Many people like all things Maine. Some of us like to delve into the history of Maine. Just Write Books offers several books--both nonfiction and fiction--to satisfy the reader who enjoys learning about Maine history. From town histories that give you the flavor of many Maine towns, to an historically accurate novel that follows the travails of little known Mainer to histories of families or people of Maine--you'll be able to find a book for your reading or an appropriate gift for a friend who loves Maine history.
1. Topsham, Maine by Robert C. Williams: The riverside settlement that became Topsham, and was once the buffer between the wilderness and Brunswick, became a mill town and now a noted retirement location with a retail and commercial center rivals surrounding municipalities. Robert C. Williams brings the people of Topsham—yesterday’s and today’s—to us in this very readable history of Topsham
2. Lovewell’s Town by Robert Williams: Visit Lovell, Maine and travel in time through the years! Read this book and follow the settlement from the survey of the Merrimack River in 1652 through the famous battle at Pequawket in 1725 to the current struggle between the forces of development and preservation. Williams haunted local archives, as well as state archive collections of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire to produce this comprehensive history of Lovell, Maine. The writing is enlivened by current and historical photos and illustrations. For the historical researcher Williams has added a very thorough index.
3. Lewiston, Maine by Douglas Hodgkins: Lewiston—Its history, location, people and industry—all serve as an example of small riverside settlements that grew into industrial cities over the course of a century early in our country's history. Douglas Hodgkin presents a spectacular array of information in a very readable form. From school--s, to factories, to founding families, to all the minutiae that create a town—Frontier to Industrial City provides a clear picture of the many facets of Lewiston during its transformation. Those interested in small town histories, local politics, or all things Lewiston will want to own this book. Hodgkin gives us the best of meticulous attention to detail, insightful illustration choices, detailed endnotes, dozens of explanatory tables and an extensive index. Every Maine resident should read Frontier to Industrial City to understand the perils, hard work and dreams that have created Maine towns.
1. Topsham, Maine by Robert C. Williams: The riverside settlement that became Topsham, and was once the buffer between the wilderness and Brunswick, became a mill town and now a noted retirement location with a retail and commercial center rivals surrounding municipalities. Robert C. Williams brings the people of Topsham—yesterday’s and today’s—to us in this very readable history of Topsham
2. Lovewell’s Town by Robert Williams: Visit Lovell, Maine and travel in time through the years! Read this book and follow the settlement from the survey of the Merrimack River in 1652 through the famous battle at Pequawket in 1725 to the current struggle between the forces of development and preservation. Williams haunted local archives, as well as state archive collections of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hampshire to produce this comprehensive history of Lovell, Maine. The writing is enlivened by current and historical photos and illustrations. For the historical researcher Williams has added a very thorough index.
3. Lewiston, Maine by Douglas Hodgkins: Lewiston—Its history, location, people and industry—all serve as an example of small riverside settlements that grew into industrial cities over the course of a century early in our country's history. Douglas Hodgkin presents a spectacular array of information in a very readable form. From school--s, to factories, to founding families, to all the minutiae that create a town—Frontier to Industrial City provides a clear picture of the many facets of Lewiston during its transformation. Those interested in small town histories, local politics, or all things Lewiston will want to own this book. Hodgkin gives us the best of meticulous attention to detail, insightful illustration choices, detailed endnotes, dozens of explanatory tables and an extensive index. Every Maine resident should read Frontier to Industrial City to understand the perils, hard work and dreams that have created Maine towns.
4. The Remembrances of Marietta Lufford and A Daughter of Francis Martin by Virginia Chute: These two books follow little known Maine characters through the vicissitudes of life. Hardscrabble life in a world where women were little valued, you’ll want these women to succeed. Immerse yourself in 17th Century New England with either of these deftly written books. With the Remembrances of Marietta Lufford enjoy accurate 17th Century historical detail on both sides of the Atlantic.
5. Driftwood from Popham Sands by Edith Owen: After her mother’s and sister’s death, Edith completed the work they had begun decades ago using preserved original documents, pictures and heirlooms. History buffs surely will enjoy the product of these three women's work. Here in your hand is a quilt of recollections illuminated by fine old photographs.
6. The Seaside House by Trish Mason: Read this unique and fascinating narrative of the Gooch family as they settle in Colonial Maine. Follow them as they continue into the 21st Century. The family purchased an innkeeping business that continues today and is operated by a member of the current generation of Gooches. Through perseverance, back-breaking work, bravery and sometimes luck—the family beat the odds and held onto the their land for centuries. The Seaside House tells of trials and triumphs each of these generations encounter while providing for the family. The rich characters will entertain and astound readers with their adventures and struggles. Enjoy them coming to life in the extraordinary events that shaped their lives and offers glimpses of Maine's history.
