Old Timers Reveal History Of SmallTown Maine
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 ต.ค. 2024
- The narrator is my friend Peter Thomas (Thumbnail photo), famous for Forensic Files and hundreds of other films.
I spent 25 years living and working in the small town of Rockport, Maine. It was a wonderful experience. I made this film to honor Rockports 150th anniversary, although it tells the story of one small town, in meaningful ways, it matches the story of many of Maine's towns and villages. My friend Ellen Starr performed the music while watching the film I had made.
When telling the story of Rockport, you have to start with the fighting that took place between Rockport and its neighbor Camden, Maine, and their split into two separate towns. The feud between Rockport and Camden simmered for years, fueled by disagreements over land rights, economic development, and local governance. Tensions reached a boiling point during a contentious town meeting held in the late 1800s, where heated arguments erupted between residents of the two communities.
Camden, with its larger population and more significant economic influence, dominated discussions and decisions that affected both towns. Rockport residents felt marginalized and believed that their town's interests were being neglected in favor of Camden's.
As the arguments escalated, tempers flared, and physical altercations broke out among the attendees. Fists flew, chairs were overturned, and voices rose in anger as the once-civil gathering devolved into chaos.
In the aftermath of the brawl, residents of Rockport decided that they could no longer coexist harmoniously with Camden under the same governance structure. They petitioned the state government to grant them independence and establish Rockport as a separate town. The 1891 split left a lasting legacy of division and rivalry between the two towns. While they continued to share geographic proximity and economic ties, the animosity that fueled their separation persisted for generations, serving as a cautionary tale of the consequences of unresolved conflict and the importance of compromise in community relations.
Maine is the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi River. More than four-fifths of its total land area is under forest cover. Maine is an economically depressed state, yet the rugged beauty and challenge of its climate and landscape and the character of its people have given Maine an importance beyond its economic and political power.
The Rockport area has a small but beautiful harbor and was a shipbuilding center, and in the 19th century, became an important center of ice harvesting and the extraction of lime. The extraction of lime stone and marble brought new industries to the town.
Midcoast Maine was inhabited for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived. The original settlers included the Penobscots. In 1605 Captain George Weymouth of the ship Archangel first sighted the Camden Hills. He sailed up Penobscot Bay and anchored. It was not until 1769 that other settlers arrived.
Camden had a steady growth in population and a prosperous economy. The 1870 census recorded a population of 4512. Numerous industries supported the population including shipbuilding, an anchor factory and the lime industry.
In 1892 a fire destroyed nearly all of Camden’s business district. However, Camden citizens quickly rebuilt the downtown area using brick instead of wood, thus leaving a legacy of permanence and grace that exists to this day.
The turn of the century brought a new era to Camden as its natural beauty began to attract some of the wealthiest families in the country. These families built large summer “cottages” to rival those in Bar Harbor. Wealthy families not only built beautiful estates but their generosity to the community resulted in the elegant public library and Amphitheatre, Harbor Park, the Village Green, the Camden Yacht Club
Edna St. Vincent Millay, who grew up in Camden, achieved world-wide recognition for her poetry and won the Pulitzer Prize. The movies came to Camden in 1957 when the controversial film, Peyton Place, was filmed there. Hollywood used the Camden area for the locale of many more movies in later years.
Throughout the 20th century Camden & Rockport became both resort towns and retirement communities. Because of its natural beauty-mountains, lakes and ocean,- many summer visitors come to enjoy this area. In 1965 a road was built up to the top of Mt. Battie through the Camden Hills State Park enabling thousands of people to enjoy an expansive view of Penobscot Bay as well as Megunticook Lake.
I loved the time that I lived in both Camden and in Rockport and during the summer (since being a Californian, I'm not so good at cold weather anymore) I visit to see old friends and rekindle memories.
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This was really cool. I love American history
Thank you David. 💓
I’ve always wanted to visit Maine! “Blueberries for Sal”was my favorite book as a little kid, and I love lobster. I’m in California, getting old. Gotta hurry up!
As a Mainer, I'm so thankful that part of your journey as a content creator had you capturing it's interesting history. Thank you for sharing this video.
Wow, fabulous. So much interesting information. Very entertaining.
That voice...
