Editing Naples, Maine (section)

==History==

The area was settled in 1774. Farming in [[Naples, Maine]] was limited by the soil, which consisted of gravelly loam, its surface strewn with [[glacial erratic]] [[boulder]]s. The uplands, however, provided good grazing for [[livestock]], and [[hay]] became the principal crop.<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/n255 220]–222| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.  }}</ref>

Named for [[Naples]], [[Italy]],<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2246|title= Profile for Naples, Maine, ME|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= August 26, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070713/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=2246|archive-date= November 9, 2018|url-status= dead}}</ref> the town was incorporated on March 4, 1834,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.city-data.com/city/Naples-Maine.html|title= Naples, Maine|publisher= City-Data.com |access-date=August 26, 2012}}</ref> from parts of [[Otisfield, Maine|Otisfield]], [[Harrison, Maine|Harrison]], [[Raymond, Maine|Raymond]] and [[Bridgton, Maine|Bridgton]]. Between 1845 and 1856, it annexed more land from [[Sebago, Maine|Sebago]], Otisfield and Bridgton. The Songo [[lock (water transport)|Lock]], completed two years before town incorporation, linked [[Long Lake (Maine)|Long Lake]] and [[Brandy Pond (Cumberland County, Maine)|Brandy Pond]] with [[Sebago Lake]], allowing passage of boats from [[Harrison, Maine]] to [[Portland, Maine|Portland]] through the [[Cumberland and Oxford Canal]] in [[Standish, Maine|Standish]]. A [[canning]] factory and [[Cooper (profession)|cooperage]] were established at Naples village. The community also produced [[carriage]]s, men's and boy's clothing, boots and shoes.<ref>[http://history.rays-place.com/me/naples-me.htm George J. Varney, "History of Naples, Maine" (1886)]</ref>

The scenery of the lakes, however, would make [[tourism]] the dominant industry. Visitors in the 19th century included [[Henry Wadsworth Longfellow]] and [[Nathaniel Hawthorne]]. To accommodate his passengers, Charles L. Goodridge of the Sebago Lake, Songo River & Bay of Naples Steamship Company built a hostelry on a knoll at the southern end of Long Lake. On July 26, 1899, the Bay of Naples Inn opened with 80 bedrooms. It was designed by [[John Calvin Stevens]], who reduced by two-fifths a plan originally created for the ill-fated Metallak Hotel in [[Colebrook, New Hampshire|Colebrook]], [[New Hampshire]]. While under construction, the Metallak was destroyed in April 1893 during a violent [[windstorm]], and its investors abandoned the project. The Bay of Naples Inn, which faced [[Mount Washington (New Hampshire)|Mount Washington]] and the east side of the [[White Mountains (New Hampshire)|White Mountains]], was a popular resort during the early 20th century. Automobile tourists began arriving after designation of the [[Theodore Roosevelt International Highway]] in 1919 (identified as [[United States Route 302]] since 1935).<ref name="montana">{{cite book |last= Tracy |first= A.W. |chapter= Highway Display's America's Glories |title= Theodore Roosevelt International Highway, Montana |page=7 |url= http://www.mdt.mt.gov/photogallery/docs/trhwy1.pdf |publisher= [[Montana Department of Transportation]] |access-date= August 21, 2008 |date= December 1996 |orig-year= 1921}}</ref>  The Bay of Naples Inn remained open through the 1951 season, but in 1964 was deemed unprofitable and razed.<ref>Bryant F. Tolles, Jr., ''The Grand Resort Hotels of the White Mountains''; David R. Godine, publisher; Boston 1998</ref>

<gallery>
Image:Naples Village & Long Lake, Naples, ME.jpg|Naples village {{circa|1920}} 
Image:Post Office, Naples, ME.jpg|Post Office in {{circa|1910}}
Image:The Casino, Naples, ME.jpg|The Casino in 1911
Image:Bay of Naples Inn, Naples, ME.jpg|Bay of Naples Inn, 1913
</gallery>