Welcome to a summary of the cultural history of the town of Canton, Oxford County, Maine. Each item below marks a highlight of Canton’s history. Sometimes a sentence or two is sufficient to convey what happened on a particular date. In other cases, a link is provided to take you to a page with more information. Following most entries [and in brackets] is an abbreviated reference to the source of the information. The full citations are at the bottom of this page.

How you can help: If you have additional information (including/especially images) or corrections, please e-mail info@vfthomas.com, or send what you have by traditional mail to the address at the top of this page.

A little work by each of us will save a lot of work for all of us.

In addition to the dates and events below, there are webpages about Canton’s
      cemeteries;
      census records (1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880) with 1900 [in prep.];
      deeds;
      genealogy [includes surnames from other places];
      markers, monuments, and memorials;
      postal history; and
      tours [needs much work].

11,000–10,500 b.p. (before present)

First indigenous persons (paleo Indians) in Maine

10,000 b.p.–approximately 1620 c.e. (common era)

Indigenous people did not have written languages. Although much has been learned about their cultures, their “history” as that term is usually understood in European cultures is unknown to us. It was not until the period of contact that written material about their history/culture is known, and that is from the European perspective.

???–1775

The Anasagunticook tribe, with their “tribal capital” at what is now called Canton Point, lived in villages along the Androscoggin River (e.g., today’s Lisbon, Brunswick, Topsham, Lewiston, and Auburn). The names of a few individuals who lived at Canton Point are known to us because they signed one or more “treaties” with the English. They are:    Tarumkin - chief sagamore of the Anasagunticooks; spokesman at 1675 conference at Teconnet (Winslow) and signer of 1678 Treaty of Casco, ending King Philip’s War.    Kankamagus or Cancamigus - chief sagamore of Pennacook tribe (New Hampshire) who relocated with remnants of his tribe to Canton Point; became a sachem and later chief sagamore of Anasagunticooks. In Auburn in 1685 due to expected invasion, and signed Treaty of Portsmouth on 28 July 1714.    Mesabomett - chief at Canton Point in 1703.    Auyaummowett or Ausummowett or Jummaway- Captain and Councillor of Anasagunticooks; signed a letter to Governor Dummer that was dated at Richmond on 7 July 1727; chosen orator for tribes at 1727 Falmouth Conference; became chief sagamore of Anasagunticooks.    Saawaramet - chief sagamore at Canton Point in 1749; principal signer for Anasagunticooks of 1749 Treaty of Falmouth; later moved with some members of his trib to land near Quebec.    Mollocket (also Molly Ockett and more) - moved from Canton Point around 1755 to St. Francis tribe; later moved to Fryeburg, Andover, and Bethel; buried in Andover.

TO THINK ABOUT

In 2021, the town of Canton will be celebrating its bicentennial—two hundred years of living on the landscape that is familiar to all of us. Some highlights of that history are mentioned below. Before the first white Europeans came to what is now Canton, the indigenous people, most recently the Anasagunticooks, had lived here for some 10,000 years. If highlights from their lives as a tribe (and families and individuals) were given an amount of space on this page proportional to the space given to the history of the European settlers, the length of what you would read above this paragraph would be 50 times as long as what is reported below.

1776

First persons of European origin arrived in Phipps Canada

1792

First persons of European origin arrived in the portion of Phipps Canada that is now Canton [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

26 February 1795

Phipps Canada, which then included what is now Canton, incorporated as Town of Jay [Attwood (1946), p. 172.]

1814

First person of European origin, Gustavus Hayford, settled in village portion of Canton; Hayford moved from Hartford, built first log cabin, first frame house (1814), first saw mill, and first grist mill [Vashaw (1995), p. 1.]; also built dam on Whitney Brook [Vashaw (1995), p. 102.]

1816

Second oldest house built, by Zeri Hayford [Vashaw (1995), p. 20.]

5 February 1821

Canton set off from Jay and incorporated [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

28 March 1821

First town meeting, at Canton Point school [Vashaw (1995), p. 1.]

