ABBOT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ABBOT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
3 Monument Road
P.O. Box 105
Abbot, Me. 04406-0105
(207) 876-2979

Museum Hours of Operation Sundays 1-4 p.m. thru Sept. 1

Contacts:

President Carolyn Amos 207-876-3041
Vice-President Wayne Bennett 207-876-3073
Secretary Estella Bennett 207-876-3073
Treasurer Janice McAlister
Directors Rochelle Titcomb, Sam Goodrich, Cheri Wentworth
Curator Melanie Bridge 207-876-3669
Newsletter & Genealogy Editor Kaye Sakahara

HISTORY OF ABBOT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Abbot Historical Society was formed and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 1997. The Pythian Sisterhood deeded the Knights of Pythias Hall to the Society in October 1998. The K of P Hall is now the Museum for our Town. The Sisterhood still meets in the Chapter Room on the second floor during the summer months. The society is in the process of restoring the Hall and has put together a nice collection of photos, documents, records, and genealogy. We strive to keep the Museum open on Sunday afternoons from Memorial Day through to Mid-October. Special events thru the year include Memorial Day Dinner, Old Home Sunday on the last Sunday in July, a BIG yard sale in August, and the Turkey Pie Supper in November, among others. We work together to research and add to our collections and knowledge of our rich heritage. We invite you to join us.

Mission of Abbot Historical Society

MISSION Our Mission is three-fold:

I. To collect and preserve articles and objects pertaining to the civil, social, military, ecclesiastical, genealogical, educations, cultural, natural history, industrial, athletic and sporting history of the Town of Abbot

II. To promote interest and stimulate activity to accomplish the above.

III. To do anything within the limits of the Society which may be of benefit to the Town to collect and preserve articles and objects for the Town of Abbot and its citizens.

Brief Town History

The town of Abbot was originally part of a Bowdoin College Grant, authorized by the Massachusetts Legislature in June of 1794. The first settler was Abraham Moore who arrived during the year 1805. It was called Moorestown until it was incorporated in 1827 as Abbot, named after the treasurer and land agent of Bowdoin, John Abbot.

Growth came slowly to the area, but gradually farms were cleared, gristmills and sawmills were built, and stores, a post office and schools were opened.

During the civil war close to 100 of Abbot's men served with the First Maine Calvary. These veterans were not only exposed to war but also to new ideas in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.

After the war came industrial development, with a new method of transportation: the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad which eventually became the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. This period saw tremendous growth in economic development. New mills and shops were erected - providing employment for a large number of people, with a woolen mill in the Lower Village and an excelsior mill in the Upper Village.

The early part of the 1990's saw a decline in the number of working farms, but rural life became easier with the coming of the telephone, rural free delivery of mail with Flobert Morse as the first carrier, the automobile, and electric lights.

Townspeople celebrated Memorial Day with a parade of Veterans, KPs, Masons, and Grangers, as well as school, honoring the Town's soldiers and sailors.

Fall brought the Abbot Fair, with a steam-powered merry go-round, livestock exhibits, horse pulling, and baby shows. 2000-3000 people jammed the streets of Abbot!!

Abbot like many small towns in Central Maine has seen its ups and downs with the Great Depression, Wars and population declines, but we continue to take pride in our heritage and look forward to the future.

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