History of Maine - FINAL
Anchor of the Soul (FILM)
- "We have this as a sure and steadfast Anchor of the Soul..." - Hebrews 6:19 - Singing "I Love to Praise Him" at the Green Memorial AME Zion Church in Portland, Maine - Growing up Black in maine was so different from the rest of the country. In the South, you knew what you could do, and what you couldn't do - Racism in Maine is subtle, but it's definitely there. There is no true Black community, the church is their source of community. - This is the story of a small group of African Americans struggling to sustain a Black community in Northern New England, the whitest part in America - There communities centers around a church founded in the early 1800s by African Americans in Portland Maine, originally known as the Abyssinian church - Facing discrimination, Africans sought refuge in the church. The church was survived to this day and is the center for the struggle for racial identity in Maine - The story begins more than 3 centuries ago among Maine's early residents were several hundred slaves. - New England's economy did not depend on slave labor, but owning slaves was considered a status symbol. Other prominent person purchased 1-2 slaves to use as an extra set of hands. Most slaves lived with their owners, but slaves feared being sold at auction - In 1783, the year the Revolutionary ended, a court decision outlawed slavery in MA and Maine. In the decades that followed, many Blacks found work in Maine's thriving maritime industry, they settled in towns along the coast - Portland. - On the Portland waterfront, Black dockworkers unloaded ships, many husbands of Black women lost their husbands who sent out to sea, due to rough waters - In 1820, the year Maine won statehood, 1,000 of its 300,000 residents were African-American. "****** ridge" or "****** brook" - Whites carefully drew lines to avoid mixing with blacks in school and church - In Maine, they felt the right to vote should be had by African-Americans, but there was to be no interracial marriage. The African American population was relegated to lower paying jobs due to lower intelligence - The segregation for Blacks in Portland was evident. There were segregated balconies (****** heaven). Portland accepted the responsibility to educate - Blacks, but the schools were segregated. - The African section of the school was less well funded, less supplies, the teachers were less paid. Had separate entrances, whites in the front, Blacks in the back. - Blacks also faced segregation when traveling. Black leader, Frederick Douglas came to Maine to in 1840s gain support for the anti-slavery cause. There were Jim Crow Cars. - In death as in life, Black were still kept apart - buried in separate sections known as colored ground. - "It is a delightful season in the North..we see delightful grows..but the spirit of prejudice among the people" - Racial prejudice was in New England churches, Black petitioners had to wait until all white church members left. - At first Parish Church, whites commanded every seat, except for the ones in the back corners. Discontent grew among Africans, in 1826, 6 residents spoke out and wrote a letter to the papers protesting their treatment in the churches - "Our attendance was not desired" - African Americans fled white churches, and began to create their own Black churches - naming their group after an ancient term for people of color. They chose a site on Munjoy Hill in Portland, some whites helped, John Neal. - The Abyssinian might never have been built, but Reuben Ruby was a key contributor. He was ambitious and driven and refused to accept the limits placed on his race. - Born in Gray, Reuben Ruby moved to Portland later in life. He became wealthy and gained a good amount of property, but he wasn't happy. He believed in freedom, and wanted it in Portland. He helped found the Maine anti-slavery society, and saw the Abyssinian Church as a way to push for equality, and the church opened in 1828 (became communities gathering spot). - Rev. Amos B., came from CT to help organize the church. The church became a hub for anti-slavery activism. Fugitive slave came to Portland, and was allowed to speak at the church. - Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote about this man, when creating her character George Harris in Uncle Tom's Cabin, her book. - In Maine, the color convention centered around the church. The Blacks discussed the wrong doings in their community. The issue of slavery and the end of slavery was the #1 priority. Abolitionism dominated the convention - By the 1850s, opposition to southern slavery required Northern states to return slaves that had escaped back to their masters, but whites didn't want to do this. Whites and blacks worked together to help get Blacks up to Canada where it was free via the Underground Railroad - They also worked steadily to build their church, by 1841, they were able to hire a minister, Rev. Amos Freeman. - State street church in Portland often gave money to the Abyssinian church, but that didn't help much. Africans were still very poor ($1.65) - In 1844, Amos Bee-ham returned and found the congregation strengthened by their struggle. - Ruby left Maine in the 1840s. Ruby led himself to join the CA gold rush of 1849, and returned to Portland with enough money to become a merchant, and also served as a treasurer of the Church. Rub y died at age 79, a founder of Maine's first Af-Am church, but his accomplishments were underrated in Maine. His son, William, became a Portland firefighter. - July 4, 1866, - the First Independence Day celebration after the Civil War. Ruby noticed smoked coming from JB Brown's sugarhouse, Ruby raised the fire alarm but the fire raged for 17 days and destroyed many in its path. Many black families were left homeless. Miraculously, the Abyssinian church survived though. - African Americans in Maine were even more outnumbered in 1900. Of the states 700,000, only 1,300 were Black. Maine now had 2 other Black churches, the ****** town area of Warren, the other opened in Portland in the 1890s, the mission from the AME Zion church. Why they switched congregations was not clear. But they were now connected with AME congregations all throughout New England. Portland couldn't fund 2 churches, so the Abyssinian church struggled. - In 1917, the Abyssinian church closed. They helped the AME Zion church. - Race relations improved, they were no longer confined to segregated schools. Healey was now a bishop. Whites and blacks played together on high school sports teams. But racial prejudice surfaced again. - The local paper would always highlight Blacks when discussing anything bad such as a robbery or an arrest, but if there was anything ever good, it would be about a white person. - The KKK gained a strong foothold in Maine in the 1920s. In 1924, a KKK governor was elected. "******, you have until Saturday to pack up and go" - Africans in Maine's rural areas, lived very isolated lives. Outcasts in 1912 evicted them from the island, sent to the Maine school for the feeble minded. Elsewhere in Maine, Blacks were treated well, but strongly based on curiosity. - Stanley Milton from Waterville, lived in a town with only 3 Blacks. - They struggled for acceptance in home towns, but also struggled to make a living in the workplace. New opportunities to advance, most were domestic servants (cooks, cleaners, domestic work) - "You could go to Gorham school, but you cannot practice teaching in Maine because no colored student teachers are accepted" - No Black firemen, no Black telephone linesman, no Priest man, nothing in public, nothing to look forward to. - Africans turned to their churches for safe harbor and support. The AME Zion Church became the anchor of Portland's Black community. It was like having someone of your own race to relate to. - A long standing tradition of church member was to hold a July 4th picnic at Sebago Lake. They were one of the biggest events of the summer season, people would be very excited about this even. Big time of the year for all colored people - Africans gave generously to the AME Zion church, but raising money was an ongoing challenge. There were Sundays with only 4 people there. Times during service with no lights on. All the Blacks would come together to keep the church going, because it was a community meeting place. They would hold chicken dinners on Thursdays to raise money, when black domestic workers had an off day. Good pan-fried chicken, there would be delivery orders to those who can't make it. - One of the churches most dedicated workers was Moses Green, a former slave from MD. Arrived in Portland in June 1888, and set up a shoe shine stand and helped found the Zion church, it was the center of his life. Everyone knew him, he was a legend in the community, Contributed generously to the AME Zion church, a very devoted church man. Green remarried at age 85, his bride, Martha worked as a cook at the Portland hospital, "His shoes had a shine to be proud of", they would always ride the bus to church, and be the first ones to arrive, sat in the front rote and sang loud. Died in 1942, after working for more than 50 years at Union Station, buried in an unmarked grave in South Portland. Left a lasting mark on Portland - A year after Green's death, the church was renamed Green Memorial AME Zion Church. - The dawn of the Civil Rights Movement found Maine little changed, there were no lynchings, but there were outspoken conventions keeping blacks separate and unequal. There were 2 different cultures, but people didn't really feel inferior. - People recognized that inferiority as a teenager at graduation, the Black kids went one way and the white kids went out into the business world. - Prejudice was subtle in Maine, adults reached adulthood to realize their life choices would be altered due to the color of their skin. - There was discrimination in housing and employment, but nothing was done about it. People pushed for changed, and these meetings were held at AME Zion Church. Blacks and whites marched through the streets of Portland to push for equality in August of 1963, some were in the march on Washington. MLK spoke at Biddeford, Maine in 1964. - Racism in No. New England was less obvious, but just as deeply ingrained. Couldn't get jobs they wanted. - NAACP led this movement in Maine (Portland, Lewiston, Brunswick). Many Mainers played key roles in the group. Blacks represent less than 1% of the population, and out of that, only a small number actually strive for change, so the Blacks have to rely on the White community. - Maine activist pushed for laws that would discrimination illegal, and change the perception. OPEN HOUSING NOW, blacks were forced to live in substandard apartments in Portland. - The Maine NAACP wanted to forbid landlords pushing away Blacks, but the bill was declined by powerful interests. Black ads were taken out of the paper, and off of the TV. Huge opposition to that - In 1963, legislators voted down the housing bill, but was passed in 1965. Also targeted job discrimination, so businesses were forced to hire minorities. Worked to ensure that employers obeyed this new law. - Another Civil Rights battle in Maine involved the elks clubs, who didn't want blacks there. In 1971, students at Deering HS held the Senior Prom at the Elks club despite the NAACP urging not to host it there. They did it there because the Elks club "was air conditioned". Deering Senior student, Uma Richardson did not attend, they were protesting outside the dance. - The Portland NAACP moved to Green Memorial in the 1970s. That was the Black church in Portland, ME. It was the spiritual center, the church was their extended family. Remains one of the few Black institutions in Maine. - In 1990, African Americans made up less than 1/2 of 1% of Maine's population. Much progress has been made to stop Maine's segregation: African's are no longer restricted to living in certain places, and better jobs (Blacks in roles that they can do now) - Today, despite triumphs of the CRM, Africans still face weariness and prejudice - Man at McDonalds got pointed at because he was Black "look at him, look at him!". A Black man was followed around in supermarket, because they thought he would steal something. Hate crimes have increased, a young Black school kid was shot at because his GF was white. Racism is alive and well in Maine. - In small towns of white people, the whites have hate of Blacks built into them. - Abyssinians church still stands in Portland. After the church closed, it served as an apartment house. In 1991, it was boarded up and abandoned, and few know of the church's proud past. - Green Memorial still stands. Many interracial couples choose Green Memorial for service, and they welcome white members. The Church still relies on chicken suppers to help pay the bills (still on Thursdays). Continues to struggle financially, the phone was disconnected, but Green Memorial will endure and persevere. - Green Memorial will survive, there is a purpose for this church here.