15 May 1821

Jay Point post office, which was established on 1817 October 9, became called the Canton post office (For more information about Canton’s postal history, click here.)

27 January 1823

Part of Canton set off to Jay [Attwood (1946), p. 120.] {repealed?}

3 February 1824

Part of Canton set off to Jay [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

28 February 1824

Part of Canton set off to Jay [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

4 March 1831

Part of Canton set off to Jay [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

1832

Otis Hayford house built; became Ed Goding home, gutted by fire and torn down, now parking lot of Pinnacle Health and Rehab [Vashaw (1995), p. 20.]

25 February 1839

Part of Hartford annexed [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

4 August 1842

North Hartford post office, which was established on 1825 January 28, became called the Canton Mills post office (For more information about Canton’s postal history, click here.)

20 February 1845

date of commission for A. Hayford as Justice of the Peace [Maine Register, 1852, p. 93.]

4 March 1847

date of commission for Elbr. G. Harlow as a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum [Maine Register, 1852, p. 91.]

1 May 1848

date of commission for Corne. Holland as a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum [Maine Register, 1852, p. 91.]

21 July 1848

date of commission for Ebenezer Harlow as a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum [Maine Register, 1852, p. 91.]

12 June 1849

date of commission for Wm. Thompson as a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum [Maine Register, 1852, p. 91.]

7 August 1849

date of commission for Benj. K. Swasey as a Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum [Maine Register, 1852, p. 91.]

1850

Selectmen: Caleb P. Holland, Ira Reynolds, John M. Deshon Clerk and Treasurer: John Hersey

8 August 1850

Part of Hartford annexed [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

1851

Clerk and Treasurer: John Hersey

1851–1852

Selectmen: Gideon Ellis, Ira Reynolds, Jacob Ludden

21 February 1851

date of commission for Horatio Austin as Coroner [Maine Register, 1852, p. 94.]

1852

Clerk and Treasurer: John M. Deshon Deputy Sheriff: Horatio Austin [Maine Register, 1852, p. 94.]

1853–1854

Selectmen: Caleb P. Holland, George DeCoster, Granville Child Clerk and Treasurer: John M. Deshon

1855

Selectmen: Ira L. Delano, Thomas C. Gurney, Amasa Huntress

1856

Selectmen: Ira L. Delano, Thomas C. Gurney, Hiram A. Ellis

1857

Selectmen: Thomas C. Gurney, H. A. Ellis, Sylvanus R. Treat

1858

Selectmen: Thomas C. Gurney, John McAllister, Ansel G. Staples

1859

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, Elkanah Leonard, S. R. Treat

2 April 1859

Part of Canton set off to Peru [Attwood (1946), p. 120.]

1860

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, Elkanah Leonard, John D. Hodge

1861

Selectmen: John McCollister, Jacob Ludden, Granville Child

1862–1864

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, John D. Hodge, Farnum Austin

24 February 1864

Canton post office (formerly Jay Point post office) became called the Canton Point post office. Canton Mills post office (formerly North Hartford post office) became called the Canton post office, and it is still in operation. (For more information about Canton’s postal history, click here.)

1865

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, John D. Hodge, Otis Hayford Jr.

1866

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, Thomas C. Gurney, Albion Thorne

1868

Selectmen: C. S. Brown, C. P. Holland, William Dunn

7 March 1868

Town vote to issue a Canton Railway Aid Debt $500 bond to the First National Bank of Portland, Maine (bond [image courtesy of Michael Strout])

1869

Selectmen: C. S. Brown, C. P. Holland, Charles T. Moulton

1870

Selectmen: [P. C.?] Holland, Charles T. Moulton, D. P. Stowell

1871

Selectmen: O. Hayford, A. G. Staples, Thomas Reynolds

1873

Selectmen: C. T. Moulton, B. C. Waite, G. Ellis

1874

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, C. P. Holland, S. P. Adkins

1875

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, C. P. Holland, I. B. Fuller

1876

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, J. M. Holland, S. P. Adkins

1877

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, William H. H. Washburn, S. P. Adkins

