History of Houlton, Maine
From
A Gazetteer of the
State of Maine
By Geo. J. Varney
Published by B. B. Russell, 57 Cornhill,
Boston 1886
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Houlton, the shire town of Aroostook County, is situated
on the eastern border of Maine, about half way between Calais and Grand Falls on the St. John, near the north-eastern
angle of Maine. It is 250 miles from Portland, via the old “Military Road” from Bangor. The New Brunswick and Canada
Railway terminates here; and hence start the stage-routes to Caribou, Presqne Isle, Fort Fairfield, Linneus, Danforth
and Patten, in Maine, and Woodstock, in New Brunswick. The town is bounded on the north by Littleton, south by
Hodgdon, west by New Limerick, and east by Richmond, in New Brunswick. In the north-western part of the town are
two large “Horse-backs;” but the surface generally lies in large swells. The soil is a deep. rich loam, underlaid
by clay, and yielding abundantly of the usual farm crops of the region. The Maduxnekeag River, a branch of the
St. John, flows from south-west to north-east through the midst of the town. Bog, Moose and Cook Brooks, tributaries
of the Meduxnekeag, are the other principal streams. The powers on the river are known as the Cary, Page and Madigan,
Ham, Logan, Mansur, Cressey, and Houlton water-powers. The manufacturing is chiefly on the Cary power in the south-western
part of the town, and on the Cressey and Houlton powers, at Houlton Village, a little south of the centre of the
town. There are two cheese-factories, two or more starch-factories, a canning-factory, a woollen-mill, four lumber-mills,
three flour-mills, one tannery, two iron-foundries and machine-shops, two printing-offices, and a sash, blind and
door-factory. Other manufactures are bark-extract, harnesses, boots and shoes, carriages, marble-work, cigars,
etc. Houlton is the centre of trade for the county, and is a busy and thrifty town. The village has many handsome
residences, and there are several well-shaded and very attractive streets. The Houlton Savings Bank, in May, 1881,
held $60,000 in deposits, from its 500 depositors. There are two lively newspapers published in the village, the
“Aroostook Pioneer,” and the “Aroostook Times.” The first is an excellent county newspaper for the family circle;
the other is independent in politics, and has done good service for the community in which it is published. The
Houlton Academy has done noble service in the cause of education. Many who have already gone out from its walls
have achieved distinction in their callings; and there is every reason to hope that its future work will surpass
that of its earlier period. The building is a good one, and occupies ample grounds. |
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