Chapter XII
Penobscot Maine ( 1987 )
Two centuries have past since our town was officially created. Once referred to as a Majorbagaduce
Territory, owned and controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it finally became a self
governing unit in February of 1787. Separation from Massachusetts followed when Maine became a
state of the Union in the year 1820. Much has taken place since the beginnning. As we know by now,
the first division of Penobscot occured in 1796. The area on the peninsula was incorporated as a
separate township, Castine. In 1817, a secondary division took place when Brooksville became another
self governing township. At the same time, Castine annexed nearly one-forth of Penobscot, that portion
nearest the coastal town.
It might well be said that, with a separation of Castine, Penobscot lost much of what had been
glamorous to its history. But, as a center of commerce, the town continued to florish throughout the
nineteenth century. Although Penobscot was not a ship building center that Castine was, the revenue
from coasting trade built many of the fine homes around the upper bay. Lumbering was a major endevor
and fishing on the Grand Banks occupied many. Bricking also added much to its success, as did the
sawmills, the grist mills and the stave manufacturing business. It was also the center of much mining
activity, although there is little evidence that this endevor brought much wealth or permanent employment
to the town.
Once a valuable center of commerce and a very busy community in the nineteenth century, it can be said
that Penobscot has changed considerably in the twentieth. In a commercial sense, this century, with the
exception of one or two endevors, has been mostly downhill. The river traffic has decreased year by
year. Except for a coastguard tender that occasionally checks a buoy, nothing larger than a lobster boat
is seen up the Bagaduce River in this bi-centennial year. Over the past seventy-five years, Penobscot has
been one of the subtle change but not of radical development. Although the names of its founders are still
present, there are new names added as well. Many have retreated from more active centers, like
Bangor, Boston or New York, either because they could not afford or did not desire the atmosphere of
more celebrated coastal towns.
Penobscot is no longer a commercial center as it was a century
ago. Today it is considered to be a residental place where people eat
and sleep while fulfilling their occupational and professional ambitions
elsewhere. The decline of Penobscot can be roughly varified through
its population census. It peaked at about 1550 people in 1850 to 1860,
declined to 1150 by 1900; and continued to drop to an all time low of
680 people by 1940. The decline reflects not only the decrease in
families, but also the loss of its youth who have been attracted by greater
opportunity in more active centers such as Bangor, Ellsworth or even
points beyond the state. Today many families depend almost entirely
on employment with the paper mill in Bucksport owned and operated
by (International Paper Co.-2001) Champion Paper Co., formerly by St. Regis, and prior to that by
Seaboard Paper co. The nursing home provides local employment for a few. Self enployment is still
dominant and there are many building contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics who
depend on their own ingenuity to earn a livelihood. Others commute to the Maine Maritime Academy in
Castine, or to Ellsworth, even to Orono for employment.
In George Wheeler's, " History of Castine, Brooksville and Penobscot", written in 1875, he makes
observations concerning the present and future of each town. As related to Penobscot, he writes the
following: "The Town of Penobscot is engaged somewhat in navigation,
and in small manufactures, but, on the whole is considered to
be an agricultural town. Its increased in prosperity of late years
is doubtless due to the temperance, frugality, and industry of its
citizens. It has been simply the slow and natural growth that
every town ought to show. Its financial growth is partly due,
of course, to the new vessels that have been built and to the
new manufactures that have sprung up; but is due mainly to
the value of its farms. Looking ahead to the future however,
and with the exception to North Penobscot, the situation and
soil of Penobscot does not and never will compare with the more
favorable soil in other parts of the state. Therefore, the future
of Penobscot and its prosperity will depend principally upon the
encouragement extended to new manufactures. Certainly we should continue to farm, but with the
emphasis on introducing new and better manufactures of all kinds. This pholosophy, together with an
ambitious and hard working population, will assure the continued growth of the town".
While it is true that any town, state, or country can rise and fall with the times, it appears that we may not
have been timely in expanding manufacturing or even replacing it when lost. True, brickyards may not be
replaced with brickyards, but perhaps with another new industry. Shipping may not be replaced with
shipping, but it might have been possible to intruduce something else of an indusrty nature which
compensated for its ecnomic decline in shipping. Mr. Wheeler appears to be right in his obversations and
prophesy of Penobscot. we have not replaced lost industry. We have not found better manufactures as
related to the times which we find ourselves. Neither have we encouraged new manufactures which Mr.
Wheeler suggested. Consequently, the population has declined, since there has been little opportunity
for the youth to utilize their talents. They have found it neccessary to seek employment elsewhere.
At the Centennial celebration of 1887, the main speaker of the day, Mr. Job Montgomery concluded his
remarks by saying "We dare not frocast the future of this town since it is only one hundred years old and
still very very young". In this bi-centennial year, the very same words can be expressed. Although now,
two hundred years years old, the town, as a municipality, is still a very young town. Things have
already changed for the better. Our population has been elevated above the low of 1940. Over 1000
people reside here today. Our school system, a consolidated one, has improved the quality of education
received by its elementary students. Headed by a teaching principal and a competent faculity of teachers,
the children in grades kindergarten through eight are exposed to much better methods of learning than
heretofore. The secondary schools of George Stevens Academy.in Blue Hill, and Bucksport High
School, like wise present a much diversified cirriculum than good old Clark High School ever could
provide. This is positive improvement and a forward thrust in the right direction. this alone may
encourage our youth to live and work in this delightfully young town. In the meantime, we can enjoy the
unspoiled beauty of the area which new business might otherwise destroy.
