Hallowell, Maine
Encyclopedia
Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County
, Maine
, United States
. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.
and one of the Kennebec Proprietors, holders of land originally granted to the Plymouth Company
by the British
monarchy
in the 1620s.
First to settle here was Deacon Pease Clark, who emigrated with his wife and son Peter from Attleborough, Massachusetts
, in the spring of 1762. Legend has it that after disembarking on the west side of the Kennebec
, near present-day Water Street, the Clarks took shelter in their overturned cart. On a riverfront lot measuring 50 rods (275 yards, about 250 meters), the Clark family raised corn, rye and other crops. The land on which the fire department now stands was the first to be cleared.
In 1797, the modern city of Augusta
split from Hallowell to be a separate town. The part of Hallowell that is the current city was then known as "The Hook". Today, the city's population (2,467) is only slightly smaller than it was in 1820, the year Maine seceded from Massachusetts and became a state. Yet 183 years ago, Hallowell's inhabitants enjoyed the services of 71 stores along Water Street (by contrast, Augusta
had a population of 1,000 and just 20 merchants). Thriving industries included shipbuilding
(between 1783 and 1901, 50 ship
s were launched from Hallowell's wharves
), trading
, publishing
and logging
. Two grist mills, five sawmill
s and two slaughterhouse
s served the needs of residents near and far.
In 1815, the first granite
quarried near the Manchester
town line signaled the birth of an industry that would support Hallowell until 1908, when cement
displaced stone as the construction material of choice. In 1826, the ice
industry began in earnest, employing thousands over the next 75 years. Frozen blocks loaded onto Hallowell's schooners travelled as far as Cuba
and the West Indies. Other local products exported via the Kennebec
(and, after 1857, by train) from Hallowell included sandpaper
, textiles, rope
, linseed oil
, oilcloth, wire
, books and shoes.
While the Kennebec River
sustained the city from its inception, this mighty freeway also inspired fear. Spring flood
s terrorized shopkeepers and sometimes brought commerce to a standstill. Worse still, citizens eager to cross the river and unwary children skating
and playing too far from the riverbank lost their lives when ice turned out to be thinner than it looked. The cold wreaked havoc in other ways, as well: On July 9, 1816, a freak frost
destroyed crops and forced hungry families to sell their farms for half their worth.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.76%) is water. Drained by Vaughn Brook, Hallowell is bounded by the Kennebec River
.
The city is crossed by Interstate 95
, as well as state routes 27
and 201. It borders the towns of Farmingdale to the south, Manchester
to the west, Augusta
to the north, and Chelsea
across the Kennebec River to the east.
of 2000, there were 2,467 people, 1,145 households, and 604 families residing in the city. The population density
was 420.1 people per square mile (162.3/km²). There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of 211.7 per square mile (81.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.20% White, 0.41% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 1,145 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,058, and the median income for a family was $50,643. Males had a median income of $32,199 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,457. About 3.8% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Kennebec County, Maine
Kennebec County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, its population was 122,151. Its county seat is Augusta. The center of population of Maine is located in Kennebec County, in the city of Augusta....
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.
History
The city is named for Benjamin Hallowell, a Boston merchantMerchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
and one of the Kennebec Proprietors, holders of land originally granted to the Plymouth Company
Plymouth Company
The Plymouth Company was an English joint stock company founded in 1606 by James I of England with the purpose of establishing settlements on the coast of North America.The Plymouth Company was one of two companies, along with the London Company, chartered with such...
by the British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
monarchy
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
in the 1620s.
First to settle here was Deacon Pease Clark, who emigrated with his wife and son Peter from Attleborough, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the spring of 1762. Legend has it that after disembarking on the west side of the Kennebec
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
, near present-day Water Street, the Clarks took shelter in their overturned cart. On a riverfront lot measuring 50 rods (275 yards, about 250 meters), the Clark family raised corn, rye and other crops. The land on which the fire department now stands was the first to be cleared.
