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49-512: He was born in Fairfield, Maine , the son of Albert Coffin and his wife Anstrus (Varney). He married Caroline Russell of Holbrook, Massachusetts , and had three children. At age 18, he moved to Lynn, Massachusetts , to join his uncle Charles E. Coffin and his shoe company, at which he spent the next twenty years. Eventually he established his own shoe factory named Coffin and Clough in Lynn. In 1883, he

98-708: A German Army lieutenant attempted to blow up the railway bridge which crossed the St. Croix River at the international boundary . The lieutenant was arrested by Washington County sheriff Still Woodman, who later became chairman of Maine's Highway Department. In 1888, the Maine Central leased the Portland and Ogdensburg Railroad , which ran from Portland, through the White Mountains of New Hampshire via Crawford Notch , and into St. Johnsbury, Vermont , where it connected with

147-468: A Mountain Division extended west from Portland to St. Johnsbury, Vermont , and north into Quebec . The main line was double track from South Portland to Royal Junction, where it split into a "lower road" through Brunswick and Augusta and a "back road" through Lewiston , which converged at Waterville into single track to Bangor and points east. Branch lines served the industrial center of Rumford ,

196-522: A duopoly of important electric patents with Westinghouse Electric in the late 1890s, and in 1901 established a research laboratory for the company. Suggested by Charles Proteus Steinmetz , this was the first industrial research lab in the US. He supported GE engineers in the adaptation and development of the Curtis steam turbine , which advanced electric power generation. He retired from the board in 1922, and retained

245-645: A pulp mill. It was joined to the rest of the North American rail network through a connection with the Canadian Pacific Railway at St. Stephen, New Brunswick , and operated through New Brunswick territory for several miles between Calais and Woodland. In order to avoid union agreements that the rest of the rail system was forced to follow, Guilford leased this operation to an obscure B&M subsidiary known as Springfield Terminal Railway , because shortlines operate under different federal rules. Eventually,

294-560: A track gauge of 5 ft 6 in ( 1,676 mm ) known as " Canadian " or " Portland gauge ". Maine Central purchased the Portland and Kennebec Railroad, which ran from Portland to Augusta and was built to standard track gauge, since it connected with the Boston and Maine Railroad at Portland. By 1871, the Maine Central completed its conversion to standard gauge to facilitate interchange of cars. The MEC established rail service to

343-427: A "meeting, council, and manager " form of government. The town meeting is a citizen legislature, with limited legislative responsibility primarily related to establishing the town budget, approving annual appropriations, and approving any new indebtedness the town may incur. A five-member Town Council carries out the towns remaining legislative functions, including the creation of regulations, ordinances, and town policy,

392-673: A clothing factory, a marble works and a tannery. The largest factories were the textile plants—Kendall's Mills in the southeastern extremity of the town, and Somerset Mills located about two miles above. The main line of the Maine Central Railroad passes through Fairfield on the way from Portland to Waterville to Bangor, and the Skowhegan branch of the Maine Central Railroad (originally the Somerset and Kennebec Railroad) ran along

441-613: A large amount of GE stock. Upon his death in 1926, he was one of the wealthiest men in the world. Fairfield, Maine Fairfield is a town in Somerset County , Maine , United States. The population was 6,484 at the 2020 census . The town includes Fairfield Center, Fairfield village and Hinckley, and borders the city of Waterville to the south. It is home to the Good Will-Hinckley School, Lawrence High School and Kennebec Valley Community College . The area

490-524: A major strike against the company in 1986. Guilford Transportation also moved the Maine Central's headquarters from Portland to North Billerica, Massachusetts, in the mid-1980s. One of the instigating factors which led to the labor strife at Guilford relates to a corporate reorganization at one of the company's former Maine Central properties. After the Calais Branch was abandoned, a small portion of trackage between Calais and Woodland remained in service to

539-507: A male householder with no wife present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 22.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.9% were from 25 to 44; 31% were from 45 to 64; and 13.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of

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588-445: A resort hotel on Moosehead Lake and coastal communities from Bath to Eastport . At the end of 1970, it operated 921 miles (1,482 km) of road on 1,183 miles (1,904 km) of track; that year, it reported 950 million ton-miles of revenue freight. The Maine Central remained independent until 1981, when it was purchased by Guilford Transportation Industries and became part of what is now CSX Corporation . The Maine Central

