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This Day in Maine History
  • Published
    February 29, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 29

    Feb. 29, 1820: The Portland-based Eastern Argus newspaper reports that William King, soon to become Maine’s first governor, led a successful effort to convince the Massachusetts General Court to grant a two-year extension to Maine on the terms of its separation from Massachusetts. The court’s action removed one of the final obstacles to Maine’s statehood, […]

  • Published
    February 28, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 28

    Feb. 28, 1890: Bath Iron Works wins its first contract for the construction of complete ships – two iron gunboats for the U.S. Navy. Flags are hoisted at the shipyard and the yard’s whistles issue three loud blasts at noon to celebrate the occasion. The award accelerates the rush to convert the yard’s South Division […]

  • Published
    February 27, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 27

    Feb. 27, 1813: The commonwealth of Massachusetts, of which Maine is still a part, establishes the Maine Literary and Theological Institution in Waterville. It becomes Waterville College in 1821; Colby University, to honor major donor Gardiner Colby, in 1867; and finally Colby College in 1889. In 1871 the school becomes the first all-male college or […]

  • Published
    February 26, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 26

    Feb. 26, 1972: Sen. Edmund S. Muskie, D-Maine, defends his wife in a speech he delivers during a snowstorm outside the offices of the Manchester Union Leader while campaigning for the March 7 New Hampshire presidential primary. The newspaper’s editor, William Loeb, had printed an article accusing Muskie’s wife, Jane, of drunkenness and using off-color […]

  • Published
    February 25, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 25

    Feb. 25, 1791: The Massachusetts General Court approves a petition for the incorporation of the town of Bangor, which, like the rest of Maine, is part of Massachusetts. The new town has about 170 residents. The Rev. Seth Noble traveled to Boston to incorporate the town as Sunbury but either changed his mind or misspoke, […]

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  • Published
    February 24, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 24

  • Published
    February 23, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 23

  • Published
    February 22, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 22

    Feb. 22, 1864: The three-masted steamer Bohemian, bound from Liverpool, England, to Portland, strikes Alden’s Rock, a ledge near Cape Elizabeth, at night in a dense haze. The accident kills 42 people, including two crew members. The ship, an iron vessel owned by the Ocean Steamship Co. of Montreal, was carrying 219 passengers, most of […]

  • Published
    February 21, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 21

  • Published
    February 19, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Feb. 19