Katahdin Ethos represents the history, character, and fundamental values passed down through generations by the brave
men and women who risked everything to build the Katahdin Region in the North Maine Woods.
Millinocket - The Magic City in Maine's Wilderness
That's our nickname, or more simply, just Magic City. You might be wondering how it came about. Before the paper mill existed, there was nothing here except a few early settlers. Great Northern Paper seemingly sprang up overnight. But more specifically, in about two short years of hurried construction, the town appeared beside it.
Great Northern Paper grew to become the largest mill in the world at the time, and Millinocket became known as "The Magic City in Maine's Wilderness." Great Northern Paper was the leader in the industry while setting the trend for the rest of the world for the paper-making process and creating the strongest economy in Maine.
But let's take a step back to almost 200 years ago. Millinocket, Maine, was first settled in 1829 by Thomas Fowler and his family, who cleared land for a farm. When the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad extended its service to Houlton in 1894, the railroad line ran through the Millinocket area and opened it to development.
An engineering graduate from the University of Maine named Charles W. Mullen proposed a hydroelectric dam on the West Branch of the Penobscot River and recognized the falls would be an ideal water power source to operate a large pulp and paper mill. Mullen contacted Garret Schenck, the vice-president of the International Paper mill in Rumford Falls, Maine, and an expert in the industry regarding building a pulp and paper mill near a dam. Mr. Schenck agreed to construct the mill and set about to obtain the necessary financial backing.
After securing rights to the land, the chosen site was at the junction of the West Branch of the Penobscot River and Millinocket Stream, where it continues to be today. They wasted no time, and on May 15, 1899, construction began on the Great Northern Paper Company mill. The mill's location was not near any towns, so it became necessary to build one. Millinocket, which means "the land of many islands" after all the islands in the Penobscot River (and the name having nothing to do with the mill), was incorporated on March 16, 1901.
Millinocket, Maine
Millinocket, Maine
off the River Bank
in the 1920's
The Katahdin Region Has Something for Every Outdoorsman
Whether you're from the Millinocket area, have vacationed here and taken advantage of all the sights and outdoor activities in Northern Maine (Maine's motto is Vacationland, after all), or have hiked the Appalachian Trail. Either way, if you've been lucky enough to spend time here and experience the community, you know how special it is and caring the residents are, even when you're from out of state, or as we say, "outah statah."
If you love the outdoors, we have something for you to enjoy while creating memories with friends and families to share for years to come. Many Hollywood celebrities, musicians, athletes, and more have taken their passion for the wilderness to our neck of the woods in Maine to hunt, fish, and relax.
One, in particular, was Red Sox legend Ted Williams. The Katahdin area was one of his favorite places to get away from the spotlight and the baseball writers, whom he often feuded with and referred to as "Knights of the Typewriter," or as we refer to these days online, "Keyboard Warriors." He was occasionally seen around Millinocket and loved meeting with friends to go fishing, especially fly fishing. As you would expect, he was known as one of the best fly fishermen anybody had ever seen, just as he was the best at almost everything he did, including hitting a baseball.
Most people know Ted Williams only as a Major League Baseball Hall of Famer, but in 2000, he also earned his spot in the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame. We like to think the Northern Maine lakes helped polish his fishing skills over the years.
Maine's Biggest Small Town is Waiting for You
Katahdin Ethos was created for you, the resident, the business owner, the vacationer, the hiker, the hunter, the fisherman, the snowmobiler, the photographer, the history buff, and anybody who wants to know more about our great little community in Maine.
View the large and growing historical Katahdin region photo gallery and experience how the men and women of our area worked for generations to build and maintain our prosperous town throughout the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries..
We love our local business owners and hope you will as well. Stop into any of them around town to say hi and do some shopping. It's also an opportunity to support the hard-working men and women who are the backbone of our local economy.
Do you want one last reason to visit us? In 2015, National Geographic named their top 10 summit hikes in the world, and our very own Mt. Katahdin made the list at number 2. So, what are you waiting for? We'll see you soon!
WHAT IS KATAHDIN ETHOS?
Katahdin Ethos represents the history, character, and fundamental values passed down through generations by the brave men and women who risked everything to build the Katahdin Region in the North Maine Woods.
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