Remarkable Predecessor: #1. Moses Pearson
- (SETTLEMENT) - no connection w/ Washington - Moses Pearson's personal notes from March 8, 1773 (Earliest documentation of the SJC campus (Lots 63, 52, 37)) - first historical record of a mention of our campus - Moved his family from Newbury to Falmouth Neck (Old Port) - Was important to the town of Falmouth, elected town clerk, appointed Town Treasurer - key mover and shaker down in Portland. One of original proprietors of Gorham - Involved in the battle of Louisburg, and got SJC's land originally. The divider of the lots, first sheriff of Cumberland County (1760-1768. Then appointed judge of the common court of Pleas (1770-75) - Got 21% of entire Province (Standish) he owned - also got Frye Island - Died in 1778; buried in Portland's Eastern Cemetery - changed from Pearsontown to Standish in 1785 (because he was loyal to the English; colony didn't like England)
Remarkable Predecessor: #4 Samuel Deane
- (Separation from MA) - Born in Dedham, MA - graduated Harvard in 1760 (smart guy) - Served at 5th Church in Portland as a minister for 50 years, but is known as his side hustle with agriculture. - Best known literary contribution is the New England Farmer published in 1790 - telling farmers in area why they aren't successful because using same techniques they using in England (BEST-SELLER) - Named one of 62 charter members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences along w/ John Adams, Sam Adams, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) - Elected very first President of the Bible Society of Maine, and the first president of the Portland benevolent Society. - Was in very high circles, died in 1814 - passed away before separation from MA which happened in 1820
Remarkable Predecessor: #2 Theophilus Bradbury
- (british hostilities) 1739 - Born in Newbury, MA 1757 - graduated from Harvard Law and moved to Falmouth - First lawyer to establish himself in the territory between York and Wiscasset - Smartest man in town, was chosen to read Mowatt's letter of threat - Ended up owning parts of the college campus, was a resident of Portland and survived Mowatt's onslaught. He moved from Portland to right here at SJC. - Made Attorney General of Cumberland County from 1777-79 - Elected to serve in MA state senate from 1791-94 - Elected US Congressional Rep from MA and served 2 terms under George Washington - appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of MA (incredible political career) - Died in 1803
Remarkable Predecessor: #3 Jeremiah Lombard, Jr.
- (revolutionary war) - Born in 1760 - Enlisted Dec 20, 1776 (16 years old), discharged in 1779 at 19 years old - Served at Valley Ford - Fought in Battle of Saratoga, also in War of 1812 - was injured and left him blind - Died on March 16, 1842. He was 82. - buried next to the Sebago of the Sea Trail
Maine's Journey to Statehood
- 2.6 million years ago, there was no activity because of it being completely under ice (Ice Age) - Prehistoric Period (9500 BC to 1400s) - Native Americans were in vicinity (Abenaki), ice had melted - Nothing Native American has been found on campus - The Arrival of the Europeans (1400's-1700's) - In 1604 - French established a settlement on St. Croix Island - England established the Popham Colony at Phippsburg in 1607 - French and English were always battling for territory/land - Native American's sided with the French (French-Indian War)
Scots-Irish*
- A group of restless people who fled their home in Scotland in the 1600s to escape poverty and religious oppression. They first relocated to Ireland and then to America in the 1700s. They left their mark on the backcountry of Virginia, the Carolinas, and Georgia. These areas are home to many Presbyterian churches established by the Scots-Irish. Many people in these areas are still very independent like their ancestors. - The Scots-Irish were placed on the Frontier in Maine, just like they were in Ireland. - In America, they were fighting people (born to fight). They went on the border between Natives and French. - The Irish lived in the extreme northeast in Ireland, in America they moved to Lubec (the most eastern point in Maine).
Gettysburg Film (Chamberlain Appearances)
- Begins with showing the routes of both armies (moving up from Virginia to Pennsylvania) - This is one of the few times that Lee marches north of the Mason-Dixon Line (Southern border of Pennsylvania), 4 states: (MD, VA, WV, PA) - go from one state to another very quickly - Why did Lee go up North? He had had great successes in the South (mostly defensive battles on his own territory). The problem was, every time they won a war it didn't get them any closer to winning the war because the North had a better industry. He knew this could be the blow to end the war - They didn't pick Gettysburg. The two armies just ended up there, and began fighting there. The South arrived first (advantage: pick the high ground, but because the 16th sacrificed almost all of their soldiers and held them up, it allowed the north to get the high ground (Seminary Ridge and Cemetery Ridge). - Speaking to Kilrain - "Colonel, darling" (IMPORTANT CHARACTER) - BALTIMORE PIKE (12 miles away), Joshua Chamberlain's brother (Thomas) who served in the 20th Maine regiment as well. - They find a runaway and save him. Chamberlain and Kilrain sit by a tree and discuss the context of the war. "There is no difference...you look him in the eye, it's a man". "There is no divine spark...I'm fighting for the right to prove I'm a better man than them" - Asks Chamberlain where he has seen this so-called "divine spark". Kilrain says what matters is JUSTICE, which is why Kilrain is here...That's why we've got to win this war. - Connolly's favorite part of the whole film. They admire each other, but come from totally different backgrounds. That was the student teaching the professor. In war, they are equal, they can each kill and be killed. It's a beautiful scene. The runaway slave is hard to understand because the North has little experience with slaves. - Lee talking to Longstreet on the 2nd day of the battle, the day after the 16th Maine regiment sacrifices itself. The 2nd day, they discuss who is going to get the high ground at Big and Little Round Top. - 2 Regiments there - Peach Orchard and The Devil's Den - The 20th Maine holds at Little Round Top. Chamberlain is the end of the line (the lines run from here to Cemetery Hill, but it ends here. If the Confederates broke in, the war would be over, it needed to be held). The 20th Maine was getting help from NY, MI, and PA. - "The Union army stops here. We cannot retreat, we cannot withdraw...Best protection you can...We are the flank". - Mutineers from the Confederacy decide to join the Union to fight. "No man will call me a coward". - The longest scene deals with the primary fight scene in the film. The Confederates were charging Little Round Top, but the 20th Maine is holding the line. Kilrain is severely injured, but continues to fight. During the final battle, Chamberlain is shot at and it hits his sword (bending it tremendously). - 2 of the mutineers who decided to join, in turn, save Joshua's brother's life when he is out of ammunition. - "We are going to charge swinging down the hill". This is the turning point in the battle - BAYONET!! Their charge totally caught the Confederacy by surprise. - Chamberlain was held at gunpoint, but the gun wasn't loaded. Instead of killing him, Chamberlain let him survive and held him captive. Many of the rebels surrendered after the charge from the Union. - Kilrain unfortunately dies in battle, as a result of his prior wound to his arm. - His last words were: "I ain't ever served with a better man". - Chamberlain won the congressional medal of honor. He asks the name of this place (Little Round Top), and he says "I'll remember this place." They went out of the frying pan at Round Top, into the fire at Cemetery Hill. - The battle is over on July 4th (ironically) - The final scene is Joshua and Thomas hugging one another - The war would be fought for two more years - The battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War, and the defending of Little Round Top was the turning point of the Battle of Gettysburg. - Meaning that Mainers played a crucial role in the victory of the Civil War.
The Life of Margaret Chase Smith (FILM)
- Chose a life in business, journalism, and public service - Margaret Chase before her marriage, Senator Smith to Washington DC and the world, had remarkable accomplishments. Wanted to blaze new trails for women - Not long ago, politics was a man's work, and she was trying to change that. - Born on December 14, 1897, the oldest of 6, born in Skowhegan. Margaret liked her name just as it was, not "Maggie". Her mother's sense of independence got passed down to her daughter. - Margaret started working at the age of 12, 5-10 cent store, a year later she went back and asked for a job again. What she lacked in height, she made up for in determination. She got the job after her second try. - Margaret was very smart, went to Skowhegan High School and politics started to come into focus. One pivotal moment in her high school career was playing basketball (leadership). She wanted to become a physical education teacher, but ended up working for the Maine Telephone Company. She got a phone call from Clyde Smith, a big businessman in town (future husband) - known and respected in Skowhegan, but far older than Margaret. - Clyde Smith was a very smart man, a savvy politician (retail politician). Clyde wasn't a real factor in Margaret's life, however. Margaret's hard work took up most of her time. - Growing up in a small Maine community in a poor family laid the groundwork for what became her career. US was in the midst of WW1 while Margaret was finding her way. Skowhegan lost 17 men to the Great War, and MCS knew most of them personally. - The world at war began to shape her political perspectives even while she was working as a teacher at Pitts Schoo. Teaching didn't suit Margaret, but she soon found a nitch after being hired at the local paper - developed ambitions, and held a series of positions with the paper over the next 8 years. Established herself in the community in numerous civic and women's clubs. Very quickly becomes an officer in the club (develop speeches, well-known). Got then involved in politics. - Still in her 20s, MCS was well on her way to changing the national mindset that women were only suited for certain roles. - Clyde's career in politics had been progressing, Margaret was confused trying to figure out what this relationship was, but it didn't develop the way MCS wanted. There were other circumstances pushing Clyde towards marriage, and to run for Governor, he needed a wife, so they got married in 1930, and hung onto her name. - Despite the age difference, once they were married, it was a match that seemed to make sense (a joining of forces of common interest). She threw herself into the role, hosting bean suppers and managing his affairs, but didn't surrender her own civic interests. She advance to serve as a member of the Republic State Committee, talked about Clyde as a partner/business relationship. - When Clyde wanted a seat on the house, Margaret basically ran his campaign. Kept track of his correspondents and every other detail in his campaign. A year into the campaign Clyde got kicked out of the race, and into a run for Maine's 2nd Congressional District. In 1936, Congressman Clyde Smith was off to Washington. MCS wanted the title of his secretary, and she got it. - The future in Washington belonged more to Margaret, rather than to Clyde. MCS was Republican, and restrained her own political persona while there. Their differences began to show, Clyde, focused on the New Deal and labor legislation, so MCS spoke for him in Maine, Clyde was in favor of neutrality and didn't want the US to be in the war in Europe, while Margaret was speaking very differently about the coming war. He asked her to speak at a Navy event in 1938, and made her own famous speech and told her how vulnerable the US was and told them to be prepared for war. Her philosophy was a need for a very strong military. Clyde's work in Washington took a toll on his health, so that gave Margaret more control over his campaign for re-election. - At the Republican campaign in Maine in the spring of 1940, Margaret spoke a lot and headed back to Washington, Clyde had become gravely ill, and when she returned Clyde had a heart attack, and advised Margaret to file in her own name for his reelection due to his worsening health. - The idea was Margaret would win, and then step aside once Clyde got back on his feet, but he never does get back on his feet. Margaret got in touch with Clydes supporters and got them to support MCS. "All I ask...if I'm unable, they support the candidate of my choice, my wife". Clyde died on April 8, 1940. - MCS had many decisions to make, who would complete his unexpired term, and conceded the primary to herself. Congresswoman widows of congressmen aren't supposed to fill their seats, so she ran 4 campaigns. She went ahead and did it and realized she was elected to Congress. She was on her own. - MCS inherited Clyde's political power base and merged it with her women, she still very much a woman in a man's world. She goes to Washington, and feels totally in over her head. She finds 7 other women, and feels very isolated, responds by hitting the ground running by working every day in sessions. MCS served on 12 committees and subcommittees. As the general election approached and could a woman be tough enough to make decisions. - MCS began to develop a reputation for her strength and also her poise under pressure. Susan Collins proclaims she is the 15th woman, and MCS was a role model of hers. - MCS won that house seat always by a significant margin. The D party saw no hope of winning this seat. They might not have agreed with her, but they liked her honesty. MCS never diminished any other work done, but had her eyes set on the Naval Affairs Committee, based on the strength of her navy day speech. Was thrown into all the big naval issues during WW2. - The long hard fight began when she looked at nurses in WW2 who didn't have the same security and pay, so Smith saw this as unfair and wanted the gov't to offer full status on the state of nurses "You either need these women or you don't. If you need them, they need full status and fair pay". - She was responsible for the early part of the feminist movement, but wouldn't accept that. She saw feminists as being confrontational and anti-men. She was all about fairness. Summed up her opinions as not separating women from men. NOT FEMINIST - Debates about national defense took up her whole first year in the senate. Her congressional office became a service agency, if people in Maine had problems, they could go straight to Maine. She made it a responsibility to respond to every letter the day it was sent in. - Margaret Madeline Chase Smith (December 14, 1897 - May 29, 1995) was a United States politician. A member of the Republican Party, she served as a U.S Representative (1940-49) and a U.S. Senator (1949-73) from Maine. