Gazetteer of the State of Maine With Numerous Illustrations, by Geo. J. Varney
BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY B. B. RUSSELL, 57 CORNHILL. 1882. Public domain image from
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FREEPORT.
Franklin County, 15 miles north-west of Farmington. It is bounded on the north by Kingfield and Salem, east by New Portland, south by Strong and New Vineyard, and west by Phillips and Salem. Its area is 17,000 acres. The surface is much broken by bills, but the soil is fertile, though hard to cultivate. Freeman Ridge, occupying a large portion of the northern part of the town, is said to be the best for till- age. The middle and southern part of the town is drained by a branch of Sandy River, and across the northern part flows Curvo Stream, the southern branch of Seven Mile Brook. Freeman and West Freeman are the post-offices. There are saw-mills at Freeman, West and North Freeman.
Freeman is the westerly of two townships granted by the State of Massachusetts to the sufferers of Falmouth (now Portland) in the burning of the town by the British during the Revolutionary War. It was surveyed and settled under the agency of Reuben Hill about 1797. William Brackly, David Hooper, Alexander Fasset, Samuel Wey- mouth, and Messrs. Burbank, Morton and Boston were among the first settlers. The township was No. 3, in 2d Range, and when first settled took the name of Little River Plantation. It was incorporated in 1803, taking its name from Samuel Freeman, of Portland, who was one of the principal owners at the time of settlement.
The Methodists have a church at Freeman Village, and the Free Baptists at West Freeman. There are ten public schoolhouses in the town, and the school property is valued at $2,400. The valuation of estates in 1870 wras $146,090. In 1880 it was 140,269. The population in 1870 was 608. In 1880 it was 549.
Freeport is situated in the eastern part of Cumberland County, and at the north-eastern extremity of Casco Bay. Brunswick bounds it on the east, Pownal on the north, the latter and Yarmouth on the west, and Casco Bay on the south. Cousins River forms the dividing line between Freeport and Yarmouth for about half the dis- tance of their boundary. The Maine Central Railroad runs through the town, having a station at Freeport Corner, 17 miles from Portland. Other business centres are South Freeport, Mast Landing and Porters Landing. The surface of the town is varied, with but moderate eleva- tions and depressions. The soil is chiefly clay loam, and generally productive. The largest crops are hay and potatoes. Harraseeket River is the principal stream. The long basin at its mouth constitutes a harbor navigable by large vessels, and its openness through the year is supposed to have given the town its name of Freeport. This harbor is formed by Wolfs and Mitchells necks. Flying Point forms the south-eastern angle of the town. There are upwards of a dozen islands within the corporate limits. The largest of these are Bustins, Silver, Lanses, French, and Cab islands.
The manufactures are ships and boats, shoes, clothing, harnesses, canned food, etc. The shipbuilding points are Mast Landing, Porters Landing and South Freeport. Freeport Corner is a pleasant village, with elm-shaded streets and several elegant residences. Most of the houses have ample grounds, and some ornamental shrubbery. Orchards, with fine old as well as young trees, and choice fruit, are a feature of the village. The Pownal and South Freeport roads continue these attractions, and afford agreeable drives.
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