Today In History
5 Fun Facts About October 26 In Maine History
1. On October 26, 1825, the historic Saco-Biddeford textile mill (now called the Pepperell Mill Campus) began operation in Biddeford, Maine. The mill was a major employer in the area and helped to establish Biddeford as a center of textile manufacturing in New England. 2. The famous Maine artist and...
5 Fun Facts About October 25 In Maine History
1. In 1864, Maine soldiers serving in the Civil War fought in the Battle of Boydton Plank Road in Virginia. The battle resulted in a Union victory, with Maine soldiers playing a significant role in forcing the Confederates to retreat. 2. In 1906, the Portland Symphony Orchestra held its first...
5 Fun Facts About October 24 In Maine History
1. In 1798, Maine Governor Increase Sumner proclaimed October 24th as a day of thanksgiving and prayer throughout the state, in celebration of the recent ratification of the US Constitution by South Carolina. 2. On October 24, 1861, Maine Senator William Pitt Fessenden gave a fiery speech in the US...
5 Fun Facts About October 23 In Maine History
1. In 1786, Maine's first state constitution was adopted in Portland. It established Maine as a district of Massachusetts but gave it semi-autonomous rights to its own government. 2. In 1867, the Brigantine Mary E was launched from Bath, Maine. The Mary E is the oldest surviving fishing vessel in...
5 Fun Facts About October 22 In Maine History
1. On October 22, 1879, Maine's first electric streetcar began operation in Portland. The 2.4-mile route traveled from the city's west end to Munjoy Hill and allowed for faster and more efficient transportation. 2. Maine's first state fair was held on October 22, 1850, in Bangor. The fair showcased the...
5 Fun Facts About October 21 In Maine History
1. On October 21, 1796, the town of Hallowell was officially incorporated, making it one of the oldest towns in Maine. Hallowell played an important role in Maine's shipbuilding and lumber industries during the 19th century. 2. On October 21, 1820, Maine officially became the 23rd state in the United...
5 Fun Facts About October 20 In Maine History
1. On October 20, 1820, Maine officially became a state, becoming the 23rd state in the United States. 2. In 1927, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened on October 20, connecting Verona Island and Prospect in Maine. This bridge was the first to utilize a cable-stayed design in the United States....
5 Fun Facts About October 19 In Maine History
1. In 1775, on this day, the Battle of Falmouth occurred during the American Revolutionary War. British forces attempted to invade the town of Falmouth (now Portland), but were unsuccessful. 2. On October 19, 1823, the Portland Observatory was built in Portland. It stands 86 feet tall and was used...
5 Fun Facts About October 18 In Maine History
1. In 1775, Benedict Arnold led a surprise attack against British forces in what is now Portland, Maine, during the Revolutionary War. 2. On October 18, 1867, Maine became the first state to hold a constitutional convention exclusively to consider the issue of black suffrage. 3. The University of Maine...
5 Fun Facts About October 17 In Maine History
1. On October 17, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Continental Navy, which played a key role in the American Revolution. Among the officers commissioned to serve in the Navy was Maine native Richard Saltonstall. 2. Maine's first governor, William King, was born on October 17, 1768....
5 Fun Facts About October 16 In Maine History
1. On October 16, 1859, abolitionist John Brown arrived in Maine on his way to Harpers Ferry, where he would lead a raid on a federal armory in an attempt to start a slave rebellion. Brown's raid and subsequent execution became a rallying cry for the abolitionist movement. 2. The...
5 Fun Facts About October 15 In Maine History
1. On October 15, 1886, the first electric trolley system in Maine opened in Portland. The system consisted of six miles of track and provided transportation for residents until it was replaced by buses in the mid-20th century. 2. In 1923, on October 15, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge was officially...