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the United States Congress, and the first woman to represent Maine in either. A moderate Republican, she was among the first to criticize the tactics of McCarthyism in her 1950 speech, "Declaration of Conscience". Smith was a candidate for the Republican nomination in the 1964 presidential election; she was the first woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party's convention. Upon leaving office, she was the longest-serving female Senator in history, a distinction that was not surpassed until January 5, 2011, when Senator Barbara Mikulski was sworn in for a fifth term. To date, Smith is ranked as the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate. - On January 27, 1964, Smith announced her candidacy for President of the United States. She declared, "I have few illusions and no money, but I'm staying for the finish. When people keep telling you, you can't do a thing, you kind of like to try." She lost every single primary election, but did manage to win 25% of the vote in Illinois. At the 1964 Republican National Convention in San Francisco, she became the first woman to have her name be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major political party's convention. She placed fifth in the initial balloting, and denied unanimous consent for Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona after refusing to withdraw her name from the final ballot. She nevertheless campaigned for Goldwater in the general election, appearing in a television ad in which she defended his position on Social Security. - Following her departure from the Senate, Smith taught at several colleges and universities as a visiting professor for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (1973-1976). She resumed her residence in Skowhegan, where she oversaw the construction of a library to hold her papers. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H. W. Bush on July 6, 1989. - At age 97, Smith died in her native Skowhegan in 1995, after suffering a stroke eight days earlier that had left her in a coma. She was cremated, and her ashes were placed in the residential wing of the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan. She was the last living U.S. Senator who had been born in the 19th century. - She is the namesake for the Maine State Ferry Service's Islesboro Ferry. - On February 2, 1952, Smith was the guest on the CBS variety show Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town, in which hostess Faye Emerson visited Washington, D.C., to accent the kinds of music popular in the nation's capital. - On June 14, 1953, she was the "mystery celebrity" guest on "What's My Line?". - In 1958, Folkways Records released the album An Interview with Margaret Chase Smith, in which she spoke of women in local and national politics, and addressed the youth of the nation. - In 1961, Smith published her favorite family recipe, Maine Clam Chowder, in support of the Gold Star Wives of America military family support organization. - Patricia Neal dramatized Senator Smith's Declaration of Conscience speech in the 1978 television movie Tail Gunner Joe. - In 1965, she was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Laws (L.L. D.) from Whittier College. - In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Smith's name and picture. - Janis Benson portrayed Senator Smith in the 1998 miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. - On June 13, 2007, the United States Postal Service issued a 58¢ postage stamp in its Distinguished Americans series to honor her. - In 2010, the United States political action committee Maggie's List was founded, named after Smith; it works to "raise awareness and funds to increase the number of conservative women elected to federal public office." - A large framed painting of Smith hangs in the Maine State House in Augusta, Maine.
Joshua Chamberlain
- Commanded the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for the infantry of Robert E. Lee's Army at Appomattox, Virginia - Chamberlain fought in 24 major battles (wounded 6 times, the last time almost fatal). He was a volunteer. He stretched the truth because Bowdoin College did not want to let him leave and go to war, so they denied him the chance to fight. Therefore, he asked for a sabbatical to go and study foreign languages. Came back to Bowdoin a hero, and was President of Bowdoin College. - Served 4 terms as the governor of the state of Maine. - He lived to the age of 83, but it was his wound that killed him (severe hip) - He was chosen by Ulysses S. Grant to receive the surrender of the confederate troops, the day before, Grant received the surrender of Robert E. Lee, but the troops were a few miles away and had not yet surrendered. Chamberlain saluted them in a military salute as they passed by (HONOR TO HONOR - the first episode of reconciliation). Some said that Confederates didn't deserve that kind of honor, but he was honoring them because of their courage in battle - After the war, it was published the year after his death (1914). The book was published in 1915, titled The Passing of the Armies. - Died as a surveyor of the port of Portland, a job made for him, and he was very poor towards the end of his life (very sad). He got enough money to comfortably live on. His house was on Ocean Avenue in Portland. Died in Portland, and buried at Bowdoin College. There is a fine statue of him there, and across the road is his home (now a museum).
SJC CAMPUS HISTORY: III. Revolutionary War (1775-1783)
- Congress was meeting in Boston, and heard news of the burning of Falmouth - was the birthplace of the US navy - Wretched conditions in PA during war; snowy weather, diseases were spread, many deaths - birthplace of the US Army - trained the men and trained them well
Maine Statehood and SJC w/ Dr. Steven Bridge
- Dr. Bridge began the history of the SJC project 5-6 years ago. Was very curious about what went on here before the college got here. - Harold Barrell used SJC as his summer residence. Lived in Xavier Hall. Used it as a 9-hole golf course, baseball field, and more. This was his playground when life as a lawyer was too stressful in Portland, Maine. - Who was here before that? Barrell bought the property in 1905. And SJC bought the campus from them in 1912. - 2 questions drove Bridge's study: Who was here before us? And what, if any, did they leave behind? - Property records travel back to 1773, 160 property owners prior to the Barrel's. - Over 2 dozen artifact burying site on campus, Bridge has recovered numerous artifacts over last 5-6 years - Many of these landowners played a huge journey in Maine's journey to statehood
Agriculture in Maine
- Extractive Industries, taking things out of the soil - After the 1880s there was a decline in the number of farms and the acreage - Regional transportation was increasing, especially in the Midwest, and transportation costs especially by railroad were going up - Other sections of the country had better soil than Maine, they also had longer growing seasons, and in some cases they had government subsidies especially for railroad transportation - Maine had saltwater farms and also upland farms, alike they were affected by transportation. Similar to the poultry industry in Maine as one that needed grain and most of it was coming from the Midwest, Canada and other parts of the country. - Hay became one of the principal crops, it is not a very expensive or lucrative crop, you don't get a lot for a bail of hay, but of course it is very important for anybody with farming animals. - Many people who wanted to pursue a farming industry moved to many other parts of the country, especially to the West after the Civil War, looking for higher wages and better soil. - Forests would reclaim farmland, and in many parts of Maine it was hard to tell where farms had been after 20-30 years - Another industry related to farming was canning, a way of preserving crops - could keep for a long time. Picked up dramatically during the Civil War, and companies like B & M (now known for baked beans) was known for all kinds of products, especially sweet corn. Fortunes were made by companies involved in the canning industry. The Baxter family from Gorham is a great example. - Some of the things helping Maine agriculture would include the grange movement (Patrons of Husbandry - people supporting agriculture). The grange halls would pop up in rural Maine, even in Portland where agriculture was being done just on suburbs (still 2 in existence today in Portland which are actively used) - Maine continued to have a very active and lucrative dairy industry (milk, cheese, butter, and later on Ice Cream (Deering)). - Market gardening/truck farming would pop up along suburbs of larger cities (Cape Elizabeth and South Portland) that supplied local produce and still do to a large market of Portland) - Wild blueberries were found and still are found in Washington County, and many of these blueberry barons are owned by the Wyman Company and Passamaquoddy Native Tribes, still can buy them frozen in most markets in Maine. - Orchards, especially apples, were prevalent especially in this area around SJC, and places to the west of here (NH border) - In Aroostook County, in Madawaska Region, the soil quality was called Caribou Loam, perfect for production of potatoes, a county known as Garden of Maine, still produces a lot of potatoes (second or third only to Idaho). - Finally, the granite industry. 15% of contracts for public buildings in late 19 c. were with granite cutting industries along the coast of Maine. Large quarries gained monopolies in business (Joseph Bodwell in Vinalhaven in the early 1870s). When wages decreased, sometimes Bodwell's industry was called a soul-destroying corporation and many of the men would join labor unions and often they were treated by being blacklisted and forced out of the business. This eventually led to large scale strikes - in 1892, there were 12,00 people on strike in Northern New England alone. - In conclusion, there were other related industries such as lime and before refrigerators, there was ice-cutting. Ice-cutting along the major rivers (the Androscoggin, the Penobscot, and especially the Kennebec.) By the 1890s, 1 million tons of "frozen gold" was being shipped out in over 1,000 vessels. Charles Morse of bath, Maine (Morse HS) was known as the Ice King during this period of time. - Maine continued to be a resource-based state w/ industries related to the agriculture, and the other extractive industries including ice that we had in abundance
In the Blood (FILM)
