Portland Headlight

The Visit: On April 2nd I visited Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth. Located on the corner rocks of Fort Williams, this world famous lighthouse sits trash free and proud. When I visited it was a bit cold and very windy so I didn't venture too much around the park. But being there many times before I can say that it is a beautiful place to visit and the magnificence of the lighthouse is not one to be missed.
Historical Significance: Built in 1791, Portland Headlight is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Constructed under the command of George Washington, the lighthouse was to be built using materials from local fields and shores so that the cost would not be too high. Throughout its many years of being in service it has gone through numerous reconstructions and keepers. One of the most famous lighthouse keepers being Joshua Strout, who was Maine's oldest keeper
 when he retired at 79 years old. Today the lighthouse has an automated light instead of a whale oil lamp so the job of lighthouse keeper is no longer a necessity. But it still acts as a vital protector of the harbor and has been visited by countless people from all over the world.

Resources: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portland_Head_Light,   Portland Head Lighthouse History: http://www.lighthouse.cc/portlandhead/history.html,   

Jews In Maine

The Visit: On March 14 I attended the Maine Jewish Film Festival at the Maine Historical Society in Portland. The Film I saw was "Jewish Soldiers in Blue and Gray" and it discussed the role of the Jewish community as fighting members of the Civil War. Though the film mostly touched upon the Jews who fought for the confederacy, the overall theme of the movie was that they fought because they wanted to prove to the anti-Semitics that they valued America as their home and would do anything for it. The Film Festival was very well attended and I would recommend anyone who is interested in Jewish films to check it out.
Historical Significance: So far there have been 7 Jewish fighters found in the Maine Civil War records. But beyond their dedication to the war, Jewish immigrants found Maine to be a good place to make their new homes because of the state's natural and cultural environment. Bangor built the state's first synagogue in 1849 and by 1930 there were about 5,500 Jewish Mainers. Many found jobs in businesses, for example in retail, where they became major contributors to the downtown economies like Portland and Bath. They also became involved in the junk business, which was a precursor to the modern day recycling business. Maine was not always accepting of the Jewish community and in the 1950's two-thirds of Maine's resorts refused to have Jewish guests even though they contributed to the state through being elected officials, civil servants, and philanthropists. Today there are about 14,000 Jews in Maine and have fully integrated into Maine's economic and cultural society.

Resources: The Jews Of Maine: http://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/1888/page/3104/display?use_mmn=,   Maine Jewish Film Festival: http://www.mjff.org/

Rockport Lime Kilns and Railroad Tracks

The Visit: On January 26th I visited the Lime Kilns in Rockport, Maine. The site is now mainly used as a town boat launch and unfortunately the kilns have accumulated a bit of trash, but overall the area is well kept.
Historical Significance: By the early 1800's there were nearly 60 lime kilns along the midcoast of Maine and Rockport became the leading lime producer for the world. By the 1900's railroads were transporting 100,000 tons of limerock yearly from Rockport, making it an economic success. Soon into the 1900's though lime necessity declined as new materials came into the market. The kilns and railroads were abandoned and deteriorated to what is there today. For almost 100 years Rockport helped boost Maine's economy until, like many industries in Maine, it could no longer compete with new materials and industries.

Resources: Maine Coast Lime Industry: http://www.mainecoastguide.com/sidebars/lime.html,

Preserve America: Camden, Maine

The Visit: On January 26th I also visited the town of Camden, Maine. This town has been dubbed as a Preserve America Community and represents the historical preservation that Maine cherishes in many of its towns. There are no fast food restaurants with no drive throughs and only a few big name gas stations. The town has relatively clean streets and has restored several historical places so that they can be used for the community while also keeping their historic charm. There is a sense of local pride for its cultural and natural heritage and it makes Camden a lovely town to take a walk through.

Historical Significance: Camden is one of 12 Preserve America Communities in Maine, Portland being another. To be given this award the community must "protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs."(Preserve America) Maine is a state that emphasizes the importance of keeping its rustic qualities while using those qualities as assets for means of income, primarily in tourism. But what separates Maine from many other states is that this preserving of communities and landmarks was not only for the economic benefit. It created a sense of pride in which Mainers can proudly show their appreciation for their State's history. Towns like Camden and Portland have demonstrated these cultural values that many Maine residents believe in by becoming Preserve America Communities.

Resources: Preserve America:  http://www.preserveamerica.gov/overview.html,  Maine Preservation: http://www.mainepreservation.org/