Freeport History
A Brief History of Freeport, Maine
Freeport’s Beginnings
Freeport’s early history is similar to other towns in our region. Freeport, Maine is in the ancestral land of the Abenaki Nation, part of the old Wabanaki Confederacy. The land’s natural resources and unique coastal geography made the area desirable—and a source of continued conflict as European colonization of the area began to take hold in the 1600s.
Colonist’s efforts to permanently settle in this area were continuously disrupted by clashes and a ninety-year period of successive Anglo-Wabanaki wars. Periods of peace or new treaties did little to ease the situation, as fundamental differences continued to intensify due to contrasting understandings of land rights and trade, as well as the decimation of indigenous populations from settler-introduced diseases. It wasn’t until after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 that English settlers from Massachusetts began moving into the area and establishing the town that we know now as Freeport.
Freeport was originally part of North Yarmouth, Massachusetts Bay Colony (Maine became a state in 1820). This North Yarmouth proprietary, which we now call ancient North Yarmouth in order to distinguish it from the present-day town of North Yarmouth, encompassed a large geographic area and was chartered in 1681. Because of the long distances to the only meeting house or church, remote settlements eventually petitioned to be set off and incorporated into independent towns, which Freeport was granted in 1789.
Small Villages, Big Impact
What began as disperse settlements turned into villages. Without reliable travel roads, initial settlements clung to the transportation highways of the day—waterways. Freeport’s coastal geography along this stretch of upper Casco Bay, with its deeply indented peninsulas that form the Harraseeket River, enabled settlement to form the maritime villages of Mast Landing, Porter’s Landing, and South Freeport. Today, these villages are part of the National Register’s Harraseeket Historic District.
Each played a unique role in establishing Freeport’s reputation for shipbuilding. At the head of the Harraseeket River, Mast Landing shipped timbers from nearby forests. The largest village, South Freeport, was able to sustain the most shipyards and workforce. Porter’s Landing not only had shipyards (the famous privateer the Dash was built here in 1812) but was also the town’s port, allowing regional goods to enter the global economy.
The inland village of Freeport Corner, now the heart of the village and the most visited part of Freeport, began as a crossroads in the town as early as 1770. The village continued to grow, especially after the Maine Central Railroad came through in 1849, and became a shoemaking center. Its manufacturing fate was set when industrialist E.B. Mallet, Jr. invested heavily in the town. His contributions were wide-ranging and paved the way for the subsequent manufacturing boom and consumer economy.
Visitors Welcome
Postcard of Freeport Square showing Nordica Theater & LL Bean and automobiles.
Improvements in transportation and a growing tourism industry spurred additional growth and commercial development to the town. Thanks to L.L. Bean, people often think of Freeport when they think of Maine. Bean first occupied the upper floors of the Warren Block, the site of the present retail store, before 1920. Bean was canny enough to build off of the town’s shoemaking infrastructure while understanding the importance of the automobile to the area and business possibilities of selling by catalogue.
With our Main Street designated as part of Route One in the 1920s, Freeport became an iconic destination for those visiting or traveling through Maine.
Today’s Freeport
Postcard of the Four Season Inn Trav-o-tel & Restaurant
Just as our communities adapt and change, Freeport’s history is as much about what happens today as it is what happened hundreds of years ago. The latter half of the twentieth century saw several periods of downturn and revitalization for the town, particularly the retail boom of the 1980s. George Denney was instrumental to Freeport’s revitalization during this modern era, not only with his generosity to the town but also his founding in 2001 of the Freeport Community Improvement Association. During these periods of transformation, the Freeport Historical Society was founded in 1969 to help share the stories and insights learned from past generations as well as advocate for the preservation of Freeport’s historic landscapes and buildings. While today’s Freeport may look different than the Freeport of the past, the power of our shared history is more relevant than ever before.
Main Street Historic District
Main Street Historic District Includes Our Very Own Harrington House!
45 Main Street, Freeport, Maine
An 1831 example of Transitional Greek Revival architecture was built by Enoch and Eliza Harrington.
It now holds the FHS exhibits and offices.
Plan Your Visit!
Exhibits
Collections & Research
Gift Shop
Harraseeket Historic District
What is the HHD?
The HHD is a precisely-defined area of Freeport which has been included in the National Register of Historic Places as a “Historic District.” In the words of the National Register of Historic Places, a Historic District “possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings, structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.”
In other words, a Historic District is a neighborhood, or series of neighborhoods, which can be tied together through common characteristics–including architectural style, historic period of occupation, ethnic affiliation, or occupational use.
