Farmington: Franklin County's Shiretown

By Taffy Davis

Rich soil and the Sandy River, a source of water, travel and power lured settlers to the region on the heels of the Revolutionary War. Farmington’s broad intervales were constantly being enriched by freshets (floods) from the Sandy River and the region quickly became an agricultural strength in Maine. The success of agricultural pursuits first fed the growing population and then provided prosperity for many who sent their surplus to markets outside of the area.

Settled in 1780, the pioneers planted corn, potatoes and turnips to get them through the first winter. The Sandy River provided great amounts of salmon, which was smoked and stored for later use. The forest provided game for the table. As land was cleared, wheat and corn were planted later to be turned into flour, food crops were planted, as well as oats for livestock. Apple orchards were quickly established. (More About Farmington's Early Agriculture)

During the winter of 1780, the stones for the first mill were brought from Winthrop over the ice and snow. The first grist mill was established by Reuben Colburn and Stephen Pullen at what is now Walton’s Mill in West Farmington. (More about Farmington's First Grist Mill.)

Another early settler, Joseph Fairbanks, first settled on the “Norton Farm” on Titcomb Hill in 1792 and set out the first orchard in the settlement. Early on, Joseph Fairbanks lived by buying and selling stock, frequently driving cattle to Quebec City. He later moved to the “Fairbanks” area, north of the center village and built a mill that was in operation for several decades.

During the 1780’s and 1790’s, corn and grain were used as money for trade. Meat stock and other commodities produced by the farmers were used as money at a later date.

Ezekiel Porter, whom Porter Hill is named after, is known to have cut “a hundred ton of hay” as early as 1796. By 1800, “he is reported as having fifty acres of corn and a large herd of cattle.”

The greatest growth of Farmington took place between 1840 and 1850. By 1850, Franklin County was Maine’s second largest wool producer, behind Somerset Co.

Maple sugar was also in demand as a way to become less dependent on imported molasses and sugar from the West Indies. Maple candy is documented as being made prior to 1864.

The Rail Road comes to West Farmington

By the 1850’s, there was “such prosperity and contentment” that no one was selling their farm. And when the railroad entered West Farmington in 1859, Farmington’s agricultural landscape took another giant step. Farmer’s now had a way to get surplus crops, livestock and produce to other markets.

Lowell’s Store, a general store was located in West Farmington. The building today, still retains its boardwalk style front. One side of Lowell's was devoted to dry goods such as: overalls, Aunt Lydia’s carpet thread, bolts of cloth, lamp chimneys, medicines and tooth powder. On the other side: cracker barrels, cheese wheels, beans, sugar, spices, slabs of salt fish, molasses barrels and the pot belly stove. The store became a “nucleus for wholesale trade in grain, wool, apples, eggs and maple syrup.”

In 1872, the first refrigerated rail car came to Farmington. The car’s walls were lined with charcoal (which did not conduct the outside heat to the inside of the car) and ice was placed in a tube on either side of each door. The advancement in refrigerated cars made the export of meat possible as well as improved the condition of eggs and fruit. (More about Lowell's Store)

The train stopped at the creamery in West Farmington to load cans of milk and cream, which were bound for the Turner Creamery in Auburn. The “creamery” still stands.

Farmington was considered to have excellent shipping facilities via the rail road. W.W. Small, now the home of Uno Mas Restaurant, was a store and mill. The mill put in an elevator so that grains could be loaded directly into the rail car. (More about the railroad arriving in Farmington.)

During the late 1800’s, more acres were devoted to potatoes, as the shipping rates from Farmington were much less than from Aroostook. In the 1900’s, Aroostook would take the lead in Maine’s potato production.

Canning

The railroad was one entity that had a large impact on the growth of Farmington’s agriculture landscape during the 1860’s and 70’s. Another facet was the introduction of preserving food in cans.

In 1869, Farmington’s first packing plant or cannery was opened by J.W. Jones. It was located at the east end of the Center bridge and was there for nearly 50 years. Six to eight canneries operated in Farmington Falls, Farmington and West Farmington. There are still remnants of the buildings that once provided much to the local economy.

Although many items were canned, such as apples) and beans, it was corn that put Farmington ahead of other towns. The cool nights and warm days of August and September produced a corn that contained a high sugar content, thus the name of “sweet corn.” (More about Farmington's Corn Canning Industry.)

