Life is a lot different back in the 1930s. There were no video games, no online shopping and certainly no camera phones. We’ve all come to rely on our phones to help us create instant memories to share with others, but 100 years ago life wasn’t quite so instant. While we love modern convenience, it’s fun to go back and think about how different life was in Maine. And, you’ve got to appreciate how much work went into capturing then developing these photos!
- A firemen’s muster in Boothbay allowed members of the community to come together to see the fire department in action.
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu August, 1939
- The draw for a fireman’s muster in the community was huge. Just look at this crowd.
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu August, 1939.
- In this photo, locals are measuring the farthest drop of water on a sheet of building paper. Some were up to 200 feet from where they started!
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu August, 1939.
- From the same fireman’s muster, this is a typical hand pump. This would have been manned by twenty-four men, twelve along each of the handle bars.
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu August, 1939.
- Before the infamous modern hermit of Maine, there was this guy. The first hermit of Maine standing outside of his home in Freeport.
Paul Carter / photogrammar.yale.edu/ April, 1936.
- In this photo volunteer fire companies compete to see who can throw water the farthest with hand-operated pumps. The prize was one hundred dollars which went to the company that won.
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu August, 1939.
- Snow in Fryeburg didn’t necessarily slow things down. This local is making his way around the center of town.
Marion Post Wolcott / photogrammar.yale.edu March, 1939.
- Here, local workers are dumping potatoes into the grader at the Woodman Potato Company in Caribou.
Jack Delano / photogrammar.research.yale.edu Unknown month, 1939.
- These workmen are wrapping up their lunch hour at the Woodman Potato Company in Caribou. Their lunchroom was a small room at the store house.
Jack Delano / photogrammar.research.yale.edu Unknown month, 1940.
- Main Street in Caribou was an important part of the community. Much like the Main Streets in other Maine town’s today.
Jack Delano / photogrammar.research.yale.edu Unknown month, 1940.
To see more photos like this, check out this website with an easy search function to find Library of Congress photos from decades ago across the country.
Herbert Mayer / photogrammar.yale.edu
August, 1939
August, 1939.
Paul Carter / photogrammar.yale.edu/
April, 1936.
Marion Post Wolcott / photogrammar.yale.edu
March, 1939.
Jack Delano / photogrammar.research.yale.edu
Unknown month, 1939.
Unknown month, 1940.
It’s hard to believe, but even the 1970s was over 40 years ago! These vintage photos from the 1970s in Maine are mesmerizing! Plus, they might be just a little more relatable than those from the 1930s.
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