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In 1771 when Winthrop Selectman planned and laid out a road around
Chandler’s Mill Pond (now called Maranacook) there were only six settler’s
cabins in the northern parish (now Readfield) near the lake’s shore. They are
noted above in the approximate areas they were located. The road passed near their doors – much closer
to the lake than the South and Winthrop Roads do today. The County Road (route
17) noted on this map followed the old Indian Sandy River Trail. This is part of a map that was drawn in 1795 and on file at
Kennebec County Registry of Deeds. |
In 1772 there were six settlers’ cabins scattered around the northern
perimeter of Maranacook Lake – then called the Mill Pond or Chandler’s Pond. On
the northeast shore (now part of Readfield) Robert Waugh, Sr. was located as
was his landing called “Waugh’s landing”. His neighbor to the north was Elisha Smith; next – at the northern most point of Chandler’s Pond - lived Joseph Baker (near Readfield Beach); to Baker’s west lived Ephraim Lane (now Readfield
Corner); then on the west shore of Chandler’s Pond was Moses Ayer (lot #70
about halfway between the present Readfield Corner and Winthrop town line); and
his neighbor to the south was James Craig (his house was near the lake on the
north end of lot #68 [i]
(near the Ritzi home). The old road completely circled the lake from (present
day) Winthrop Village and back. Suffice it to say this would have been more
like a primitive foot trail than a well groomed road. Winthrop did not even
mention the use of oxcarts in their road proposals until 1787.
James Craig owned lots #68 and #69 on the west shore of Lake
Maranacook during his earliest years here. He built a grist mill and sawmill at
what later came to be known as Factory Square and sold his holdings on the lake
about that time. In 1774 he sold 100 acres, the southern part of lot #68 to
Captain William Armstrong for Twenty-three pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence.
In 1789 he sold the northern part to John Gray for Five Pounds Sterling.[iii]
Those men built homes further away from the lake and closer to what we now know
as the Winthrop Road. Both homes are still there in 2013. The course of the original
road was changed sometime around 1793 and brought further west from the
perimeter of the lake. John Gray’s house
was located in proximity to where that road intersected with the present day
Winthrop Road and it became known as “Gray’s Corner.” [iv]
1776 THE CROSSROADS FROM
30 MILE RIVER TO COBBOSSEECONTEE WATERWAY
When the early settlers
came there were NO roads so they followed the Indian trails that had been
used for centuries before them. Likewise, when the first roads were built the Colonists utilized some of
those old Indian trails. One of
the first roads to be built in
Readfield, in 1776, was the North Wayne Road and the East Road to Sturtevant
Hill. These passageways were a direct shot from Thirty Mile River (where the
dam is now located at the head of Lovejoy Pond in North Wayne) towards Maranacook Lake (part of the Cobbosseeconte waterway to the
Kennebec River).
The route discussed in this section is indicated with
red dotted lines on this 1956 topographical map.
Locations are approximate and for historical reference only.
Click on the map to see it enlarged.
To follow this route
from present day North Wayne travelers would have gone east towards Readfield, up
the hill and passed the Huntoon Cemetery. Then on to the intersection called
Palmer Corner. From there they picked up (currently called but d/c) East Road
which crossed to Sturtevant Hill Road (can still be seen on maps). Then,
slightly south on Sturtevant Hill Road
and a turn east at what was then called Craig’s Corner onto another cross road
towards Winthrop Road. I have not seen a name for that section of the road. It shows on the
1856 map but not on later ones. When travelers reached the “road from the
Corners to Winthrop Mills” (Winthrop Road) they may have stopped at the inn at that crossroads
for the night. From there they went slightly south to Gray’s Corner where the
road veered east again and on towards the lake.
The 1956 topographical map
above indicates two camp roads in about the same location as the last mentioned
road that veered off at Gray’s Corner. On the east side of the lake there was another
road that extended from the lake to Beaver Dam Road. James Craig's ferry crossing
was most likely at that spot – using trees on the island to anchor ar cable part way across? A
ferry could have also be located a little south of that. I would be interested
in hearing from anyone who has explored and found any indications that a ferry
once existed in this area.
The ferry across Maranacook it would
have been a raft hooked to a cable - in other words
a cable ferry - like the one pictured here.
MORE WILL BE
ADDED ABOUT OUT OLD ROADS AND
TRAVEL AS IT IS DISCOVERED SO CHECK BACK…
[i] Stackpole,
Everett; History of Winthrop; pub.
Merrill & Webber, Auburn, ME 1925; page 49
[ii]
This end of the section of the East Road came out slightly south of what many today know as
the Albion and Annie Bryant place. The Bryants moved into the house at that intersection in 1931 - the road was d/c but remains were still evident well into the 1960's. Midge
Bryant Potter passed on some stories to me about that house and area as told to her parents by people who had lived there before them. For one - a
whole team of horses was once lost in quicksand in the swamp between Sturtevant
Hill Road and Winthrop Road . Midge also related that their old house was an inn
at one time and about some of the original features of the house. When it was an inn there was a large double room across the front of the second floor where several beds
were set up for use by travelers. The brickwork is outstanding in this home. Large
brick arches in the basement and the house itself is made of brick and then
enveloped by wood. There will be more about this home when I add information about Robert Waugh Jr. and
Francis Hunt to this web site. Midge also told me where the course of this crossroad went from
here - further south by Ritzi's house - as they used to walk that road as children to get to the Maranacook Lake.
[iii]
Reflections of Readfield; Readfield
Bicentennial Commission; pub. 1975; pages 9 and 10
[iv] Stackpole,
Everett; History of Winthrop; pub.
Merrill & Webber, Auburn, ME 1925; page 60-61
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