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Addison, Maine
Addison, Maine is located in Maine
Addison, Maine
Addison, Maine
Location in Maine
Country United States
State Maine
County Washington
Area
 • Total 100.47 sq mi (260.22 km2)
 • Land 42.44 sq mi (109.92 km2)
 • Water 58.03 sq mi (150.30 km2)
Elevation
79 ft (24 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,148
 • Density 27/sq mi (10.4/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
04606
Area code(s) 207
FIPS code 23-00380
GNIS feature ID 0582316

Addison is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The town was named after English author Joseph Addison. The population was 1,148 as of the 2020 census.

History

Early settlement

The earliest white settlers in Addison were from Martha's Vineyard. They were looking for richer farmlands, cod, and good meadow grass for their cattle. Some of the earliest permanent settlers of whom we have any knowledge were William Hix, Wilmont Wass, Moses Plummer, Seth Norton, Richard Samuel Coffin, Daniel Look and John Nash,Tilly White of Lancaster, Massachusetts, with most arriving in 1767. Addison was settled about 1779 and was organized as a plantation, known as "Number Six West of Machias". It was then called Pleasant River and also "Englishman's River". It was incorporated as a town on February 14, 1797, and named in honor of the English writer, Joseph Addison. The Bangor Historical Magazine gives the entire number of inhabitants as 213 on April 27, 1778. It has been said that "practically all the residents of Addison are descendants in one way or another of the Vineyard Settlers."

The town itself spreads over a large area and includes many islands, coves and headlands. In the late 19th century and into the 20th century there were manufacturing plants including clam, sardine, blueberry and lobster canneries. None of these are in existence at the present time. Today Addison is mainly a fishing port with lobsters, scallops, clams, periwinkles and mussels as the principal catches.

Key dates in history

  • pre-1603 Red Paint People and other Native American settlements and activities
  • 1604 Champlain visited general region
  • 1770-1800 Migrants from Cape Cod to Addison for cod fishing, utilization of salt

marsh hay, and other small farming and forestry occupations

  • 1797 Town of Addison incorporated
  • 1800 Three thriving villages established in Addison: Addison Point, Indian

River, and South Addison

  • 1860-1869 Peak of ship building era in Addison
  • 1860 Population peaks at 1262
  • 1866 100 Addison residents migrate to Palestine aboard the "Nellie

Chapman" to join a religious community

  • 1800-1900 90 wooden ships built in Addison during this period
  • 1891 last of the wooden schooners, "Annie M. Preble" built and launched in

Addison

  • 1880-1950 Period of quarry operations for local "black diamond" granite
  • 1880-1950 Local seafood processing at its peak in Addison
  • 1938 Great Addison Point village fire - several businesses lost
  • 1960 Population declines to lowest level since 1800 - 744 persons

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 100.47 square miles (260.22 km2), of which, 42.44 square miles (109.92 km2) of it is land and 58.03 square miles (150.30 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1800 315
1810 399 26.7%
1820 519 30.1%
1830 741 42.8%
1840 1,053 42.1%
1850 1,152 9.4%
1860 1,272 10.4%
1870 1,201 −5.6%
1880 1,238 3.1%
1890 1,022 −17.4%
1900 1,059 3.6%
1910 985 −7.0%
1920 838 −14.9%
1930 867 3.5%
1940 805 −7.2%
1950 846 5.1%
1960 744 −12.1%
1970 773 3.9%
1980 1,061 37.3%
1990 1,114 5.0%
2000 1,209 8.5%
2010 1,266 4.7%
2020 1,148 −9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 1,266 people, 529 households, and 359 families residing in the town. The population density was 29.8 inhabitants per square mile (11.5/km2). There were 809 housing units at an average density of 19.1 per square mile (7.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 0.5% African American, 1.7% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7% of the population.

There were 529 households, of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.1% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the town was 45.1 years. 20.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.8% were from 25 to 44; 30.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

Population

The population of Addison has experienced slight long-term growth, but with an aging population. The number of school age children has declined, shown by decreasing local school enrollments. As with the whole of Washington County, the town has seen a decrease in the average household size. In addition, more retiree and single parent households can be found. Limited employment opportunities are the main reason for this decline in the number of young families residing in Addison.

Natural resources

Addison currently offers protection to its natural resources with locally adopted shoreland zoning, land use and subdivision regulations. These ordinance provisions will be updated to be consistent with the minimum requirements of state and federal regulations as is mandated and to ensure that Addison retains its fishing village character. The importance of commercial fisheries to Addison cannot be overestimated.

Protecting public shore and water access and maintaining a healthy balance of the industry and natural beauty is crucial especially in light of the rate of coastal development. The existing marine districts will be reviewed to ensure that they protect the rights of marine and commercial marine related activities while accommodating some residential development. The town will seek to ensure that traditional use of lands and access to water are protected as development pressures increase over the planning period.

