Wiscasset AP History Students Learn About History in the Head Tide Mills!

At Wiscasset High School, students are exploring the world around them to better understand the deep history of Maine.

Earlier this year, students visited the Head Tide mills - an area that was at one point was a busy village with apple orchards, boat building, and fishing. The Head Tide dam the local river to provide a plentiful supply of wealth

“It's interesting to learn how and where we lived used to be so influential. It provided mill power for so many and was very important for transport, transporting over two and a half million feet of logs through the town," said student Xoe Morse.

Alna, Maine's early mills were located along the Sheepscot River in the Head Tide, Puddle Dock, and Sheepscot Village areas. One of the first industries in Maine, beginning in the early 1600s was the sawing of white pine lumber. Since that time, nearly every tree species found in the state has been used for wide variety of wood and paper products, and the forest products industry has been a very important part of Maine's economy.

“As I continue Mr. Cotta's class, I learn more and more about the abundant and unknown history about the area I live in," said student Ijesity Rhinebolt. "The abundance of wealth as well as the economic position of Maine, especially the Alna region, was at an all-time high during the 19th century. Two and a half million feet of lumber went down Head Tide at one point, which is just insanity to think about.”