Rockland Historical Society

Rockland Historical Society The Rockland Historical Society was organized to collect and preserve the history of the Rockland, M The society has about 150 members.

The Rockland Historical Society was organized in 1977, as the Shore Village Historical Society, to collect and preserve the history of the Rockland area. The collection of the Rockland Historical Society includes: photographs, documents, books, newspapers, and artifacts relating to local families, businesses, and organizations. The collection includes information on local industries such as: lime,

granite, fishing, shipbuilding, and other important seacoast businesses and industries. It includes the archives of four local newspapers; several large historic photograph collections; and information about the local railroads, schools, churches, social and cultural organizations, and a major resort hotel. The collection also includes the extensive archives of the Rockland Grand Army of the Republic and related materials about the Civil War. The Rockland Historical Society's museum and archives are housed in climate controlled rooms on the lower level of the Rockland Public Library. It provides several free educational programs each year and has published six books on Rockland history and assisted in the publication of several others.

An April 26, 1956 photograph shows Ruth Hoch of the Bell Shop instructing four Rockland High School students as they pre...
05/29/2026

An April 26, 1956 photograph shows Ruth Hoch of the Bell Shop instructing four Rockland High School students as they prepare to model the latest dress fashions at the charm school held at the Rockland Community Building. Popular during the 1940s and 1950s, charm schools were programs designed to teach young women social etiquette, poise, personal presentation, and self-confidence. Pictured left to right are Annette Shafter, Joan Philbrook, Sandra Strickland, Shirley Jackson, and Ruth Hoch.

An August 1949 publicity photo of the 1949 Maine Lobster & Seafood Festival Sea Goddess Signe Swanholm on the 40-Fathom ...
05/27/2026

An August 1949 publicity photo of the 1949 Maine Lobster & Seafood Festival Sea Goddess Signe Swanholm on the 40-Fathom parade float.

A c.1914 photograph of Broadway looking north toward the intersection of Summer Street. The closest house in the photo i...
05/26/2026

A c.1914 photograph of Broadway looking north toward the intersection of Summer Street. The closest house in the photo is the Bird house and the house behind the sulky is the Crie house.

A 1907 real photo postcard of the launching of the six-masted schooner Mertie B. Crowley, the largest Rockland-built shi...
05/22/2026

A 1907 real photo postcard of the launching of the six-masted schooner Mertie B. Crowley, the largest Rockland-built ship. Built by Cobb, Butler & Co., the schooner was designed to carry about 5,000 tons of coal. The schooner was 296 feet long and her six masts were 122 feet tall. An estimated 6,000 to 10,000 people witnessed the launching. The ship wrecked during a storm on Wasque shoals in Vinyard Sound on January 23, 1910 while carrying a load of coal from Norfolk, Virginia to Boston.

This photograph, taken around 1921, shows workers busy processing dried fish at the East Coast Fisheries plant on Tillso...
05/21/2026

This photograph, taken around 1921, shows workers busy processing dried fish at the East Coast Fisheries plant on Tillson Avenue, a piece of local history that has long since disappeared.

So much has changed since then, but the memories live on. Did you, your grandparents, parents, or relatives ever work at a fish processing plant in the area? We'd love to hear your stories, the early mornings, the hard work, the friendships forged on the floor.

Share your memories in the comments below, even the smallest details paint a picture. If you know someone whose family was part of the local fishing industry, tag them so their stories don't get lost!

A c.1950 photo of the old Knox County Jail that was located at the corner of Limerock and High Streets next to the court...
05/20/2026

A c.1950 photo of the old Knox County Jail that was located at the corner of Limerock and High Streets next to the court house. The jail was built in 1892 and was replaced by a new jail/law enforcement building on upper Park Street in 1991.

Two April 28, 1956 photos of the view from the First Baptist Church clock tower on Main Street prior to its removal. The...
05/18/2026

Two April 28, 1956 photos of the view from the First Baptist Church clock tower on Main Street prior to its removal. The tower was built in 1882 and the clock was added in 1926. The clock tower became a safety hazard after being damaged by two hurricanes in 1954.

This house located at 58 Pine Street has quite a history. It was built in 1844 by John Spofford just north of 429 Main S...
05/15/2026

This house located at 58 Pine Street has quite a history. It was built in 1844 by John Spofford just north of 429 Main Street in the area of where Main Street Markets is today. He was postmaster at the time and used it as his post office until the land was bought for the construction of the present day block. John Spofford then moved the house to his lot at the corner of Union and Limerock Streets where the Court House now stands. When the county bought his land to build the Court House the house was purchased by James Hartnett who moved it to his lot beside his own house on the corner of Pink and Winter Streets. When the Limerock Railroad began laying out the route for their new railroad to the lime kilns on Crockett’s Point, they found that this house would be in its path. The railroad bought the house from James Hartnett and sold it to Charles W. Perry who moved it on July 25, 1889 to the location where it stands today.

An October 13, 1962 of the fire prevention parade on Main Street. The House of Cards, Gifford's, Self Service Shoe Store...
05/14/2026

An October 13, 1962 of the fire prevention parade on Main Street. The House of Cards, Gifford's, Self Service Shoe Store, Coffins, the Thorndike and the Paramount Restaurant can be seen along the left. Coffin's later moved across the street.

A c.1921 photo of the Rockland-Rockport Lime Company facilities along the waterfront in the North End. The Crockett Buil...
05/13/2026

A c.1921 photo of the Rockland-Rockport Lime Company facilities along the waterfront in the North End. The Crockett Building can be seen on the left where Claws is today. The home of Arthur B. Crockett can be seen in the middle at 754 Main Street where Hole In the Wall Bagels is located today. Rockland’s lime industry was a major economic influence on the entire vicinity. Barrel and cask making, stone crushing, the harvesting of kiln wood and especially the shipbuilding and shipping businesses were directly related to the manufacturing of lime. For 100 years Rockland depended upon lime for its economic growth. New York and other great American cities depended on Rockland lime for the construction of their buildings. In the 20th century Rockland’s lime industry slowly succumbed to the development of modern building materials and less expensive building processes.

Address

8 North Main Street
Rockland, ME
04841

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(207) 594-6193

Website

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