Recreation

Addison has recreational opportunities that derive from the natural resources of the town, the region, and some municipal recreational facilities. Some of the town's most important recreational resources rely on shorefront access. These include walking trails, beaches, islands, and parks.

Transportation

Transportation linkages in Addison consist of Addison Road in Columbia to Water Street at the Columbia town line which connects the village area to U.S. Route 1 in the town of Columbia at the Four Corners. Water Street is the main thoroughfare through the village of Addison. It continues south and, after crossing the Pleasant River, forks at East Side Road which provides access to South Addison. The other fork provides a link with Route 187 where a turn north goes to Columbia Falls and a turn south goes to Jonesport at the Indian River boundary between the two towns. Connecting links to South Addison and Addison Point are provided off Route 187 down Basin Road. East Side and Basin roads provide a perimeter corridor around the peninsula, and West Side Road provides access to the west side of the Pleasant River estuary and on into the neighboring town of Harrington.

Addison is reliant on its road network as the primary means of transportation. Overall, roadways in Addison are in relatively good condition, given its limited funding and the significant expense of maintenance.

The Maine Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the roads supporting the highest volume of traffic in Addison. The town government has a paving schedule for roads that are currently unpaved and requires all new roads to be constructed to specific municipal standards.

Public facilities and services

Through proper maintenance and investment, Addison's public facilities and services have remained in good condition overall. The town has prepared a Capital Improvement Plan as further discussed in the fiscal capacity section. Previously, it has provided reserve accounts for many necessary items. Prudent management decisions at the local level have prevented the town from being forced to make large capital investments within one tax year. However, there are issues that do need to be addressed including a fire house; renovated or new town hall; sand and salt shed; and wharf in South Addison.

Land use

Addison has experienced limited development pressure during the 1990s, and a limited amount of growth is expected to continue. Support exists for some regulation on development activity, but there is concern that it not be excessive or burdensome. The town's land use plan is intended to protect the town's character, to support maritime commercial activities and to ensure compatibility among residential, commercial and industrial activities. It also seeks to ensure that residents can continue to support themselves with a mixture of activities necessitated by seasonal and diverse rural livelihoods.

Historic and archaeological resources

Addison was named by the first settlers along the Pleasant River, after British essayist and poet Joseph Addison, who lived from 1672 to 1719. The town celebrated its bicentennial in 1997 and reissued an updated history, Addison Then and Now. Originally published in 1982, the bicentennial edition is full of photos, descriptions of early enterprises, schools, churches, war veterans, public servants and vessels built in the former shipyards. The relevant facts of Addison's history are reproduced here from the town history document.

Early migrants to the region were attracted by the abundance of marsh hay in places like Addison. Plentiful codfish also brought settlers from Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The population peaked in 1860 at 1,272 persons when shipbuilding was the dominant feature of the local economy. 21 vessels were constructed in Addison between 1860 and 1869. Quarrying of local granite began in the late 19th century and lasted well into the middle of the 20th century, gradually declining into nonexistence in 1958 with the closing of the quarry on Harwood Island.

The role of the seas has been an important one in Addison's history, providing several major occupations revolving around fishing, fish processing, shipbuilding and shipping. Seamen were involved in the coastal trade and deep water voyages. The coastal trade, or coasting as it was called, was the main source of transportation for people and goods until rail service was initiated in the late 19th century. Many of the people who lived in Addison depended on coasting for their living. The timber industry and its mills along with granite quarrying and silver mining were the other major industries in Addison. In the late 1980s and early nineties the economy of Addison is, as Louis Ploch has characterized it, "A variation on the theme of getting by ... through a skillful and, in some cases, an ingenious combination of clamming, lobstering, worming and wreathing."

Agriculture has never been a major factor in Addison's commercial life. While people farmed, they apparently did so as an adjunct to other businesses and occupations.

Key dates in history

  • pre-1603 Red Paint People and other Native American settlements and activities
  • 1604 Champlain visited general region
  • 1770-1800 Migrants from Cape Cod to Addison for cod fishing, utilization of salt

marsh hay, and other small farming and forestry occupations

  • 1797 Town of Addison incorporated
  • 1800 Three thriving villages established in Addison: Addison Point, Indian

River, and South Addison

  • 1860-1869 Peak of ship building era in Addison
  • 1860 Population peaks at 1262
  • 1866 100 Addison residents migrate to Palestine aboard the "Nellie

Chapman" to join a religious community

  • 1800-1900 90 wooden ships built in Addison during this period
  • 1891 last of the wooden schooners, "Annie M. Preble" built and launched in

Addison

  • 1880-1950 Period of quarry operations for local "black diamond" granite
  • 1880-1950 Local seafood processing at its peak in Addison
  • 1938 Great Addison Point village fire - several businesses lost
  • 1960 Population declines to lowest level since 1800 - 744 persons