7. Mainely People by Paul T. Cunningham: Read about and see Maine people at their finest—everyday hard at work, ready to lend a hand and creating a better world—right here at home in Maine. Maine-ly People by Paul Cunningham features stories and photos chosen from his nearly two decades of photojournalism at the The Times Record in Brunswick from 1990-2008. Some of these photos and stories were published in that paper and others are from Cunningham’s collection.
8. Coming Home trilogy by Robert M. Chute: This trilogy Coming Home, Return to Sender and Roadside Rest, chronicles many of the same quirky characters and much of the landmarks in this mystery set in post Korean War rural Maine. Enjoy these tales as they takes you around the world and back to Maine with nonstop action revealed through Chute's prose—that like, his poetry, is, "careful language, precise, with a sparse beauty."
9. Building a Viking Ship in Maine by Paul T. Cunningham: In 1996, professional photographer Paul Cunningham made the long drive down a narrow peninsula and onto Hermit Island in Phippsburg, Maine, to the boatshop of Rob Stevens to record the building of a Viking knarr later christened Snorri. Throughout the seven-month process, Cunningham revisited the site many times, curiosity having gotten the better of him. Cunningham's photos, taken with decades of journalism experience, say volumes about the ingenuity, skill and patience of a small band of boat builders who, out of wood and iron, created a sea-worthy vessel, the likes of which had not been seen in the light of day for a thousand years.
10. Excuse for Being Here by Robert M. Chute: This book by Robert M. Chute serves three purposes. It is first a collection of poems by Robert M. Chute. Secondly these poems are about Thoreau, written as if they were written by Thoreau or are written in reaction to something in Thoreau’s known history, actions or character. Last, this book serves as a rough memoir of Robert M. Chute, an award-winning poet who is also a scientist.
5. Driftwood from Popham Sands by Edith Owen: After her mother’s and sister’s death, Edith completed the work they had begun decades ago using preserved original documents, pictures and heirlooms. History buffs surely will enjoy the product of these three women's work. Here in your hand is a quilt of recollections illuminated by fine old photographs.
6. The Seaside House by Trish Mason: Read this unique and fascinating narrative of the Gooch family as they settle in Colonial Maine. Follow them as they continue into the 21st Century. The family purchased an innkeeping business that continues today and is operated by a member of the current generation of Gooches. Through perseverance, back-breaking work, bravery and sometimes luck—the family beat the odds and held onto the their land for centuries. The Seaside House tells of trials and triumphs each of these generations encounter while providing for the family. The rich characters will entertain and astound readers with their adventures and struggles. Enjoy them coming to life in the extraordinary events that shaped their lives and offers glimpses of Maine's history.
7. Mainely People by Paul T. Cunningham: Read about and see Maine people at their finest—everyday hard at work, ready to lend a hand and creating a better world—right here at home in Maine. Maine-ly People by Paul Cunningham features stories and photos chosen from his nearly two decades of photojournalism at the The Times Record in Brunswick from 1990-2008. Some of these photos and stories were published in that paper and others are from Cunningham’s collection.
8. Coming Home trilogy by Robert M. Chute: This trilogy Coming Home, Return to Sender and Roadside Rest, chronicles many of the same quirky characters and much of the landmarks in this mystery set in post Korean War rural Maine. Enjoy these tales as they takes you around the world and back to Maine with nonstop action revealed through Chute's prose—that like, his poetry, is, "careful language, precise, with a sparse beauty."
9. Building a Viking Ship in Maine by Paul T. Cunningham: In 1996, professional photographer Paul Cunningham made the long drive down a narrow peninsula and onto Hermit Island in Phippsburg, Maine, to the boatshop of Rob Stevens to record the building of a Viking knarr later christened Snorri. Throughout the seven-month process, Cunningham revisited the site many times, curiosity having gotten the better of him. Cunningham's photos, taken with decades of journalism experience, say volumes about the ingenuity, skill and patience of a small band of boat builders who, out of wood and iron, created a sea-worthy vessel, the likes of which had not been seen in the light of day for a thousand years.
10. Excuse for Being Here by Robert M. Chute: This book by Robert M. Chute serves three purposes. It is first a collection of poems by Robert M. Chute. Secondly these poems are about Thoreau, written as if they were written by Thoreau or are written in reaction to something in Thoreau’s known history, actions or character. Last, this book serves as a rough memoir of Robert M. Chute, an award-winning poet who is also a scientist.
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