What is Freeport Historical Society (FHS) doing?
While previous surveys took place in the 1970s and the 1990s, an updated survey was launched and completed in the mid-2010s to reflect both changes to the National Register registration process and the properties within the district.Some properties had been altered(becoming possibly ineligible for historic status), demolished, and/or new structures erected.
What is the Role of the Town of Freeport?
The Town of Freeport generously provided funding for the project. The results of the project are available to the Town Planner’s office and to the Town Council for the long-term planning in Freeport.
What are the Boundaries of the HHD?
The HHD covers some 3,000 acres in the area of Freeport surrounding the Harraseeket River. It includes the communities of South Freeport, Mast Landing and Porter’s Landing, as well as Staples Point and Wolfe’s Neck. A notable exclusion is Flying Point. The boundaries of the HHD were established in 1977, when the district was submitted to the National Register for inclusion, and are precise, discriminating between individual properties.
How were the boundaries of the HHD established?
FHS was responsible for establishing the boundaries of the district in 1977. The boundaries were chosen to create an area that met the criteria of the National Register, i.e. an area with unifying characteristics. In this case, the unifying feature of the district is the relationship with the Harraseeket River, whether that be through saltwater farming, brickmaking, the mast trade, or shipbuilding. Flying Point, for example, was considered a distinct community with a different history which could merit inclusion in a separate district.
What’s in a Historic District?
The National Register defines four categories of historic properties: buildings, structures, objects and sites.
A building, such as a house, barn, church, hotel, or similar construction, is created principally to shelter any form of human activity.
The term “structure” is used to distinguish from buildings those functional constructions made usually for purposes other than creating human shelter (e.g. fences, lighthouses, gazebos, grain silos).
The term “object” is used to distinguish from buildings and structures those constructions that are primarily artistic in nature or are relatively small in scale and simply constructed (e.g. monuments, statues, road signs)
A site is the location of a significant event, a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity, or a building or structure, whether standing, ruined, or vanished, where the location itself possesses historic, cultural, or archeological value regardless of the value of any existing structure (e.g. battlefield, cemetery, shipwreck, ruin).
For more information, see the National Register website.
I have an historic property in Freeport–Why isn’t it in the district?
The HHD is confined to a specific geographic area. Properties outside that area are not included in this update work. Freeport does contain one other historic district, the Upper Main Street Historic District, which covers a small portion of Main Street. In addition, FHS did undertake a survey of all historic structures in Freeport in 1973-4, which is available at the FHS archives for viewing. A number of properties in Freeport are included on the National Register without being in either Historic District.
Are you planning to enlarge the district? Or create new historic districts in the future?
Perhaps. One of the purposes of the update is to consider both the period of significance and the areas of significance for the district (currently defined as 18th-19th century shipbuilding, mast trade and agriculture). The results of this update work will allow us to determine whether enlargement (or even contraction) of the HHD is appropriate. It is also possible that we might decide to create additional Historic Districts in the future, or undertake a general update to our survey of historic properties in Freeport. However, there are no firm plans to do so at this time.
How can I help?
You can assist in the HHD update in a number of ways. For residents of the HHD, the most basic means of assistance is simply to cooperate with our two consultants – Mac Collins and Robin Haynes. Additionally, we’re always interested in information you might have about the history of your home (especially documented history). Please get in touch if you have information to share.
We’re also looking for volunteers who might be able to help research the history of particular structures. Since this will involve detailed examination of town records and other historic documents, some previous experience of historical research is necessary. Please contact FHS if you’d like to be a researcher.
I live in the HHD. Is my property in the National Register of Historic Places?
Not necessarily. Every resource within the district is evaluated to determine if it contributes or does not contribute to the significance of the Historic District. Individual resources in the HHD are considered listed in the National Register if they are “contributing” to the character of the district. To find out if your building or structure is considered a “contributing structure”, contact FHS.
What does it mean if my house is included in the HHD / the National Register?
Inclusion in the HHD or even in the National Register does not place any restrictions on property-owners. While we encourage owners of historic properties to be careful stewards of their properties, there are no local ordinances, or state or federal laws restricting your use of your historic property. FHS is happy to consult with owners of historic homes on the best way to make alterations or improvements in a manner that preserves the historic nature of the structure. Please contact FHS for more information.
There are both state and local tax credits available for income-generating historic properties to be rehabilitated. Contact the Maine Historic Preservation Commission for more information.
Where can I learn more?