637-529: Is in use by Amtrak (now spelled Downeaster ), which began passenger service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, in 2001. The Conway Scenic Railroad ( reporting mark CSRX ) is a heritage railroad in North Conway, New Hampshire , United States, owned by Profile Mountain Holdings Corp. The railroad operates over two historic railway routes: a line from North Conway to Conway that was formerly part of

686-412: Is largely a bedroom community for Waterville. The town has three post offices because it contains four different unincorporated townships under municipal jurisdiction of the town of Fairfield: The third post office serves the incorporated urban Fairfield (CDP) , an early name for which was Kendall's Mills. For approximately 75 years, the urban district was under a village corporation government. Thus,

735-535: Is located in Fairfield and is one of the seven colleges in the Maine Community College System . Colby College and Thomas College are four year colleges located in the neighboring town of Waterville. 44°35′18″N 69°35′55″W  /  44.58833°N 69.59861°W  / 44.58833; -69.59861 Maine Central Railroad The Maine Central Railroad ( reporting mark MEC )

784-674: Is operating these state-owned lines as the Maine Eastern Railroad . Prior to M&E, the Rockland Branch had been operated by Safe Handling , and before that, the Maine Coast Railroad . Several railroad preservation and promotion groups are seeking to have the state-owned Calais Branch and Mountain Division routes reactivated for use by short line or tourist rail operations. In March 2006, Guilford Transportation Industries changed its name to Pan Am Railways (PAR), reflecting

833-491: The Köppen Climate Classification system, Fairfield has a humid continental climate , abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. As of the census of 2010, there were 6,735 people, 2,793 households, and 1,851 families residing in the town. The population density was 125.3 inhabitants per square mile (48.4/km ). There were 3,016 housing units at an average density of 56.1 per square mile (21.7/km ). The racial makeup of

882-576: The Penobscot Bay in 1871 by leasing (for fifty years) the then just-completed 33-mile (53 km) of track built by the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad (B&ML). The B&ML's grade ran the length of Waldo County from the port town of Belfast inland to Burnham Junction , where its single track connected with the MEC's Portland to Bangor mainline. Maine Central operated the road as its "Belfast Branch" for

931-613: The Southeastern Railway (owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway ). Maine Central also operated a line southeast from Bangor along the coast through Machias to Calais , with branches to Bucksport , Bar Harbor and Eastport . Maine Central gained stock control of the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad in 1911 and the Bridgton and Saco River Railroad in 1912, and operated both as narrow gauge branch lines. The Maine Central

980-556: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 54.58 square miles (141.36 km ), of which 53.75 square miles (139.21 km ) is land and 0.83 square miles (2.15 km ) is water. Fairfield is drained by the Kennebec River . This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to

1029-533: The 1850s, but by the 1880s it was apparent that these could no longer handle modern equipment. The city of Portland, Maine vied with Waterville to become the new shop site, but the railroad decided to remain in Waterville and constructed new, modern shops north of the old ones along the Kennebec River . By 1915 about 2,000 people were employed at the roundhouse, shops, and yards. Following World War I, Maine Central began retracting. It sold or abandoned lines such as

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1078-643: The Kennebec River from Waterville to Skowhegan , with stations in Shawmut and Hinckley (today, this line terminates at the SAPPI paper mill just north of Hinckley). The Somerset Railroad (Maine) traversed western Fairfield on a route that once ran north from Oakland to Norridgewock, Madison, Bingham, and Moosehead Lake. In 1889, Reverend George W. Hinckley founded the Hinckley School . In 1899–1900, The Gerald Hotel

1127-594: The Maine Central on the portion of the former E&NA from Mattawamkeag to Vanceboro. This Maine Central trackage formed part of the CPR's Montreal - Saint John mainline, upon completion of the International Railway of Maine . This line was an important rail route for Canadian war material heading to the port of Saint John for shipment overseas to Europe. In the months before the United States entered World War I ,

1176-583: The South, including two in Atlanta, Georgia , to run the electric lighting and in 1889, Joel Hurt 's electric streetcar line. When General Electric was formed from Thomson-Houston and Edison's companies, Coffin was its first chief executive officer . The company was tested quickly during the Panic of 1893 , in which Coffin negotiated with New York banks to advance money in exchange for GE-owned utility stocks. He established

