Maine Maritime, Fort George, Allie Ryan Museum, Intelligent Beachcombing

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY
FORT GEORGE
ALLIE RYAN MARITIME MUSEUM
INTELLIGENT BEACHCOMBING

The trip to the Maine Maritime Academy, Fort George, and the Allie Ryan Maritime Museum was designed to give the students and awareness of Maine’s relation to the sea and to explore the significance of Castine’s participation in the history of Maine. Tours of the Academy and Museums may be arranged [by contacting the Academy]. No contact is necessary for visiting Fort George. Intelligent Beachcombing may be contacted by calling Maine Maritime Academy…

The Maine Maritime Academy my be reached by traveling to Bucksport via Route 15 from Bangor and then Routes 175 and 166A to Castine. Total traveling time from the Bangor area is approximately one hour and twenty-five minutes.

The Maine Maritime Academy offers a specialized and highly unique program for the young people interested in a career at sea, in the shoreside maritime industry, and marine sciences. The highlight of the visit to the Academy centered on visiting the training ship “TV State of Maine.” This portion of the day’s activities lasted approximately one hour and thirty minutes and involved a both to stern walking tour of the ship with a knowledgeable guide who explained the operation of the ship and answered questions posed by students and staff. A walking tour of the campus lasted approximately one hour. Students and staff had the opportunity to visit various buildings on the campus. The Allie Ryan Maritime Museum visitation lasted approximately thirty minutes. The collection of photographs, oil paintings, ship models, and other memorabilia depicts our 19^th Century Atlantic Maritime Heritage in sail and steam.

“Intelligent Beachcombing” is a program designed to introduce people, regardless of their ages and educational background, to the world of water. Sessions on various topics are held daily either in the morning or afternoon. Cost of this activity is $4.00* per person. Prior arrangements should be made for this activity. Length of each session is approximately three hours.

Fort George, located in Castine, is rich in early history of the Castine area. Built on the highest point on the peninsula by the British beginning in 1779. the Fort withstood the Penobscot Expedition and remained in British hands until January, 1784. The British returned again in 1814, garrisoned the Fort until April 25, 1815, at which time they destroyed it. The history of Fort George is depicted on display boards at various points in the earthen fort. Time spent at Fort George was approximately one hour.

It would be a very long day if all activities listed were scheduled. It is suggested that Fort George be visited upon arrival in Castine and then the activities at the Academy.

“Intelligent Beachcombing” could be part of a separate trip to the Castine area, coupled with a visit to the Wilson Museum which provides guided tours. Contact would have to be made with the Wilson Museum. Students should bring lunches which may be eaten at Fort George or the academy football stadium.

The journey to Castine gave the youngsters an insight into our Maritime Heritage and an opportunity to visit one of Maine’s post-secondary educational facilities. It was well received by both staff and students and will be included in future summer journeys.

Student Rating – 3.7
Teacher Rating – 3.9

*Cost per person may have changed

(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.5-6.)

Lumberman's Museum and Katahdin Iron Works

THE LUMBERMAN'S MUSEUM - PATTEN
KATAHDIN IRON WORKS - BROWNVILLE JUNCTION*

This trip wsa selected to expose students to a way of life that was at one time very common in the State of Maine. The Museum is located in Patten, just north of Maine's Katahdin country. In this area, the lumbering industry boomed during the period of time depicted at the museum. Arrangements for the visits to the museum may be made by contacting the Lumberman's Museum...The museum is open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Hours are 9 to 4 Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 4 on Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays except holidays. From Labor Day through Columbus Day, the museum is open weekends and by appointment. Organized groups of students are admitted free, however a donation is acceptable.

The museum may be reached by traveling I-95 to the Sherman-Patten Exit. A rest area just before the Medway-Millinocket Exit makes a good stopping place after an hour and twenty-five minutes travel from Bangor. From the Sherman-Patten Exit proceed one mile on Route 11, nine miles to Patten. The museum is located one mile on Route 159 which intersects Route 11 in Patten.

