Local Ties to Maine Statehood
The journey to Maine statehood would not make a good movie because it too so long and there were so many issues and people in different roles. It took about 35 years of effort to bring about a final Maine vote in 1819 and then passage of the Missouri Compromise to achieve statehood in 1820. Locally, Buxton voted 365 to 11 for statehood. The vote was similarly lopsided in Hollis although the statewide totals were 17,091 to 7,132.
There were many issues pushing for statehood. One was that there was resentment that Massachusetts had taken over Maine and treated it like its colony. Others thought Maine was larger and had much more potential with its long coastline and timber resources. The rise of the Democrat-Republican party in Maine while Massachusetts was still dominated by the Federalist party was very significant, but the key catalyst for separation was the War of 1812. The Federalist government in Boston was better funded than the U.S government, but made no effort to protect Maine. The British occupied Castine and all of eastern Maine until several years after the war. They also raided the southern coast. In response, Buxton, Hollis and other towns built powder houses for their militias which were called out for British ship sightings. The powder houses contained gunpowder, musket balls, camp kettles and other military equipment. The Hollis powder house was built in a field off the Dennett road which used to go through toward Hollis Center. The Buxton powder house was built in a large field off Long Plains road near Buxton Center. It still remains as only one of three to survive in the state. It is open to the public via a heavily wooded path from Long Plains Road. Take a short walk to see our visible tie to statehood. The image is from about 1920.
Hopefully, virus permitting, next year the historical society will have the expanded version of this story as an in person program with more about the people and passions of the events.
There were many issues pushing for statehood. One was that there was resentment that Massachusetts had taken over Maine and treated it like its colony. Others thought Maine was larger and had much more potential with its long coastline and timber resources. The rise of the Democrat-Republican party in Maine while Massachusetts was still dominated by the Federalist party was very significant, but the key catalyst for separation was the War of 1812. The Federalist government in Boston was better funded than the U.S government, but made no effort to protect Maine. The British occupied Castine and all of eastern Maine until several years after the war. They also raided the southern coast. In response, Buxton, Hollis and other towns built powder houses for their militias which were called out for British ship sightings. The powder houses contained gunpowder, musket balls, camp kettles and other military equipment. The Hollis powder house was built in a field off the Dennett road which used to go through toward Hollis Center. The Buxton powder house was built in a large field off Long Plains road near Buxton Center. It still remains as only one of three to survive in the state. It is open to the public via a heavily wooded path from Long Plains Road. Take a short walk to see our visible tie to statehood. The image is from about 1920.
Hopefully, virus permitting, next year the historical society will have the expanded version of this story as an in person program with more about the people and passions of the events.