies in the south- eastern part of the town, and in the north-western part lies Little Pushaw Pond, having an area of about one square mile. The two are connected by Pushaw Stream, which furnishes a water-power at Hudson Village, in the centre of the town. There is here a saw. mill, furniture and carriage-factories, etc. This place is on the county road from Bangor to North Bradford. The nearest railroad station is at Alton, on the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad, 8 miles distant.
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
This township was originally purchased of Massachusetts by Wil- liam Sullivan, of Boston. The settlement was commenced in 1800 by Luke Wilder, David Pierce, Wareham Briggs, Tristam Warren, soon followed by others. In 1824, it was organized as Jackson Plantation, in 1825 it was incorporated as Kirkland, which in 1854 was changed for the present name. .
Hudson has seven public schoolhouses, valued, with appurtenances, at $2,000. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $101,497. In 1880 it was $93,806. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 29 mills on a dollar. The population in 1870 was 739. In 1880 it was 659.
Hunnewell's Point, a post-office in Phipsburg, Sagada- hoe County.
Hurricane Isle is a town of Knox County, situated in Penobscot Bay, 12 miles east of Rockland. It was formerly a part of Vinalhaven, from which it was set off and incorporated in 1878. Gran- ite quarrying (which is the chief occupation of the population) was commenced here in 1870 by Gen. Davis Tillson, the owner of the island. The highest hill is 165 feet in height. The town is notable for its small size, its granite, and the entire banishment of liquor from the island. Besides the granite works, there is one porgy-oil mill. There is one public schoolhouse, and the estimated value of the school property is $50. The valuation of estates in 1877 was $46,941. In 1880 it was $40,028. The rate of taxation in the latter year was 1} per cent. The population in 1878 was 600. In 1880 it was 220.
Indian River, a post-office in Washington County.
Indian Rock, a post-office in Rangeley, Franklin County.
Industry is situated on the eastern side of Franklin County in the southern part. New Vineyard bounds it on the north, New Sharon on the south, Farmington and New Vineyard on the west, and Starks and Anson, in Somerset County, on the east. The northern part of the town is drained by Lemmon's Stream, and the south by Muddy Brook, the outlet of Clear Water Pond. This beautiful sheet of water lies in the south-western part of the town, adjoining Farmington. Its area is one and three-fourths miles. The town is very hilly. Board- man's Mountain, a little north of the centre of the town, Harvey and Davis mountains, in the northern part, and Bannock Hill in the north- ern part, are the principal eminences. The soil is very productive.
There are good water-powers at the outlet of Clear Water Pond, which are improved. This point is known as Allen's Mills, and is 6 miles from the station of the Maine Central Railroad in Farmington. Weeks's Mills, on a branch of Lemmon's Stream, in the eastern part of the town, is 10 miles from Farmington. The manufactures at Allen's Mills, are lumber, chairs, salt-boxes, wheel-hubs and shovel handies. At West's Mills are rakes, wheels, spade-handles, lumber, harnesses, boots and shoes, meal and flour. At the center is located the Enterprise Cheese Factory, and a boot and shoe-shop.
Industry was formed from the north-western part of the Plymouth
287
ISLE AU HAUT.
Patent, or Kennebec Purchase. The first settlements were made by James and John Thompson, Zoe Withe, Thomas Johnson, and Wil- liam Allen, about 1793 or the following year. Benjamin Cottle, Daniel Luce, Peter Daggett, Jabez Norton, Peter West, James Winslow, John Gowner and Lemuel Howes were also early settlers. The lands were first taken up where each individual chose, and held by possession, but afterward purchased of those claiming proprietorship under the original grant. The town was incorporated in 1803.
The Methodists, Free Baptists, Congregationalists and Baptists each have a church edifice. Industry has ten public schoolhouses, and the school property is valued at $3,200. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $148,252. The population in 1870 was 725. In 1880 it was 609.
Island Falls is a town in Aroostook County, 27 miles south-west of Houlton, on the stage road from that place to Patten. Dyer Brook Plantation bounds it on the north, and Crystal Plantation on the west. The form of the town is a square, and the area 22,040 acres. Maple, beech, birch, hemlock, spruce, fir, pine, cedar and juniper are abundant. The prevailing rock is of a granitic nature. The soil is chiefly alluvial, with some rich intervals. Wheat, oats and potatoes are the crops principally cultivated. The most notable elevation is a precipitous mass of rock known as "Granite Bluff." On the eastern border of the town are Mattawamkeag Lake-8 miles long and 4 wide ; and Pleasant Lake, of about one half this size. Smaller Caribou Lake is on the southern border. The streams are Mattawamkeag River, Fish Stream, Dyer, Sly and Alder brooks, tributary to the river, which empties into Mattawamkeag Lake. The longest bridge yet built in the town is 200 feet ; the roads are very good. The powers are on the west branch of the river, and on Cold and Dyer brooks. The two first are improved. In all, there are three mills for the manufacture of long and short lumber, and two grist mills. Corn brooms are also manufactured and the town has a stone cutter, a boat-builder, and a painter. There is a circulating library of 150 volumes.