Activities at the Lumberman's Museum included a guided tour of the several buildings at the site. This tour lasted approximately one hour and a half. It is best to divide in small groups with sufficient adult supervision. Students and staff were exposed to every type of lumbering tool imaginable, as well as old photographs, dioramas, models, actual camps, boats, lookout tower, old steam powered log haulers and early snowmobiles. These collections are housed in nine buildings. This experience was exceptionally educational for students as well as staff members. The guides were excellent and the exhibits were very well explained. It is suggested that following the guided tour, the students have their lunch at picnic tables available and then visit the exhibits again in very small groups of not more than ten, each led by an adult. This will allow the students to spend more time examining areas of interest.

As an additional option to this trip, one may retrace the route to I-95 and journey south to the Medway-Millinocket Exit. Following Route 11 west the buses will pass the Great Northern Paper Mill in East Millinocket. Traveling Route 11 south to Brownville, one must turn right at the "Prairie" and drive six miles into the woods to visit Katahdin Iron Works State Memorial. Here one will see a blast furnace and charcoal kiln which have been restored at the site of a once thriving iron works. The history of the Katahdin Iron Works is depicted on display boards at various points.

Student Rating - 3.3
Teacher Rating - 3.8

* Not visited in 1980

(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.7.)

Aroostook County and Loring Air Force Base

AROOSTOOK COUNTY
LORING AIR FORCE BASE

Aroostook County and Loring Air Force Base were sites selected for visiting in the poll taken of students in the fall of 1977 when "The Maine Journey" program was being formulated. The objectives of this trip were twofold: First to expose the students to the main potato growing area of our state and second to provide them the opportunity to visit one of the Strategic Air Command's largest bases. [Following is contact info. Loring Air Force Base was closed in 1992].

Loring Air Force Base is located in Northeastern Aroostook County approximately six miles east of Caribou and four miles west of Limestone. By school bus, Loring is approximately five hours from the Bangor area via Interstate 95 to Houlton, Route 1 to Mars Hill, Route 1A to Fort Fairfield, Route 165 to Limestone and Route 89 to Loring Air Force Base. The 5 1/2 hours needed for the trip allow for a rest stop at the Medway Rest Area, I-95 and a picnic lunch at a nice picnic area on Route 165 approximately four miles from Fort Fairfield. The return trip can be made through Caribou and Presque Isle via Route 1 allowing for an alternate route to Mars Hill. [Restaurants] in Houlton would be an ideal place to have the evening meal with students having the option of bringing sandwiches for both the noon meal and evening meal. From Houlton, Route 2 would provide an alternate route through the Haynesville Woods to Lincoln, and then along the Penobscot River to Old Town.

A tour of Loring Air Force Base takes approximately four hours with various sites to visit depending upon the activity at the base when your visit is scheduled. The high point of any visit is a demonstration by the Security Police and trained guard dogs. Also involved in a typical tour would be a visit to the Crash Fire House where a demonstration may be arranged of the fire fighting equipment used to combat aircraft fires. A third point of interest is the high Arch Hangar in which aircraft such as the B-52 and the KC 135 tanker can be viewed. Visitors may be allowed to board the KC 135 for an inspection. Other possible sites to visit are the radar installation and fighter interceptor squadron.

In touring Loring Air Force Base, students are exposed to many different job training and career opportunities as well as receiving a first hand look at our country's military readiness to combat aggression from potential enemies.

As one traverses the countryside of Aroostook County there are many aspects of the agricultural activity that can be pointed out and discussed with students. To really see and appreciate Aroostook County one needs to spend more than one day there.

If your group desires to spend two days in Aroostook County, other activities might include a tour of the St. John River Valley and an exposure to the Franco-American people both past and present. On your return trip or while in the "Valley" make arrangements to visit a potato farm to learn of the potato industry.

During Maine Journey 1980 we planned an "overnight" trip to Loring Air Force Base, thereby enabling us to combine the Loring trip with the trip to King's Landing the following day.

