The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-12-26
THE EARLY HISTORY OF
SKOWHEGAN
Interesting Facts Relative to its sep.
araltiOn From Canaan and its Inc0r-
pOratiOn rs q Town.

Mrs. Clara B. Leavitt of Island Ave.
has il her possession a book which
is of rare interest to local historians
as it tells of the early history Of sew
eral OF the Somerset County towns
II WIS published in 1919 and includes
a sketch of the Abnakis Indians
Among other towns mentioned in
this time-stained volume is the town
of Skowhegan. and in part it says;
The territory was originally part
OF Canaan, but in the year, 1873, it
was separated from Canaan and was
incorporated under the name of Mil
burn. This name it bore until 1896,
when the efforts of many of the people
who wished to preserve the ancient
name succeeded, and it was called by
its present name Skowhegan. Skow-
hogan. pronounced by the Indians,
Skoohegan, signifies place to
watch" 1t was formerly famous
place to catch salmon and other fish.
They were accustomed to rest them
selves behind the rocks and in the
eddies to recruit their energy, before
making efforts to ascend the falls. 1t
contains an area of 1901 acres, of
which As are covered with water, 32t
occupied by roads. 2,913 of waste land,
6,67S of improved land, 1000 Of wood
/ land, 2096 Of pasturage. 2 OF natural
meadow, 200 of moving and l 500 of
tillage At that time the value of
real estate was $246,505 and all tax
able property. 1922 ,026 There were
then 337 polls. 240 dwelling houses,
226 barns, Is stores, shops, etc. and
- other buildings.
Though the first settlements of
ancient Canaan were within the pres
ent limits of Bloomfield, yet Skowhe-
gan was peopled at an early date. The
natural boundary made by the river
| soon led the people TO aim at a sep
aration from Bloomfield and the in
! convenient size of the town of Ca
naan after the separation from Bloom
field caused the people 10 aim ut the
erection of new town.
The town of Milburn was mcorpor-
ated February 5, 1923. The first an
nual town meeting was called to or
der by Daniel Steward. Esq, and the
following gentlemen served as the
first town officers: Joseph Patten
MODERATOR; Samuel Weston, town
clerk; Sam1 Weston. benjamin Eaton
and Joseph Merrill, selectmen and
oyerseers, Joseph Parlin. town treas
urer
In the year, 1896, the name was
changed from Milburn to Skowhegan,
April Z, 1898. $500 were raised for the
use of the poor and a small farm WIS
bought and a house erected for this
! purpose. In 1913, it WAS voted that
but one person in the town should have
permission to sell ardent spirits. and
he should keep a record of all sales,
which should be open to the public.
and that the said agent should make
a report of his sales at the next an
nual meeting In the year 1876, it
was voted that here shall be no IL
eense given for anything"
In the year lS4S, the Ministerial
fund was appropriated to building a
town house. The house was built in
1879 and is a very commodious edifice
The upper story is finished into a
beautiful hail owned by the Odd Eel
/ lows.
The history of Skowhegan since it
has been severed from Canaan has
not of course. been eyentful The his
tory of Canaan belongs to Skowhegan.