Biddeford (Me.) -- History

Scope and Contents

An album belonging to Therese Drapeau and commemorating her days as a student at St. Joseph's High School in Biddeford, Maine. The album contains photographs and name cards of students, autographs, and an invitation to the graduation ceremony at the high school.

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A series of six letters recounting the local history of Biddeford and Saco published in the Saco Democrat in August 1847. The letters were signed by "O. K." John Fairfield pasted the letters into a pocket notebook and presented them to his wife.

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1228 Frank Handlen, interviewed by Joyce Butler, September 9, 1977, Kennebunkport, Maine. Handlen discusses his experience of the 1947 wildfires in the Biddeford – Kennebunkport area; sight of the smoke; fire coming through and description of it; a man who saved his house; lack of organized firefighting; fire lingering in a bog and loss of trees; how Goose Rocks burned; and a house that was spared.

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A daily diary recording activities of Frank P. Gillespie, possibly of Biddeford, Maine. Entries pertain to cutting and selling wood, selling sawdust, building roads, growing and harvesting potatoes, etc. Also included are observations about the weather and entries detailing visits with friends, most notably Rosa A. Dow. The diary also contains information about Gillespie's purchases and wages for the year.

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Daybook recording purchases at a general store apparently owned by Charles F. Gould in Biddeford, Maine. The volume records purchases by customers of items such as wood, lime, tobacco, tea, pepper, etc.

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Includes journals, ledgers, time and payroll books, and scrapbooks. Also included is a copy of Hiatt's expert lumber pricer published in 1925.

Abstract Correspondence, 1860-1865, among members of the Knight family of Biddeford, Maine. Includes letters to Albert E. Knight while he was a student at the Maine State Seminary (now Bates College) primarily from his brother Daniel Knight, writing from Fairfield, Wayne Co., Illinois. The letters are filled with family news and advice on how Albert should behave while at school and at home. Also contains letters to Samuel D. (Dow) Knight from his brothers Albert and Mendal while they were serving in...

Abstract 1231 Mabel Emery and Ruth Gobeil, interviewed by Joyce Butler, August 31, 1977, Kennebunk, Maine. Emery and daughter Gobeil discuss the fires of 1947 in the Biddeford-Kennebunk area; approach of the fire near their home; trying to save possessions; explosion of their house; fire at Goose Rocks and surviving it by staying in the ocean; inability to understand why their house burned when neighbors’ homes did not; Ruth’s work at a telephone switchboard during the fire; and rebuilding. Text: 14...

Scope and Contents

A daily diary for 1896 of Simon Mitchell of Biddeford, Maine. The volume contains sporadic entries mostly commenting on the weather as well as Mitchell's daily activities.