Plymouth> Local town history centennial projects written by students about their communities

This is the 29th in a series of town history centennial projects written by students about their communities in the Bangor Daily News readership area. Students were asked to compile a timeline of important events in the 20th century, to write an essay about what has set their community apart, and to choose a photograph that sums up something important about their community’s history during the century.

By Newport-Plymouth Elementary School sixth-grade pupils, with teachers Angela Brown, Randy Gould and Tammy Leonard.

Plymouth is located in central Maine, surrounded by Dixmont, Troy, Detroit, Newport, Palmyra and Etna. Bangor, the nearest city, is about 16 miles north. Interstate 95 runs through town.

Plymouth is called a bedroom community today. People live and sleep here, but most work elsewhere because there is little industry or business.

The town was once part of Etna and Chandlerville, which is now Detroit. Some of the first settlements were around 1812, but Plymouth, which is not a full township, was not incorporated until Feb. 26, 1826. The first town census in 1830 reported the population at 503.

By 1880, the town had grown significantly. The village included a sawmill, gristmill, tannery, a church and two hotels. It also had nine stores: two general stores, two millinery and fancy goods stores, two jewelry shops, two shoe shops and one drugstore.

A fire in 1882 destroyed some of the village’s businesses, which were never rebuilt. Another blow came later, when the railroad from Waterville to Bangor was rerouted out of town. Two influential people had the line changed so that it would not damage their property.

Today the village consists of a general store, town office, Grange hall, church, fire station and numerous homes. The population is around 1,200.

Many people visit to take advantage of the fine recreational resources. The Rutland and Carlton Bog areas are breeding spots for deer, making the town a prime hunting area. Fishermen can be spotted on the ponds in summer and winter catching pickerel and bass. Canoeists enjoy a trip upstream from Plymouth Pond to Gray Pond.

TIMELINE

1901 The Plymouth Grange is incorporated.

1908 The town’s first public high school is discontinued.

1920 The town forms its first budget committee.

1938 The Masonic Lodge, in existence since 1854, is dissolved.

1940 Plymouth’s last public high school is closed.

1965 Plymouth joins SAD 48.

1968 The town’s last elementary school is closed; all students are bused to school in Newport.

1968 Plymouth’s only store, a general store, is gutted by fire. The town’s only store today is in the same location.

1976 A sesquicentennial celebration is held.

1987 A spring flood submerges part of the bridge that crosses Plymouth Pond. Traffic is rerouted, and the bridge needs major repairs.