The Lost Trotting Parks Storyboard Archives

The Lost Trotting Parks Storyboard Archives

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

1843 -- The Gardiner Lyceum Catalogue

Two hundred and one students (102 Masters and 99 Misses) were enrolled in programs at the Gardiner Lyceum in 1843. Students attending were from the following communities: Gardiner, Madison, Hallowell, Norridgewock, Whitefield, Waterville, Pittston, Jefferson, Newport, RI, North Yarmouth, Bowdoin, Key West, FA, Duxbury, MA, Tauton, MA, Woolich, Dresden, Waldoborough, New Sharon, New Bedford, MSA, Windsor, Lancaster, MA, and Fairfield.
























Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Engineering Drawing and File Documents Locates McFaul Park

 Robert P. Scott, Town Assessor for Eastport, found in the archives the circa 1940 file that contains documents, maps, and sketches that identify the location of McFaul Park. Now that we have verified the location, we need to see if any photos exist of McFaul Park that provides views of the grandstands and action on the track!




Monday, February 13, 2012

Lost Trotting Parks at the Maine Fair Convention -- Holiday Inn, Portland, Maine

Stephen Thompson, founder and Creative Director
of the Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center
Sets up Display at Maine Fair Convention.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Merrill Park -- West Gardiner -- Three Images

The following image is one of the best photos of one of Maine's lost trotting parks. Initially, Mert Hickey provided me with two photocopied images of Merrill Parks taken from the entry way of the park. This photo was taken on the East side of the track within 25 feet of Cobbossee Stream. Last summer we were able to walk to the location of the Grand Stand. We measured the cement posts that served as the base of the grandstand. The structure measured 50 by 30 feet. If you are in possession of vintage images of the old trotting parks or the agricultural fairs, please contact us and discuss the possibility of using your images to help tell the stories of Maine fairs and harness racing. The photos in this post can be found at the Archives Room, Gardiner Public Library, Gardiner, Maine.

To contact the Center by telephone call 207-956-9542 or 207-623-3076.




Builder of McFaul Park Also the Author of Two Books

Saturday, February 4, 2012

The Gardiner Lyceum -- 1823 -- Address by Robert Hallowell, Gardiner, Maine

-- From the History of Kennebec County, Kingsbury and Deyo
Chapter XXIV, p. 638 --
Courtesy of the Archives Room, The Gardiner Public Library
Gardiner, Maine
"The Gardiner Lyceum, established by R.H. Gardiner in 1822, was designed in all respects to be a college without dead languages. The building ws of stone and had an excellent cabinet and philosophical apparatus. The first principal was Reverend Hale, rector of Christ's Church. The patronage of the school was small, and in 1848 the school was established as an academy with Dr. G.S. Palmer as principal.

In 1851 the building was transferred to the City of Gardiner and a free high school was then established, and occupied it until the fall of 1870 when it was burned.

Famous First Facts by Joseph Nathan Kane, p. 509.

"The First technical institute in the United States was the Gardiner Lyceum which was established in 1822 due to the efforts of Benjamin Hale. Short courses were given in civil architecture, navigation, chemistry and agriculture. The school's existence depended upon fees, gifts, and grants from the Maine State Legislature. The school was created "for the purpose of giving to farmers and mechanics such a scientific education as would enable them to become skillful in their professions."