Challenges

Although the settlers enjoyed the fertile lands and seemingly extraordinary agriculture productivity, there were many difficulties that challenged the community. These challenges included freshets (floods), fires and weather.

A freshet is described as a flash flood or flood resulting from a spring thaw. These freshets battered crops, homes and mills. There were at least 7 freshets during the first 60 years of settlement. The flood of 1820 was particularly bad as it destroyed all of the mills from Fairbanks down to Farmington Falls. The cost of lost mills in the freshet of 1820 was $20,000 (approx. $300,000 today). Many cattle and sheep were also drowned. Many mills that lined the Sandy River banks, were wiped out time and again. Due to their necessity for survival of the community, they were most often rebuilt and were a little stronger than the previous mill.

Another early catastrophic event in 1816 was “the year without a summer.” A frost occurred in every month and there was no corn raised, a staple food crop. In May, there was ice on the apple blossoms followed by a severe snow storm on June 6th, more frost and then more snow on Oct. 7th. By the spring of 1817, food was scarce for both people and animals. The following winter of 1817 was bitter cold, testing even the most hearty of folks.

The history books say the cold weather was most likely caused by the volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia during April of 1815. It is thought that the smoke and ash created a “volcanic winter.”

For the next 5 years, many of the Farmington settlers were disheartened and left for Ohio. So many settled in one area, that they named the town Maineville.

Diseases such as cold fever, diphtheria and consumption constantly challenged survival of families. The War of 1812, Civil War and WWI took the men out of the fields, leaving farm hands in short supply.

Agriculture During World War I

World War I began in Europe in 1914 and the U.S. entered into it in 1917. This specific event is mentioned as the ability to feed and clothe large numbers of soldiers and allies across an ocean had a direct impact on local farms.

At a time when wool was needed in the manufacture of soldiers’ uniforms, Maine had little wool to give. By 1914, Maine’s sheep industry had hit a record low. With the short supply of wool, women turned to silk.

In March of 1918, the U.S. Food Administration endorsed “Farm Implement and Repair Week.” Every farmer in the nation was urged to make necessary repairs to their equipment between March 4-9th. The farmers were to immediately order any new parts due to the scarcity of steel and in order to have everything in readiness to raise “a maximum food crop.” This must have been a difficult chore for those whose rakes and plows most likely sat under a deep blanket of snow. (More about WWI Impact on Farmington's Agriculture.)

Franklin County Agricultural Society

In 1840, the legislature granted a charter to the Franklin County Agricultural Society. The first meeting was held May 26, 1840 with John Titcomb Esq., elected president and F.G. Butler secretary. The first “Cattle Show and Fair” was held on Oct. 19 & 20, 1840. “Ample, and secure accommodations will be provided for all kinds and any quantity of stock that may be driven to the show.”

At the time, the fair grounds were known as the “trotting park.” This oval was created to keep horse races off of Main St. (More About Franklin County Agricultural Fair)

U.S. Census

The questions asked during the 1840 census show that the U.S. Government was not only interested in how many people there were, but in the value of farms, types of crops grown and numbers of animals. Questions such as, what is the value of your poultry? How many pounds of wool, hops and wax do you produce? (A List of 1840 Census Questions)

Farmington's Agricultural Landscape in 2009

Although many of the farm fields and pastures now lay dormant and with trees growing or houses built in them, Farmington still has several working farms dotting the hillsides. These farmers carry on the tradition set forth by their forefathers. One farmer, Conrad Bailey is walking in the footsteps of 8 generations of Baily farmers.

Although the large farms are few, several smaller farms are producing foods locally. The Farmington community still supports its agricultural heritage by supporting the local farmer's market and purchasing local food and goods.

References

• Butler, Ben and Natalie. "The Falls: Where Farmington, Maine began in 1776." Pilgrimage No. 6, 1976.
• Butler, Ben and Natalie. "Thomas Wendell Moves to Fairbanks {Farmington, Maine} c. 1794." Pilgrimage No. 2, 1966.
• Butler, Ben and Natalie. "Porter and Russell Lived On A Hill {Farmington, Maine} c. 1800." Pilgrimage No. 4, 1969.
• Butler, F.G. A History of Farmington, Maine. Somersworth, N.H. New England History Press, 1983 {a reprint of 1885}.
• Parker, Thomas. Early History of Farmington, Maine. L'Anse, MI. Regional History Reprints. Originally published in 1846.
• Franklin Chronicle Newspapers. 1840-1918.
• Various magazine articles and maps.