Island Falls was first settled in 1843, by Levi Sewall and Jesse Craig, from Farmington. It was incorporated in February, 1872, taking its name from the principal fall, which has an island at the verge midway of the stream.
There is a Congregationalist society here which sustains a clergyman. The town hall has a school on the first floor, and a pretty hall on the second, used for town and religious meetings, and social entertainments. Island Falls has three public schoolhouses ; and the school property including lands is valued at $2,700. The valuation of estates in 1870 was $37,904. In 1880 it was $47,229. The population in 1870 was 183. In 1880 it was 236.
Isle au Haut, the most south-westerly portion of Hancock County, is situated at the eastern entrance of Penobscot Bay, and one league directly south of Deer Isle. It was incorporated in 1874, having been taken from the town of Deer Island. It is composed of the Isle au Haut, the two Spoon Islands, York's, Fogg's, Burnt, Merchant's, Kimball's, and all other islands south of Merchant's Row. The aggre-
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GAZETTEER OF MAINE.
gate area is about 3,000 acres. The highest part of the territory is the middle of the island " Isle au Haut," which exhibits to passers on the sea the appearance of a saddle. Its shore is bold, with steep, high cliffs, which led to its early name of High Island. The first settlement is said to have been made by Anthony Merchant, in 1772, on the island which has since borne his name. Great Isle au Haut was settled in 1792, by Peltiah Bartor. Kimball's Island was first settled during the Revolu- tion by Seth Webb, a noted hunter, and from whom Webb's Pond, in Eastbrook, has its name.
The occupation of the inhabitants is wholly related to the sea. There is in town an establishment for canning lobsters, and a boat- builder's shop. The nearest post-office is Green's Landing, on Deer Island.
The town has a church edifice, occupied as a union house. There are two public schoolhouses, which, with their appurtenances, are valued at $200. The valuation of estates in 1880 was $32,756. The population in 1880 was 274.
Islesborough consists of one long island and several small ones in Penobscot Bay, Waldo County. The largest of these, formerly known as "Long Island," is 11 miles in length, and three miles in width in the widest part, but scarcely more than three rods in the narrowest, which is at the middle. The other islands are Seven- hundred-acre Island, Warren's, Spruce, Ensign, Job's, Lime, Lasell's, Mark, Saddle, Mouse, and several others smaller. The entire land area is about 6,000 acres. Turtle's Head is a long promontory at the north. The harbors are Sabbath Day Harbor and Bounty Cove, on the eastern side ; Seal IIarbor, Crow Cove, on the western side; and Gilkey's Harbor on the south-western side. At the end of the neck which forms the north-western side of the island, is Gilkey's Harbor Light. The rocks are for the most part, slaty schists. The soil is fair, and, with the abundant dressing from shore and stable, yields well in hay and potatoes, which are the crops chiefly cultivated. Spruce and fir make up the bulk of the scanty forests. The principal body of fresh-water pond is Meadow Pond, having an area of about 12 acres. It lies about one- third of a mile from the seashore, its surface being 60 feet higher, and its outlet furnishes three good water-powers. There are also fine op- portunities to make use of tide-power. The inhabitants are hardy, indus- trious, and intelligent. Fishing and navigation are the principal occu- pations of the inhabitants. In 1855, 153 vesse's sailed from Islesborough, many of which were owned in the town,-where, also, most of the mas- ters resided.
Islesborough was first settled in 1769 by William Pendleton and Benjamin Thomas. It was incorporated January 28, 1789. The titles to the lands were secured in 1801 from General Henry Knox. One of the first settlers named Gilkey, before he had made much improvement, was impressed into the British service, while his wife and two children were left in poverty on the island to gain a living as best they could. The town was first represented in general court in 1820, by Thomas Waterman.
In June 1794, Elder Thomas Ames was ordained as the first pastor of the town. The churches at present are the Free Baptist, and the 1st and 2d Baptist. Islesborough has eight public school-houses ; and
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