Odds and Ends From The MUSEUM! By Trudy Wyman, Curator, Millinocket Society Museum In the early years, all students attended Millinocket High School and Common School. Some younger students attended Oxford St. School or Aroostook Avenue School. Then discussion began regarding the need for a new separate high school building. It would be located across from the Congregational Church on Katahdin Avenue would accommodate 300 high school students. There would

For many years, the local librarian wrote a summary of the library’s collection usage and other activities for the past year to be published in the newest Millinocket Town Report. A report for the period September 1920 through February 1921 was written by Kathleen Snow, the new librarian. When Snow took over, her report stated that the collection had already been “carefully cataloged.” At that time, the library had only existed for a short time…dedicated Nov. 11, 1919. The si

Forty-seven years ago (1979), plans were underway to start a museum in Millinocket. Some funds from the 1976 Bicentennial festivities were designated by the state for this purpose. Committee members included some who had served on the Bicentennial Committee, interested citizens and delegates from town organizations. It was hoped that a building would be donated to house a museum. Thirty plus years later, the museum was still housed, as it had been since 1979, in two small roo

Have readers ever noticed that visible older portions of some Penobscot Avenue buildings appear to be made of some type of cement block? The following is about one those buildings and its owner, Charles Morgan. Several years ago, the museum received a three-page handwritten account of the Charles Morgan Block and written by Morgan’s daughter Ruth. She stated that her dad quit school at 16, worked in the woods until age 19, and planned to go to work in the mill. Ho

Let’s go camping and do some fishing and hunting in the North Maine Woods! An undated, old brochure advertising Clifford’s Sporting Camps in the Famous Rainbow Lake Country is one of several sporting camp brochures in the collection at the Millinocket Historical Society. When a “sport” wanted to venture to the Katahdin area for hunting or fishing, they could select from several. A printed brochure would give them all the information they needed. The Clifford’s Sporting Camps

Buildings still standing in the “Rush Block” downtown look much as they did when constructed (1900-1917). This is their story. “When Garret Schenck decided to build a paper mill in Millinocket in the late 1890’s, John Dietrich Rush of Benedicta saw an opportunity for himself and his five sons and one daughter to move to Millinocket and establish businesses. His skill as a carpenter was of great value. In the fall of 1899, the family purchased lots in the new commu

In Millinocket’s early days, a few early settlers built small houses near where a little brook made its way to Millinocket Stream. It became known as Skunk Hollow. The Laverty book states that “Old Man Sutherland” lived there, he kept pigs and perhaps the early name for the area was “Stink Hollow” rather than “Skunk Hollow.” Anyway, the name stuck for this area for a long time, changing only when the golf club came into existence and folks start calling the area Hillcrest wit

Scouting was introduced to Millinocket boys and girls in the 1930’s at about the same time as Katahdin Avenue School opened. For the girls, an earlier attempt to form a Campfire Girls group had failed, but in the 1930’s, interest in Girl Scouts was growing and both Girl Scout and Brownie groups were forming. A local Girl Scout Association was formed and by the 1950’s the Abnaki Council was formed for the Millinocket region. (Note: Boy Scout groups were also formed in the same

In the early days, several small family-owned grocery stores provided goods for local families. They were located downtown along Penobscot Avenue. Old local newspapers tell the stories of three of these businesses. In 1928, a small building constructed about 1899 became the location for the Millinocket Fruit Store. Early on, the building had housed Hayden’s Photo Studio and later another business (possibly automobile sales). In 1928, David Drago (from Castine) pur

“Millinocket Area Residents to Get Advanced Look At Magnificent New Hospital Today” reads the BDN headline on the story of the opening of the new Millinocket Community Hospital in 1955. The story continues, “Positive proof that dreams can come true stands on the hillside just off the Brownville Road overlooking the town of Millinocket and people of the area behold the realization of their dream for a much- needed community hospital.” Four years prior (1951), the original corp

The museum received its first artifact related to the trapping business in the Katahdin area. It is a steel trap that belonged to Vernon G. Haines along with some of his trap tags and two photos. Also, there is a well-written piece about Haines and the trapping business in the area through the years. The piece was written by Haines’s daughter Janelle Haines Cyr. It is too good not to share with readers as the museum has little information on the subject. “Vernon G

The cookhouse/eating space in GNP’s logging camps was usually a separate building, close to the bunkhouse and about the same size. The cook and his helpers (cookees) were among the most important workers in the early wood’s camps. If the men weren’t fed well, they did not work well! John E. McLeod, in his seven-volume history of GNP, The Northern, The Way I Remember, describes what these cookhouses looked like in some of the camps. Most cookhouses with combined k

The Millinocket Memorial library became a reality in 1919 when the town voted to raise $2,500.00 “to establish a free library to be dedicated to the memory of those who had died for their country.” In addition, Great Northern Paper Company added $1000.00 and Emma Schenck, wife of Garrett Schenck, GNP president, added $200.00. Local individuals donated numerous books for this first library. The library was located in the Gonya Block next to the Corner Drug Store and faced Cent

“Four Hundred A Day” is the caption and story accompanying a photo in a March,1953 Millinocket newspaper. Four hundred what, you ask? Well, it refers to 400 doughnuts a day being made by a local housewife! Mrs. Bryant Jenkins took over Joe’s Bakery in the 1940’s. A small establishment, she ran it for two years, then took over Hobb’s Lunch Cart (also known as Joe’s Diner). This was located next to the original MFD building (torn down & in 1951 became site of Millinocket Muni

Young and old line the streets to watch a parade in their local town and Millinocket is no exception! Memorial Day, the 4th of July, town birthdays, Union groups, the Santa Claus Parade and more…citizens and various town groups have shown up through the years to participate and/or view the parades. With another parade time upon us, it seemed appropriate to check the Millinocket Historical Society collection for parade memorabilia. Among the oldest photos in the collection i

Some older Millinocket residents (70+) may remember the days when hoboes (or tramps as they were sometimes called), were seen walking into town. These wanderers, (generally men), were most often seen during the warmer months. They might have “hitched” a ride on the train or walked and/or hitchhiked by road. They might do odd jobs for residents in exchange for a meal. The number of hoboes in the U.S. tended to increase after the Civil War when discharged veterans i

Getting from one place to another in and around early Millinocket and the surrounding area usually meant walking! Excerpts from early 1900 letters help tell that story. One letter (prior to October, 1903, from a man in Millinocket to his grandmother contains the following. “Sunday walked down to North Twin and Norcross – the only way to get there is by the single track railroad. The scenery does not amount to much going but there is an interesting dam half finish

In Millinocket’s early days, Fred W. Gates took on the role of police chief and fire chief in the rapidly growing town here in the woods. It appears that things tended to be a bit chaotic as the population grew, more businesses opened, more homes were being built and the town government was organized. Fred Gates became the town’s first fire chief in 1902 and continued in that position until 1936. MFD, a volunteer fire department, was organized after a May 1901 tow

In the 1920’s, Penobscot Avenue was a busy place. Other locally owned businesses and services could be found on other close-by downtown streets. Everything you needed, from coal to heat your home, school clothes for your children, a spinal adjustment…it all could be found along Penobscot Avenue or nearby. The following tells of a few of those businesses. Information is from the April 16, 1924 issue of The Old Town Enterprise. F. O. Daisey & Company were dealers i

Odds and Ends From The MUSEUM! By Trudy Wyman, Curator, Millinocket Society Museum Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. From 1868 to 1970, it was observed on May 30 no matter what day of the week. Originally called Decoration Day, since 1971, it is observed on the last Monday of May and known as Memorial Day. A long