Hidden History of Maine

Hidden History

by Harry Gratwick, David Tyler (Contributor)

Discover 400 years of New England history you won’t find in guidebooks in this collection of true stories and colorful characters from The Pine Tree State. Maine wouldn’t be the magical place it is today without the contributions of little-known individuals whose inspiring and adventuresome lives make up the story of Maine's "hidden history." Journalist and Maine historian Harry Gratwick presents vividly detailed portraits of these Mainers, from the controversial missionary Sebastien Rale to Woolwich native William Phips, whose seafaring attacks against French Canada earned him the first governorship of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.    Gratwick also profiles inventors such as Robert Benjamin Lewis, an African American from Gardiner who patented a hair growth product in the 1830s, and Margaret Knight, a York native who defied nineteenth-century sexism to earn the nickname "the female Edison." From soprano Lillian Nordica, who left Farmington to become the most glamorous American opera singer of her day, to slugger George "Piano Legs" Gore, the only Mainer to ever win a Major League Baseball batting championship, Hidden History of Maine reveals the men and women who made history without making it into history books.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 10, 2010

Reviews

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some interesting Maine People!

I enjoy the read. Maine being my home State, I find its old history most precious! Maine People are very unique!

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and entertaining local history book. Thoroughly enjoyed this one and learned a lot!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting stories about interesting people. Nice jumping off point for more exploration.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short takes on some relatively unknown Mainers who made their mark in settling Maine, wars, inventions, etc. Interesting. Made me want to re-read Kenneth Roberts books I read when I was a teenager.