1878–1879

Selectmen: H. A. Ellis, A. P. Hutchinson, J. M. Holland

1879

Canton Steam Mill constructed, by Gilbert brothers [Vashaw (1995), p. 101.] First issue of The Canton Telephone [files of Canton Historical Society]

1880

Selectmen: C. M. Holland, J. M. Holland, William H. H. Washburn

1881

Selectmen: J. M. Holland, William H. H. Washburn, Albert K. Foster

20 December 1881

Gilbertville post office opened [The Post Offices of Maine]

1882

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, A. K. Foster, O. Hayford

1883

Selectmen: J. M. Holland, A. Dunn, A. K. Foster

17 January 1883

Resurgence of The Canton Telephone

1884

Selectmen: J. M. Holland, A. Dunn, A. S. Hathaway

1885

Selectmen: J. M. Holland, A. K. Foster, Adelbert Delano

1886

Selectmen: A. Delano, O. F. Taylor, H. N. Campbell

1887

Selectmen: A. Delano, B. C. Waite, H. N. Campbell

1888

Selectmen: A. Delano, B. C. Waite, C. C. Ellis

1889

Selectmen: B. C. Waite, J. H. Burbank, C. C. Ellis

1890–1891

Selectmen: B. C. Waite, C. T. Bonney, W. W. Rose

year ending 18 February 1891

The Annual Report of the Selectmen[,] Assessors and Overseers of the Poor, Treasurer and Supervisor of Schools of the Town of Canton reported that the town raised $50 to build a “hearse house” and $500 to build a road, but the report did not say which road. A town expense during the year had been $3.00 for a “bounty on crows”.    The selectmen were B. C. Waite, C. T. Bonney Jr., and W W. Rose. The Clerk and Treasurer was M. Peabody, and the Overseer of the Town Farm was L. O. Virgin.    J. C. Swasey, the Supervisor of Schools, included in his report notes about two articles that were in the warrant: “An article has been inserted in the warrant, to set off a part of district No. 3 (Canton Point district) and annex to district No. 1.” and “An article has also been inserted in the warrant, to see what action the town will take toward building or repairing the school house in district No. 4. This school house (if it may be called such) is in a deplorable condition and I do not consider it safe for scholors [sic] to sit in it six hours a day in cold weather. The house has been in this condition for a long time, thus the article in the warrant.”

1892

Selectmen: C. T. Bonney Jr., W. K. Decoster, A. K. Foster

1893

Selectmen: A. Delano, William H. H. Washburn, D. W. Woodward

1894

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, A. K. Foster, D. W. Woodward

1895

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, S. M. Ludden, D. B. Dearborn

1896

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, C. F. Oldham, A. Delano

6 March 1896

Dam on Whitney Brook broke, Canton village flooded [Vashaw (1995), p. 156.]

1897–1898

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, C. F. Oldham, C. H. Ellis

1897

Opera House built by Odd Fellows; replaced Main Street Hotel (formerly known as the Barrows Central House, and before that the Bosworth Hotel); torn down in 1983. [Vashaw (1995), p. 10.] The Opera House was between what is now the post office and the Canton Variety (prior to the addition of the store/restaurant and gas pumps).

1899

Selectmen: William H. H. Washburn, E. W. Howe, J. M. Johnson

1900

Selectmen: A. Delano, E. W. Howe, J. M. Johnson

year ending 18 February 1902		Selectmen: B. C. Waite, C. F. Oldham, S. B. Ellis Clerk and Treasurer: J. W. Thompson School Committee: John K. Forham, Nathan Reynolds, W. A. Lucas Collector and Constable: Otis M. Richardson
		In addition to the High School, the following school districts were mentioned in the town report:    District 1 - Wyman    District 2 - Village    District 3 - Canton Point    District 4 - Mountain    District 8 - Pine Woods    District 10 - Carver    District 11 - Gilbertville From the Superintendent’s Report:    “Attendance has been good, the total enrollment for the year is approximately 208 and the average attendance about 175. With the exception of the Mountain School, none have suffered from epidemic and the weather has generally favored the attendance upon school duties. … [The Mountain School] had not been running more than 3 weeks in the fall … when diphtheria broke out in the neighborhood and the health authorities closed the school.”

