The Maine Spirit and the Horse: Merrill's Track -- West Gardiner -- Links to Additional Information -- A Google Maps Image of the Location

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

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Merrill's Track -- West Gardiner -- Links to Additional Information -- A Google Maps Image of the Location

The stories and images of Merrill's Park in West Gardiner was a process of meeting people, visiting Gardiner Library Archives and walking through a wood lot looking for cement posts. My thanks to Mert Hickey, Vernon Packard, Peter Stowell and the Gardiner Library's Historical Archives.

The Maine Spirit and the Horse website has been shared on several Facebook Groups. In a discussion of the post, Harness Racing on Ice in Limestone group members brought up harness racing on the Kennebec River, ponds, and a trotting park location off the Old Lewiston Road in West Gardiner.

Enjoy reviewing the links to posts on Merrill's Park and the images.