Built in 1847, the Hill Brick Block at the corner of North and Main Streets is both much the same today and much changed. In the photo above taken about 1900 the building was filled with businesses on the ground … Continue reading
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Until very recently, the four border communities (Calais, St. Stephen, and the Milltowns) have been largely one social and economic unit. Cross border romances and marriages have always been common. The great lumber barons harvested the forests with equal voraciousness … Continue reading
Washington County has had its share of scams over the years: the Lubec “Gold from Seawater” swindle comes immediately to mind, as does the Burwash fraud of a century ago when vacation lots in Wesley were offered in the bug-infested … Continue reading
Of the many fine policemen that have served the Calais area over the years, few are better remembered than old “Bull” Powers. Bull was beloved by many community members for his service in the 1950s and 60s. What follows is a … Continue reading
Born in 1865 in Pembroke, William Pattangall married Jean M Johnson of Calais in 1884 while he was studying law with the distinguished Calais attorney Archibald MacNichol. Craving adventure, he left the study of law for a time to sail … Continue reading
We came across an interesting article recently reporting on John Trimble’s 1937 speech at the St Croix Club. The Club was a “gentleman’s” club formed the late 1800’s to provide “gentlemen” of the four towns, the Milltowns, Calais and Stephen, … Continue reading
The wagon rests in winter, the sleigh in summer, the horse never. -Yiddish Proverb A good horse cannot be a bad color. -Proverbs No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle. -Winston Churchill Indeed, there is … Continue reading
In terms of important, world shattering events, 1930 was a pretty dull year, although two events in 1930 did have significant future repercussions. The first was Gandhi’s Salt March to the Sea in India, a protest of the British prohibition … Continue reading
Young Alice Sinclair was among the first piano players in Calais to provide a musical accompaniment to the silent films of the early 20th century. She began her work just after the first World War. Sinclair eventually moved to Meddybemps and lived … Continue reading
Of all the floods that have struck the Calais area, the one of 1923 was by far the worst. According to historian and reporter Ned Lamb, the water was so high in Maguerrowock that canoeists could literally paddle over telephone lines. … Continue reading