We arrived at Loring at noon and spent four hours on a tour of the base. Loring personnel kindly allowed us the use of their picnic area for a cookout supper and the gymnasium for our sleeping quarters. Students were allowed use of the gymnasium and the pool for a nominal fee (50 cents). Locker room facilities were available; however students provided their own sleeping bags.

Breakfast the following morning was obtained at the Loring Mess Hall and we continued day two of our travels by 9 a.m.

By utilizing the overnight plan one may visit other areas of the County or King's Landing easily the next day.

Needless to say, the overnight trip is on of the summer's highlights.

The Heritage Vivant Village located a few miles northwest of Van Buren's Heritage Vivant Historical Society's depiction of an Acadian tour of yesteryear. The village is a collection of buildings which have been restored. Walking through the villag and inspecting the houses, shops and other buildings, one develops a felling of how life was lived by the residents of the St. John Valley in days gone-by. The oldest building is the Roy House circa 1785. Other buildings include a barber shop, general store, shoe shop, railroad station and a log chapel. One could easily spend a minimum of two hours at this site.

Traveling north along Route 1, you may wish to visit the Madawaska-Edmunston, N.B. area. By crossing into Canada and following the St. John River in a northerly direction you will find yourself on a hill overlooking the river. Here the St. John River Valley is dramatically pictured. With prior arrangements, you may wish to visit the Fraser Paper Company located in Madawaska.

Arrangement for a tour of a typical potato farm and a potato processing plant may possibly be made by contacting the Maine Potato Council.

Loring A.F.B.
Student Rating - 3.9
Staff Rating - 3.9


(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.10-12.)

Bath Marine Museum

BATH MARINE MUSEUM

The Bath Marine Museum consists of four locations with exhibits depicting Bath and the shipbuilding industry of yesterday and the present. In a period of 100 years, 1820 to 1920, more than 1,000 ocean going vessels were launched in Bath. Arrangements may be made by contact The Bath Marine Museum...Cost to the students is $.70 for the first site visited. One adult receives free admission for each ten students. Other adults in the group pay the student rate.

Bath may be reached from Bangor area by traveling Interstate 95 to Augusta, the Maine Turnpike to the Gardiner exit and Interstate 95 to the Topsham exit and then Route 1 east to Bath. Traveling time from the Bangor area is approximately two and one half hours. This allows for a rest stop along the way. Lunch may include a picnic in the City Park or at Percy & Small Shipyard or at [a local eatery] in Bath. An alternate return route to the Bangor area may be Route 1 to Wiscasset and Route 27 to Augusta. From the Portland area travel I-95 north to U.S. 1 to Bath.

The Bath Marine Museum consists of a choice of four sites for school group visitation. The Winterstreet Center, 880 Washington Street, opposite City Park, has three floors of exhibits including a history of the Kennebec River, shipyard workers, and a sailor's life at sea as well as articles brought from foreign ports. Before starting a tour of Winterstreet Centar a 15 to 20 minute slide orientation to the museum is given. The amount of time spent at any site will vary accordingly.

The Sewall House, 963 Washington Stree, is a short walk from the Winterstreet Center. Her one finds displays of ship models, half models, maritime paintin, dioramas, navigational instruments, plus an exhibit on the Bath Iron Works.

The Apprenticeship, also within walking distance, encompasses a training program in small wooden shipbuilding and a related loft exhibit. Visitors may watch apprentices in the process of learning their trade.

The Percy & Small Shipyard, located at 263 Washington Street, is the last intact shipyard in the country where large wooden sailing vessels were built. On exhibit are a number of Maine watercraft, shipbuilding tools and memorabilia. From the shipyard you may take a guided tour aboard the M/V "Sasanoa" on the Kennebec River and view the Bath Iron Works.

The Bath Marine Museum is open seven days a week, 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., May 20th to October 29th. After tht the Museum is open every Sunday, 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. at Sewall House on Washington Street.