Early settlement

The earliest white settlers in Addison were from Martha's Vineyard. They were looking for richer farmlands, cod, and good meadow grass for their cattle. Some of the earliest permanent settlers of whom we have any knowledge were William Hix, Wilmont Wass, Moses Plummer, Seth Norton, Richard Samuel Coffin, Daniel Look and John Nash,Tilly White of Lancaster, Massachusetts, with most arriving in 1767. Addison was settled about 1779 and was organized as a plantation, known as "Number Six West of Machias". It was then called Pleasant River and also "Englishman's River". It was incorporated as a town on February 14, 1797, and named in honor of the English writer, Joseph Addison. The Bangor Historical Magazine gives the entire number of inhabitants as 213 on April 27, 1778. It has been said that "practically all the residents of Addison are descendants in one way or another of the Vineyard Settlers."

The town itself spreads over a large area and includes many islands, coves and headlands. In the late 19th century and into the 20th century there were manufacturing plants including clam, sardine, blueberry and lobster canneries. None of these are in existence at the present time. Today Addison is mainly a fishing port with lobsters, scallops, clams, periwinkles and mussels as the principal catches.

Mayhew Library

The Mayhew Library was called the Addison Public Library when it first opened on January 30, 1892. It was renamed in 1897 to honor both Calista Wass Mayhew, the daughter of David and Hadassah Wass, and her husband, Francis L. Mayhew, who had generously aided and supported its growth during its early years.

The first library building was on the north side of Water Street in a building that also served as a shoe shop and telegraph office. The telegraph operator, Minnie Wass, was the first librarian, while her brother, Frank N. Wass, ran a harness and shoe shop in the same building. In 1915 Calista Wass Mayhew purchased the building and the lot on which it stood and gave it to the library association.

In May 1938, the devastating fire at Addison Point destroyed the old Mayhew Library. Herbert and Ross Ward, who lost their house in the fire, donated their vacant lot to the library association. The present library building was erected on this site, opening to the public on December 20, 1939.

Addison has two buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Indian River Baptist Church and the Union Evangelical Church on the Ridge Road.

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission lists 28 prehistoric archaeological sites along the Addison coastline, 11 of which are considered significant. The Pleasant River Historical Society helps build public awareness of the importance of historic sites and buildings. There is currently no direct municipal involvement in protecting historic resources in Addison.

Quarries

After the Civil War a construction boom on the eastern seaboard stimulated a rise in granite quarries. There were several quarries in Addison. The Pleasant River Block Granite Company was located on the east side of the Pleasant River; the Black Diamond Granite Quarry (Lang's Quarry) was on Yoho Bay; a paving stone quarry was located on the west side of the river; and Moose-A-Bec Quarry was located on Hardwood Island.

Stone in the rough shape and monuments made here were shipped to all parts of the United States and were used in the construction of many famous buildings. The quarries dwindled as the demand for granite declined, ceasing around 1920. However, in recent years there has been a quarry started in the Basin area known as the Fletcher Granite Co.

Shipyards

Since everything had to be shipped by water, shipbuilding was very important for the growth of the town. There were four shipyards making the center of the little town a busy spot. The four yards located on the crooked Pleasant River were Look Brothers Yard, Knowles Shipyards, Nash Shipyard and the William Nash Shipyard.

At least 83 vessels were built in Addison from 1800 to 1900. The peak decade was 1860-1870 when 21 vessels were constructed. The Annie M. Preble was the last vessel built in Addison during the peak years. It would be more than 100 years before another vessel, the RawFaith in 2003, would be built on the banks of the Pleasant River.

In 1866, in Leander Knowles' shipyard, the vessel Nellie Chapin was built. This was the ship on which the Palestine Emigration Colony made their ill-fated voyage to Jaffa that year. Many members of the colony were from Addison, Indian River and Jonesport. They had sold their land and possessions with the plan to settle in Jaffa. When their settlement failed many families returned home to Maine practically destitute. A few families went further west and set up new homes in Michigan.

Historic buildings

The Maine Historic Preservation Commission maintains an inventory of important sites including buildings or sites on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). They record two such listings for the town both of which are shown on Map 2, Addison Public Facilities and Cemeteries:

MHPC notes that a comprehensive survey of Addison's above-ground historic resources is needed to identify other properties which may be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The following buildings, shown on Map 2: Addison Public Facilities and Cemeteries, are of historic importance to the town's residents and might be worth consideration for listing on the National Register of Historic Places for Addison:

  • The Church on the Hill - Baptist Church Society
  • Indian River Grange Hall

Notable people

  • Henry Plummer (1832–1864), sheriff and outlaw leader of The Innocents, in Bannock, Montana, Idaho Territory

See also

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