NEUTRAL

Thomaston Historical Timeline

Thomaston, United States

1605 Capt. Geo. Waymouth explores and names the St. Georges River 1630 To trade with Indians native to area post built near Wadsworth St. Bridge 1692 St. Georges River is boundary between the French and English territories 1719 Two blockhouses built at foot of Knox Street as first settlement known as Lincoln 1734 1st lime kiln built 1754 1st log schoolhouse on Bank between Knox and Wadsworth Streets 1762 Oliver Robbins builds 1st wood framed dwelling 1763 Mason Wheaton arrives with new settlers. Becomes a leader in the early development of Thomaston 1776 War of Independence begins 1777 Town of Thomaston incorporated 1787 First recorded vessel built in Thomaston by Capt. Elisha Snow for lime transport 1795 Maj.-Gen. Henry Knox, 1st Secretary of War, settles at his estate, “Montpelier” 1st Post Office est., at Mill River 1796 Congregational Mtg. House built on High St. 1800 1st Social Library est. 1803 Thomaston Mall est. 1805 1st Thomaston Free Masonry Lodge est. 1812 Commitee [sic] of Safety est. for War of 1812 1818 St. Georges River toll bridge built on Wadsworth St., eliminating ferry 1820 Maine separates from Massachusetts, becomes Free State as part of Missouri Compromise 1824 Maine State Prison built in Thomaston 1825 Thomaston Bank est. Thomaston Register, 1st newspaper 1827 Smallpox Hospital built on Simonton Point First Fire Co. inc. 1828 Original Knox Hotel built First sidewalks built of yellow pine Mall is ploughed, leveled and bordered with elms 1836 Elm Grove Cemetery incorporated U.S. Senator John Ruggles granted Patent No.1 1838 U.S. Representative Jonathan Cilley killed in duel 1839 Navigational beacon placed at Great Bend in the River 1847 Significant expansion of shipyards occurs along the waterfront 1848 Thomaston Academy est. Thomaston votes to devide [sic] into three towns Thomaston, S. Thomaston and E. Thomaston (Rockland) 1st telegraph communication est. 1851 A block of Thomaston Black Marble sent for Washington Monument inscribed “From the home of Knox by Citizens of Thomaston Maine” 1852 Carr & O’Brien Block built at upper corner of Main and Wadsworth Georges Bank incorp. with capital of $50,000 1860 Knox County incorp. from a division of Lincoln County 1861-1865 Civil War; J.P. Crilley forms Company B of 1st Maine Calvary [sic], 329 enlist from Thomaston area 1865 History of Thomaston by Cyrus Eaton, published 1870 Thomaston becomes major shipbuilder for world trade, launching more than 670 wooden ships between 1784 & 1921 1871 Montpelier razed for Knox and Lincoln Railroad 1880 Town is one of the wealthiest in the nation due to shipbuilding and world commerce 1890 Capt. Samuel Watts presents Watts Hall to community 1903 Washington B. Thomas, is largest schooner built in Thomaston, 2693 tons 1915 Watts Hall rebuilt after fire 1917 World War 1 mine sweepers built in Thomaston 1920 Edna Hoyt, last five masted schooner built in U.S. 1923 Maine State Prison burns to ground 1926 Dragon Cement plant built 1930 Montpelier reconstructed on High Street 1937 Reine Marie Stewart, last of the old Thomaston ships, towed away 1941-1945 Mine sweepers constructed for WWII effort 1954 USS Thomaston LSD-28 commissioned as first of eight “Thomaston Class” of ships 1961 Town purchases property for public landing 1974 Thomaston Historical Society opens Knox Farmhouse 1975 USS Elliot DD967 christened for Thomaston resident and hero, LCDR. Arthur James Elliot 1977 Town Bicentennial Time Capsule buried in Mall 1985 US Postal stamp honors Gen. Henry Knox 2000 Mayo Park est. at Town Landing 2002 Maine State Prison razed Museum in Streets est. 2005 Town purchases state prison site

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