Entries by Mary Grow

Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Trolleys

by Mary Grow – The Waterville & Fairfield Railroad, which was initially powered by horses, is described in both books. Cummings wrote that it was incorporated on Feb. 24, 1887, and authorized to run horse-drawn cars the three and a third miles from Waterville to Fairfield. With $20,000 in bond sales and $20,000 borrowed, Amos F. Gerald, of Fairfield, and the other organizers acquired four cars and six horses…

China planners decide to prepare separate solar ordinance

by Mary Grow China Planning Board members decided at their Sept. 22 meeting they should prepare a separate ordinance to set requirements for solar developments, instead of trying to amend the existing land use ordinance. Attorney Thomas Federle, of Federle Law, in Portland, has been representing SunRaise Investments as the company got approval for two […]

‘Swap shop’ temporarily closed at China transfer station

by Mary Grow China selectmen agreed to two temporary closings at their Sept. 28 meeting, one their own doing and one not. At the transfer station, the free for the taking building, sometimes called the swap shop, will be closed indefinitely, effective immediately. Reopening will depend on state guidelines concerning Covid-19 safety measures. Selectmen were […]

Up and down the Kennebec Valley Railway transportation

by Mary Grow Although the narrow-gauge railroad that was built inland from Wiscasset starting in 1894 never reached either Québec (its first name was the Wiscasset and Québec) or Waterville or Farmington (later it was the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington) (see The Town Line, Sept. 17), as the WW&F it was an integral part of […]

VASSALBORO: All going well with school reopening

by Mary Grow Vassalboro Community School (VCS) has started the year well, administrators told School Board members as they met Sept. 15, at the beginning of the second week of classes. Safety regulations and educational programming both work well, so far. Board members’ reaction included vetoing interscholastic sports – soccer, specifically, Principal Megan Allen said […]

Vassalboro finances in good shape with adequate surplus

by Mary Grow Vassalboro selectmen heard updates on several aspects of town affairs at their Sept. 17 meeting. Auditor Ron Smith, managing partner in Buxton-based RHR Smith & Company, said as of June 30, 2019, the town’s finances were in good shape, with an adequate surplus for emergencies. “I think you guys are doing a […]

CHINA: Rte. 3 local water source closed to public use

by Mary Grow China selectmen discussed multiple ongoing issues and one new one at their Sept. 14 meeting. The new issue was a letter asking if the town would provide a public water supply in South China. The spring in a Route 3 front yard from which area residents have taken water for years has […]