Past Century Review
Territory, owned and controlled by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, it finally became a self
governing unit in February of 1787. Separation from Massachusetts followed when Maine became a
state of the Union in the year 1820. Much has taken place since the beginnning. As we know by now,
the first division of Penobscot occured in 1796. The area on the peninsula was incorporated as a
separate township, Castine. In 1817, a secondary division took place when Brooksville became another
self governing township. At the same time, Castine annexed nearly one-forth of Penobscot, that portion
nearest the coastal town.
It might well be said that, with a separation of Castine, Penobscot lost much of what had been
glamorous to its history. But, as a center of commerce, the town continued to florish throughout the
nineteenth century. Although Penobscot was not a ship building center that Castine was, the revenue
from coasting trade built many of the fine homes around the upper bay. Lumbering was a major endevor
and fishing on the Grand Banks occupied many. Bricking also added much to its success, as did the
sawmills, the grist mills and the stave manufacturing business. It was also the center of much mining
activity, although there is little evidence that this endevor brought much wealth or permanent employment
to the town.
Once a valuable center of commerce and a very busy community in the nineteenth century, it can be said
that Penobscot has changed considerably in the twentieth. In a commercial sense, this century, with the
exception of one or two endevors, has been mostly downhill. The river traffic has decreased year by
year. Except for a coastguard tender that occasionally checks a buoy, nothing larger than a lobster boat
is seen up the Bagaduce River in this bi-centennial year. Over the past seventy-five years, Penobscot has
been one of the subtle change but not of radical development. Although the names of its founders are still
present, there are new names added as well. Many have retreated from more active centers, like
Bangor, Boston or New York, either because they could not afford or did not desire the atmosphere of
more celebrated coastal towns.
Penobscot is no longer a commercial center as it was a century
ago. Today it is considered to be a residental place where people eat
and sleep while fulfilling their occupational and professional ambitions
elsewhere. The decline of Penobscot can be roughly varified through
its population census. It peaked at about 1550 people in 1850 to 1860,
declined to 1150 by 1900; and continued to drop to an all time low of
680 people by 1940. The decline reflects not only the decrease in
families, but also the loss of its youth who have been attracted by greater
opportunity in more active centers such as Bangor, Ellsworth or even
points beyond the state. Today many families depend almost entirely
on employment with the paper mill in Bucksport owned and operated
by (International Paper Co.-2001) Champion Paper Co., formerly by St. Regis, and prior to that by
Seaboard Paper co. The nursing home provides local employment for a few. Self enployment is still
dominant and there are many building contractors, plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics who
depend on their own ingenuity to earn a livelihood. Others commute to the Maine Maritime Academy in
Castine, or to Ellsworth, even to Orono for employment.
In George Wheeler's, " History of Castine, Brooksville and Penobscot", written in 1875, he makes
observations concerning the present and future of each town. As related to Penobscot, he writes the
following: "The Town of Penobscot is engaged somewhat in navigation,
and in small manufactures, but, on the whole is considered to
be an agricultural town. Its increased in prosperity of late years
is doubtless due to the temperance, frugality, and industry of its
citizens. It has been simply the slow and natural growth that
every town ought to show. Its financial growth is partly due,
of course, to the new vessels that have been built and to the
new manufactures that have sprung up; but is due mainly to
the value of its farms. Looking ahead to the future however,
and with the exception to North Penobscot, the situation and
soil of Penobscot does not and never will compare with the more
favorable soil in other parts of the state. Therefore, the future
of Penobscot and its prosperity will depend principally upon the
encouragement extended to new manufactures. Certainly we should continue to farm, but with the
emphasis on introducing new and better manufactures of all kinds. This pholosophy, together with an
ambitious and hard working population, will assure the continued growth of the town".
While it is true that any town, state, or country can rise and fall with the times, it appears that we may not
have been timely in expanding manufacturing or even replacing it when lost. True, brickyards may not be
replaced with brickyards, but perhaps with another new industry. Shipping may not be replaced with
shipping, but it might have been possible to intruduce something else of an indusrty nature which
compensated for its ecnomic decline in shipping. Mr. Wheeler appears to be right in his obversations and
prophesy of Penobscot. we have not replaced lost industry. We have not found better manufactures as
related to the times which we find ourselves. Neither have we encouraged new manufactures which Mr.
Wheeler suggested. Consequently, the population has declined, since there has been little opportunity
for the youth to utilize their talents. They have found it neccessary to seek employment elsewhere.
At the Centennial celebration of 1887, the main speaker of the day, Mr. Job Montgomery concluded his
remarks by saying "We dare not frocast the future of this town since it is only one hundred years old and
still very very young". In this bi-centennial year, the very same words can be expressed. Although now,
two hundred years years old, the town, as a municipality, is still a very young town. Things have
already changed for the better. Our population has been elevated above the low of 1940. Over 1000
people reside here today. Our school system, a consolidated one, has improved the quality of education
received by its elementary students. Headed by a teaching principal and a competent faculity of teachers,
the children in grades kindergarten through eight are exposed to much better methods of learning than
heretofore. The secondary schools of George Stevens Academy.in Blue Hill, and Bucksport High
School, like wise present a much diversified cirriculum than good old Clark High School ever could
provide. This is positive improvement and a forward thrust in the right direction. this alone may
encourage our youth to live and work in this delightfully young town. In the meantime, we can enjoy the
unspoiled beauty of the area which new business might otherwise destroy.
Past Century Review
