Brunswick: A Gem In Maine's Midcoast

Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It was first settled in 1628 by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen, who called the area Pejepscot, meaning the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]. In 1717, the town was incorporated and renamed Brunswick, in honour of the House of Brunswick and its member, King George I.

Brunswick is in Cumberland County, Maine

Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine metropolitan New England city and town area, and is part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area. The town had a population of 21,756 as of the 2020 United States Census.

Brunswick was settled in 1628 by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen, and was originally called Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]" in the Indian language. In 1639, Purchase placed the settlement under the protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The area was burned and abandoned during King Philip's War in 1676, but a garrison called Fort Andros was built on the ruins during King William's War. In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth bought the land, naming it the Pejepscot purchase. The Massachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, naming it "Brunswick" in honour of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I.

Brunswick became a prosperous seaport, and Bowdoin College was chartered there in 1794. The town became a major producer of lumber, with as many as 25 sawmills, and some of the lumber went into shipbuilding. Other industries included paper, soap, flour, marble and granite work, carriages and harness, plows, furniture, shoes and confections. The town was also home to the first cotton mill in Maine, the Brunswick Cotton Manufactory Company, built in 1809.

Brunswick is located at the north end of Casco Bay, and is the head of tide and head of navigation on the Androscoggin River. The river falls in three successive stages for a total vertical drop of 41 feet (12 m), providing water power for industry. The town has a total area of 54.34 square miles (140.74 km2), of which 46.73 square miles (121.03 km2) is land and 7.61 square miles (19.71 km2) is water.

It was first called Pejepscot

Brunswick, Maine, was first called Pejepscot, a name borrowed from the Native American sub-tribe, the Anasagunticooks (or Wabanaki) who lived in the region thousands of years ago. The name Pejepscot refers specifically to a section of the Androscoggin River, the area's major waterway and source of life. The Androscoggin River falls in three stages, creating a total vertical drop of 41 feet, which provided water power for industry.

The word Pejepscot has several translations, including "long, rocky rapids part" and "crooked like a diving snake". The first permanent European settler in the area, Thomas Purchase, arrived in the 1620s. Purchase moved onto a tract of 1500 acres that was later granted to him and his brother-in-law, George Way, in 1632. In 1639, Purchase placed his settlement under the protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. During King Philip's War in 1676, Pejepscot was burned and abandoned.

In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth bought the land, and it became known as the Pejepscot Purchase. The Massachusetts General Court constituted the township in 1717, renaming it "Brunswick" in honour of the House of Brunswick and its descendant, King George I. The region of Pejepscot kept its name and location until the Massachusetts General Court divided it into three towns: Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell.

The town was founded in 1628 as a trading post

Brunswick, a town in Cumberland County, Maine, was founded in 1628 as a trading post by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen. The area was called Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]" in the native language. Purchase, an English pioneer and trader, established himself in the region and soon became well-known among other English settlers along the Atlantic coast of New England. In 1632, he was joined by George Way, and together they obtained a patent from the Plymouth Company for a large piece of territory at the mouth of the Androscoggin River. This area was approximately four miles square and included valuable salmon fisheries.

Recognising the threat posed by the Indians to the English colonies, Purchase placed his settlement under the protection and jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1639. Despite this, during King Philip's War in 1676, Pejepscot was burned and abandoned. A garrison called Fort Andros was built on the ruins during King William's War, but the area remained largely desolate for the next quarter of a century.

At the beginning of the 18th century, old families began to return to the area, and the settlement rapidly regained its former size. In 1714, a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth purchased the land, and in 1717, the Massachusetts General Court constituted the township, naming it "Brunswick" in honour of the House of Brunswick and King George I. Brunswick became a prosperous seaport and was officially incorporated as a town in 1739.

The Androscoggin River, with its three-stage falls, provided water power for industry, and Brunswick became a major producer of lumber, with up to 25 sawmills operating in the area. The town also boasted a diverse range of other industries, including shipbuilding, paper production, soap manufacturing, and the production of flour, marble and granite work, carriages, harnesses, plows, furniture, shoes, and confections.

Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College

Brunswick, Maine, is home to Bowdoin College, a private liberal arts college that was founded in 1794. The college is located in the coastal New England town of Brunswick, in Cumberland County, and offers a range of academic programs and extracurricular activities. With a total undergraduate enrollment of around 2000 students, Bowdoin provides a semester-based academic calendar and a variety of majors and minors to choose from.

The Bowdoin campus covers 207 acres and includes a range of facilities such as residence halls, academic buildings, and athletic centres. The college's main campus is situated near Casco Bay and the Androscoggin River, providing a picturesque setting for students. In addition to its Brunswick campus, Bowdoin also owns a coastal studies centre on Orr's Island and a scientific field station on Kent Island in the Bay of Fundy.

Bowdoin College has a rich history and has produced several notable alumni, including authors, poets, explorers, and even a former U.S. President. The college was originally established to educate the sons of the political elite and has since become a diverse and prestigious institution. The college's rowing club and Outing Club are among the most popular student groups, offering a range of outdoor activities and excursions.

The town of Brunswick has a population of over 20,000 people and offers a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities. The college is an integral part of the community and contributes to the town's cultural and economic life. Bowdoin College is also committed to sustainability and has implemented several initiatives to reduce its environmental impact, such as switching to a single-stream recycling program and composting food waste.

The town has a rich history, including wars and industry

Brunswick, Maine, is a town with a rich history, dating back to the earliest days of English colonial activity in the region. Settled in 1628 by Thomas Purchase and other fishermen, the area was originally called Pejepscot, meaning "the long, rocky rapids part [of the river]".

In 1639, Purchase placed his settlement under the protection of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, recognising the threat posed by the local Indian tribes. This threat was realised during King Philip's War in 1676, when Pejepscot was burned and abandoned. However, a garrison called Fort Andros was built on the ruins during King William's War, and the area was not forgotten.

The 1713 Treaty of Portsmouth brought peace between the Abenaki Indians and English colonists, and in 1714, the land was bought by a consortium from Boston and Portsmouth. The township was constituted in 1717 and named "Brunswick" in honour of the House of Brunswick and its scion, King George I.

Brunswick became a prosperous seaport and major producer of lumber, with up to 25 sawmills. The Androscoggin River provided water power for industry, and other firms produced paper, soap, flour, marble and granite work, carriages, plows, furniture, shoes and confections. The town was also home to the first cotton mill in Maine, established in 1809.

Brunswick played an active role in the Revolutionary War, furnishing a full quota of men and monies to the cause. The town continued to grow, and by 1820, the population had reached 2,931. Brunswick also contributed to the War of 1812, enlisting 300 men, and later to the Civil War, where several prominent field officers and over 700 private soldiers hailed from the town.

Brunswick has also been a hub for cultural, religious and artistic pursuits, particularly with the founding of Bowdoin College in 1794. Notable residents have included authors Harriet Beecher Stowe and Robert P. T. Coffin, Civil War General Joshua L. Chamberlain, poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and President Franklin Pierce.

The town has several historic districts recognised on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge, the Brunswick Commercial Historic District, and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, where she wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin".

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