- For many people, laboring was in the blood. Passed on from father to son. - A lumberer's work always comes first. This man lives for honor, he risks his life or dies for his failure. - 1605 - Cpt. George Weymouth's voyage to America - when he returned he brought with him seeds and tree samples from Maine and declared a national treasure from the crown. It showed that NE offered an unlimited supply of wood. - From the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, Lumberjacks began to develop and lumber trade was providing financial stability, and started exporting a lot of wood. - Throughout the late 1600s, greed led the royal government to conserve NE woods for themselves. The king's broad arrow policy. All trees belonged to them. No felling, cutting, or destroying any such trees that belonged. The British marked all trees they wanted, claiming them useless to the colonists. But they didn't listen - business continued as usual with growing intentions. Played an early role in sparking the inevitable American Revolution. - In 1775 - the Colonial forces threw a flag emblazoned with a pine tree - In the 19th century, the lumbermen began to push back the Maine woods, and sustained the industry on brude strength and will. - When did you first go to work in the woods? AT A VERY YOUNG AGE (teenage years old) - got $15 a month, worked all day for minimal pay - Men knew from an early age how to use an axe to chop down wood - the men had their fathers train them, "keep your tools in good shape, and don't pound your axe into the ground). Taught everything the father knew about the woods. - Men worked so hard, so people would understand they could do a man's work. - Where would they come from? Mostly local people. A few around the towns, but mostly locals. - The men would often have to deal with bugs/insects crawling up and down them throughout the day while they were doing their work. - Men would live together in cabins, sleep the whole night long, had a good time - slept right in a row (18 men in one bed, and one quilt covered all of them). Most went to bed with clothes on and it was very stinky because they kept their working clothes on. - The law in camp was to stay in your own bunk, never go in another persons bunk - the logging camp was not known for its cleanliness - commonly referred to as the stink pole - Men would eat beans 3 times a day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When they couldn't stomach the beans, they would down some molasses to sweeten it up. - Men would step dance and play instruments during their time in the woods for entertainment, also had singers (sang love and war songs, wood songs to amuse themselves). It was something they looked forward to all day long - The Woods Hierarchy - season lasted from October to March when the logs were ready to go down river. Each man had a job and title (pay differed) - at the top of hierarchy was the camp boss (most skilled, strongest and had leadership qualities). Ultimately, the camp boss needs morale to stay high throughout winter to keep his job. - UNDERCUTTER - axed a tree to make it fall, paid the best - SAWYER - would cut the tree once it fell - KNOTTER - chopped limbs and cleaned up log - TEAMSTER - would drive horses to carry log out of woods - SWAMPER - cut and cleared the roads to haul the logs out - ROAD MONKEY - would keep roads level - ICE WAGON - would be filled with water, hauled by horses and release the water to make logs easier to haul out of their (would turn to ice) - ROLLING ON THE YARD - the logs would be rolled downhill - COOK and COOKEE - would toe lunches to the men while they worked on hand sled, went to work ASAP after eating - How far would you have to walk? About a mile and a half walk hauling with the logs, would light the bark for good light to use on their walk home. - From Nov to March - men lived a simple, but regimented life. In the evenings, one might smoke a pipe then hit the hay. Saturday nights were fun, because men wouldn't work on Sundays. Sounds simple, but most of these months are spent in the dead of winter. Work day lasted between 12-14 hours a day - Two dollars a day. One mistake could cost you or your partner's life - accidents were common and death lingered. A man's knowledge of the woods kept them alive. - Every man knew his place, and the hierarchy was stable - simply by being in the woods, a man kept his independence by working as hard as he possibly could. Very strong physically and mentally - had an indestructible work ethic. - Maine's lumber culture disappeared after mechanization came about. - THE LOG DRIVE - driving the lumber down the river, logs were piled up near the river - logs were rolled into the river and rolled to their destination. Man would have to read the level of water (foresight and understanding of waterways) to make sure the level was just right to move the logs. Very dangerous and hard work. - THE HEADWORKS - consisted of raft with captain, tied to logs and attached to anchor. 12 men would tie logs and would then be let go once they got to the lake/ponds. - The men would stand on logs and just drive it down the lake themselves. Would go downriver on logs, run on logs. - There were log jams that stopped the logs from going downriver - would use dynamite. - One man died on a log drive, he fell under the water, kept swimming until he unfortunately got hit by a log underwater - killing him. - Booze, Brothels, and fights were very common
Thomas B. Reed
- He doesn't have a street, but has a prominent statue named after him in the Western Promenade. Described him as having a head sticking outside of his body (very big head, very big man with bald head.) - As a younger person, Connolly thought of him as a typical republican who was Pro-Imperial, Pro-Spanish and American War, Pro-taking over Cuba, and he thought that because he was Speaker of the House. - Reed was born in the West End of Portland, and his house still stands. - In 1839, he graduated from Bowdoin College, and received a loan because his family wasn't wealthy, received a loan from William Pitt Fessenden (very prominent Republican). Fessenden is named in JFK's famous book Profiles and Courage. Dealt with Andrew Johnson's impeachment, but JFK wrote about how Fessenden voted against the will of the party and how he paid a price for that. Fessenden was defeated in his next election for taking the unpopular side. - In 1868, Reed was elected to the state legislature and became attorney general (was one generation behind Blaine, and moving in a similar direction). - In 1877, elected to USHOR, his issues were Republican issues (opposed greenbacks, in favor of sound currency/the gold standard. He favored women's rights, and was one of the first of any major party, first prominent leader to do that, but he was a speaker of the House and Republican. Opposed Chinese Exclusion, certain groups were excluded from large scale immigration to the U.S., said it was not fair, and had some really good qualities. - Favored Civil Service Reform - Civil Service Reform, a person to get a Civil Service Job in government bureaucracy should get a job based on merit and ability. - Following Blaine, he was also elected by his party to be speaker of the house 2 times (1889-1891, 1896-1899). Very important decisions were being made, America was trying to decide whether it should be inceptual (doing things that others have not done, others had imperial powers (controlled millions of people, and a lot of land - European countries had property and territory in Africa), and America had resisted this). - Yes we forced the Natives out. Yes, we caused a war with Texas over Mexico. - Reed opposed this, despite the party supporting imperialism and the Spanish-American war. At the end of that war, we ended up with the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico - all places that will become important for us. - Reed paid the price, he took an unpopular position and his price was him resigning from speakership and HOR, even though his re-election was inevitable. He stepped down based on principle due to the war being fought for reasons that were false. - He was known for being very smart and witty. He sometimes said things to put people in their place (The two people who have just spoken never open their mouth without contracting human knowledge - Also known for Reed's Rules. They said if a person was in the house and didn't answer the name when the role was called, so people who didn't want to have a vote just sat on their hands silent. Reed changed all of that, "does the member deny that he is present?"). - Similar to Blaine, Reed highlights Maine and we were punching above our weight limit.
Helen Nearing (FILM)
- Helen Knothe Nearing (February 23, 1904 - September 17, 1995) was an American author and advocate of simple living. - Helen Knothe was born on February 23, 1904 in Ridgewood, New Jersey as the daughter of Frank Knothe, who had a clothing business. She grew up in an economically comfortable family of Theosophists. She graduated from Ridgewood High School and studied the violin internationally. As a young woman, she had a romantic relationship with Jiddu Krishnamurti. - She and Scott Nearing started a relationship in 1928 and married nearly 20 years later, on December 12, 1947 when she was 43 and he was 64. In 1934, the couple left New York City for Winhall in rural Vermont, where they had purchased a rather large forest tract for $2200 and a moderate-sized farm for $2500. They aspired to live a more "purposeful" life and improve their health while disassociating from modern society. At the homestead, they lived a largely ascetic and self-reliant life, growing much of their own food and putting up nine stone buildings over the course of two decades. Cash was earned from producing maple syrup and maple sugar from the trees on their land and from Scott Nearing's occasional paid lectures. However, in her book Meanwhile, Next Door to the Good Life, Jean Hay Bright documents that the Nearings were both heavily subsidized by substantial inheritances which supported their forest farm. In 1934, around the time they purchased the Vermont property, Helen inherited between $30,000-$40,000 from former suitor J. J. van der Leeuw (equivalent to $560,000 in 2019). Scott received an inheritance from his father that was said to be "at least a million dollars" in 1940 according to Nearing's son Robert. Hay Bright's calculations make clear that while very hard working homesteaders, the Nearings never came close to supporting themselves on their "cash crops" as they state - The Nearings left the Vermont homestead in 1952 after the area saw an increase in ski tourism, moving to a homestead in Brooksville, Maine, on Cape Rosier, where they continued growing much of their own food. They cultivated blueberries as a cash crop. In 1954, the couple published Living the Good Life which inspired many young, educated Americans to create simpler, rural lifestyles and the back-to-the-land movement of the 1960s and 70s. - In the summer of 1991, Helen and Scott were inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame of the North American Vegetarian Society. - Helen Nearing died in 1995 as the result of a single-car accident in Harborside, Maine. The Maine estate was left for The Trust for Public Land which established the Good Life Center to continue the Nearing's legacy. The Thoreau Institute acquired the papers of the couple. - Helen Nearing: Conscious Lying; Conscious Dying - "We are here for a purpose, we came from something and we are going to something. SELF SUBSIST - take care of their own needs. Such a normal, quiet, simple way of living." - Married to Scott Nearing - married for 53 years CONSCIOUS LIVING - Chose an admiral family born into, had every opportunity to learn, develop and experience. Mother was an intellectual artist (painter), but succumbed to family life - nourished and educated her family. - Her father was also an intellectual fine musician but chose to be a family man - Left the family and went to a girls camp in NH. At 13 she began to really enter into life and become extroverted. Emerged and developed and rounded out her character. - Her family gave her the opportunity to go abroad and she immediately jumped to go abroad to experience a new life. Was never really American from there on - more interested in the meaning and purpose, and the background of life rather than living in Harborside, Maine. - Lived in Holland in 1922 for quite a few years. Made friends with a dark man from Holland (Jiddu Krisnamurti). They both moved on in different directions. - She met Scott Nearing over there. Scott was a well known social critic, who claimed corporate interests were the causes for the war. He was acquitted of treason and repeatedly attacked big business. He was then blacklisted. - Helen met Scott when she was home, and spoke at a Unitarian Meeting. In 1928, they felt a connection, Helen began to work as Scott's secretary. By 1929, it was clear that their relationship was more than that. Scott suggested to Helen to go back to Europe to see if she wanted to stay or if she was ready to become an assistant to him in America. - Helen was lucky to meet Scott, because he had so much to communicate. They started at the bottom (living poorly in NY) and ended up making it to the top, building a good life together with no money. - His head was full of ideas, her head was full of music. They were very different. She could not have met a man more politically minded more than he - Helen brought to him unquestionable support for all of his work, Helen was a wonderful saleswoman. She. Advertised and promoted Scott's books and ideas. He wanted to teach freelance in the world. At the time, except that Scott was looking for a spiritual guide, he found in Helen an advanced soul. - 1931-32 - Helen and Scott began looking for land in Vermont to survive the Depression.
