Editing Standish, Maine (section)

==History==

This was once hunting and fishing territory of the [[Abenaki]] tribe, whose main village was at Pequawket (now [[Fryeburg, Maine|Fryeburg]]) up the Pequawket Trail (now Route 113). In 1750, the [[Massachusetts General Court]] granted the township to Captain Moses Pearson and Captain Humphrey Hobbs, together with their respective companies, for services during the [[French and Indian Wars]].<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/n351 313]–314| url = https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_OcoMAAAAYAAJ| quote = coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.  }}</ref>

It was to be called Pearson and Hobbs Town, but Hobbs died and none of his company took possession. In 1752, the land was surveyed and divided into {{convert|30|acre|m2|adj=on}} lots, although some soldiers sold their rights for whatever they could get. Those that did settle found their cabins razed by Indians trying to drive them away. In response, the veterans built at Standish Corner a [[stockade]]d fort, which provided protection until Indian hostilities ceased in 1759 with the [[Fall of Quebec]]. Pearsontown Plantation was incorporated as Standish on November 30, 1785.<ref name="MAGDE">{{cite book |last= Maine League of Historical Societies and Museums |editor=Doris A. Isaacson |title=Maine: A Guide 'Down East' |year=1970 |publisher=Courier-Gazette, Inc. |location=Rockland, Me | pages = 410 }}</ref><ref name="MAINEDOTGOV">{{cite web |title=Maine Local Government - Town of Standish |url=http://www.maine.gov/local/cumberland/standish/ |access-date=January 14, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061215060544/http://www.maine.gov/local/cumberland/standish/ <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 15, 2006}}</ref> The town is named in honor of [[Myles Standish|Captain Myles Standish]].<ref name="MAINEDOTGOV" />

Much of Standish is sandy plains covered with [[pine]], yet [[farmer]]s found considerable [[arable land]]. [[Watermill]]s at various streams produced [[lumber]], headings, shooks, [[barrel|barrel staves]], [[carriage]]s, [[clothing]], [[flour]], [[ice]], [[plaster]] and packing boxes. The [[Cumberland and Oxford Canal]] opened in 1832, increasing trade between [[Sebago Lake]] and [[Portland, Maine|Portland]]. It was followed by the [[Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad]], which on September 12, 1870, began regular passenger service between Portland and Sebago Lake Station.<ref>[http://history.rays-place.com/me/standish-me.htm George J. Varney, ''History of Standish, Maine;'' Boston, Massachusetts 1886]</ref> Tourists could arrive by [[train]] in the morning, ride a side-wheel [[steamboat]] the whole length of the lakes, then return to the city by evening. The cost of the excursion in 1876 was $1.75 from Portland to [[Naples, Maine|Naples]], and $2.00 from Portland to [[Bridgton, Maine|Bridgton]], North Bridgton or [[Harrison, Maine|Harrison]]. Standish also had [[railroad]] [[Train station|depot]]s at Richville and Steep Falls. In 1998, [[Frye Island, Maine|Frye Island]] in Sebago Lake was set off and incorporated as a separate town. Today, Standish is both a recreational area and suburb of Portland.

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Image:Sebago Lake, ME Railroad Station.jpg|Sebago Lake Sta. in 1907
Image:Steamboat Leaving Sebago Lake Station Landing.jpg|Sebago Lake {{circa|1915}}
Image:Pierce Memorial Library, Steep Falls, ME.jpg|Steep Falls Library {{circa|1920}}
</gallery>