The Town of Skowhegan has a rich and vibrant history. You can learn more by clicking on any of the following links.
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Nestled in the heart of the picturesque Kennebec River Valley sets the town of
Skowhegan. Settled in 1773, it’s brimming with American History yet is host to
modern businesses such as SAPPI Fine Paper, New Balance Shoe, Howard P. Fairfield,
and Redington Fairview General Hospital.
Skowhegan is also nationally known as the home of Senator Margaret Chase Smith,
the first woman U.S. Senator. The Margaret Chase Smith Library houses the Senator’s
memorabilia and serves as a museum and educational center on her life and career.
Downtown Skowhegan, a Mainstreet Maine Community, is watched over by the world’s
largest sculptured Indian… a 62 ft. giant crafted by the renowned sculptor Bernard
Langlais of Cushing.
When Colonel Benedict Arnold set out in 1775 to take Quebec from the British, he
and his troops traveled along the waterways through Skowhegan, and a bronze tablet
on the island in the center of town marks their route. Now, as then, Skowhegan’s
commercial and industrial development has always revolved around the river gorge
that runs through the downtown.
One of the future projects for Skowhegan is the creation of a white water paddling
facility in the gorge. This facility will host white water paddling events during
the year and will be the corner stone of expanded use of the Kennebec River for
recreation in the region.
Located at the junction of US Rte. 2 and Rte.201, and only thirteen miles from Interstate
95, we are easily accessible to everyone, come and visit, come and stay!
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Coburn Park has long been a place for families to gather In Skowhegan.
With the pond, grand trees, many flower gardens, large lawns and grass
covered hills; it is a great place for many activities. It isn’t uncommon
to see families picnicking, and children playing catch or somersaulting
down the hills of the park. Concerts are held in the bandstand and
gazebo during the summer. Coburn Park is a beautiful, historical
part of Skowhegan. It is a great “out of the way” place, while located
within walking distance of downtown.
Land for a public park, was willed to the Town of Skowhegan by Governor
Abner Coburn in 1885. (“to have and to hold” “forever for that purpose.”)
In 1889, Commissioners were appointed to oversee the development of the park.
As part of this development many species of trees and shrubs were planted
over the years. Today there are over 200 different species of trees
within the park.
In 1905, the western two fifths of the park’s land was gifted to the Town
by Louise H. Coburn, Charles A. Marston, Grace Coburn Smith, Ella M. Pooler,
Frances Coburn Pepper and Julia L. Coburn (descendants of Abner’s brother,
Philander Coburn). With this additional land, the park is approximately
12 ½ acres.
In 1907 a pond was added to the park. Roads through the
park were built; one that circles the park and two that run
crosswise intersecting the circle. The lamps at the entrance
were bequest to the park by Kate Eaton Oak in memory of
her mother, Sarah L. Eaton, who had been a park
Commissioner.
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Among the flower gardens sits another memorial, a sundial. The sundial was a gift to the park from the Daughters of the American Revolution, to serve as a memorial to Alan W. Buckman, who was killed in Belleau Woods as a Corporal of the High School Squad.
In 1989 the bandstand was added to the park. A gazebo was built in 2000, and dedicated to William Philbrick and William L. Philbrick. Each of these serves as a place for summer concerts and they can be rented for weddings or other functions.
Middle and High School students in Skowhegan have spent a great deal of time researching local history and have compiled much of this
information on the MSAD #54 website. Click here to
take a look at their hard work.
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Skowhegan History House |
The Greek Revival cottage that would become Skowhegan History House was built in 1839. This site, on the eastern bank of Maine’s Kennebec River just upstream from Skowhegan Falls, had previously been important to the Abnaki people who gathered here seasonally to fish and plant crops.
After the first settlers arrived in the late 1700’s, a potter’s shed was built here, and clay from the riverbank was used to make glazed earthenware for use in the growing community.
Samuel and Joseph Philbrick purchased the property in 1799 and continued to manufacture pottery. A blacksmith named James H. K. Lord, known locally as “Deacon Lord”, bought the property in the 1830’s. Lord hired a contractor named Aaron Spear to build the present brick cottage. The Deacon and his wife moved in as newlyweds in the summer of 1840 and set about raising a family. Ten children were born over the next twenty-three years, and the deeply religious Deacon told the neighbors that he was teaching his children to “Fear the Lord and sing in the choir!”
In 1863, the Lord’s sold their home to a retiring farmer, Abraham Tilton, a widower who moved in with his two young daughters, Sarah and Abby. After Tilton’s death the sisters continued to live out their days in the cottage, neither having married. They seemingly were rather quaint characters, squabbling with one another and passing sharp-tongued judgments upon those who passed by on the sidewalk. A story was told that when metal window srceening was introduced in the late 1800’s, Sarah had an insect screen made for her bedroom window. Sarah was pleased with the result and urged Abby to have one also. Abby replied, “Nonsence, Sarah, I ain’t breathin’ none of that strained air!”
Sarah passed away first and Abby died at 89 in 1908. The house stayed vacant for many years and fell into very poor condition. At different intervals, the old house was used as a warehouse by Central Maine Power Co., and the grounds were piled high with logs being held for the sawmill downstream by the Skowhegan Log Driving Co. In 1936, Louise Helen Coburn purchased the property and immediately set about restoring it and adding a museum room. Louise Helen Coburn was the daughter of a prominent Skowhegan lawyer, Stephen Coburn, and the niece of former Maine Governor Abner Coburn.
In 1936, Louise Helen Coburn purchased the property and immediately set about restoring it and adding a museum room. Louise Helen Coburn was the daughter of a prominent Skowhegan lawyer, Stephen Coburn, and the niece of former Maine Governor Abner Coburn.
Although born into a position of financial independence, Louise grew up as a hard worker and a gifted student. She became the second woman to graduate from Colby College, having helped found a women’s sorority there. She later became a Colby College Trustee, was an important financial supporter, and actively promoted higher education for women.
Miss Coburn trained as a botanist and became a writer on that subject. She later published a number of works of her poetry and informational pieces. Later in life she took on the huge task of writing a comprehensive history of Skowhegan, published in 1941 as Skowhegan on the Kennebec.
In the process of this writing, she accumulated a large volume of Skowhegan memorabilia and museum quality objects. Her purpose in acquiring the Tilton cottage was to create a space to keep and display her own material as well as many donations of important historic items from other Skowhegan families. The restored cottage was filed with antiques, furnishings and items of everyday living. Her vision was for visitors to pass through a home that was a slice of life from the mid-1800’s.
She filled the museum addition with old town records, newspapers and artifacts with local provenance. Interestingly, Louise Coburn took on this task of museum building at the age of eighty years and continued work until her death in 1949 at ninety-three.
In Miss Coburn’s will, she created a new non-profit corporation, the History House Association, to manage operations and keep the facility open to the public on a seasonal basis. For nearly sixty years, History House has been open to the public on a posted schedule. Generations of students have fond memories of class visits to History House, where many had their first glimpse of how people lived one hundred fifty years ago. Frequently these people, now parents, bring their own children to share the experience.
To this day, the History House represents the legacy of an historic community for everyone’s benefit and appreciation.
For more information: www.skowheganhistoryhouse.org
225 Water Street, Skowhegan ME, 04976
Tel: 207.474.6907
