Editing Brownfield, Maine (section)

==History==

[[File:Brownfield Maine Civil War Monument by John Wilson.jpg|thumb|left|[[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] private Daniel A. Bean of Brownfield, Maine, [[11th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment]] by Sculptor [[John Wilson (sculptor)|John Wilson]]]]

The area was once territory of the Pequawket [[Abenaki]] [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Indians]], whose main village was located at what is today [[Fryeburg, Maine|Fryeburg]]. It was granted on January 23, 1764, by the [[Massachusetts General Court]] to Captain Henry Young Brown for his services in the [[French and Indian Wars]]. Settlement began about 1765. Brown was required to settle 38 families by June 10, 1770, with a minister recruited by three years after that. Unfortunately, a portion of the original grant was found to lie in [[New Hampshire]].<ref name=Coolidge>{{Cite book  | last = Coolidge  | first = Austin J.|author2=John B. Mansfield  | title = A History and Description of New England| publisher = A.J. Coolidge  | year = 1859| location = Boston, Massachusetts| pages = [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n108 74]–75| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.  }}</ref>
 
Replacement land in Maine was granted to Brown on June 25, 1766. It was called Brownfield Addition, one part of which now lies within [[Hiram, Maine|Hiram]] and [[Denmark, Maine|Denmark]]. The township was first organized as Brownfield Plantation, named in honor of its principal proprietor. On February 20, 1802, it was incorporated as Brownfield. By the [[War of 1812]], it had nearly 900 residents.<ref name="Coolidge"/>

[[Farming]] was the chief occupation, with the [[Saco River]] providing [[water power]] for industry. Products of the mills included [[flour]], long [[lumber]], [[barrel]] staves, [[rocking chair]]s, [[clothing]], [[carriage]]s, [[sleigh]]s and [[wiktionary:harness|harness]]. After the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the [[Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad]] passed through the town, following the general course of the river.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120717172450/http://history.rays-place.com/me/brownfield-me.htm George J. Varney, "History of Brownfield, Maine" (1886)]</ref>

But the [[The Great Fires of 1947|Great Fires of 1947]] would destroy 85% of Brownfield. In an effort to replace lost commerce, a [[ski resort]] was proposed for Burnt Meadow Mountain. It opened in 1971 with a {{convert|3400|ft|m|adj=on}} [[T-bar lift]], but after being renamed Zodiac Skiway in 1980, closed in 1982. Today, the T-bars are still hanging in place.<ref>[http://nelsap.org/me/burntmeadow.html History of Burnt Meadow Mountain Ski Area, 1971-1982]</ref>
 
In 2002, Brownfield celebrated its 200th anniversary.