Thomaston, Maine

Welcome to Thomaston, Maine, the town that went to sea , Thomaston is known for its historic white houses. Both Main and Knox Streets are on the National Historic Register. Of the slightly more than 700 homes in town, approximately eighty-five percent are more than one hundred years old. Many are closer to two hundred years of age. While we are now a quiet community of small businesses and shops, writers and artists, there was a time in our history when Thomaston was the busiest and most prosperous of Maine towns., . Three major industries kept our economy vital and we have them to thank for the beautiful houses that line our now quiet streets. Ship building, lime burning and the Maine State Prison all played vital roles in our past and set the course for the future., . Ship building, the most influential of these endeavors, brought the wealth of the world to the wharves in Thomaston. More nineteenth century sailing ships were built here than in any other place in the country. Our town was filled with ship builders, sea captains and merchant sailors who made trips as extensive as two to three years in length., . Lime burning was the second most successful occupation. While the resulting lime powder was a dangerous cargo to carry, it was the most lucrative of all the goods shipped from town. The fact that many ships and crewmembers were lost at sea due to fires caused by the lime in their holds did not deter others from carrying the same freight. The rich rewards of a successful trip seemed to outweigh the fear factor for many ship owners and crews., . The third largest employer was the Maine State Prison, established in Thomaston in 1824 and remaining here until 2002., . These three endeavors combined to give Thomaston both the look of a nineteenth century town and the keen interest in local history for which we are known. In addition to the men at sea, we had our share of men on dry land who brought prominence to the town. Major-General Henry Knox, Washington's head of artillery during the American Revolution and his first Secretary of War, retired here in 1795. The following century brought Senator John Ruggles, frequently called the father of the United States Patent Office, and Congressman Jonathan Cilley, whose life was tragically cut short when he became the last man killed in a duel east of the Mississippi River. Cilley's two sons brought honor to our town during the Civil War. The list of truly remarkable people continues to grow., . The St. Georges River, our conduit to the ocean, once served as the dividing line between the French to the east and the English to the west. All of that ended following the American Revolution, but it is interesting to look at maps showing the name of the river spelled either Georges or George, depending on whether the map was drawn by a French or English person., Brochures with maps and information about the walking tour are available at all businesses and shops on Main Street. Just drop into any of them to pick up a brochure. After you take the tour, please go back to the shop and let the people know how you enjoyed yourself. Don't hesitate to ask questions about the town. We hope you enjoy your stop here and thank you for visiting. ,