22 September 1902

Meadowview post office opened [The Post Offices of Maine]

year ending 18 February 1903

Selectmen: B. C. Waite, E. E. Caldwell, D. B. Dearborn Clerk and Treasurer: J. W. Thompson School Committee: Nathan Reynolds, W. A. Lucas, John Briggs Collector and Constable: Otis M. Richardson

1904

Selectmen: E. E. Caldwell, W. W. Blanchard, F. W. Morse

year ending 20 February 1906

Selectmen: E. E. Caldwell, C. R. Ellis, Henry T. Tirrell Clerk and Treasurer: G. L. Wadlin Superintendent of Schools: Henry Tirrell School Committee: C. T. Bonney, F. E. Rowe, O. M. Richardson Collector and Constable: Otis M. Richardson

5 March 1906

Article 12 (of town meeting warrant): To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise for permanent sidewalks and direct how the same shall be expended. Article 17: To see if the town will vote to prohibit sliding in the streets of Canton village, or act anything relating thereto.

year ending 20 February 1908

Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of Poor: M. A. Waite, S. B. Ellis, A. F. Hayford Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: A. F. Russell Superintendent of Schools: John C. Parlin Superintending School Committee: John Briggs, F. W. Morse, A. J. Barrett Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, O. M. Richardson, R. E. McCollister

year ending 20 February 1909

Selectmen: M. A. Waite, S. B. Ellis, A. F. Hayford Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: A. F. Russell Superintendent of Schools: J. W. Taylor School Committee: F. W. Morse, A. J. Barrett, J. H. Dailey Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, R. E. McCollister

year ending 20 February 1910

Selectmen: M. A. Waite, S. B. Ellis, Ellis Delano Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: John Briggs Superintendent of Schools: J. W. Taylor School Committee: A. J. Barrett, J. H. Dailey, F. W. Morse Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, R. E. McCollister, John Briggs

1908

Bradbury Memorial Chapel built; money for construction left by Albion E. Bradbury; dedicated 1909 June 25 [Vashaw (1995), p. 53.]

25 June 1909

Bradbury Memorial Chapel dedicated (see 1908 above for construction) [Vashaw (1995), p. 53.]

14 August 1909

Meadowview post office closed [The Post Offices of Maine]

30 November 1909

Gilbertville post office closed [The Post Offices of Maine]

year ending 20 February 1911

Selectmen: M. A. Waite, S. B. Ellis, Ellis Delano Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: John Briggs Superintendent of Schools: W. B. Woodbury School Committee: J. H. Dailey, F. W. Morse, George L. Wadlin Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, John Briggs, John N. Foye

August 1910

dedication of Civil War Monument [Vashaw (1995), p. 58.]

year ending 20 February 1912

Selectmen: M. A. Waite, S. B. Ellis, George H. Johnson Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: John Briggs Superintendent of Schools: C. H. Abbott School Committee: George L. Wadlin, F. W. Morse, J. H. Dailey Board of Health: John Briggs, John N. Foye, W. L. Roberts

23 September 1911

Gilbertville post office re-opened [The Post Offices of Maine]

year ending 20 February 1914		Selectmen: C. T. Bonney, George H. Johnson, J. A. Reynolds Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collectors: D. A. Fletcher, John Briggs Superintendent of Schools: C. H. Abbott School Committee: J. H. Dailey, F. W. Morse, G. L. Wadlin Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, John Briggs, John N. Foye
		From report of road commissioners:    In presenting this report, I [L. D. Small] wish to say a few words in explanation of the overdraw in my apportionment    On account of frequent rains and deep frosts we found the culverts and ditches full of ice and roads badly washed which caused an unusual amount of labor to put them in a safe condition.    We have also rebuilt three new bridges.