Réveil: Waking Up French (FILM)
- In the early 1900's Quebec's falling economy forced 1,000,000 French Canadians to leave their ancestral farms for work in New England's mills. - Unlike other immigrants, most never intended to stay and so resisted assimilation. A campaign of terror against them led to the loss of their language and culture. - Many other ethnic communities also disappeared into the American Melting Pot; and worldwide, most languages and dialects could soon disappear. But today in New England, French is coming back. - "Like 'little beaten dogs' yes, it's a shocking phrase, but being French, we couldn't be first class citizens. (They were embarrassed, a humiliating) - French is associated with inferiority, too lazy to learn English. Everybody in Maine was French-Canadian. - A lot of these kids' parents didn't speak French or teach them now, because they lost part of their culture. - They are losing the connection with the heritage, because nobody else in the family speaks it. They handle a lot of grief because they don't know their culture. - Many New England towns were still full of French people, living just down the road from Quebec, yet you never heard or saw anything French. - Mike Turcotte in 1980, and Mike Turcotte in 2000 at the age of 30. Mike wanted to be French, he thought it'd be cool to speak a completely different language. His parents chose to only speak English in the home, Mike never learned how to speak French. Felt like a loss. Who's fault was it? - The parents truly believed they would be raised French until they started socializing with kids in neighborhood, and television, and school. Their first words were French and spoke French at first, but felt left out by doing so. They would be more included in the community by speaking English. (Mom feels sad; profound loss for a mother, his whole life is in English, her best memories of him are in French). - Christmas with the Turcotte family: The ancestors left Quebec in 1920, it is hard for them to accept the end of a century old French tradition for their family. Mike's kids have no idea what their grandparents (Mike's parents) are saying. For the whole family, especially Mike, the loss of their French is like a wave of regret, preventing communication with the generations. Deep sense of sadness, something unnamable was loss. - Our most basic emotions are learned in our first language, and those who lose language, lose a connection to the deepest of emotion. As children grow and develop they are created by and with the language. A first language is much more than sounds and perceptions (it's a way of feeling loved and accepted). All these feelings flow in the rhythm of sound that is the French language. - Language is more than just verbatim - it's a way of being comfortable in your own skin, and being loved. What is being passed onto that baby is completely different, and a historicism, emotion is lost because it's all connected to culture/heritage. Your first language gives you a sense of her history. Can her culture be transmitted? - The grandkids will very unlikely remember all the conversations/memories they shared with their ancestors (all they know is Pepe and Memere). - What is being Franco-American? Is it the traditions? The family? Just speaking? What effects of our past are affecting us now? - For other ethnic groups, traumatically disconnected from their European roots, the inevitability of assimilation and the Melting Pot is longer concerned. The French Canadians were different due to Quebec being so near in Canada. 20 years ago when Mike struggled to keep his French, her sister kept the language and was the mother of the baby. They could all be related, but they'll never know it because of the language, and if they knew each other they wouldn't be able to communicate. - Almost 2 million New Englanders know they will soon lose their heritage, compare it to the Spanish disappearing from the Southwest in less than a generation, and nobody noticed. - Lewiston is now almost invisible when it comes to its Franco community. "Survivance" - means to continue speaking French. The young don't learn French in school and that angers the elders. The kids could learn, but they aren't taught and don't want to switch once accustomed to English. - The blame goes to the young because they had the chance to learn, but rejected it. Schools were a huge part of the problem, because public schools ordered 6-7 year olds were forced to learn English. French speaking kids were made fun of, and would intentionally get rid of their accents (made themselves invisible). At the vulnerable age, you begin to feel that your language has no value and you don't speak correctly, you feel powerless. No worth in their language/culture. - It has to do with the church, and with the conflict of defining/challenging the authority, because in this democracy it is hard to get anywhere with a lesser culture. - Really tied up with the Catholic Church "As a boy I used to pray in French,I write prayers in French". The subject of religion and church is so important to the French. "I would like to confess in French, I only go to French priests, I don't feel right when I go to English mass." In old Quebec, religion was central. Roadside cross was a sacred place where neighbors worshipped together. The most central image to the French is that of the priest saying mass in the forest, with the Indians peeking through the trees at the ceremony. - The organizing factor was salvation for the whole community. Our private wills don't matter, an authority matters. The French felt "invisible" and "Underground" with their identity. No French man has ever been elected to a federal level. 1/3 of its people French, there has never been a Franco-American bishop, governor, senate. - The French came to the new world from France over 400 years ago, hoping to escape religious wars between English Protestants and French catholics. Separate communities grew in New France, Acadia and Quebec (on the St Lawrence River). Both communities prospered due to trade. But in the mid 1700s, history repeated itself, the British became the political overseers in Acadia and wanted it all. They embarked ethnic cleansing, the uprooting of a people, wanting all of Acadia to be all English speaking and Protestant. - The KKK played a role in Maine, by hating on the French and their catholicism. - It's the language that nurtures the soul and spirit, and without the language, the spark is gone, the energy is gone. The culture becomes foreign. - What possibilities could we imagine, if we chose to wake up the French that has been cast away? - Reveil = Wake Up
Maine during WWII
- Many Mainers earlier on had moved out to the Midwest and at this period of the Midwest was very isolationist. Very few people wanted to become actively involved in the War (same goes from WW1). - It took the events of Pearl Harbor, to actually get the US to enter the second World War. - In the election of 1936, Maine together w/ Vermont voted against FDR, and even though FDR scored a very substantial victory in that election (as well as in 1940), the slogan that used to be popular was "As Maine goes, so goes the Nation", was apropeau during the late 19th century when mostly Republican presidents and administrations were elected and Maine was a solidly Republican state and its voting was earlier than any other state, so people looked to see if Maine was a sort of hint of how the rest of the nation would go - But in this election for FDR, the quip changed to "as Maine goes, so goes Vermont" (we were out of step w/ the country at that point). - In the second World War, probably the greatest contribution that Maine made other than sending people to fight, was the shipbuilding industry. In July of 1940, prior to Pearl Harbor, Bath Iron Works received a contract for 6 ships, and later 25 more, and added 1,600 female workers to the workforce. Early in 1941, there was construction on 2 adjacent shipyards over on the waterfront of South Portland, just across the harbor from the east end of Portland, and what eventually became known as the New England Shipbuilding Corporation employed 35,000 workers including roughly 4,000 women who became known as Rosie's, Rosie the Riveter, they did riveting and welding on these ships, took men's jobs because men were off fighting in the war, women proved capable of doing this work. - Ultimately, the NSBC launched an astounding # of ships, mostly liberty ships (266 all tolled in less than 4 years (record never broken) - In the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (Seavey Island in Kittery, ME) they employed roughly 9,000 workers and that # would go up during war - Another aspect of WW2 in the area of coastal Maine, was coastal/harbor defenses especially around Portland which had become the eastern oil terminus for Montreal (ships carrying oil would dock in So. Portland and discharge their oil, sent via pipelines to Montreal). This pipeline was completed just weeks prior to Pearl Harbor and anticipated that there might be a war, if so, ships bearing oil going all the way up around Nova Scotia and then down the St. Lawrence River would be vulnerable to German submarine attack (reason why Portland chose=closest land to open ocean from Montreal). - By the earlier part of 1940s, America (still neutral) was becoming closely allied with the Allies especially Great Britain, and in 1940 the selective service act (draft) started to draft men to serve in American military - Several boats were sunk by U-boats along Maine coast, and in June 1943, a U-boat was spotted in Casco Bay. At the end of the war, 2 German spies landed in Frenchman's bay and were arrested there. Several u-boats that surrendered at the end of the war were taken into Kittery by May of 1945. - Many American sailors stationed in coastal defenses/forts around Portland/So. Portland were often seen on liberty in the city of Portland (seen as very lively place, w/ people working on shipyards, soldiers/sailors coming from many different places) - In parts of Maine, Aroostook, German POWs were used to harvest potatoes and other sources of labor - Ultimately during the course WW2, 80,000 Mainers served the American military. And over 1,630 of these never returned home. Also, as a result of the war, and the buildup of economy from the New Deal and the big gov't programs of the war itself, led to increased federal taxes which became a permanent figure here in American and in Maine and that meant that after the war, Americans expectations of what the government would do for them was greater than before the war.
Granite by the Sea (FILM)
- Nature has a way of covering over the history of a place, by clothing it in sand, a flood, or forest. - You can still see artifacts of cultures lost, but it's hard to grasp an image of the souls that lived here. - VINALHAVEN, a jagged coastal island, modest in size, known for its rich and storied past, Abenaki filled the area to hunt and fish. In the 1760s, English colonists decided the land was a great place to settle down. - Of all its attributes, what they paid the least attention to was rock (GRANITE). Underlying much of Maine is a huge upthrust of granite. - On the sixth day he created the state of Maine, on the 7th, he stared and threw rocks at it. Hard durable, versatile granite. - In 1826, a man wanted to build a jail from Vinalhaven Granite. It was easy to get to. Loaded his schooner and went off to build his jail, but that was about the only interest the granite had. - By 1860, larger scale operations were underway and granite was playing a larger role. Vinalhaven stone was used for gun enforcement. Maine sent granite out for the war. - After the ear, the nation's attention turned from guns to buildings. It would show the world we were a country to be reckoned with. Granite was attractive. The first quarries were nearest to the water, sliding the stone to the boat, but getting stone out of a solid wedge wasn't easy. Make a line of holes in the stone, with hammers and large hand drills. Later they turned to steam driving drilling rigs making it much faster, still dangerous. - To free the block from the bed, they would blast it with black powder. Would insert plugs and half rounds into the holes until the granite split just where they wanted it. - In early days, to get heavy blocks of granite from quarries, they used wooden rollers pulled by oxen. - There was still the problem of getting stone off carts, so they made a galamander. - Blondins were used as tight ropes that could carry the stone down hill. - Granite was cut by the waters edge, also dressed and polished before being sent out. It was a time consuming process, would knock off rough edges with a chiseled point. They would pound the surface to make it smoother, this process is known as dressing. - For concrete services, they used a Scotia hammer. Not all granite is the same, the grey is easiest to cut and carve, the blue grey is harder. The less colored pink grey is used for fancier items, - Joseph Bodwell and Moses Webster opened the Bodwell Granite Company. Was a dominant economic force of the island. Bodwell ended up being governor of Maine. - Times are different now, people have other interests. But it doesn't hurt to look over your shoulder and appreciate the old granite.
Modern Times in Maine and America (FILM)
- Neighbors were more friendly back then. If anything happened, everyone was right there to help. - 1890-1930 - Modern Times in Maine and America - In 1893, Chicago's Columbian exposition presented a glimpse at the future of America. Lakes and rivers with salmon, summer resorts - While the exposition presented a bright future, but at the time it was full of problems. Maine was offering a landscape yet to be discovered, an antidote to Modern industrial society. - Electric gadgets became common appliances, and radio came to be. - The early years of the century brought change to Maine, became more modern with the Portland waterfront. - Today, the state of Maine building from the Columbian Exposition still stands. It is one of the many creations from this era we can still touch today.
