On a lovely autumn afternoon, I met up with Lincolnville residents Jill and Randy Harvey. Many years ago, they excavated an abandoned quarry which lies on their property, uncovering a trove of artifacts, and with the physical remains, the outlines of stories.

The quiet history of Lincolnville is the story of getting by, and making do with what you have. The Europeans who settled here did what they could to make ends meet, and to this day, locals are known for their side hustles, the things you do to fill the gaps in your day to day income.

Stop by the Historical Society museum, and the curators can tell you about all the various industries that have been attempted in this little town, none of which amounted to much, but supplemented the income of farmers and fishermen. The old quarry off Slab City Road was most likely one of these ventures.

We know that in the 18th Century a road was built from Fort St. George in Thomaston to Fort Pownall in Stockton Springs by by the Colonial troops hewing their way through the wilderness that included the interior of Lincolnville.

The exact route is not certain, but it seems likely that Slab City and the Belfast Road (Route 52) were part of that road.

Jill and Randy grew up in Belfast, of old Maine stock, and Randy has long sought an encampment of those long ago soldiers, hoping for a button or a musket ball. Nothing of that sort has been found in the quarry, instead uncovering the simpler story of long ago side hustle.

Former teachers, Jill and Randy have become experts on 18th and 19th Century quarrying techniques. They have a acquired a wide variety of tools, generally forged from “bog iron” and type of ore found in swamps and along rivers, emerging from the iron rich groundwater, which most Lincolnville folks are well acquainted with.

Danny Hickey at Western Auto seems to do a good business peddling salts for water filtration systems.

Among the various wedges and drills were some standout pieces, including a double headed hammer/axe, found in two pieces in different parts of the quarry; imagine the breaking of the hammer, the swearing, the pieces cast in different directions.

It is a beautifully crafted tool, and has defied efforts to identify its make, though the Harveys have shown it to experts at Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg.

Speculation is that it might date back at least to the 18th Century, though it may have been handed down. Randy wonders if it may have initially been used in the limestone industry, and when repurposed for the much harder granite, it met its demise as a tool.

Many of the tools appeared to have been repurposed from some other use, cut down and modified to serve as wedges for breaking up the granite. An old door hinge was easily recognizable. Use what you got, right?

Examining the quarry, Randy pointed out the evidence that this was not a quarry worked by expert stone workers. This was likely worked at various times over the years, slabs of granite pulled up for a foundation or a doorstep, maybe shipped off to Boston on one of the ships leaving Ducktrap, giving the workers a little extra money for the winter.

When the culvert was being replaced a while back at Carvers Corner, at Beach Road and Sleepy Hollow, the original granite culvert was dug up, and Randy was able to identify the exact spot in his quarry from whence the large granite slab had come.

Dating a quarry is pretty darn hard, especially because it was likely worked over a period of many decades, and more recent work would erase the evidence of older work. Stone working techniques evolved over the years, but would have overlapped, and as mentioned, these were probably amateurs, using whatever techniques they had been taught.

Quarrying also occurred later into the European settlement, as why bother to dig rocks when wood was so plentiful? But there would have been generational knowledge of stonework, particularly with the German immigrants who had settled in the Midcoast.

Randy has found creamware pottery at the site, which was common from the late 1700s to 1840 or so. He also found a pipe stem, another common artifact of Europeans making a mess of the place.

The most definitive date comes from two pennies, dated 1862 and 1863. Randy showed me the ledge where the first was found, a nicely rounded spot where he speculates some long ago worker may have sat to eat his lunch, and the penny just fell out of his trouser pocket.

The second penny was uncovered nearby among the slag over the lip of the quarry, with the theory that perhaps the second penny rolled off the ledge, and was scooped up and tossed out of the quarry with the rest of the detritus.

Every week, I write about this little place, where not much happened. But everywhere you go, you are walking on the layers left behind by the people that were here before. The indigenous Wabanaki who fished and farmed, the weary colonial soldiers building their long forgotten road through the wilderness, the generations trying to make ends meet through their farms, mills, boats, and quarries.

Millerite Hike

Rosey sent out the following information regarding the hike to the Millerite Cliffs.

“When you ask? Tuesday morning Oct. 22

"What time you ask? Be there by 6:45 a.m. Walk starts at 7 a.m. sharp!

"Meet where? At the end of Maiden Cliff road off Youngtown Road.

"Directions? If coming from Lincolnville center towards Camden turn left by Youngtown Inn go to top of hill turn right onto Maiden Cliff Road

"If coming from Camden up 52 turn right onto Youngtown Road and follow directions above!

"If coming from Lincolnville Beach area turn onto Youngtown Road on your left and go about 2.5 miles and look for Maiden Cliff Road on left, Come up all way.

"We will be parking in field on your left so plenty of parking!

"How long will it take?….Takes about an hour to go up, and about half hour down. You spend the time you need once we've reach summit!  Usually takes up to 2 hours to 2.5 hours unless the end happens while we’re up there! 

"Be aware sometimes side trips are offered for those who might have an interest!

"What should I bring? Hiking boots, walking stick, water, tick repellent, camera!

"Can I bring my dog or husband?….Yes, but they must be on a leash, and no jumping on people!

"If they bark a lot and nip please leave them home!

"What are the rules? No political conversations, or hats, T shirts, etc.

"Enjoy the hike, and the great scenery!

"Who do I contact if I have question?

"Rosey Gerry 207-975-5432.   roskari@gmail.com

What an amazing weekend, Lincolnville. Get out and enjoy the colors. Don’t forget to plan your Halloween costume, even if it will just be for you, eating peanut butter cups on the couch, in front of your favorite schlocky horror flick. Which sounds like a wonderful night, now that I write it.

Be good, do good, and reach out at ceobrien246@gmail.com.

Municipal Calendar

Monday, October 21

Select Board workshop with Heart and Soul Team and Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, 5 p.m., Town Office

Tuesday, October 22

Library open 3-6 p.m. 208 Main Street

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Lakes and Ponds Committee, 7 p.m. Town Office

Harbor Committee, 5:30 p.m., Town Office

Wednesday, October 23

Library open 2-5 p.m. 

Friday, October 25

AA Meeting 12:15 p.m., Community Building, 18 Searsmont Road

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Saturday, October 26

Library open 9-12, 208 Main Street

Sunday, October 27

United Christian Church, 9:30 a.m. Worship, 18 Searsmont Road

Bayshore Baptist Church, 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, 11 a.m. worship, 2648 Atlantic Highway