Peter Thomas, Bill Kurtis, Anthony Call and Robert Stack - the four tenors of crime documentary TV shows.
Though still living, I like Keith Morrison of Dateline really well too!
Anthony called play on one life to live
I have never been to Maine I found this documentary fascinating David Hoffman and Peter Thomas, as the narrator was a nice touch. 😊👍
What a wonderful story! I chuckled, and I cried, and it touched my heart. I'm glad you got to experience living there. Thanks for this and all you bring us, David! 😊❤
Oh man, at 25:00 she's talking about waltzes in the moonlight 😍 What a fine moment!
Andrè and Jim Key, two incredible creatures, rest in peace and love, our friends from another species ❤
My favorite memory was meeting Santa as he made his way in a lobster boat to the shores of Rockport, RC and Collin held letters for him as he sat and listened to each child. Awesome community. Enjoyed the history, thank you David
My people came to MDI in the late 1700’s, from Archangel Russia, this is fascinating thank you.
Peter's narration's were always phenomenal! This is such a great documentary! Thanks David! I wonder if they still even to this very day have a pretty healthy rivalry between both of their school team's ball games and such?✌
Good question, Jim! 😎
@@MicahScottPnD Thanks so much Micah! Heck yea! I'd say it does, just about has to, bigtime! I thought briefly there at one point in the middle of the film they were going to mention more details about that kind of thing! But anyway those kinds of deep seeded long standing rivalries sure goes on around here!!! (Ohio State vs Michigan just to name a very popular particular one!)😅😆 Hope you're doing well? And having a fine day!🌝✌
@@JWF99 Not bad at all, Jim, hope the same for you! Rivalries can honestly be a blast when they're good spirited, I think. It's when they get truly mean that I feel like "please let me off at the next stop". But you know, Ford and Chevy, John Deere and Case IH, they can really be fun, especially around beer:30😂 There's one I absolutely love, which is in NYC, I think it's either Cuban or Puerto Rican music, that's the most joyous rivalry I know of! They really take the music/dance/presentation serious and try to do their best, but it doesn't have the caustic edge to it. And the music! 😍 ohh it's fun to watch! ive not been there for it, only video.
P.S. Sharp looking new picture, btw!
@@MicahScottPnD Sorry Micah, I got side tracked for a bit, my doorbell rang with some guy selling life insurance, I told him nope, I didn't need any more, but dang he still had an awful lot to say!! Whew!!! Lol😂 Anyways yes sir 100% agree with you, espec with those music rivalries too, as long as they're all in good fun!I'm always on-board!👍 And Thank Ya Man, yes I changed my profile pic once again, figure I'll try & change a diff. pic every month or 3! 😂😂😂 next time I might try something besides a photo of myself! Maybe I'll try one of the River? God knows I have plenty to choose from!✌
Thanks!
For that act of generosity Stephanie.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker You’re very welcome! ❤️
Wonderful story...beautifully told. Thank you.
I was there yesterday! Heading towards Camden hills to hike up to the Oceanview. Absolutely beautiful. What's crazy about it is seeing all the 19th century schooners out in the harbor like it's the nineteenth century! This whole area is magical. You don't need much of an imagination to know what it was like back then, just a decent pair of glasses.
Very good, in our passing by time, it's nice to know there are timeless places where community and individuality can coexist in a meaningful way.
Love Maine in the summertime. Beautiful natural scenery, lighthouses
25:15 This couple is a menace to society! Two banana splits?! Unheard of!! I must now try this offensive food to make sure it's good for society.
I remember seeing Andre the seal the first time I went to Maine. My in-laws lived in Belfast, just up the road. Maine has my heart to this day.
Is Peter still with us?
Passed away in 2016.
@@jeshkam okay
What is the song at 2:57? I know it well but cannot for the life of me remember what it is called.
The entire film has original music played on the piano by my friend for my documentary.
David Hoffman filmmaker
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker Then the beginning of that section quoted another song (composers do that often) or is very similar. It is only similar for a few seconds
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmakerI figured it out, it is like Robert Schumann's "Wilder Reiter", from his "Album für die Jugend" (op. 68 no. 8)
Native Americans lived peacefully?
Now I know that's a lie 😂