THE EAST SOMERSET COUNTY REGISTER-Introduction
1911-12
Compiled and Published by Chatto & Turner
Clarence I. Chatto; Clair E. Turner
Auburn, ME
pages 11-12
The directory and historical account which we are present-
ing to the people of Somerset County in this volume, is the
largest and most comprehensive town register even attempted
in Maine, covering, as it does, eleven towns in the eastern half
of the county. These towns, lying, as they do along the line
of the S. & M. branch of the Maine Central Railroad, form
practically a business unit, and are therefore especially well
adapted to form a practical directory of the highest usefulness
The country covered by the book is largely a farming territory
altho it has two manufacturing villages, Hartland and Pitts-
field, both of which are engaged chiefly in producing woolens
Some of the finest farms in the state are to be found in the
towns listed in this book, and the production of potatoes and
grain is particularly large. Many of the farmers also sell a
large amount of milk to the various creameries in the region.
The purpose of this register is to provide a complete and
so far as is possible, an accurate directory of the eleven towns
This is very much more complete than the ordinary city direc-
tory, including, as it does, every member of every family,
occupation, residence and R. F. D. address. An especially val-
uable feature and one that has never been included in a rural
directory, is the map, by means of which, thru an ingenious
system of letters and numbers, it is easily possible to locate at
once any famhouse or rural residence in the eleven towns. The
directory part of the book contains also a very complete direc-
tory of the business in each town.
We have aimed in this register, to give a historical account
of each town, brief, but as complete, as is possible from ordinary
sources of information. This, for most of the towns, is much
more comprehensive than any previous historical sketch which
has been written, and we trust that it may be of interest and
value to the people of the towns, particularly to the younger
generation, which sorely ought to be familiar with the tra-
ditions of the town in which they live, and with the funda-
mental facts in its history.
We are indebted to many who have kindly helped us in
securing information. Among these we would acknowledge
especial obligation to "The History and Description of New
England," by Coolidge and Mansfield; Williamson's History
of Maine; The Historical Sketches of Athens, Harmony, and
Palmyra; and the hundred of friends who have given us access
to records and helped us by imparting information from
memory, much of which has never before been in print. We
wish to thank also the citizens who have, by their subscrip-
tions, made this register possible, and the business men who
have supported the enterprise with their advertising. We
trust that they may find the register what we have tried to
make it, a work of real interest and value, both to the business
men and to the general public.
(c) 1998
Courtesy of Tina Vickery of Somerset Co, Maine USGenWeb Project
& The Androscoggin Historical Society
*************************************************
* * * * NOTICE: Printing the files within by non-commercial individuals and
libraries is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter
information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other
sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any
other sites. We encourage links to the state and county table of
contents.
* * * *
The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the
information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information
must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is
always best to consult the original material for verification.