History of Pemaquid Point and Surrounding Areas

Introduction
This page contains some historical documents and data that deal with the Pemaquid Point area. This page will be changed from time to time to feature new material that becomes available. If you have something that you think should be featured here, please let us know by email (see "About" page for email addresses). We are always happy to receive new material and will make every reasonable effort to get your material on line here. Help us make the history page fun and educational by getting your story, old photo, new photo of an old object, photo of an old letter or whatever on line here.

Also, we have in our possession most of the 20th century records, (dating back to the 1930s) of the Association and some old local newspapers. We have a committee looking into the feasibility of digitizing these records to make them available to others. After the digitization, the originals will be loaned to the Bristol Library.

Library

Items of Local Interest
Check back often as we will be adding more items.

The Pemaquid Messenger Project. We've scanned dozens of issues of the Pemaquid Messenger published in the late 1880s and early 1890s. We will be posting some articles of interest we have found but for now you can read about the project or order the DVD.
  • A Sampling of Pemaquid Messenger Advertisements

    • Pemaquid Land Company Brochure, date is uncertain but two citations from within the brochure suggest the late 1950's. (Does anyone know for sure?)

    Beautiful Pemaquid Point and its Environs. Another brochure that seems to be from the mid 1930s.

    Google Books
    Did you know that Google is not just a search engine? Google has partnered with several libraries in a project to digitize the worlds books. Many texts now available have long since entered the public domain and are freely distributed (with some caveats), including several 19th and early 20th century texts on the history of Pemaquid. All of the material presented below is in the public domain but please read Google's introduction and abide by their usage guidelines.

    These books and articles are in PDF. Most are not very large files and I've included the size of each file to give you an idea of how long it will take to download.

    You may note that missing from this list is A History of Bristol and Bremen, (John Johnston, 1873) which is occassionally available at local bookstores. It has apparently not been digitized as of yet, but will be.

    The Story of Pemaquid, James Otis, 1902 (178 pages, 3.2mb).
    Author's Note: "In this story, the second in the series 'Pioneer Towns of America' Pemaquid Plantation has been chosen as the central point, because, during the early settlement of Maine it was the most important post on the coast east of Massachusetts. To those brave men who strove to build homes in the vicinity of Pemaquid are we especially indebted for their bold battling against civilized as well as savage foes, their sturdy fight against the forces of nature and their indomitable courage, so often and so sorely tried."

    Ten Years at Pemaquid, Sketches of Its History and Its Ruins, J. Henry Cartland, 1899 (196 pages, 3.9 mb)
    Foreword: "Many people who visit Old Pemaquid every year who have once claimed it as their home, but have been obliged to seek employment elsewhere. They cherish fond memories of happy days passed here. Few visit this place who do not with to come again to enjoy its attractive natural scenery and try to fathom the hidden mysteries of its past..."

    Ancient Pemaquid: An Historical Review, J. Wingate Thornton, 1857 (178 pages, 4.6 mb)
    Preface: "...It would be difficult ot find a history so romantic, and replete in examples, distinct in their teachings, as is that amid the ruins of Ancient Pemaquid..."

    Ancient Dominions of Maine, Rufus King Sewall, 1859 (860 pages, 9.5 mb)
    Subtitle: "Embracing the earliest facts, the recent discoveries of the remains of aboriginal towns, the voyages, settlements, battles scenes and incidents of Indian warfare, and other incidents of history, together with the religious developments of society withing the ancient Sagadahoc, Sheepscot and Pemaquid precincts and dependencies"

    Jamestown of Pemaquid: A Poem, Mrs. Maria Hackelton, 1869, Preface and Historical Sketch, Maine Historical Society. (40 pages, 1 mb)
    Title Page Note: "Read on the site of Fort Frederic, on the reception of the Committee of the Maine Historical Society by the citizens of Bristol."

    The Depredation at Pemaquid in August, 1689 and the Events That Let Up To It, Victor Hugo Paltsits, 1905 (14 pages, less than 1 mb)

    The History of the State of Maine, William D. Williamson, 1839 (696 pages 31 mb).