Guilford High School - Rostrum Yearbook (Guilford, ME)

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' 4 8 THE ROSTRUM Early in the nineteenth century the people in Maine tried to get their inde- pendence and enter the union as a state. Undoubtedly they would have had a hard struggle if the important question of the entering of Missouri to the Union had not then been in discussion. Then by the Missouri Compromise, Maine, March 15, 1820, was admitted into the Union as a free state and Missouri as a slave state making twenty-four states in the Union. Since we have discussed the history of Maine briefly, let's give a brief out- line of its location, size, industries and its wealth as a state. Maine is included in the North At- lantic States, is the largest state of the New England group, and is situated in the most north-easterly part of the United States. It is bounded on the north by the Canadian province of Que- be, on the north-east by New Bruns- wick, on the west by New Hampshire and south by the Atlantic Ocean. Its most extreme length is only three hun- dred miles and its extreme width one hundred eighty-five. The area of Maine is 23,040 square miles of which 29,895 square miles are land. Its area is almost equal to the remainder of the New Eng- land States combined. Maine is a very hilly state, having mountains in the northern and Western parts. Its largest mountain is Mount Katahdin, which is 5200 feet high. The sea shore is very irregular causing many excellent natural harbors, but un- luckily it sufers from the serious dis- advantages of the great rise of the tide and resulting swift current. But even with this handicap it has the greatest number of good harbors found along the coast of the United States. Maine is very fortunate in having many beautiful lakes and ponds. The largest of these is Moosehead Lake, which is one hundred and twenty square miles in area. This is also the largest lake in the New England States. The other lakes worth considering are Rangeley Lakes, Chamberlin Lakes and Chesuncook Lake. Maine is also very rich in rivers. The most important of these are Saco, An- droscoggin, Kennebec, Penobscot and Saint Croix. None of these are navi- gable for a great distance. The Kenne- bec is navigable for twenty-six miles up to Augusta, and the Penobscot for twenty-seven miles to Bangor, but the others only for a very, very short dis- tance. The power available from these rivers is estimated as 2,000,000 horse power. This is utilized especially by the falls which characterize the rivers. Maine lies in the north temperate zone and has a delightful climate. The southern part has six months of grow- ing season and the northern part five. The average rainfall throughout the state annually is forty inches. The cli- mate and the beautiful lakes, forests and mountains of Maine attract many tourists who spend their vacations and summers here. The most important summer resort is Bar Harbor. Maine is second in the United states in granite production. In 1889 the granite production was estimated at 81,321,182 in value. Also Maine is the leading source of feldspar and silica used in the manufacture of earthern- ware, glass, etc. There are also import- ant mines of marble, limestone and slate. Maine is ranked as the fourth state in the Union for the latter. Small mines of copper, silver, iron and tin are also found.

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.l, wx ff! tl! X5 'fx XX If - 'ff .-S u ,-N f, 6 is hf xix , fy, ix 3- - 25 55 1 7 Q ,fy , J, , LHERARY G , ffsffiaaefuzfffffff- f 42,4 Our Pledge When the very last test has been taken, And the school books are all put away, When our four high school years have been fi ' h d ms e If we live thro commencement day, We shall rest, and faith we shall need to, Play around for a month or two, Till the life toward which we've been looking Shall call us to work anew. Then new duties will take our attention, And we always will do our best Because of the lessons they taught us The teachers of G. H. S. Grace McKusick '26, ,..i...i.li- Maine-A History y Giovanne da Verrazano sailed down the coast of what is now Maine in 1524. Later, in 1906, Maine fell into the hands of the Plymouth Company by James I. The following year an English Expedi- tion sent out by Sir John Popham and Sir Ferninando Gorges started a settle- ment at Sabino Point on the Kennebec River. In 1608 this settlement was abandoned. The same year French Jesuits landed on Mount Desert and were later joined by fishermen. Cap- tain Argall broke up this settlement. In 1622 Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Captain John Mason received a grant of land in Maine between the Merrimac and Kennebec Rivers extending sixty miles inland. They divided this land and Sir Ferdinando Gorges took pos- session of the Piscataqua River basin. The first permanent settlement in Maine was made at Pemaquid in 1625- 1626. York was founded about the same time- In 1630 Saco, Biddeford, Port Elizabeth, Portland and Scarbor- ough sprang up in succession. During a civil war in England, Massa- chusetts got possession of Maine. The District of Maine, as it was then called, suffered greatly by Indian attacks and also by the French. In the Revolution- ary War the people took active part, but during the War of 1812 the people were left almost entirely undefended, and the English soldiers occupied the territory east of the Penobscot River.

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THE ROSTRUM 9 Seventy-nine per-cent of the total area of Maine is in woodland. Very much spruce is found in the Andros- coggin River basin and in 1899 there was estimated 21,239,000,000 feet of standing spruce in Maine. Large pulp mills are found on the Androscoggin, Kennebec and Penobscot rivers. Also much pine is found in Maine causing her to be called The Pine Tree State. Farming, fishing, lumbering and manufacturing are the main occupa- tions of Maine. The most important fish caught are lobsters, clams and sal- mon. Large fisheries are found through- out the state. Woolen and cotton goods are the leading manufacturers with Lewiston as the manufacturing center. The largest cities of Maine are Port- land, Lewiston, Bangor, Biddeford and Augusta. Augusta is the capitol and Portland the largest city. The govern- ment of Maine is the same as found in all states, the leading factors being the legislature and the executive and judi- ciary departments. The schools of Maine are showing a marked improvement in late years, free public schools prevail throughout ,the state. The leading Normal Schools are situated in Farmington, Castine and Gorham. The higher educational schools are The University of Maine at Orono, Bowdoin College at Brunswick, Bates College at Lewiston and Colby College at Waterville. As a whole Maine is one of the most desirable states in the United States of America- Its climate is healthful, it abounds in wealth, in rivers, lakes, mountains, forests and minerals. Its sea shore is one of the the most beauti- ful in the world and it is the summer home of tourists and hunters from all parts of the United States I do not wonder that the people of Maine are proud of their state. They could not express their appreciation of her better than in the following song: Way up in Maine, tell out the strain With loyal hearts elate, Ye youths of worth of Pine Tree birth Tell out your noble state. Her wide expanse, her woodland dense Her azure lakes galore, Tell out the thousand isles that fringe Her tidal shore. Way up in Maine is home to me, Dear old hills and vales and foaming sea, Near and far let this refrain Ever be her sign and song, Way up in Maine. Aldine B. Welts '25. Our G. H. S. 1892-1925 To the Townspeople of Guilford In our fair town of Guilford, In the year of '92 There was started a school house, Which was dedicated to you. The foundation was laid of brick Which stood through thick and thin, And chimneys high were stacked, Which had to be blown in. That which was done, was done well For that early year, And the pride of Guilford rang To all from far and near. For the pupils that gathered therein The building was becoming too small, And sooner or later the time would come When people must heed its call. On April 4th in '25 A red glow lit the darkened sky, And the news that went through all the town Was surely a stunner all around. And as the next m01'ning dawned A sad spectacle was eyed, For the fire carried before it That which was Guilford's pride.