The Maine 200 Banner, Souvenir of Waterville, & The Elmwood Hotel -- A Waterville Mainstay beginning in the 19th Century -- Including a Link to the History of Waterville

The Elmwood Hotel for many years was the home of C.H. Nelson and his wife Emma. The hotel over the years attracted many quests doing business in Waterville. There are postcards and other images of the outside of the building, but very few of the interior. One missing item is the hotel's register that includes guests both from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

The challenge is to locate the Elmwood Hotel's Registry. Were the registries saved by the owners over the years, thrown away, or just left in the building when it was torn down.

Click the link below to view the Timeline of Waterville, Maine from 1809 to 1988

https://watervillemaine.net/history-genealogy/4-waterville-timeline-1809-to-1988

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The History of Waterville, Maine

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https://archive.org/details/centennialhistor00whitin/page/4/mode/2up

 

C.H. Nelson tells the story of his Champion Trotting Stallion, Nelson 4209 (1882 - 1909)

 

Maine's Connection to Lady Thorn -- A Recent Donation to the Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center

Often we look at 19th century lithographs and we recognize that horses that are subjects of lithographs are generally the famous horses of their time. This lithograph has a special connection to the State of Maine. Open the text storyboards by right clicking on the storyboard and opening in a new tab to enlarge the storyboard.

Donated by Christian Wade

Downloaded from the National Archives by Peter Stowell

 

A Maine 200 Banner -- The Old Pioneer - Warren Alonzo Long -- Moved from Conway, NH to Limestone, ME in the 1860s

This Maine 200 Banner describes the life and accomplishment of Warren Long who wrote the poem, The Old Pioneer. It has been said that he was the first farmer in Aroostook County to raise 100 acres of potatoes. He was also a gifted carpenter who built homes and business buildings in Limestone. Maine. Warren Alonzo Long was my grandmother, Laila Susan Long Thompson, who was born in the first home that Long built. 

As you read the content of this banner, take time and bring to mind the stories of your family. Often family stories are never told. If your curiosity regarding your family's history needs to be addressed. Talk to your family including your parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. There are stories to be told and precious memories to be remembered!

 

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Maine 200 Banner -- Finding Maine's Lost Trotting Parks -- from the 19th Century into the 20th Century

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This banner presents the names of communities throughout New England that supported trotting parks many beginning in the 19th century. The three pages from the Argus newspaper provides articles on the early trotting parks that existed in the greater Portland area. Around 1940 aerial photos were taken of the State of Maine. Many of the photos show the halos of the old trotting parks before the land was taken over by businesses, neighborhoods, forests, and sometimes schools. Through this banner individuals can create strategies for discovering the locations of lost trotting parks. 

Check out the Lost Trotting Parks Archives at http://losttrottingparks.blogspot.com 

Every Maine 200 Banner provides readers with content that will lead to additional research to gain a greater understanding of the history of harness racing and the Standardbred horse.

 

A Top View of the Maine Starting Gate Museum at the Cumberland Fair (2021)

 

The Maine Spirit & the Horse at the Topsham, Skowhegan, and Union Fairs (2021)