A Comment about The Maine Spirit Blog

Historians and horse lovers owe a great debt of gratitude to Stephen Thompson for his thorough and fascinating survey of Maine’s tie to the magnificent beast that, in both work and sport, was a principal means of tying this vast state together in the long era before the automobile. Water Village, my history of Waterville, only touches on the horse, most particularly the astonishing creature named Nelson. Thompson’s work reveals the full tale of the impact of these beloved animals in this area, and in celebration of the horse, future generations will be grateful to know a story that otherwise might have been lost in the mists of time. -- Earl Smith, Dean of College, Emeritus, Colby College

Friday, August 7, 2020

The Possibility of Creating Stories with 18th and 19th Century Maps

 This post will be similar to many posts that utilize maps to help you to explore the history of Maine. In this post you are introduced to Mitchell's 1839 Travel Reference Map of the United States. The map is accompanied by a book that provides an overview of each state and a listing of the state's stage coach routes. You can explore and follow the stage coach routes that were also tied to the delivery of mail throughout the United States. You can also conduct Google Searches to research the history of Maine towns and historic events from 1839 onward.  Remember to enlarge the page storyboards for easier reading. On the larger map of Maine, right click with your mouse on the image and open in a new tab. This will allow you to enlarge the map more than just clicking on the storyboard.






Saturday, June 6, 2020

A Presentation: The Lost Trotting Parks of Kennebec County & The Story of Winthrop Messenger -- A ZOOM Presentation sponsored by the Winthrop Historical Society

The Maine Spirit and the Horse
Part of Lost Trotting Parks' Maine 200 Initiative




If other organizations would like to consider a ZOOM Presentation, please contact Stephen Thompson by e-mail -- themainespirit@gmail.com.

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Understanding the Development of the State of Maine from Maps and Historic Timelines of the State of Maine



Exploring the Development of Maine
through Maps and Historic Timelines

Banners will be developed for the ten panels on top of the bedsides of a 67 Chevy C-10 Pickup. This pickup was the last truck my father, Keith M. Thompson, purchased when he farmed with his father, Arthur L. Thompson and his two brothers, Colby Thompson and Curtis Thompson. A frame was created for each bedside that include two hinged panels. Three banners will present map images of the State of Maine from 1615 to present day.Online Historic Timelines will provide context for each map. Students and people from other age ranges can explore the development over time of towns as they developed along the rivers of Maine. Primary rivers include Sagadahoc River, Kennebec River, Androscoggin River, and the Penobscot River.











Links to Maine History -- Resources from the State of Maine






Maine History Links

This post on the Maine Spirit of the Horse provides readers with links to historical content. The links fall under the following Categories:

Historical Societies, Historic Sites, Maine State Museums and Archives, Maine History - General, Maine Native American History, Maine History -- Government Officials, 1820 to Present, Maine History - Military/Civil War, Top Online Services and Related Agencies

Click the Link Below:

Monday, May 25, 2020

The Journey Begins Here -- The Maine Spirit Map Initiative

Throughout the next sixteen months, The Maine Spirit Map Initiative will encourage Maine people of all ages to explore the history exhibit through the changing maps that include what has become the State of Maine from 1615 up to present day.


Right click with your mouse and open in a new tab that will allow you to magnify this storyboard.

Friday, May 22, 2020

The Winthrop Historical Society Replaces the Winthrop Messenger Monument in Winthrop

Several years ago Clark P. Thompson of Bangor published the book, Maine's Trotting Horse Heritage Trail. For each subject in the book, Clark placed an inscribed granite monument in an appropriate location. Two years ago the monument was scooped up by a snow bucket and was lost. Last year the Winthrop Historical Society replaced the monument. A Great Thank You to the Winthrop Historical Society for keep a piece a Maine's Trotting Horse History. 



Recently I read an article stating that Winthrop Messenger was returned to Dixfield where he died. Just might be more to the story!

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

The Maine Spirit Map Initiative -- Early Maps of the land that became the State of Maine and Communities with trotting parks

The Lost Trotting Parks Maine Spirit Initiative will include maps beginning in 1615 through 1820. Through these maps viewers can see how cartographers visualized the land that became the State of Maine. A special focus will feature the rivers of Maine and 19th century atlas maps that show the location of trotting parks in Maine communities.

This map represents what will be displayed at live exhibitions. Unfortunately you can not read the text due to low resolution.

This map was downloaded from the archives of the Library of Congress.

