Weston & Danforth's architecture
Play detective along the Byway. Discover clues to the past in
Rural Weston, once home to classic farms: Big house, little house, outhouse, barn.
In this sparsely-populated town of several hundred, look for a few remaining farms perched amidst fields slowly returning to forest. Local settlers like the Gilpatricks ([photo] at right) were a versatile, hardy lot, lumbering as well as working their farm fields.
[center inset photo caption reads]
Most of the Gilpatrick Farm buildings, once just up the hill behind you, burned in 1982
Look along the Byway for barns or sheds (or foundations) built close to a main farmhouse, or connected by an ell - for convenience in winter
Danforth Town once bustled with railroad, shipping, sawmills[,] several hotels and a stagecoach.
As lumbering, mills, tanning and farming thrived, the town's ornate architecture reflected 19th Century prosperity. The combination of the railroad and water powered mills from Baskahegan Stream helped businesses thrive.
[Border photos, clockwise from top left, read]
Weston Church, Rt. 1 (1917)
Brackett Farm, Rt. 1, Weston across from lakes scenic turnout. One of the few working farms remaining in 2009
Route 1 heading North from Danforth. Imagine driving this road by horse and buggy
Methodist Church, Danforth
Turn south
this page online
Sleigh in "Downtown" Danforth
The Berry Home [Central Street] built in Danforth's boom years
The Foss Hotel corner of Rt. 1 and Rt. 169, Danforth
As Rt. 169 heads south in Danforth, it crosses Baskahegan Stream
Corner of Rt. 1 in Danforth near Rt. 169
Ornate Italianate mansion [right] Rt. 1 in Danforth near Rt. 169
Baptist Church, Danforth
Danforth Parade [1908]
Even the Circus came here by train
Trains shipped wood, leather and farm products from Danforth
The coming of the Railroad in 1871 boosted Danforth's prosperity - Train station [1906]
Union Hall, Danforth
Rt. 1, Weston. The steep pitch of the Foss Farm's roof, designed for snowy winters
Erected by Million Dollar View Scenic Byway.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1982.
Location. 45° 41.582′ N, 67° 51.729′ W. Marker is near Weston, Maine, in Washington County. Marker is on U.S. 1, 0.3 miles north of Cropley Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is at the scenic Katahdin View roadside turnout. Touch for map
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Welcome to Million Dollar View Scenic Byway (here, next to this marker); The "sleeping giant" view of Mount Katahdin (a few steps from this marker); Rivers & Streams: Ancient Highways of the Wabanaki (within shouting distance of this marker); Town of Weston Honor Roll (approx. 2.9 miles away); When trees were used for tanning (approx. 3.1 miles away); A rich fishing tradition continues year-round (approx. 3.1 miles away); Chiputneticook Chain of Lakes (approx. 3.1 miles away); Orient Veterans Memorial (approx. 8½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weston.
Also see . . . Million Dollar View Scenic Byway. (Submitted on October 21, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 22, 2018. It was originally submitted on October 21, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 164 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 21, 2018, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
