Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-01
CENTENNIAL OF
SEVEN MAINE TOWNS
DURING YEAR 1918

The Centennial anniversary OF seven
more Maine towns will be observed dur
ing the year s.1s1s-China. Monroe. Jack
son. Swanville. Perry. Dennysville and
Mexico. Some of the towns have plans
already under way and local historians
are deiving in the archives for data to
be used in the inevitable historical adj
dress or town history. which is a most
essential part of a weli-ordered centen.
NAL.
In 1918 Maine was still part of Mas
sachusetts. and il was the Legislature
of the mother state that affixed the seal
of Incorporation to the petitions from
the people of Monroe. Jackson and
swanville in Waldo County. China in
Kennebec county, Perry and Dennysviile
ir Washington county and Mexico in
oxford county.
China, incorporated Feb. ). 1918, is a
good old farming town, which nudges
Augusta with its southwest corner and
would be on the Kennebec river If Vas
salbofo was out of the way. 1t was set
tied back in 1T4 by several brothers
named Clark from Nantucket.
| The place was first called Jones plan
tation, in 1776 incorporated under the
from Albion and Winslow it was incor-
porated under the name of China.
Who was responsible for the name, his
tory does not state. There have been
mover ents to change back to the name
o. Harlem. but without avail.
One of the most prosperous of the Gem
tennial towns and one which may be eX-
pected to have celebration BETTING the
occasion, is Monroe, Is miles north Oh
Belfast
Monroe was settled about 1860. 1t was
first known as Lee Plantation and when
Incorporated. Feb. u, 1885," was named
for President Monroe. The town has
about 1000 inhabitants with settlements
at North Monroe and Monroe Center.
Jackson is the next town west of Mon
roe. 1t was settled in about 1890 by peo-
pie who came from Gorham. The town
was a part of the Waldo patent. and one
of the historical FEATURES is the Great
Farm" or the tra&s of it, where. soon
after the Revolution, Israel Thorndike OF
Boston cleared up 5OO-acre farm, near
the center of the towlA built mansion
house, set out 500 apple trees and stocked
it heavily with fancy cattle, sheep and
poultry. and it was the wonder of the
day. The incorporation was in June. 1873,
and the town is named for Gen. Henry
Jackson, a soldier of the Revolution.
Swanville Is the third of this group OF
Waldo county towns, being directly south
Of Monroe, and bounding Belfast on the
north. 1t was originally Swan planta.
ton, and Incorporated Feb. 49, 1915
Perry is one of the eastern border
towns not only of Maine but Of the
United States, one Of "the jumping off
places" on Passamaquoddy bay. The
town is about J miles long but to FOLLOW
all the indentations of the coast line
would be journey of nearly 40 miles
The tide rises and falls 80 feet and the
shores are SO bold that vessel of 100
tens can come within 80 feet Of the beach
in many places. The town was incor-
porated Feb. u, 1878
Dennysvlle is also on the WASHINGTON
County division of the Maine Central. II
miles west of Eastport. and was formerly
the terminus of stage line to Calais.
with the Dennys river flowing through
the town and 4 deeply indented coast line.
it has several fine water powers, operat-
ing lumber mills. and although shipbuiId-
ing, once prosperous. declined many wears
ago, just now there is prospect of a re-
vival. The original settlers arrived In
the river early in 1856 in the sIoop Sally
from bingham, Mass.
Mexico in Oxford county, is the only
centennial town in the western part of
the state, and is the largest of the seven.
having over 1000 inhabitants It is prac-
ticaily suburb of Rumford. being but a
mile from that large manufacturing town
and has numerous water bowers on thrae
rivers.