Student Rating - 2.5
Teacher Rating - 3.0


(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.14-15.)

Downeast, Quoddy Head, Campobello

DOWNEAST MILBRIDGE
QUODDY HEAD
CAMPOBELLO ISLAND

This trip was designed to afforf the students and opportunity to observe the life of a coastal community of central Maine and that of the easterly coastal section of the state. Also we wished that the students experience a border crossing to another country and experience moving from one time zone to another. Only one contact was necessary for this trip. Jasper Wyman & Son sardine packing plant was arranged by contacting Jasper Wyman & Son....

This trip followed Route 1A to Ellsworth and Route 1 to Milbridge. A good rest area is located at Long Cove just outside Hancock and about one hour and fifteen minutes from Bangor. After leaving Milbridge we followed Route 1 to Route 189 east of Machias. Route 189 took us to Lubec where we ate our lunch at Quoddy Head State Park. From there it is a short ride to Campobello International Park and the Roosevelt summer cottage.

The activities were numerous on the trip. The tour of the Wyman Plant in Milbridge proved very interesting to the students. For many this was the first time they had seen a production line operation and were aware of payment by piece work.

If the schedule permits, another valuable trip would be to the Wyman Packing Plant where students can observe blueberries and other produce being packaged. Arrangements for this tour can be made by contacting Jasper Wyman & Sons, Milbridge.

Exploring the many paths at Quoddy Head State Park was an adventure for the students. A beautiful view of Grand Manan Island is likely if the fog is out. Our visit to Campobello Island was the high point of the day. For many students, this was the first trip to a foreign country and also their first time outside the borders of the State of Maine.

At the Tourist Center on the Island, pamphlets and a movie are offered explaining the history of the island and what drew people to this spot in the 1900's. The movie is approximately thirty-five minutes in length. It is advised that the movie be seen before the tour of the Roosevelt Cottage is taken. The Roosevelt Tour is guided and very worthwhile. One receives a good idea of life in the early 1900's. This tour is about forty minutes in length. There is no charge for any activity at the Roosevelt Cottage or the Tourist Center. Two days each year, the Park Commission opens to the public two additional summer homes owned by the Park. These homes are very beautiful and it would be well worth investigating the open days the summer your travel to Campobello so that you could plan your visit to include these additional sites.

Also available in the park are hiking trails, swimming areas, picnic areas and nature study areas. The park is open from late May to mid October, seven days a week, 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M., July and August 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and other months from 10:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Crossing back into the United States at Lubec offered students the experience of re-entering the U.S. and going through U.S. Customs. Following Route 189 west to Rout 1, a group may turn right and follow Route 1 approximately five miles to Cobscook State Park. This beautiful park has picnic facilities, as well as camping, sailing, hiking, and golfing activities available. It is best to contact the Parks and Recreation Department in Augusta to ascertain if a fee will be charged. State or Federally funded projects are admitted free.

The return trip to Bangor can be varied by leaving Route 1 at Cherryfield and following Route 193 across the blueberry barrens. One may prepare information on blueberries by reading the approriate chapter in "Afoot in Maine."

From the Bangor area this trip involved 309 miles and thirteen hours traveling.

Wyman's Packing
Student Rating - 2.7
Staff Rating - 3.8

Campobello
Student Rating - 3.6
Staff Rating - 4.0

Quoddy Head and Cobscook State Parks
Student Rating - 3.2
Staff Rating - 3.8



(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.16-17.)

