Around Dover-Foxcroft

By Stephen Rainsford

Picturesque Sebec Lake is surrounded by the towns of Dover-Foxcroft, Bowerbank, Sebec, and Willimantic. The area s history goes back hundreds of years to the time when Eli Towne walked through the woods and became the first settler in Southern Piscataquis. For generations, Dover-Foxcroft has drawn residents and tourists alike, eager to enjoy the lake s scenic beauty, take in horse racing at the park, or catch a show at the opera house or the Star Theater. Four railroad stations served the five towns, making the region easily accessible. In the early years, residents found work in many industries, from the Mayo and Brown woolen mills to the Hughes organ factory.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Jun 2, 2008
• ISBN: 9781439620229

Stephen Rainsford

Stephen Rainsford, a local resident, is a member of the Dover-Foxcroft and Sebec Historical Societies. The historic images in Around Dover-Foxcroft show rare views of log drives and steamboats and chronicle all aspects of the diverse history of the communities around Sebec Lake.

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INTRODUCTION

In an early Piscataquis Observer, in the Historical Notebook section, the question was raised as to the origin of the name town of Dover. Mrs. H. P. Frank of South Windham, Maine, came to the rescue by sending an excerpt from Maine Place Names and the People of the Towns, a paper by Prof. Emeritus Ava H. Chadbourne of the University of Maine:

The township of Dover in Piscatiquis County was purchased of Massachusetts about the year 1800 by Hallowell and Lowell of Boston for Charles Vaughan and John Merrick of Hallowell, Maine from whom the present titles are derived. Sometime before 1799 Abel Blood purchased a tract of land and made a clearing. The first permanent settlement was made by Eli Towne of Temple, New Hampshire, who came in 1803. In 1812 it was organized as Plantation No. 3 and in 1822 it was incorporated under the name of Dover, in honor of Dover, England from which its proprietors, the Vaughans, had come. Dover, Maine was united with Foxcroft, Maine on March 1, 1922 by an act of the Legislature which was approved March 23, 1915 and became effective March 22, 1922.

The first automobile in Dover was a steamer that was owned by Dr. Elbridge Thompson. Thompsonis sitting on the left side of his new vehicle and his driver Clair A.Runnals is in the drivers seat. Runnalslived in Dover, on the corner of Court and Pleasant Streets. He occasionally left the Locomobilein front of his residence for a fewminutes prior to going to his officeat the Dover and Foxcroft Light and Heat Company. Ora Evans, then as mall boy, was a neighbor of Runnals and always endeavored to arrange his schedule to be available when the car took off in hopes that he would be accorded the privilege of a ride down Pleasant Street. Thompson was aprominent local resident who gifted the Thompson Free Library to the Town of Dover. Thompson was also a Civil War veteran who served in the12th Regiment of Maine Volunteers from 1862 to 1864. (Maine Historic Preservation Commission.)

East Dover, approximately three miles from Dover, had its own railroad station. This was the Bangor and Aroostook train’s first stop going east on their trip to Bangor.

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DOVER

The brickyard at East Dover was the first of its kind in the Dover-Foxcroft area. The yard was near the Piscataquis River, which was the source of clay needed to make the bricks. Workers would attach a horse to a log over the pit, which is located on the right side of this photograph where the couple is sitting. The horse would go around in circles and stir the clay to make the brick. The left background of this photograph shows the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad Station.

The Grange Hall in East Dover was the first grange in Piscataquis County. Built in 1899, this was the gathering place for the many farmers of the area. Numerous suppers and events of all kinds were held at the grange.

The East Dover Grange proscenium (stage) was quite elaborate with all its moldings and grand curtains. The stage was designed in 1901 by Bernard Jerome Warren of Dover. The stage was built by Harold K. Farnham, who owned a woodworking mill, which was located by theFoxcroft Bridge.

The Civil War veterans of the area held musters for several years in East Dover on the banks of the Piscataquis River. This photograph was taken on September 4, 1878, at Camp Douty, which was named for Col. Calvin S. Douty, the head officer of the First Maine Cavalry. Colonel Douty was killed at Aldieon June 17, 1863.

The Civil War veterans numbered as follows: Dover 180, Foxcroft 135,Sebec 109, Bowerbank 11,and Willimantic 15. The veterans from these five towns, plus those from many other nearby towns, came yearly to these musters. This event went on for many years and was finally discontinued. Later many Civil War artifacts were dug up at the campsite by collectors. They were usually metal objects such as belt buckles, shot, canteens, pots and pans, tent stakes, and coins. (Maine Historic Preservation Commission.)

Albion Merrill from Norton Hill in South Dover traveled south and west of this country where he developed a zeal for the oil industry. He was convinced that the geology of the Norton Hill area was right for an oil reservoir. In 1920, he formed the Piscataquis Oil Company. Many ofthe local people became investors in this venture. Hundreds of people came each Sunday to view the progress of this great venture. There was a refreshment stand that offered food and drink nearby. As the project approached 3,000 feet, a problem occurred, was corrected, but then reoccurred again. The company soon ran out of funds and was dismantled in 1930.

This photograph of a fox farm owned by Elijah Norton and H. A. Robinson of Dover was taken by Sumner Chase in March 1899. They raised blue and Alaska fox for the fur trade. By 1924, the Bear Mountain Fox Ranch on Bangor Hill took over the operation. After they took over,