Maine’s
elevation runs from sea level (Atlantic Ocean) to 5,270’ (Mount Katahdin).
Maine is 13.5% water.
In 1677, the family of Sir Ferdinando Gorges sold Maine to Massachusetts.
In 1807, a vote in the Mass. Assembly to allow Maine to form a separate state failed. In the War of 1812, the British invaded Maine but Mass. merchants were pro-British so Mass. refused to defend Maine. Friction increased and, in 1819, Mass. agreed to let Maine form a separate state. In 1820, Maine entered the Union along with Missouri under the Missouri Compromise (one free and one slave state).
Conflict with Canada grew: Canada said its territory went to Mars Hill, while Maine said it reached only to the St. Lawrence River. In 1839, Maine declared war on England (Canada’s owner) – the only time an individual state declared war on a nation. In 1842, the conflict was resolved without a battle in a treaty brokered by U.S. Gen. Winfield Scott.
Maine is the only contiguous U.S. state to be bordered by only 1 state.
George Washington signed the order to build the Portland Head Lighthouse, built in 1791 on Cape Elizabeth.
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| Portland Head Lighthouse |
Maine has
fewer thunderstorms than any other state east of the Rockies.
5.28% of households speak French, the highest in the U.S.
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| Maine blueberries |
Maine is the #1 exporter of blueberries, with about 98% of U.S. low-bush berries. Maine is #3 producer of potatoes, after Idaho and Washington.
Maine has
an official state dessert (blueberry pie), an official state soft drink
(Moxie), an official state soil (Chesuncook soil series), and an official state
treat (Whoopie Pie).
Mum Bett, aka Elizabeth Freeman, was born a slave and worked in the house of Col John Ashley, a court judge. She overheard conversations about the Declar. of Indep., Bill of Rights, and Mass. constitution, and she thought if all people are created free and equal, that should apply to her.
She stopped Col. Ashley's wife from beating her sister with a heavy hot shovel, which left a severe burn and scar on her hand. She ran away and went to lawyer Thomas Sedgwick, who won her case in court, resulting in her freedom and 30 shillings in damages plus legal fees. It was the beginning of the end of slavery in Maine - it was abolished in 1783.
When asked how she could know about these ideas when she was illiterate, she said, "By keeping still and minding things."
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| Elizabeth Freeman aka Mum Bett |
Mum Bett, aka Elizabeth Freeman, was born a slave and worked in the house of Col John Ashley, a court judge. She overheard conversations about the Declar. of Indep., Bill of Rights, and Mass. constitution, and she thought if all people are created free and equal, that should apply to her.
She stopped Col. Ashley's wife from beating her sister with a heavy hot shovel, which left a severe burn and scar on her hand. She ran away and went to lawyer Thomas Sedgwick, who won her case in court, resulting in her freedom and 30 shillings in damages plus legal fees. It was the beginning of the end of slavery in Maine - it was abolished in 1783.
When asked how she could know about these ideas when she was illiterate, she said, "By keeping still and minding things."
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