St. Regis Paper Company--Bucksport, Fort Knox

ST. REGIS PAPER COMPANY--BUCKSPORT*
FORT KNOX STATE PARK*

This trip to the Bucksport area was designed with two objectives in mind: First, to expose the students to Maine's larges industry, paper manufacturing, and second, to visit and discuss Fort Knox's place in the history of the State of Maine. A guided tour of the St. Regis Mill in Bucksport may be arranged... Reservations for Fort Knox may be made by contacting Fort Knox State Park, Stockton Springs, Maine...There is no charge for school groups at Fort Knox State Park. Bucksport is approximately a forty minute drive from Bangor either by Route 1A or Route 15. The visitation of these two sites called for the division of the fifty-four students and ten adults into two groups. While one grou toured the St. Regis Plant, the other group explored Fort Knox. The tour of the St. Regis facility lassted approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The process of papermaking was explained as students walked through the plant. Students saw in action St. Regis Paper Company's new Number 5 papermachine which offers the ultimate in programming technology with a computerized coating preparation process. This machine can produce a sheet of paper wider than two expressway lanes at a speed of 34 miles per hour. Students were also exposed to many of the employment opportunities in the paper industry.

Discovering Fort Knox is always a joy to students. The Fort, named after Major General Henry Knox of Thomaston, who served Washington as his Secretary of War, was begun in 1814 to protect the reaches of the Penobscot River. A history of the Fort is depicted on display boards as one enters the Fort Area. Uniformed park rangers are ready to help in assisting groups. The activities available at FOrt Knox are only limited by the group leader's imagination and expertise. A cookout at lunch time at the fireplace area is enjoyable. This allows for a break between the two activities and for the group to join together for lunch.

Other paper companies having public tours of the facilities are:
Boise Cascade Paper Group, Rumford, Maine....
Diamond International Corp., Old Town, Maine....
Fraser Papers LTD,. Madawaska...
Georgia Pacific Corp., Woodland...
Great Northern Paper Company, Millinocket...
Keyes Fibre Company, Waterville...
Scott Paper Company, Winslow...
Scott Paper Company, Somerset...
S.D. Warren Company, Westbrook...

*Not visited in 1980

[No Ratings]

(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.18-19.)

Great Norther Paper Company--Millinocket

GREAT NORTHER PAPER COMPANY--MILLINOCKET

One of the largest paper mills in Maine, Great Northern Paper Company, is located in Millinocket and provides an excellent opportunity for studetns to view the paper making process.

In making arrangements for this tour contact...at Great Northern Paper...Make arrangements well in advance, for tour groups must be small and extra guides may need to be on call. The tour takes approximately one hour and students view the process from tree-length logs to paper.

While on tour the students will get first-hand view of the Ultra Eleven Paper machine. This machine is capable of producing in one day a 25 foot wide sheet of paper that would extend from Millinocket to Milwaukee.

Great Norther Paper Company produces paper used in newspapers, mass circulation magazines, books, mail order catalogs, almanacs, business forms, telephone directories, as well as children's workbooks and supplementary texts.

Great Northern, which owns over two million acres of timberland in Maine, produces 854,000 tons of paper a year--approximately 2,385 tons every working day.

Great Northern Paper Company
Student Rating - 3.2
Staff Rating - 3.4

(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.19.)

Vinalhaven via the "Governor Curtis"

VINALHAVEN via THE "GOVERNOR CURTIS"*

In a poll taken in the spring of 1980 students who would be participating in The Maine Journey indicated they would like to ride a ferry boat to one of the island off the coast of Maine. Students contacted The Department of Transportation, Ferry Service...[in] Rockland, Maine...for information. A schedule of ferry service to the islands as well as rates for groups was obtained.

Travel to Rockland from the Bangor area is approximately two hours. Since the ferry boat travels to Vinalhaven and returns immediately one should plan to take the first ferry to the island and return on the last afternoon trip. The approximate travel time to Vinalhaven is an hour and twenty-five minutes. Once on Vinalhaven Island a number of walking tours may be taken. Short Walks Along the Maine Coast by Ruth & Paul Sadlier offers an excellent guide for Vinalhaven as well as other areas visited along the coast. A brochure dealing with activities available in Vinalhaven may be obtained at the Rockland Ferry Terminal. There are picnic facilities available for noon meal. Depending on the ferry schedule, one could spend approximately five hours on Vinalhaven Island arriving back in Rockland in time for the evening meal. McDonalds, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King are all located on Route 1 just east of the main section of the city.

