TOWN HISTORY
A Brief History of Bridgton, Maine (Compliments of the Bridgton Historical
Society)
www.megalink.net/~bhs/
In 1766 Solomon Wood led a surveying party to an undeveloped tract of land known as Pondicherry in Massachusetts’ northern province of Maine. Two years later the Massachusetts Legislature granted the large tract of land extending from Moose Pond to Long Lake to a group of proprietors who sought to establish a settlement in the area. Moody Bridges and others set out to explore the proprietor’s new claims. A small settlement soon followed in what is now North Bridgton and included a saw mill and tavern. Veterans of the Revolutionary War joined the settlers and cleared land for farming. By 1794 the town was large enough to incorporate, calling itself Bridgton, in honor of its early resident.
The little brook connecting Crotched Pond (now Highland Lake) and Long Pond, Stevens Brook, is only a mile and a half long, but provided up to twelve sites where power could be reliably generated. This resource proved to be crucial to the town’s growth. By the mid-1800s Bridgton had grown to 3000 or more residents and boasted industries that included textile mills, a large tannery, shoe manufacturing, lumber and wood products production, brick making, a pottery, grist mills and a host of smaller supporting businesses. Mercantile and professional services followed. In 1872 the Bridgton News, a weekly newspaper, began printing. Later industries included a corn and vegetable packing plant, machine shops, a coffin shop, and in the twentieth century, a large shoe factory, and the Bridgton Knitting Mills. Although most of the old mill buildings are gone, a walk along Stevens Brook reveals the remaining dam structures that once powered Bridgton’s industrial past. Beginning in 1941, Bridgton has served as a medical center for the Lakes Region, first with Cumberland Memorial Hospital and now with the new Bridgton Memorial Hospital.
Transportation helped to fuel growth in Bridgton. The first settlers traveled from the coast by boat from Sebago Lake and the Songo River into Long Lake. A road from Portland to Fryeburg slowly took shape but travel over the rough, muddy roads was always difficult. In 1883 Bridgton joined the transportation revolution when the Bridgton and Saco narrow gauge railroad opened for business. From 1883 to 1941, passengers and freight could travel from Bridgton to Hiram, where they could transfer to a standard gauge train. When Route 302 from Portland was paved, cars and trucks took over from the struggling railroad.
Education has always been important in Bridgton. The first Town Meeting in 1794 approved plans for a school district and began raising money for buildings and teachers. Bridgton Academy, a private high school (now prep school) opened its doors in North Bridgton in 1808. A public high school was constructed in 1872; as the town grew, the small one room schools faded and children attended elementary schools located in Bridgton center. In the 1960s, Bridgton joined with neighboring communities to form SAD 61, a regional educational district.
In the twentieth century Bridgton became known for its recreational opportunities. Children’s summer camps dotted the shores of the local lakes. Families vacationed in quaint cottages or charming inns as the lakes and woods called weary city dwellers to a summer of relaxation. Year-round recreation, including skiing and snowmobiling, drew vacationers beginning in the 1950s, helping to replace ailing industries and providing Bridgton with needed economic support. For more information, contact the Bridgton Historical Society, PO Box 44, Bridgton, ME 04009 or email us BHS@megalink.net.
