If you travel around Norway/South Paris, you’ve probably noticed the large cemetery near the high school. Did you know that its official name is Norway Pine Grove Cemetery? The cemetery is fully within the boundaries of Paris, so how can Norway be in the name? The answer results from a border clash between the two towns. Fortunately, there were no injuries.

When the towns were founded, the boundary between Norway and Paris was about where Green Street is today. In the 1850s, some folks thought Norway needed more land, so in 1859, legislation was passed in Augusta transferring 500 acres of Paris land to Norway. Needless to say, Paris was not happy, so new legislation was introduced to give the land back to Paris. This attempt to reclaim the land failed in a very close vote, so the squabble continued. By 1861, the state was tired of the bickering and split the disputed land between the two towns. The new town line was about where the high school is today.

Back to the cemetery. In 1860, Norway officials knew they needed more room for burial grounds since Rustfield Cemetery was running out of space. The former Paris land provided plenty of room, so some of Norway’s new land was set aside and Norway Pine Grove Cemetery was created. When the state settled the land dispute, much of what is now the high school property, plus all the cemetery property was returned to Paris. That’s why Norway Pine Grove Cemetery isn’t actually in Norway.

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