In 1797, the modern city of Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
split from Hallowell to be a separate town. The part of Hallowell that is the current city was then known as "The Hook". Today, the city's population (2,467) is only slightly smaller than it was in 1820, the year Maine seceded from Massachusetts and became a state. Yet 183 years ago, Hallowell's inhabitants enjoyed the services of 71 stores along Water Street (by contrast, Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
had a population of 1,000 and just 20 merchants). Thriving industries included shipbuilding
Shipbuilding
Shipbuilding is the construction of ships and floating vessels. It normally takes place in a specialized facility known as a shipyard. Shipbuilders, also called shipwrights, follow a specialized occupation that traces its roots to before recorded history.Shipbuilding and ship repairs, both...
(between 1783 and 1901, 50 ship
Ship
Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...
s were launched from Hallowell's wharves
Wharf
A wharf or quay is a structure on the shore of a harbor where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers.Such a structure includes one or more berths , and may also include piers, warehouses, or other facilities necessary for handling the ships.A wharf commonly comprises a fixed...
), trading
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
, publishing
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and logging
Logging
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks.In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard...
. Two grist mills, five sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s and two slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s served the needs of residents near and far.
In 1815, the first granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
quarried near the Manchester
Manchester, Maine
Manchester is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, located at . The population was 2,465 at the 2000 census. In the early 19th century, the town was known as "The Forks".-Geography:...
town line signaled the birth of an industry that would support Hallowell until 1908, when cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
displaced stone as the construction material of choice. In 1826, the ice
Ice
Ice is water frozen into the solid state. Usually ice is the phase known as ice Ih, which is the most abundant of the varying solid phases on the Earth's surface. It can appear transparent or opaque bluish-white color, depending on the presence of impurities or air inclusions...
industry began in earnest, employing thousands over the next 75 years. Frozen blocks loaded onto Hallowell's schooners travelled as far as Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and the West Indies. Other local products exported via the Kennebec
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
(and, after 1857, by train) from Hallowell included sandpaper
Sandpaper
Sandpaper, also known as glasspaper, is a heavy paper with abrasive material attached to its surface.Sandpaper is part of the "coated abrasives" family of abrasive products. It is used to remove small amounts of material from surfaces, either to make them smoother , to remove a layer of material...
, textiles, rope
Rope
A rope is a length of fibres, twisted or braided together to improve strength for pulling and connecting. It has tensile strength but is too flexible to provide compressive strength...
, linseed oil
Linseed oil
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is a clear to yellowish oil obtained from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant . The oil is obtained by cold pressing, sometimes followed by solvent extraction...
, oilcloth, wire
Wire
A wire is a single, usually cylindrical, flexible strand or rod of metal. Wires are used to bear mechanical loads and to carry electricity and telecommunications signals. Wire is commonly formed by drawing the metal through a hole in a die or draw plate. Standard sizes are determined by various...
, books and shoes.
While the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
sustained the city from its inception, this mighty freeway also inspired fear. Spring flood
Flood
A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...
s terrorized shopkeepers and sometimes brought commerce to a standstill. Worse still, citizens eager to cross the river and unwary children skating
Ice skating
Ice skating is moving on ice by using ice skates. It can be done for a variety of reasons, including leisure, traveling, and various sports. Ice skating occurs both on specially prepared indoor and outdoor tracks, as well as on naturally occurring bodies of frozen water, such as lakes and...
and playing too far from the riverbank lost their lives when ice turned out to be thinner than it looked. The cold wreaked havoc in other ways, as well: On July 9, 1816, a freak frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
destroyed crops and forced hungry families to sell their farms for half their worth.
Geography
Hallowell is located at 44°17′12"N 69°47′52"W (44.286802, -69.797884).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.1 square miles (15.8 km²), of which, 5.9 square miles (15.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.76%) is water. Drained by Vaughn Brook, Hallowell is bounded by the Kennebec River
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
.
The city is crossed by Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
, as well as state routes 27
Maine State Route 27
State Route 27 is part of Maine's system of numbered state highways, running from the village of Newagen in Southport to the Canadian Border in Coburn Gore...
and 201. It borders the towns of Farmingdale to the south, Manchester
Manchester, Maine
Manchester is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, located at . The population was 2,465 at the 2000 census. In the early 19th century, the town was known as "The Forks".-Geography:...
to the west, Augusta
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
to the north, and Chelsea
Chelsea, Maine
Chelsea is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,559 at the 2000 census.-History:Chelsea was incorporated as a town on March 1, 1851 separating from a portion of Hallowell. The town was named after the town of Chelsea, Massachusetts...
across the Kennebec River to the east.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,467 people, 1,145 households, and 604 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 420.1 people per square mile (162.3/km²). There were 1,243 housing units at an average density of 211.7 per square mile (81.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.20% White, 0.41% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 1.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.
