Thomaston Historical Timeline

Thomaston Historical Timeline. . , 1605 , Capt. Geo. Waymouth explores and names the St. Georges River , 1630 , To trade with Indians native to area post built near Wadsworth St. Bridge , 1692 , St. Georges River is boundary between the French and English territories , 1719 , Two blockhouses built at foot of Knox Street as first settlement known as Lincoln , 1734 , 1st lime kiln built , 1754 , 1st log schoolhouse on Bank between Knox and Wadsworth Streets , 1762 , Oliver Robbins builds 1st wood framed dwelling , 1763 , Mason Wheaton arrives with new settlers. Becomes a leader in the early development of Thomaston , 1776 , War of Independence begins , 1777 , Town of Thomaston incorporated , 1787 , First recorded vessel built in Thomaston by Capt. Elisha Snow for lime transport , 1795 , Maj.-Gen. Henry Knox, 1st Secretary of War, settles at his estate, “Montpelier” , 1st Post Office est., at Mill River , 1796 , Congregational Mtg. House built on High St. , 1800 , 1st Social Library est. , 1803 , Thomaston Mall est. , 1805 , 1st Thomaston Free Masonry Lodge est. , 1812 , Commitee [sic] of Safety est. for War of 18 12 , 1818 , St. Georges River toll bridge built on Wadsworth St., eliminating ferry , 1820 , Maine separates from Massachusetts, becomes Free State as part of Missouri Compromise , 1824 , Maine State Prison built in Thomaston , 1825 , Thomaston Bank est. , Thomaston Register, 1st newspaper , 1827 , Smallpox Hospital built on Simonton Point , First Fire Co. inc. , 1828 , Original Knox Hotel built , First sidewalks built of yellow pine , Mall is ploughed, leveled and bordered with elms , 1836 , Elm Grove Cemetery incorporated , U.S. Senator John Ruggles granted Patent No.1 , 1838 , U.S. Representative Jonathan Cilley killed in duel , 1839 , Navigational beacon placed at Great Bend in the River , 1847 , Significant expansion of shipyards occurs along the waterfront , 1848 , Thomaston Academy est. , Thomaston votes to devide [sic] into three towns , Thomaston, S. Thomaston and E. Thomaston (Rockland) , 1st telegraph communication est. , 1851 , A block of Thomaston Black Marble sent for Washington Monument inscribed “From the home of Knox by Citizens of Thomaston Maine” , 1852 , Carr and O’Brien Block built at upper corner of Main and Wadsworth , Georges Bank incorp. with capital of $50,000 , 1860 , Knox County incorp. from a division of Lincoln County , 1861-1865 , Civil War; J.P. Crilley forms Company B of 1st Maine Calvary [sic], 329 enlist from Thomaston area , 1865 , History of Thomaston by Cyrus Eaton, published , 1870 , Thomaston becomes major shipbuilder for world trade, launching more than 670 wooden ships between 1784 and 1921 , 1871 , Montpelier razed for Knox and Lincoln Railroad , 1880 , Town is one of the wealthiest in the nation due to shipbuilding and world commerce , 1890 , Capt. Samuel Watts presents Watts Hall to community , 1903 , Washington B. Thomas, is largest schooner built in Thomaston, 2693 tons , 1915 , Watts Hall rebuilt after fire , 1917 , World War 1 mine sweepers built in Thomaston , 1920 , Edna Hoyt, last five masted schooner built in U.S. , 1923 , Maine State Prison burns to ground , 1926 , Dragon Cement plant built , 1930 , Montpelier reconstructed on High Street , 1937 , Reine Marie Stewart, last of the old Thomaston ships, towed away , 1941-1945 , Mine sweepers constructed for world war two effort , 1954 , USS Thomaston LSD-28 commissioned as first of eight “Thomaston Class” of ships , 1961 , Town purchases property for public landing , 1974 , Thomaston Historical Society opens Knox Farmhouse , 1975 , USS Elliot DD967 christened for Thomaston resident and hero, LCDR. Arthur James Elliot , 1977 , Town Bicentennial Time Capsule buried in Mall , 1985 , US Postal stamp honors Gen. Henry Knox , 2000 , Mayo Park est. at Town Landing , 2002 , Maine State Prison razed , Museum in Streets est. , 2005 , Town purchases state prison site ,