year ending 15 February 1915

Selectmen: George H. Johnson, C. W. Walker, A. S. Bicknell Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Collector: John Briggs Superintendents of Schools: C. H. Abbott, L. W. Blaisdell School Committee: F. W. Morse, G. L. Wadlin, B. E. Patterson Board of Health: W. L. Roberts, John N. Foye, John Briggs

year ending 20 February 1921		Selectmen: D. A. Bisbee, F. L. Walker, A. L. Tirrell Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Tax Collector: George B. Barrows Superintendent of Schools: T. A. DeCosta School Committee: Dr. F. W. Morse, B. L. Adams, Dr. R. W. Bicknell Health Officer: George B. Barrows Fire Warden: J. G. Davis Road Commissioner: H. E. Hall
		Warrant, Article 23:    To see what action the town will take relative to celebrating the one-hundredth anniversary of its incorporation and raise a sum of money for the same.

year ending 20 January 1922		Selectmen, Assessors, Overseers of Poor, and Fire Wardens: A. L. Tirrell, C. W. Walker, J. H. Pulsifer Clerk and Treasurer: George L. Wadlin Tax Collectors: George B. Barrows, John Briggs Superintendents of Schools: T. A. DeCoster, F. H. Bate School Committee: Dr. R. W. Bicknell, Dr. F. W. Morse, F. M. Oliver, B. E. Patterson Health Officers: George B. Barrows. F. R. Hines Constables: George B. Barrows, C. L. Hall Sealers of Weights and Measures: H. F. Richardson, G. B. Barrows
		Some expenses paid from “Miscellaneous Account”:    $4.00 to F. R. Hines for “taking horse from river and burying”    $5.00 to George B. Barrows and $25.00 to F. R. Hines for “care of tramps”

1927

Flood

15 February 1933

Gilbertville post office closed [The Post Offices of Maine]

1936

Flood

31 January 1940

Canton Point post office closed [The Post Offices of Maine]

year ending 20 January 1954		Moderator: Frank Richardson Clerk and Treasurer: Colby G. Walker Selectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor: Harry A. Foster, Leo York, Frank Bean Tax Collector: Dwight Bisbee Jr. Superintending School Committee: Jane Austin, Respa Dougherty, Harry A. Foster Superintendent of Schools: Alfred Bracy Road Commissioner: Ralph E. Campbell Jr. Health Officer: Helena Walker Sealer of Weights and Measures: Ralph Drake Surveyors of Wood and Bark: Wilmer Kidder, Arthur Tirrell, Dwight Bisbee Jr., Archie Richards Constables: Urban McCollister, Robert Bartlett Truant Officer: Leon Edmonds Fire Chief: Harry Allanach Fire Wardens: Ralph Campbell Sr., Hollis York, Harry Allanach, Bernard Adams Jr.
		From Principal’s Report:    “Today, more than ever before, we need to be taught the lost art of living together peacefully; helping our neighbors rather than debasing them; giving rather than taking; understanding rather than guessing; and workinng together rather than working against and not accomplishing anything at all.”

1953

Flood

year ending 20 January 1965		Moderator: Albert L. Meserve Selectmen: Bernard L. Adams, Claude Waters. Robert L. Taylor Clerk and Treasurer: Victor Davis Tax Collector: Emery Cox Road Commissioner: Ralph Campbell Health Officer: Clyde Dailey Constable: Carroll Norris Truant Officers: Carlton Conant, Hollis York Fire Chief: Hollis York Fire Wardens: Merle Hodge, Hollis York, Ralph Campbell, Bernard Adams Ballot Clerks: Myrle Davis, Roberta Joudrey, Rita Small, Marietta Maxwell
		From report of “Civil Defense and Personal Safety”:    ”The purpose of your Civil Defense and Public Safety should be more clearly understood after the Radio, T.V., Newspaper and other Media concerning the Floods, Fires, Earthquakes, and other disasters last year, the services rendered by the Officers and staff of your Civil Defense during those times in all parts of the United States. ...    ”These terrible disasters are just a mere dot as compared to what we could expect from a nuclear attack.”

1978

Flood

1 April 1987

Flood

2016

Our legacy (woods; near Whitney Brook)