Monday, May 18, 2020

The Maine's Spirit Map Initiative -- The Rivers of Maine and 19th Century Maine Atlas Images of the Lost Trotting Parks of Maine

The Lost Trotting Parks' Maine Spirit of the Horse Initiative calls for the development of banners that will display the following: 1: The development of  maps starting in the 18th century that include what becomes the State of Maine and 2. 19th Century Maine Atlas Maps that include Lost Trotting Parks.



Saturday, May 16, 2020

The Maine Spirit and the Horse -- Caring for Horses in Cushing, Maine

Today Libby and I drove from Hallowell to Union to Cushing to Port Clyde to Clark Island to Spuce Head to Owls Head and finally to Rockland up Route 17 to Augusta. Throughout our drive we saw several horse farms. When we were walking up a road and to the parking lot where our car was, we stopped and talked with three women who were caring for two horses. This is an example of what happens throughout the State of Maine -- From those in the harness racing industry, to other horse competitions, or to those who just love horses.




Monday, May 11, 2020

A Challenge! Ties to Maine -- A Horse and A Woman's Will -- Please Explain!



If you can identify this track/fairground and its location, you may be able to discover with some research the name of the horse, the question of the will and the well, the story of the men in the family moving West to seek fortune and opportunities, and identifying the Maine Connection!


Thursday, May 7, 2020

Discovering Merrill, son of Nelson 4209 -- Damariscotta, Maine

Today, Libby and I took a day trip from Hallowell to South Bristol, Bristol and Pemaquid. To arrive at our destinations we were required to drive through Damariscotta. It was on the way back to Hallowell that we drove by the location that once was home to Damariscotta's fairground and trotting park. We drove from Damariscotta the back way to Damariscotta Mills, The pacer, Merrill, was owned by Fred J. Merrill who lived in Damariscotta, and when the pacer, Merrill, retired, he was placed on a property in Damariscotta Mill.s The image below was created by artist, A.W. Treat. In the background you will see a church. In 2010 when I researched Merrill and the image of Merrill, I attempted to locate the property with the church as a reference. My attempts may have found the correct location, but I doubt it. The painting/image was last known to be in the possession of Fred Merrill's descendants. I always thought it would be wonderful if the painting could be located.


Links to the Lost Trotting Parks Archives Posts on Merrill




Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The All-Heart Campaign -- Profiles of the Men and Women in the Sport of Harness Racing

The All-Heart Campaign was the creation of Laurie Ballard MacKenzie. Laurie's campaign attracted members in Maine's Harness Racing Community to become involved in their personal profiles that included their stories and selected photos. I help Laurie in the All-Heart Campaign. I loved the challenges, the work and the end products. Follow the link below the storyboards to the All-Heart Campaign.



The Link to the All-Heart Campaign


Telling Your Story: Letting Others Know How Your Life/Work in Harness Racing and with Standardbred Horses has Impacted You, Your Life & Your Family -- Plus the Story of Obrigado



Stories are often never told and if told often forgotten. Memoir writing or telling your stories through writing ensures that your time in the sport of harness racing will be remembered.


To Members of Maine's Harness Racing Community:

The Maine Spirit of the Horse Initiative seeks members of the Maine Harness Racing Community who would be willing to share their memories by sharing their stories. You can tell the stories of how you got involved in harness racing, what motivated you, your best memories, your greatest challenges, and friendships with others over the years. 

If motivated, how would you do this?


Here are some suggestions?

1.Create an outline of what you would like to write. The outline would create a list of topics. These topics would become your writing prompts. Beneath each topic, write a story related to that topic. When done, move onto the next topic.

2. There is a link on losttrottingparks.com called 'Send Stories.' This link lead you to two options. Option One is 'Stories of the Turf.' and Option Two is 'Stories of the Maine Sire Stakes."

Stories of the Turf allows you to write your story with writing prompts or to input your story into a text box,attached a photo

Stories of the Maine Sire Stakes allows you to input your story and attach a photo.

My suggestion is to write your stories in MS Word or another text input program that would then allow you to copy and paste your text into the prompt text boxes or into the large Text Box, enter your story here.

Your link to Stories of the Turf:


Your link to Stories of the Maine Sire Stakes:


Here might be the simplest suggestion, write your story including a title, attached image and your name to the following e-mail address. 


These stories will become the content of a special issue of S.Dexter's Maine Spirit of the Turf.

-- A Story Told -- A Horse Not to be Forgotten --