Labor: Lumbering
- One of Maine's most significant industry: lumbering industry - It used to be, but not so much anymore. In past years, it hasn't employed as many due to loss of several mills, but recently gained some back - An industry based on natural resources often can be done in other parts of the world, and that's what is happening - However, still a very important industry in Maine. - Extractive - adjective; an extractive industry would be wood/timber/lumber. To extract means to take away, lumbering is taking away natural resources (bird pelts, any type of mining, fishing, lobstering). - Major products we get from soil here in Maine: blueberries, potatoes, maple syrup - Paper and pulp, examples would include the Great Northern Paper Company, employed many people located in Millinocket - fully blown operations between 1899-1900 (the peak of lumbering and paper industries in Maine - cutting down wood for wood purpose and using paper for making pulp, and breaking down for the production of paper). - Places in ME that were active in this: Norway, South Paris, Mechanic Falls, Canton, Poland, Livermore Falls, Brunswick, Westbrook, Gardiner, Yarmouth, and others. - All in common - rivers: sources of power and transportation (float the logs down) - Closer to SJC, in Westbrook we have the Samuel Dennis Warren (SD Warren) Company. Those who remember it, remember the smell - now called Sappi - These mills supplied labor and income for many many families - There also had to be FALLING water, and in the Cumberland mills, there was a cliff providing water (waterfall going into rivers) - In the case of Sappi, after 1880, they actually raised the level of Sebago Lake to make the fall and power greater. Hydropower was a major source of their income (Dundee Park in Windham) - controversy over that because the idea of buying hydropower in Quebec would have to go through Maine power lines which is opposed. But getting it from hydropower is better than generating it from fossil fuels - For years, it dominated the economic life of Westbrook, and is still important to the community. - Now due to co-generation of energy, the pollution and smell coming out of Westbrook is much less - Westbrook is much less expensive than Portland. Now without mill, Westbrook has become a nice bedroom community for family, so Westbrook is now up and coming and very vibrant
Experience Portland Past (FILM)
- Portland is the largest city in the state of Maine, it rises on a peninsula in Casco Bay. - Settled by English colonists in 1633, destroyed twice by Indians, bombarded by the British. - The history of Portland is the history of one long recovery after another. - After each event, Portland rose from the ashes (I SHALL RISE AGAIN) The English Settlement of Portland (1600s) - Humans have lived in Portland for thousands of years. - Native Americans lived here 500 years ago. The excellent cod fishing attracted the Europeans to the area in the 1620s. - Settled by the Cleaves and Tucker family in 1633 (farmers) - Plenty of the settlers fished - Life for the English settlers was anything but easy - In 1690, the English were having a hard time with the Natives and the French. Besieged for 3 days by the groups. The French and the Indians burned the English houses, and the English surrendered to the French. The Natives rushed in resulting in a terrible massacre. Rebirth & Revolution (1700-1780) - What was left grew stronger, they rebuilt and named the community Falmouth - Built large boats and became traders. They dominated the port. The largest trees supposedly belonged to the king, which caused unease in Portland. The people of Falmouth built a shipyard and exchanged lumber for molasses and rum. - With the outbreak of the American Revolution, it brought the mast business to an end. In 1775, the British burned the port and most of Falmouth's ships. The British put the town of Falmouth to the torch. Cpt. Mowat was responsible. - This was awful because winter was coming, and Falmouth had no shelter Portland's Golden Age (1780-1820) - After the war, Falmouth got renamed to Portland. The Phoenix became the symbol of the town - Grand homes sprang up - one was the boyhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. - By the early 1800s, Portland ranked as the 6th largest port in the country. - Few towns in New England were equally beautiful and wealthy. - John Bundy Brown had a huge sugar house - The first major wharf was built after the war, there would soon be 24 total - On Munjoy Hill, there was the Portland Observatory. It gained navigational aids in the form of lighthouses - 4 forts were built to protect the water before the Civil War - Portland's economy grew steadily and developed politically. The first paper (The Falmouth Gazette) advocated for statehood for Maine. That happened in 1820, and Portland was the capital. - Portland High School was the 2nd public high school in the nation Pioneering Prohibition in Portland (1820-1850) - Rum was a demon to some, but gold to others. It drove the cities commerce. Working men were given rum breaks - Neal Dow discovered the problem with drunkenness, he noticed an 8-year-old boy drunk. He swore to do everything he could to abolish drinking. - Dow led the effort by banning the manufacturing and sale of alcohol. When the mayor of Portland, he stored alcohol in the basement of the city hall for medicinal purposes, which caused many problems. A riot took over city hall. Several wounded and one died, but prohibition did not die. - So many other states and cities followed Dow's lead, leading to national prohibition Canada's Winter Port (1850-1865) - John A. Poor, lawyer from backwoods was convinced if a rail route was built between Portland and Montreal, then Portland could be the port for all of Canada during winter. - Poor alone rode threw a howling blizzard all the way to Montreal to convince them to do this. - The Canadians were impressed, and this route was constructed and opened in 1853. - Portland benefitted - it provided the route to ship Maine products to Canada and the Midwest. Provided rail service. It boosted Portland's waterfront activity tremendously - Along with commerce, the sugar industry continued to thrive, but so did canning. There were hats and chewing gums. Immigrants worked in the manufacturing plants. - In 1861, Portland had a surprising number of people who sympathized with the south, but Portland sent a large amount to fight for the Union. - In June 1863, a force of Confederate Pirates made it into Portland harbor, that was the only time the Civil War reached Maine. The Great Fire and the Modernization of the City (1865-1930) - Portland was doing great post-civil war, but another tragedy came on July 4th, 1866. A firecracker started a small fire, but it became much larger and burned the town. This incredible fire swept across the city for a whole day. 10,000 people homeless. All businesses destroyed. The biggest municipal fire in American history, covered in all great papers across the country. - Citizens began rebuilding the city, created their first water system and first park (Lincoln Park). Within a few months, the city was back to normal which is amazing. - Throughout the middle of the 19th century, the Irish moved in, African Americans came after the abolishing of slavery. There was a very big black community in Portland. - As the 20th century opened, Portland was a melting pot, especially Munjoy Hill. Mostly immigrants or first generations. Very orthodox Jewish community. A community of communities. - James Phinney Baxter was a wealthy businessman who lived in the West End set out to make Portland a community of great parks. Made a monument to Longfellow. The champion of a park system. Got into politics, because Portland was now a mature city, he wanted to attract others to come and live there. He wanted the whole city to be connected - Baxter wanted better architecture, new appliances, more effective safeguards, and larger opportunities for all. The Portland skyline grew with the Falmouth Hotel, Maine General Hospital and more. - The Grand Trunk Railroad Station and Union Station were built. Union was the gateway to Greater Portland and tourists visited a lot. - Everybody knew everybody in the town. Depression and Decline (1930-1941) - Portland faced a crisis with the Depression. Canada shifted commerce away from Portland. On Munjoy Hill, wealth was counted in nickels and quarters. - The harshness of winter was survived, and the summer was much awaited for. - There was some workaround town, the programs of the New Deal created new streets including Route 1. The War Years (1941-1945) - As the city lost the economy, the city became a boomtown in the 40s, because of the pipeline. It had a lot of oil. - Bath Iron Works was huge, employed 30,000 people. Tremendous economic boost. - Every industry got some kind of war contract, there was a shortage of workers because of the draft, so women joined the workforce. - The military put troops around Portland because of the waterfront. - Portland was never attacked, which brought prosperity when the shipyard closed. Portland slipped back into stagnation. - The Maine turnpike and the Portland airport replaced the train route. The union station was demolished to make way for a strip mall. This outraged the public. - The Portland Observatory is still standing over 150 years. Better to renovate and reuse rather than destroy A New Golden Age (1970-Present) - The 1970s saw another of Portlands remarkable rebirths. It was attractive in the urban areas looking for a quality life. - Maine and Portland got discovered in the 70s. People began moving to Maine because it was less crowded, more open land. - Good leadership and local economy made Portland a leading tourist attraction. - Portland has risen from the ashes yet again, and is now an attraction livable small city full of opportunities that keeps growing year after year. - "A beautiful town seated by the sea"
The French in Maine
- Prior to the middle of the 19th century, there were relatively few French living in Maine, but beginning at the time of the Civil War in the 1860s and going on from there there was large scale arrival of French (especially to mill towns all along the major rivers of Maine) - Up in the county, there was a Madawaska Community along the St John river valley where French language and culture was just as prominent on both sides (both the American and the Canadien side) - The groups living there consisted of Acadian French and those who came from the Southern bank of the St. Lawrence River that is known as the (The Beauce). They were seeking land, peace, and the place of prosperity. - In Lewiston (a city that came to be known as the essential French-Maine city), after the Irish and others built the canals and mills in the 1840s and 1850s, the French flooded into these mills and found work and found communities in Lewiston. - By 1871, a democratic mayor by the name of Alonzo Garcilian (French) elected mayor. In 1887, the French and the Irish joined together to elected Daniel McGillicuddy (Irish) to be the first Irish mayor of the city - If the ethnic groups could work together, they could dominate politics, especially being in the Democratic party. The traditional Yankee population was identifiably Republican, and this division largely remains down to the current time. - Only ⅓ roughly of Franco Americans owned their own homes, most were renting, and by 1888 the board of health in Lewiston, declared what they called Little Canada as "The worst and most dangerous place in the city". So there was a concentration of ethnicity and also of poverty. - By 1871, Lewiston had 17 large companies including 9 that were cotton mills, most employing large numbers of Franco-Americans. - The French largely from Quebec, consisted of an estimated 80% of the workforce. - By the 1920s, LEwiston was Maine's second city with a population of roughly 35,000 - The schools were overburdened by the arrival of these workers, and some moved to Auburn where there were a number of shoe industries, especially during and after the Civil War. - Now as with the Irish, the French practiced initially ethnic separation. They had their own communities, and in 3 cities in particular that are known as being mill towns with large French populations there were also identifiably liberal arts colleges (just below the level of the Ivy League). Brunswick for example w/ Bowdoin, Lewiston w/ Bates, and Waterville w/ Colby. These neighborhoods were quite isolated from the ethnic neighborhoods, and initially very few of the French/Irish were able to attend these prestigious colleges (this would change of course in the mid-to late 20th century) - Acculturation (becoming more American) was strong among the second and third generations of the French. However, even in Lewiston, mixed marriages and in Maine was considered between ethnic groups or even more so, between a Catholic and a Protestant (Often rare), those who practiced it were ostracized/forced to leave families. - The public schools and Catholic church encouraged this Americanization, even in Parochial schools (taught in English language). - Finally, there wad anti-Catholic sentiment in Maine in the mid 19th century in the form of the group called the know-nothings because whenever anybody asked them what they knew about their organization or who the members were they would I don't know nothing. And then in the 1920s again, with the KKK, were equally opposed to French and Irish largely because of religion. - There's a story about the mayor of Saco asking the mayor of Biddeford if he would protect marchers in the KKK if they crossed over the river, and the answer was "If they crossed over into Biddeford, they would largely be on their own." And then, there is also the question of the burning of the Witham estate in Portland. - So, the French and the Irish in Maine had several things in common, and one was opposition to the KKK and what they stood for, and this joining together made them see that there were things that they could do politically and otherwise if they joined forces in the State of Maine.