There were 1,145 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.2% were non-families. 41.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,058, and the median income for a family was $50,643. Males had a median income of $32,199 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,457. About 3.8% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
Site of interest
- Gaslight Theater
- Hallowell Area Board of Trade
- Kennebec Ice ArenaKennebec Ice ArenaThe Kennebec Ice Arena is an 1,000 seat ice rink in Hallowell, Kennebec County, Maine. It was built in 1970. It is the home of the Tier III Junior A ice hockey league team, the Maine Moose. In March 2011, three people escaped the arena as the roof collapsed due to the "combination of snow buildup,...
Notable people
- Gorham Dummer Abbott, clergyman, educator and author
- Jacob AbbottJacob AbbottJacob Abbott was an American writer of children's books.-Biography:Abbott was born at Hallowell, Maine to Jacob and Betsey Abbott...
, children's writer - Martha BallardMartha BallardMartha Moore Ballard was an American midwife, healer, and diarist.Martha Ballard is known today from her diary, which gives us a rare insight to the life of the average midwife and woman in 18th century Maine. Born on February 20, 1735, Ballard grew up in a moderately prosperous family in Oxford,...
, diarist and midwife - Hiram BelcherHiram BelcherHiram Belcher was a United States Representative from Maine. He was born in Hallowell on February 23, 1790. He attended the rural schools and the local academy in town...
, congressman - Joseph R. BodwellJoseph R. BodwellJoseph Robinson Bodwell was an American politician who most notably served as the 40th Governor of Maine.- Early life :Bodwell was born in Methuen, Massachusetts on June 18, 1818...
, governor of Maine - George Evans, politician
- Helen JewettHelen JewettHelen Jewett was an upscale New York City prostitute whose murder, along with the subsequent trial and acquittal of her alleged killer, Richard P. Robinson, generated an unprecedented amount of media coverage....
, prostitute and murder victim - Thomas Hamlin HubbardThomas Hamlin HubbardThomas Hamlin Hubbard was a Union Army colonel from Maine during the Civil War who was awarded the honorary grade of brevet brigadier general, United States Volunteers, for meritorious service...
, general, lawyer, philanthropist and financier - Vaughn MeaderVaughn MeaderAbbott Vaughn Meader was an American comedian and impersonator whose achievement of fame with The First Family album spoofing President John F...
, political humorist and musician - Samuel Vaughn MerrickSamuel Vaughn MerrickSamuel Vaughan Merrick was a 19th-century American manufacturer.Born in Hallowell, Maine, Merrick left school 1816 and moved to Philadelphia...
, manufacturer - John OtisJohn Otis (Maine)John Otis was a U.S. Representative from Maine.Born in Leeds, Maine, Otis attended the common schools, and was graduated from Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, in 1823.He studied law....
, congressman - Thomas SewallThomas SewallDr. Thomas Sewall was an American doctor, writer and academic. He gained notoriety for being convicted of body snatching, and later went on to become a professor.-Life:...
, doctor, writer and professor - Charlie WaittCharlie WaittCharles C. "Charlie" Waitt , born in Hallowell, Maine, was a professional baseball player who played a total of four professional baseball seasons. Waitt played in an era when baseball had different rules, uniforms, and many other differences from modern baseball. He was in height, and in weight...
, baseball player - Reuel WilliamsReuel WilliamsReuel Williams was a U.S. Senator from Maine.Born in Hallowell, Maine to Seth Williams and Zelphia Ingraham, he attended Hallowell Academy, and went on to study law. He was admitted to the bar in 1804, commencing practice in Augusta, Maine.He was a member of the Maine Legislature from 1812 to 1829...
, senator - Michael Andrew Waters , Fulbright Scholar