Magoon, George, 1851-1929

Scope and Contents From the Record Group: Material collected by Maine Folklife Center (MFC) and Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History (NAFOH) founder Edward D. “Sandy” Ives or about him (for the latter, also see NA1636, NA2290, NA2301, NA2312, NA2390, NA2539). This record group includes Ives’s other interviews, folklore collections, and miscellaneous accessions include several that focus on moose poacher George Magoon (George Magood and the Down East Game War: History, Folklore, and the Law. Urbana: University...

Abstract 0093 Brewer Andrews and Mr. Victor Archer, Mrs. Hazel Archer (Crawford, Maine), interviewed by Kathleen Church for Intro to Folklore at UMaine, May 5, 1967 and April 30, 1967 (respectively), Princeton, Maine. Accession consists of typed sheets and a tape recording containing local stories and poems. Andrews (first 3 minutes), Church’s uncle, age 52, was a potato and dairy farmer for 20 years and also a District Supervisor in the Washington County Soil and Water Conservation District. Also...

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1517 By Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 4, 1981, Crawford, Wesley, and Vienna, Maine. Descriptions of 37 slides of George Magoon’s grave; objects in possession of John and Alice Bacon; tombstones in Franklin Cemetery, North Vienna, Maine. Text: 4 pp. notes about the slides. Slides: S 1134 – S 1170 (Close up slide pictures of the tombs and stones).

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0418 Faunce Bryant and Clarence Berry, interviewed by Muriel Watts for CP 180, fall 1963, Crawford, Eastport, and Perry, Maine; Oak Bay, New Brunswick. Paper deals with George Magoon stories; Wilbur Day, poacher; bear stories; forerunner; haunted house; devil stories; ghost stories: headless ghost; jokes: latest Quoddy story; songs. Text: 49 pp. paper.

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1285 Frank S. Dowling, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, August 1979, Jacksonville, Maine. 18 pp. Tape: 2 hrs. w/ cat. Dowling, 90, talks about George Magoon and Wilbur Day; labor conditions along the Machias River; getting old; his own life and childhood. Text: catalog. Recording: mfc_na1285_t1356_01, mfc_na1285_t1356_02 [T 1356]. 2 hours

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1060 Gladis Mace interviewed by Nora Groce, July 30, 1976, Aurora, Maine. Notes on an unrecorded interview. Mace talks about growing up in Ellsworth, Maine; dropping out of high school; getting married in 1917; moving to Aurora, Maine; Mace’s Family Store; dances at Grange Hall; dancing lessons; Kitchen Breakdowns; George Magoon (known for poaching); and Calvin Graves (wanted for murder). Text: 3 pp. interview summary.

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0678 Harold Day, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 24, 1971, Wesley, Maine. Day discusses old times around Wesley; stories of George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: 66 pp. transcript with brief catalog. Recording: T 0385 - T 0386 1 hour

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0678 Harold Day, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 24, 1971, Wesley, Maine. Day discusses old times around Wesley; stories of George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: 68 pp. transcript with brief catalog. Recording: mfc_na0678_na0679_t0386_01, mfc_na0678_na0679_t0386_02, mfc_na0678_t0385_01, mfc_na0678_t0385_02 [T 0385 - T 0386]. 1 hour

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0679 Harold Stuart, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives on July 27, 1971 in Machias, Maine. Interview with Harold Stuart about life in the lumber woods along the Union and Machias Rivers; work in lumber mills; stories about George Magoon, and Wilbur Day, poachers, and Calvin Graves. Text: 72 pp. transcript. Recording: T 0386 - T 0388 / CD 2052 - CD 2054 2 hours

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0679 Harold Stuart, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives on July 27, 1971, in Machias, Maine. Interview with Harold Stuart about life in the lumber woods along the Union and Machias Rivers; work in lumber mills; stories about George Magoon, and Wilbur Day, poachers, and Calvin Graves. Text: 72 pp. transcript. Recording: mfc_na0679_na0680_t0388_01, mfc_na0679_na0680_t0388_02, mfc_na0679_t0387_01, mfc_na0679_t0387_02 [T 0386 - T 0387 / CD 2052 - CD 2054]. 2 hours