SJC CAMPUS HISTORY: IV. Separation from MA (1785-1820)
- Push for more localized gov't begins in 1785 - The Falmouth Gazette, the first newspaper printed in Maine and promoted separation - The first meeting discussing separation was held in the meeting house of Revs. Smith and Deane in Falmouth 1785-1791 - Slow but gradual support for the idea 1791 - address listing reasons for separation by Daniel Davis wanted independence from MA for Maine - can really ramp up our learning and religious institutions
Innocent Interlude (FILM)
- Scenes of Portland, Maine - 1940-41 - In 1940, prosperity had finally returned to Portland after a decade of struggling with the economic devastation brought by the Great Depression. - World War II had begun in Europe in 1939, and defense spending played a role in ending unemployment. - Eastman Kodak had begun marketing 16mm color motion picture film and the City of Portland took advantage of the new technology to show their beautiful "city by the sea." - Portland From Above - Portland in 1940, starts the video from the air - viewing the beautiful Portland harbor, waterfront, back cove, coast guard station in So. Portland, the Portland/South Portland bridge, crosses the Fore River, landmarks - 2 skyscrapers and monument square, Lincoln Park, City Hall, Wadsworth Longfellow property. Fly east ending up over East End with Diamond Islands in background, Deering Oaks, Park Avenue, the new Federal Post Office. Flying back towards Portland - Baxter Blvd., Payson Park. Further down the blvd. you get Forest Avenue and USM Portland. Portland riverside golf course on Riverside Street. Warren Avenue has 2 AM radio towers, then does Portland Municipal Airport before our plane lands. - Summer Sports & Recreation - Richardson Field (now Hadlock Field) played their baseball games there with the EXPO in the Background. The bleachers would hold 500 fans, always full. - Deering Oaks - one of the softball fields where teams of the girl softball league played near Deering Avenue. Both the men and women teams had sponsors. - Eastern Promenade - 2 men baseball teams (the men played good fastball and had large followings of fans) - East End Beach - the huge float was built in 1935 and could hold 100 persons. Swimming was very popular, and in 1916, the ocean water never warmed up very much. - Baxter Woods - between Stevens Ave. and Forest Ave - donated to the city by Percival Baxter for a bird sanctuary and nature trail. Girl Scouts held day camps at Baxter Park. The day began with patriotic exercise, and then would play games and crafts. The girls cooked lunch outdoors and a cold refreshing drink. - Portland even had its own swimming hole (location not known) - Deering Oaks - had tennis courts (built-in 1916). Also had lawn bowling courts, and the sport of Kings had come to Portland (64 players could participate at a time). - The park department held summer programs for children in all 18 of the city playgrounds. The swingset at the Oaks was built in 1916. The children certainly enjoyed the time to cool off in the hot summer. - The Fore Street playground near Danforth Street was also popular. There was a jungle gym, swings, a teeter-totter, and of course a sandbox. - This talent show was part of the park departments summer programs: tap dancing and a recitation. - Park Avenue - high school bands paraded along Park Ave as part of a band festival. - PHS Athletic Field (Fitzpatrick Stadium) - also had parades behind the exposition building. The non-musicians took their places in the bleachers while the bands joined together for a combined concert. - Portland Municipal Airport - city purchased in 1937. Model airplane building was very popular in the 1930s, seen as a way to prepare younger kids for possibly flying. They competed with models to see which one could stay in the air the longest (wouldn't fly, but would go in circles). The event attracted a lot of people along Westbrook St. and Stroudwater. Crashes were inevitable and spectators wanted to see the results of them - Riverside Golf Course - held invitational pro golf tourneys, internationally known pros came to this and the news division was there covering the tournament. Portland opened a 9 hole golf course in 1932, and expanded it to 18-hole in 1947. - Young people taking baton twirling programs marched to the tennis courts on the Eastern Promenade. Baton twirling was very popular in the 1930s (mostly girls, some guys). Would sometimes take place at Fitzpatrick Field (where the best were at; also included flag twirling sometimes) - Winter Sports & Recreation - Riverside Golf Course - Portland residents loved to get out in the winter. Winter carnivals began in the 1920s, and more than 6,000 spectators came in January 1940 - was also used for winter sports in their offseason. The carnival included: skiing demonstrations, and skating demonstrations by members of the Boston skating club and Waynflete School. Next, a Native American skated. Then women wearing dresses and wigs from the Revolutionary War times. These last skaters appear to be clowns who can't even stand on skates. There was also group skating featured. The first toboggan run was set up in 1919, but wasn't set up at Riverside until 1929, it was a double run with a powder of snow at the end (people of all ages enjoyed), the touching part was hauling the toboggan up to the top of the hill. - The golf course also had dog sledding. It's likely that Perry breed dogs were used for the sleds. Green was the sole breeder of sledding in Maine, he later moved to Waldoboro with his dogs. - Deering Oaks - ice skating had begun on the pond at Deering Oaks and then other rinks were created around the city. Here you see a park employee clearing the snow on the ice with a snowblower. When it was clear, local residents flocked to the pond to enjoy the skating. The crowd gathered and there were some pro ice skates giving demonstrations at the Oaks. - Payson Park - acquired by the city in 1917. They also had an ice rink. Ice hockey was also popular, would take place at a designated section of the rink - Baxter Boulevard & Deering Oaks Park - Baxter, named after mayor James P. Baxter, runs around the back cove, the trees were donated by his son Percival Baxter, who served as the Governor of Maine. There were lots of flowers along the Blvd. - Deering High School was built in 1922 at the site of Old Presumpscot Park, athletic fields were added later behind the school. - Deering Oaks had beautiful cut grass and a lot of pretty flower gardens. The rose garden and duck ponds were very popular to the public. There would be boat rides on the duckpond for young children. Also, rowboats were able for rent, and swans would follow the boats hoping for feed. - The Longfellow Garden - Located behind Wadsworth Longfellow house and next to the library of the Maine Historical Society. The garden was designed by Marlon Lamb in 1926, remains one of the delightful little hideaways in Portland. Here a women's group, members of the Longfellow Garden Club, gather for a picnic. - The Waterfront - Portland Harbor - local yacht clubs would race each summer. 70 sailboats completed the first year in existence. People from all across the state would bring down their ships to participate. Races were held for 6 different classes of sailboats. There were cargo ships anchored along the waterfront. After the race, the participants would meet at clubs for refreshments and a dance. The races were filmed from the Portland police boat as the life rain indicates. - The Portland police department boat departs the waterfront to take representatives of city gov't to the annual citizens military training cast at Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island. More than 700 young men came for a month's training, which could lead to becoming a 2nd LT in the infantry. The hangar was used as a dining hall. The police and fireman line up on Fort McKinley playground, the fort flag is lowered, meaning this is a retreat ceremony. Young men come forward for awards granted from an instructor to their flag. The newly-organized regiment leads in review on the parade ground, most of these young men were called to active duty after the attack on Pearl Harbor. - Portland Waterfront - The ship traffic in and out of Portland harbor has been in decline since the early 1920s, but they're still are vessels arriving from around the world to pick up and drop off cargo. (Maine state pier up waterfront to Portland terminal wards). Maine state pier, Norwegian ship being unloaded, had a cargo of timber on deck, grain bags from the hold of the ship, they are moved by hand on wagons by the longshoremen for temporary storage inside the warehouse, other cargoes are moved out to be loaded onto the ship. The bundles in the foreground may be bailed whole. This ship is probably tied up at the Portland Terminal Company wards, now the site of the Portland International Ferry Terminal. - Public Works - The WPA was still assisting Portland and other communities with public works projects in 1940 and 1941. Here laborers are blasting a ledge on the root of a new sewer line. They're using jackhammers, sled hammers, picks, and shovels. They are driving in pilings along the edge of the trench, here they are warming the crushed rock to be used in making cement. Another blast, all clear, pushes the plunger, BOOM the pile of logs keeps the debris from flying around, town we are warming bricks, now the cement mixer is hard at work, pouring it into carts, gets dumped into the forms below. The men down below guide the cement around into every corner. The cement base is done and is now being linked with bricks by masons. Here they mix for the masons, and now the top half of the sewer line is being poured and a brick covering is being placed on top of it. - Here a small plow goes through a Portland sidewalk, now a large plow cleans one of the city streets downtown. A snow loading machine lifts the snow into waiting dump trucks. The man on the loading machine directs the driver to keep them lined up with the dropping snow. The dump trucks drop the loads into the harbor, before anyone was concerned with dropping salty snow and ice into the salty water. - Vicinity of Back Cove - there was another snow dump here, and there was a sand storage lot, unemployed men would take on these jobs, sand brought from sandpits, salt spread on top of sand, then shovel into the trucks, next bags of rock salt are used to melt the ice on the streets. There were hazards of icy city streets, so they had to keep them sanded via the sand trucks. - Trolly cars had provided public transportation in Portland since 1860. But in the 1930s, the Private Portland railroad company started replacing trolleys with modern buses that weren't limited to tracked routes. Congress Street line ended service in July 1940, the tracks were no longer needed, they were a hazard to pedestrians on automobiles, the city council voted to remove the tracks because of buses, work began in the summer of 1941. Workers used jackhammers to break apart the cement granite paving blocks between the rails. The buses replaced the trolly cars, the rails were taken out into trucks for scrap (they were placed there in 1860) the tracks were very heavy. American flag on rear of truck, American involvement in WW2 just a few months away. Paving begins once rails have been removed. Dump truck dumps a load of granite into the spreading machine for pavement. - Soap Box Derby - Park Avenue - 55 boys competed in the 5th annual competition, sponsored by the PPH, 24 boys from Southern Maine, and 31 previous winners. Each boy got a t-shirt and a helmet with their boxcars. The 690-foot course is set up on Park Avenue in front of the Portland Expo. The cars ran 3 in a heat, the crowd is crazy. The cars had no brakes so a safety team had to bring them to a halt. Winner received a trophy, wristwatch, and a trip to the All American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.