As an option one might choose a trip to Islesboro via the "Governor Muskie." This trip takes approximately one-half hour each way. Arrangements can be made by calling the Lincolnville Terminal...or the Rockland Terminal....Group rates are available upon request. Upon arrival at Islesboro one may wish to view the lighthouse, the small museum, and lobstering.

If one chooses the Islesboro trip for the morning, excellent picnic facilities are available upon return to Lincolnville Beach.

Camden Hills State Park is also nearby and affords one a panoramic view of Camden from the top of Mt. Battie which is easily accessible by foot or bus.

If time permits, one may journey to Rockport and see Andre the Seal. It is advisable to make prior arrangements with Harry Goodrich should one wish to see Andre perform.


Islesboro, Rockport and Camden Hills State Park
Student Rating - 3.0
Staff Rating - 3.3

*Not visited in 1980

(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.22.)

Scott Paper Woodlands Operation -- Greenville Junction

SCOTT PAPER WOODLAND OPERATION - GREENVILLE JUNCTION*

Students in the pre-program survey indicated that they would like to visit a woods operation. This trip related well to the visit at St. Regis in Bucksport early in the program. It would be more productive to arrange these trips on consecutive days if possible. It is suggest the Scott Tour be taken prior to the St. Regis Tour...

From the Bangor area travel Route 15 to Greenville. Follow Route 15 through Greenville Jct. towards Squaw Mountain. The Scott offices are approximately four miles from the junction. From southern Maine travel I-95 to the Newport-Detroit exit, and then Route 7 toDexter, Route 23 to the junction of Route 15 in Guilford and Route 15 to Greenville Jct. and Scott Paper. Traveling time from Bangor is approximately one hour and forty-five minutes. Small groups may arrange lunch through Scott at a fee. Large groups should bring picnic lunches.

Included in the tour of Scott Lands is a slide presentation at Squaw Mountain. This explains Scott's role in the Maine woods and Maine economy. Following the slide presentation we traveled to the Scott harvesting site for a look at modern harvesting techniques. Bring your camera, for wildlife is abundant. Many activities occur on a Scott Paper Company Woodlands tour. Students may be exposed to forest areas in different stages of growth. Guides explain the function of mechanical harvesters in the total operation and, if timing is right, students may have the opportunity to inspect the mechanical harvesters. Students may be exposed to experimental plots where tests are being conducted to determine which factors account for more rapid growth of trees. The spruce bud worm may also be discussed at length.

This trip affords the students an excellent view of Maine's number one industry. A trip to Scott's Winslow or Hinckley paper plants would be an excellent trip for the following day. This would provide continuity in picturing the total industry to the students.

This was one of our most interesting and more educational trips.


*Not visited in 1980 due to a labor strike.

Jackson Laboratory

THE JACKSON LABORATORY - BAR HARBOR

The Jackson Laboratory, founded in 1929 by C.C. Little for research in cancer and genetics, has no become the world's center for mouse research and the number one supplier of pedigreed mice used in research throughout the world. To arrange a tour contact the Public Relations Director....From the Bangor area Jackson Laboratory is reached by traveling Route 3 to Bar Harbor.

The Jackson Laboratory is the larges center for research in mammalian genetics in the world with more than 450 employees and a research colony of 750,000 inbred, hybrid, mutant mice.

Our visit to Jackson Laboratory included a short lecture, slide presentation, film, and question and answer session directed by [a Jackson Laboratory staff member]. Students viewed several different breeds of research mice. Because of constant need for laboratory control, large tour groups are not permitted within the confines of the laboratory itself.

We felt the tour of Jackson Laboratory to be one of our most informative and educational trips. We highly recommend this trip to your group.

The tour of Jackson Laboratory could be combined with various activities in the Bar Harbor area.

Jackson Laboratory
Student Rating - 3.3
Staff Rating - 4.0


(Excerpt from The Maine Journey Field Trip Guide, 1980, p.36.)