Abstract 1059 Herbert Hanscom, Sr., interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 3, 1976, at Hanscom’s home in Machias, Maine. Hanscom talks about life on the river drives and in the woods; hunting; poaching; George Magoon; Wilbur Day; poachers; the scene of logging from the mills up into Machias along East Machias, Big Machias, and Middle River; hunting with dogs to catch deer and bear; working on a shipyard. Also present: Barbara Hunter, a UMaine student. Text: 6 pp. catalog Recording:...

Abstract 1059 Herbert Hanscom, Sr., interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 3, 1976, at Hanscom’s home in Machias, Maine. Hanscom talks about life on the river drives and in the woods; hunting; poaching; George Magoon; Wilbur Day; poachers; the scene of logging from the mills up into Machias along East Machias, Big Machias, and Middle River; hunting with dogs to catch deer and bear; working on a shipyard. Also present: Barbara Hunter, a UMaine student. Text: 6 pp. catalog. Recording:...

Abstract 1490 John Dudley, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 20, 1981, at Dudley’s home in Alexander, Maine. Dudley talks of his time as a judge in Washington County and the stories from the time: a George Magoon and Wilbur Day story; stories of game wardens’ trials; illegal possession of game; deer jacking; night hunting; mischief towards game wardens for play; ghost story; his experience on the bench mostly as Calais Municipal Court. Also present: Jane Dudley, his wife. Text: 10 pp....

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1279 Lewis Lund, Jr., interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 1979, Bar Harbor, Maine. 13 pp. Tape: 3/4 hr. w/ cat. Lund talks about George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: catalog. Recording: T 1346 3/4 hour

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1279 Lewis Lund, Jr., interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 1979, Bar Harbor, Maine. Lund talks about George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: 10 pp. catalog. Recording: mfc_na1279_t1346_01, mfc_na1279_t1346_02 [T 1346] 45 minutes

Abstract 1909 Maurice Berry, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 11, 1986, East Machias, Maine. Berry talks about his experiences working in the woods along the Machias River; his father’s cork boots; use of water carts to keep roads iced; stories of Wilbur Day; description of a staddle of hay; woods camp recreation; peeling hemlock; working the water cart; skidding roads; pisaghees and Johnny-jump-ups; how Blasphemy Swamp got its name; and stories about George Magoon. Also included:...

Abstract 1926 Maxwell E. Gray, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 19, 1986, Machias, Maine. Gray discusses working in the woods and river-driving along the Machias; moving logs on a frozen lake; cutting logs as best or only work during the Great Depression; earning extra money through poaching; walking to the start of the drive; camping in bush wickets; capstan rafts; temporary rafts; moving logs down Machias Lakes; water as a power source; and dangerous spots of water. Plus 4 pp. story about...

Abstract 1926 Maxwell E. Gray, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, May 19, 1986, Machias, Maine. Gray discusses working in the woods and river-driving along the Machias; moving logs on a frozen lake; cutting logs as best or only work during the Great Depression; earning extra money through poaching; walking to the start of the drive; camping in bush wickets; capstan rafts; temporary rafts; moving logs down Machias Lakes; water as a power source; and dangerous spots of water. Plus 4 pp. story...

Abstract 0236 Milledge Lewis, Margaret Hallett and Paul Morrison, interviewed by Pauline Lewis for CP180, fall 1963, Lubec, Maine. Student project titled “Lubec Folklore.” Lewis sings songs, telling stories, and reciting poems, recorded November 17, 1963 (01). Songs and poems by Lewis include a number of satirical pieces written about local people as well as ballads and old minstrel and vaudeville songs, including "Young Charlotte," "Lather and Shave," "Tim Finnegan's Wake," "The Funniest Thing's a...

