Editing Harrison, Maine (section)

==History==

The [[Massachusetts General Court]] granted Otis Field Plantation in 1771 to [[James Otis, Jr.|James Otis]] and other heirs of Captain John Gorham and his company for their service in the 1690 [[Battle of Quebec (1690)|Battle of Quebec]]. It replaced a 1736 grant which had been ruled invalid. In 1797, the plantation was incorporated as [[Otisfield, Maine|Otisfield]]. On March 8, 1805, Harrison was set off and incorporated from portions of Otisfield and [[Bridgton, Maine|Bridgton]]. It was named after a principal landowner, [[Harrison Gray Otis (politician)|Harrison Gray Otis]] of [[Boston]], the heir of James Otis.<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 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ/page/n188 154] |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ |quote=coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.}}</ref>

In the autumn of 1792, two brothers from [[Gorham, Maine|Gorham]], John and Nathan Carsley, built a camp and cleared land in Harrison. During the winter they returned to Gorham, coming back in March 1793 with their wives. Because John Carsley and his wife remained in Harrison when Nathan Carsley and his wife resumed living in Gorham until 1796, he is considered the town's first permanent settler. More pioneers arrived, living in [[log cabin|log house]]s chinked with [[moss]]. The outlet of Crystal Lake into Long Lake provided [[water power]] for industry, and James Sampson erected at Harrison village the first [[sawmill]] and [[gristmill]]. Over the years other industries followed, including a wire-making business, [[blacksmith]]y, [[roof shingle|shingle]] mill, [[safety harness|harness-maker]], [[foundry]], [[carriage]] maker, [[clothing]] maker and [[shoemaking|shoe]] shop. Scribner's Mill (now a museum) was built in 1847 on the [[Crooked River (Songo River)|Crooked River]]. On the Bear River, in 1867 the Harrison Water Power Company established the Bear River Woolen Mill, destroyed by fire in 1872.<ref name="ReferenceA">Alphonso Moulton, Howard L. Sampson and Granville Fernald, ''Centennial History of Harrison, Maine'', 1909; published by the Southworth Printing Company, Portland, Maine</ref>

In 1832, the [[Cumberland and Oxford Canal]] opened, connecting [[Portland, Maine|Portland]] with [[Sebago Lake]]. A series of 27 [[lock (water transport)|locks]] lifted vessels from sea level at [[Casco Bay]] to Sebago Lake, {{convert|270|ft}} above sea level. From there they traveled up the [[Songo River]] to [[Brandy Pond (Cumberland County, Maine)|Brandy Pond]], then continued along the [[Chute River]] to Long Lake. As the company name indicates, the canal was originally planned to reach [[Oxford County, Maine|Oxford County]], but instead terminated at Harrison. The town became a center for trade and transportation, with [[wharf|wharves]] and [[warehouse]]s lining the shore.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

[[Image:Caswell Public Library, Harrison, ME.jpg|thumb|right|Caswell Library in 1914, built in 1908 and now on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]]]
In 1847, the Sebago & Long Pond Steam Navigation Company built ''Fawn'', the first [[steamboat]] to ply the lakes and waterways. It had a shallow [[draft (hull)|draft]] to navigate the winding Songo River, with passengers asked to shift sides as [[sailing ballast|ballast]] to keep both [[paddlewheel]]s in the water around sharp curves. The lakes became a popular summer tourist destination, with The Elm House (later called The Elms Inn) opening in 1860. When the [[Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad]] commenced service to [[Standish, Maine|Sebago Lake Station]] in 1870, the canal was abandoned as obsolete. Beginning in 1898, the [[Bridgton and Saco River Railroad]], a [[narrow gauge]] line, delivered freight and passengers directly to Harrison.

In 1906, the Harrison Hotel opened. Camp Kineo operated beside Long Lake as a camp for boys. Today, Harrison remains a recreational area. Harrison is also home to [http://fernwoodcove.com Fernwood Cove], a half-season summer camp for girls on the same spot as Camp Chickawah was. It is located on Island Pond.<ref>Reverend G. T. Ridlon, ''History of the Settlement and Early Settlers of Harrison, Maine'', 1877; Published by Kilby & Woodbury; Skowhegan, Maine 1877</ref>

In 1936 the Historic Deertrees Theatre was built by Enrica Clay Dillon and is still home to countless theatre, opera and music performances, including the Sebago Long Lake Music Festival.

<gallery>
Image:Main Street, Harrison, ME.jpg|Main Street in 1912
Image:Camp Kineo, Harrison, ME.jpg|Camp Kineo in 1914
Image:The Elms Inn, Harrison, ME.jpg|The Elms Inn in 1910
</gallery>