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This Day in Maine History

  • Published
    January 31, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 31

    Jan. 31, 1945: A fire rips through a privately operated boarding home being used as an unlicensed nursery in Auburn, killing 16 babies and a nurse. Three women and five children escape the flames. The state had cited the operator for code violations, and although the operator had delayed making improvements, state authorities failed to […]

  • Published
    January 30, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 30

    Jan. 30, 1649: The deposed King Charles I, whose forces were defeated in the English Civil War (1642-1651), is executed by beheading in London. Charles’ death essentially ends the dream of the family of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, who died two years earlier, of extending its control from the province of Maine to all of New […]

  • Published
    January 29, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 29

    Jan. 29, 1890: U.S. House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed, a Republican from Portland, takes action to end the “disappearing quorum” tactic used by House Democrats to prevent House business from being conducted. He marks members “present” even if they refuse to respond to a roll call. The procedure survives a court challenge and becomes part […]

  • Published
    January 28, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 28

    Jan. 28, 1768: Moses Little and Jonathan Bagley, both of Newbury, Massachusetts, receive a grant for land around the falls on the Androscoggin River from the Pejepscot Proprietors. A condition of the grant is that 50 families live there in 50 houses by June 1, 1774. In the fall of 1770, Paul Hildreth becomes the […]

  • Published
    January 27, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 27

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  • Published
    January 26, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 26

  • Published
    January 25, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 25

  • Published
    January 21, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 21

    Jan. 21, 1833: In Winthrop, Ezekiel Holmes (1801-1865) publishes the first issue of a long-running newspaper that eventually will become known as the Maine Farmer. Kennebec Journal co-founder Russell Eaton buys the newspaper in 1844 and moves it to Augusta, where it operates for another eight decades. Holmes, dubbed “the father of Maine agriculture,” also […]

  • Published
    January 20, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 20

  • Published
    January 19, 2020

    On this date in Maine history: Jan. 19