National Register of Historic Places
Maine Historic Preservation Commission
Christi Mitchell, Historic Preservationist (207) 287-1453
Harraseeket Historic District Includes Our Very Own Pettengill Farm Preserve
31 Pettengil Rd, Freeport, Maine
About Pettengill Farm
Pettengill Farm, a nineteenth century salt-water farm on the estuary of the Harraseeket River, is owned by Freeport Historical Society(FHS).It includes a saltbox house (ca. 1800) on 140 acres of fields, woods, antique apple orchards and salt marsh. Most interesting are the etchings (sgraffitti) found on the plaster walls in the upper chambers of ships, sea monsters, longboats and animals. The farmhouse remains without plumbing, central heat and electricity and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Mildred Pettengill was its last resident and lived in the house until 1970. She loved the natural world, transplanting wild roses, lilacs, cedar trees, and other plants from area fields, shores, and islands into the gardens and grounds about the house. Some are native American species and were among the flowers colonists found on arrival. From an undated letter by Miss Pettengill: “…In the flower garden back of the stable I have made paths with the old deformed bricks from the brickyard down on the shore, also a border of the bricks around the flower garden by the maple trees.” FHS volunteers have added a delightful variety of historic perennials such as dahlias, hollyhocks, iris, and phlox. The garden was recently endowed in memory of Eleanor Houston and Lawrence M. C. Smith, who donated the house and property to FHS in 1975. The small milk shed was re-built in 2006 by local Boys Scout Tropp #45 as part of an Eagle Scout leadership project.
Sgraffiti
Sgraffitti is an Italian word that means to scratch or draw by incising into the surface. These very rare drawings adorn the walls of three of the upper chambers. Most depict ships, boats, and sea animals. A date and name add to the intrigue of these illustrations.
Directions to Pettengill Farm
The grounds, including gardens, fields, and four forest trails are open to the public, dawn to dusk, year-round. We open the farmhouse by appointment and on Pettengill Farm Day, the first Sunday in October. From Main Street in Freeport, turn east on Bow Street (across from L. L. Bean, Inc. main entrance). Go 1.5 miles; turn right onto Pettengill Road. Park at the gate. Walk the dirt road for about 15 minutes to the farmhouse. In support of Pettengill Farm, we welcome your donation in the metal house-shaped box at the gate. Please note, dogs are not permitted on the grounds of historic Pettengill Farm. Download a trail map here.
For information concerning Pettengill Farm or to make special arrangements to visit the property please contact us at 207-865-3170 or E-mail us at: info@freeporthistoricalsociety.org.
Read excerpts of Mildred Pettengill’s diary from the year 1921 here!
Freeport Heritage Trail
This project was generously funded by a Maine Humanities Council grant and private individuals.
Freeport Heritage Trail signage
Our heritage signs comprise of compelling historic photographs and descriptive text that tell the stories of notable people, architecturally significant structures and landscapes, and key events that shaped the community.
In addition to the signage, an audio file has been created for each sign. A diverse group of Freeporters, each having a personal connection to the narrative being shared on the sign, have lent their voices and in some cases have added personal stories to enhance the experience of the listener. The audio will be accessible via smart phones or directly via our website.
“We are in a unique position as a town to undertake this project. As a retail destination for more than two decades, visitors are sometimes surprised to learn that the town is not a planned development; rather Freeport is a small New England town with a rich history and a surprisingly intact “fabric” in terms of historic properties and landscapes. FreeportUSA estimates that 3.4 million people visit Freeport annually. Our goal through this program is twofold: to reinforce the town’s identity to residents, and, to introduce visitors to the town’s history. We have a tremendous opportunity to engage those who come to shop. With those exposures, we have an opportunity to expand and deepen Freeport’s identity,” stated Christina White, FHS Director.
She continued, “In terms of its economic, cultural and social history, Freeport may be thought of as having successfully reinvented itself a number of times—agricultural—maritime (both shipbuilding and trading )- industrial, through its vibrant shoe industry, and now a focus on retail and visitors. This provides us with innumerable opportunities for history-telling. Heritage Trails, like guided walking tours, bring history “to the streets” and likely engage a wider spectrum of the public than other history-related programs. This program provides FHS an opportunity to bring our Collections to the public, in a sense and, in doing so, reaching a greater audience and signaling to residents and visitors alike that Freeport has a long and interesting history.”
“And, while we have focused on the “Village,” Wolf’s Neck and Flying Point areas, with funding, our plan is to continue the Trail to North and South Freeport, both of which are rich in history,” stated Ned Allen, Collections Manager.
Historic Tours
Freeport Historical Society offers tours of:
- Historic Downtown Freeport
- Pettengill Farm Preserve and House
Click the button below to learn more!