SJC Campus History: II. British Hostilities (1773-75)
- Tea Act enacted in 1773. English were taxing at a higher rate to Americans; had no representation. Taxation without representation - so they dumped the English tea into the Channel - leading to the passing of the Intolerable Acts - American Colonists fired back, no buying of English goods 1775 - Samuel Coulson was a loyalist shipbuilder who lived in Portland and tried to receive British goods - so people rejected him. - Samuel Thompson (Thompson's Point) arrived at Falmouth and captured Mowatt, leading to Portland getting bombarded by Mowatt's men. - One month later in Machias, a British ship was captured; sending word to Mowatt to end this rebellion. Mowatt returned in October and fired on Falmouth from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. - Burning of Falmouth
Portland's Irish Longshoremen
- The vast majority of dockworkers in Portland at the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century were Irish and Catholic, so that's why the connection with the Roman Catholic Church and its bishops were so important - The name of the Union/Benevolent Society was the Portland Longshoremen Benevolent Society (better known as PLSBS) - One of the big issues at the time within the church was "Should the church recognize ethnic identity and ethnic diversity (including language, or should it try to Americanize workers to try and make them more similar to other workers especially in terms of language (English language)?" - So, the Americanization effort of the church was oftentimes resisted by the Ethnic groups in Maine especially the Franco-American population. - English was always encouraged to be the language of the Church including in majority Irish and French parishes. - The second bishop of Maine - James A. Healey - was one of the more fascinating Catholic bishops in the entire country. He was the first black bishop to serve the Catholic church in America. Having been the product of a white-Irish immigrant and a Black mother (former slave - in fact, it was the slave owner who married the slave that produced the Healey family). Knowing that their children would be mixed-raced would not have an easy go of it in the South especially in GA. - The Healey's sent their children up north to New England to be educated (many in and around the College of the Holy Cross). - Bishop Healy served from 1875 to 1900 (25 years). He was generally known in the country as being a very strong opponent to the strongest labor union at the time which were the Knights of Labor. Healey personally attacked the leader of the Knights who was an Irishman by the name of Terrance V. Powderly. Once when Powderly made the trip to Portland, he was summoned to the Bishops' residence and after waiting quite a while, Healey asked him: "What right have you to speak in my state, without my permission?" Powderly replied saying this is America, and he has the right to speak to anybody he wants to (relationship was tested) - The main issue for Healy was the secretive nature of the Knights of Labor (weren't supposed to discuss any of the secret messages of that Union). Even weren't supposed to tell who were other members. This is very opposite to the Catholic Church where people need to be 100% truthful and hold nothing back from their priest. - This animosity between the 2 continued for most of Healey's serving time - Toward the end, the Pope at time issued (of new things) which was published in 1891, very supportive of working classes in America, this softened the relationship between Healey and the knights, and also the relationship between the Catholic Church and labor unions as a whole. - Bishop Healey would be replaced by a very powerful bishop in 1901, William Henry O'Connell, who went on to serve a long term as the bishop of Boston, and then a cardinal of the Catholic Church. In 1906, he was replaced by Lewis S. Walsh served from 1906-1924. One theme is of the names is that every bishop has been identifiably Irish (great for Irish, but often wondered about the majority - FRENCH) - Under Walsh's time, there was a major strike in 1921, and the records of the PLSBS show that Walsh was counseling restraint and keeping the workers working, making money, leading to a resolution of the strike but not in favor of the Union. - Walsh was also known for his fight against the resurgent KKK, and the nature of the fight (north it was anti-ethnic, anti-french, anti-Irish, anti-Catholic, anti-Jewish, anti-immigrant). So, the KKK joined w/ other groups in Maine to oppose government aid to Catholic educational systems - In Portland, there was a large estate (Witham estate - the headquarters of the KKK in Southern Maine). At one point, there was a fire there and the estate burned to the ground ending the KKK in Maine. - Discussing ethnic relations and relating them to the Irish and their dockworkers. Before the arrival of the Irish (before the great famine, potato famine of 1845-1850) much of the work along shore was being done by black dockworkers-surprising because Maine and Portland always had a low % of Black residents, but those here flocked toward this work because only work available to them (hard labor, unskilled, and poorly paid)). - After the arrival of the Grand Trunk Railroad in 1853, and the arrival of more Irish, work on the longshore became more and more Irish, by the time the PLSBS was formed, it said no colored person shall be a member of this Union. - Battalions who later arrived in the early 20th century found work as freight handlers (transport goods from railroad cars into terminal buildings, Irish would take it to ship) - these 2 Unions were very ethnically identifiable - When the Irish first arrived, the concept of a melting pot was very strange. They lived in their own ethnic neighborhoods clustered around the waterfront of Portland because that's where the rentals were cheapest and it was close to where they worked. But by the time the second generation and especially third generation came about, they were moving out into the suburbs (Irish population was very diluted from what it used to be). - Finally, on the questions of the PLSBS - this society fought against 2 major strikes in November of 1911 and November of 1913 (Nov. is the time when the St. Lawrence river freezes and much of cargo from planes of Canada would be shipped by the Grand Trunk down to Portland and taken care of by the longshoremen). - These 2 strikes ended up being failures for the PLSBS, and the lesson learned was that they better Americanize and join with other Longshore unions up and down the coast - A few months later in Feb. of 1914, the PLSBS affiliated w/ the International Longshoremen's Association as Local-861 and this is the designation that they still have today.
The Gettysburg Story (FILM)
- Thursday, July 2, 1863 - The Union army falls back to hold the high ground south of Gettysburg (Little Round Top). Lee's Confederate line planned to attack the left flank and then the right flank of the Union army. Longstreet doesn't agree with Lee's plans to attack the left flank. - At 4 p.m, Longstreet sends in a division to begin the fight. Devil's Den was a field full of jungled rocks. Rebels overwhelmed the Yankees and took position, an hour into the fighting the Rebels believed to have taken the Union flank, but rising before them is Little Round Top. - Union general Gouvernor Warren rides up to Little Round Top, because it's undefended, he tells Col. Vincent's brigade to protect this Round Top. Minutes later, the Texans push up the hill and wound Col. Vincent. The Union line was barely holding. - Col. Chamberlain held the extreme left flank of the entire Union army, he needs to hold this ground at all costs. Racing towards him, is the 15th Alabama led by Oates. They attack up the slopes, they charge 5 times, but are driven back 5x. The Union army runs low on ammunition, so he needs to charge with bayonets, and save the left flank of the Union army doing so. - The battle was so close to going the other way (a game of inches). - Col. Vincent was killed at Little Round Top ('We will see how professors fight, I'll see you at Harvard Yard - - I'll see you at Bowdoin." - Chamberlain years later, receives a letter from a Confederate soldier, who says he had him in his sights but didn't fire, he doesn't know why. - So many lessons in this battle, Gettysburg likely would have turned the other way. Lee planned to move east (Baltimore, Washington D.C.) - Multiple regiments involved (16th Maine)
Pickett's Charge
- a failed confederate attack during the Civil War led by general George Pickett at the Battle of Gettysburg. - 3rd day of Gettysburg, Lee asked Pickett to lead troops on a mile and a half run where they were then slaughtered by the union army - Pickett led right up the middle and his forces were devastated Lee says "Get your regiment together", and Pickett replies "Sir, I have no regiment."
James G. Blaine
- a strong and firm Republican, served after the Civil War, so the Republican party was ascending. - Born in Pennsylvania, his wife was a Mainer, Harriet Stanwood from Augusta (she was wealthy, by marrying her, he got the money he needed to get a big start in life in Augusta) - Moved to Maine in 1853, 8 years before the outbreak of Civil War, 3 years after marrying Stanwood. Purchased and became the editor of the Kennebec Journal (located in Augusta).Gave him an 'IN' into politics, a significant contributor. Knowing that Augusta was the state capital, but Portland was the economic hub of the city, he also became a part owner of the Portland Advertisement, he was smart and was positioning himself to do very well economically. - Served on the Republican state committee, taking steps up the ladder, he then served in the Maine legislature, and eventually became a speaker of the Maine house. - By 1863 (GETTYSBURG) he was elected to the USHOR, he has now reached national prominence. Just 6 years later, he served as speaker of the house for 3 terms (6 years - 1869-1875). - Maine is small in terms of population, we are on the frontier and are isolated from the big cities. We have had one person elected VP, and Blaine came very close to being elected President. - In 1876, he was appointed to the US Senate (jumped up from HOR, Speaker of the House, to the US senate). Why though? Senators were first chosen by the legislature of their state, Blaine's appointment was not unusual based on his resume. He was dapper, he was nicknamed the Plumed Knight (dressed elegantly with a feathered plume coming out of his head), he looked Presidential. - He was typical of the Republican party, and rose up very quickly with Republican party. Stood for opposition to green backs (dollar bills were called greenbacks), in the early years, currency in the US was metal, copper, silver. To be against greenbacks is to be against inflation, against deficit spending (spending more than you have). Blaine wanted to fight against deficit spending, also opposed open immigration (similar to Trump - build a wall). Republicans are always more restrictive of immigration, while Democrats are more open. - Who would he have been talking about in the 1860s, 70s, 80s? The Irish, then later on the French. - By 1881, he had achieved even higher office as Secretary of State (some see it is even higher than VP in terms of power). He has gone all the way up the ladder from Maine. - In the election of 1884, he had a clear path to Presidency, the Republicans were ascending, the Dems were still associated with the South (the bloody flag/The Civil War). However, he was defeated by Grover Cleveland (served 2 terms, but not consecutively). - Why did he lose? It wasn't Blaine that made the critical error, sometimes you are blamed for something you did not do, but someone did in your name. Very late in the campaign, a Presbyterian minister from No. Ireland, with a long history of fighting against Catholics and Natives. A preacher was giving a strong speech in favor of Blaine, and during the speech he mentioned that the Democratic party was the party of rum, Romanism, and rebellion (costs him the state of NY - largest state in . It was highly offensive to the Irish community of New York State, and even though Blaine would have never said that himself, it became attached to him. When it hit the NY newspapers, large numbers of Irish catholics voted for Cleveland and was defeated in the state of NY by a hair, but won all electoral votes. (Maine and Nebraska split electoral votes.) - In 1888, he was again appointed as Secretary of State and developed the good neighbor policy with Latin America. Meant to try to bring us closer with the rest of Western Hemisphere. Didn't exactly work out, we have a rough relationship with LA. - Closely associated with corruption in his life, typical of the Gilded Age. Looks more valuable than it really is. Much more powerful/wealthy than they really were. He was criticized often for being corrupt (Were scandals on the stock market, people could get very wealthy by manipulating stocks (know a stock is going to go up/down)) and died in 1893 (a character of the 19th century). - Insider trading is supposedly illegal and is difficult to prove, Blaine was associated with all these things. Hurt his chances for presidency (ran 3 times)
Recovered artifacts (1773-1820)
- all were last used prior to 1820 - when this place was MA - Clay Pipe - spoon, fork, and bone-handled knife - shoe buckle - whale oil lamp (ca. 1812) - French coin (2 Sols, bronze coin, came under Louis XVI 1791-93) - George Washington inaugural button - unanimous selection by the Electoral College (minted to honor the country's support of GW, GWI 9A from 1789) - Archaeologists graded it a 4-4, couldn't have been found in better shape
SJC CAMPUS HISTORY: I. Settlement (1745-1773)
1745 - Siege of Louisbourg 1749 - Captains Pearson and Hobbs petition England for additional compensation for their men 1750 - Petitions granted in 1750 by England: 39,000 acres for 120 men 1752 - First Division of Lots drawn (30-acre parcels; Routes 35 & 25) = Hobbs & Pearson Town 1753 - Fort constructed 1757 - Hobbs dies = Pearsontown 1759 - Fall of Quebec = end to the French and Indian hostilities 1773 - Second Division of lots drawn (100-acre parcels; including SJC's five lots) but not recorded (didn't write down who was assigned lots, made Bridge's job more difficult = no starting point) - Lot 64, 63 (campus side), 51, 52 (farm-side), 37 (nothing developed) = Saint Joseph's College
Documented History of the SJC Campus
1773 - Second Division of Pearsontown 1820 - Maine Statehood (Missouri Compromise) 1902 - Verrill Era 1955 - SJC moves to Standish 2020 - State of Maine's Bicentennial 2023 - 250th anniversary of SJC land discovery
Late 19th c. Maine: James G. Blaine and Thomas B. Reed
Two very famous Republican politicians, both were speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives, Republican party was so prominent in Maine for such a long time, now it is kind of turning to Democratic (purple state) - largest % of independents
Little Round Top
the site of an unsuccessful assault by Confederate troops against the Union left flank on July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. - The Bayonet Charge (very unusual), did it out of desperation and inspiration (downhill)