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1283 Orris McKeown, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, July 1979, Alexander, Pleasant Lake, Maine. 13 pp. Tape: 1 hr. w/ cat. McKeown talks about his grandfather, George Magoon, and about Wilbur Day. Text: catalog. Recording: mfc_na1283_t1328_01 [T 1328]. 1 hour

Abstract 1906 Orris W. McKeown, interviewed by Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, March 9, 1989, Alexander, Maine. McKeown talks about the winter in the late 1920s he worked on a logging road; keeping the main road clear; construction of woods camp; lack of local men; process of making roads; branch roads and main roads; how to skid a rock and skid a turn; good food fed to workers; tools used to maintain the roads; Wilbur Day; and George Magoon, his grandfather. Text: 23 pp. transcript. Recording: T 1924 45...

Abstract 0323 Robert N. Golding, interviewed by Virginia Pottle for CP 180, fall 1963, Perry, Maine. Accession consists of two tapes that are composites of an earlier recording made in 1960 and 1961; a biographical sketch of the narrator; a catalog of the contents; and a transcript. Golding, Pottle’s father, a hunter, fisherman, farmer, guide, and master storyteller, tells tall tales (oxen, sheep dog that could count, fishing); jokes (reckless driver, boardinghouse fare, wives, mother-in-law, drunks,...

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0061 Various, interviewed by Etta Clark for CP 180, fall 1963, East Machias, Maine. Paper deals legends; devil; phantom ship; babes on doorstep; place names; treasure; deaths; poems; jokes and anecdotes; legends; George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers; tall tales; folksongs; Miramichi fire; haunted house; the Lubec gold swindle. Text: 112 pp. manuscript

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0028 Various, interviewed by James Burns for CP 180, summer 1964, Dexter, New Sharon, and Garland, Maine. Informants include Emery Fletcher, George Porter, Carroll Ellsmore, Richard "Dick" Barstow, Emma Bentley, Rodney A. Young, and Ila (Young) Burns. Paper deals with anecdotes and humorous tales; folk heroes; legends; belief tale; witch tales; short woods song; stories about George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: 82 pp. paper

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0656 Various, interviewed by Joan Becich for FO 107, summer 1971, Machias Valley, Maine. Journal deals with interviewing about George Magoon and Wilbur Day, legendary poachers. Text: 16 pp. journal

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0675 Various, interviewed by Karen Grieneeks, Joan Becich, and Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, for FO 107, summer 1971, Wesley, Crawford, Machias, and Hermon, Maine. A journal of collecting work done by Karen Grieneeks, Joan Becich, and Edward D. “Sandy” Ives on the subject of George Magoon and Wilbur Day, poachers. Text: 22 pp. journal

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0364 Various, interviewed by Mabel Small for CP 180, fall 1963, Machias, East Machias, Starboard Creek, and Buck’s Harbor, Maine. Informants include Vassar Quimby, Carroll Armstrong, John Hayward, Florence Libby, Theresa Dunbar, and Capt. Nelson Proctor. Paper deals with ghost; forerunner; table tipping; devil; jokes; anecdotes: Pat & Mike; Wilbur Day and George Magoon, poachers; tall tale; stories of Capt. Nelson Proctor; songs; poem. Text: 70 pp. paper

Abstract 0403 Various, interviewed by William Townsend for CP 133, fall 1966, Calais, Maine, St. Stephen, Chamcook, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick. Those interviewed include Mr. and Mrs. Winfield Harmon, Joseph Bothwick, Dexter Thomas, Edith Beckett, Mrs. Gibson, Thomas McCullough, Annie Townsend, and John Townsend. Harmon, interviewed November 22, 1966, talks about stories of legendary woodsmen and poachers George Magoon, Frank Ellsmore, and Wilbur Day. Bothwick, Thomas, Beckett, the Harmons,...

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1723 William S. Silsby, Sr., Edward D. “Sandy” Ives, fall 1983. Maine: Ellsworth. 9 pp. Tape: 1 hr. w/ partial cat. Silsby talks about his memories of George Magoon and family, and Wilbur Day. Text: 6 pp. catalog. Recording: mfc_na1723_t1842_01, mfc_na1723_t1842_02 [T 1842]. 1 hour