1225-607: The Town Council and advises the council on matters before it. The current Town Manager is Michelle Flewelling. Fairfield schools are part of Maine School Administrative District 49 . Roberta Hersom is the Superintendent of Schools. The following schools are in the district, Albion Elementary, Adult Education, Benton Elementary, Clinton Elementary, Fairfield Primary, District Childcare Program, Lawrence High School and Lawrence Junior High School. Kennebec Valley Community College

1274-455: The approval of town contracts and commissions, and the appointment of town officers. The council also carries out quasi-judicial functions, such as review of certain decisions by town boards and committees or town officers. The council also oversees the work of the Town Manager. The Town Manager carries out the day to day executive functions of the town under the guidance and in consultation with

1323-405: The average family size was 2.92. In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males. The median income for a household in the town

1372-488: The community had 492 inhabitants. In 1837, it produced 11,531 bushels of wheat and a large quantity of wool. Falls on the Kennebec drop 34 feet (10 m) at Fairfield, providing water power for industry. The mill town had eight sawmills, three planing mills, a gristmill, a canned corn factory, plaster mill, three carriage factories, a sled factory, two door, sash and blind factories, a cabinet and box factory, coffin factory,

1421-453: The corporate reorganization under Springfield Terminal would extend to the full extent of Guilford operations, and attempting to run a class 1 under short line rules would lead to years of union troubles. The former Maine Central locomotive shops in Waterville continue as Guilford's main repair shops. In the early 1990s, Guilford ended its practice of putting the full "Maine Central" name on

1470-467: The long hoods of MEC locomotives. Instead, the locomotives would wear the "Guilford Rail System" moniker, with small "MEC" reporting marks underneath the cab windows. On November 1, 2003, the Morristown and Erie Railway (M&E) took over the former Maine Central "Lower Road" (main line) and Rockland Branch routes (aided by significant public funding from the state Department of Transportation). M&E

1519-413: The mid-1980s, Guilford began to rationalize its system and fully one-third of Maine Central's trackage was eliminated, including the "Mountain Division" from Portland to St. Johnsbury, Vermont; the "Rockland Branch" from Brunswick to Rockland ; the "Calais Branch" from Bangor to Calais; and the "Lower Road" from Augusta to Brunswick . Guilford also forced many management and salary changes, resulting in

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1568-721: The narrow gauge and logging branches, as well as its hotels, ferries and steamships. In the 1930s it began to change its locomotives from steam -powered to diesel -powered. Beginning in 1933, Maine Central entered into a "joint management" agreement with the Boston and Maine Railroad , with which it shared the Portland Terminal Company (a switching railroad in Portland). Faced with increased competition from cars, trucks and buses, Maine Central operated its last passenger train on September 5, 1960, and continued to reduce its freight business to reflect changing traffic. In 1980,

1617-518: The next 55 years, but on June 30, 1925, MEC President Morris McDonald — after repeated public denials — gave the B&;ML (and the city of Belfast as its majority owner) the required six months notice that it would not renew its by then year-to-year lease when it expired on December 31, 1925. The reason eventually given was a net loss to the MEC on the Belfast Branch operations of $ 113,230 for

1666-407: The population. There were 2,586 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and

1715-465: The purchase of Pan American World Airways brand in 1998. PAR began repainting locomotives in the sky-blue Pan Am colors shortly thereafter. Pan Am was acquired by CSX Corporation in 2022. The MEC passenger trains, often advertised as "M.C. R.R." in the early 20th century, were essential to the sporting camp movement as early as the 1880s when people from Boston , New York , Philadelphia , and Detroit would make their way north to hunt and fish in

1764-519: The railroad was purchased by U.S. Filter Corporation and was then sold in 1981 to Guilford Transportation Industries , which later purchased the Boston and Maine Railroad (and thereby the Portland Terminal) in 1983 and the Delaware and Hudson Railway in 1984. Initially Guilford operated the system intact, although the system now permitted run-through traffic between central Maine and Boston . By

1813-584: The town was 49.4% male and 50.6% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 6,573 people, 2,586 households, and 1,773 families residing in the town. The population density was 122.3 people per 1 per square mile (0.39/km ). There were 2,801 housing units at an average density of 52.1 per square mile (20.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 97.92% White , 0.35% Bl.ack o.r African American , 0.33% Native American , 0.27% Asian , 0.05% Pacific Islander , 0.05% from other races , and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.30% of

1862-418: The town was 97.4% White , 0.4% African American , 0.4% Native American , 0.5% Asian , 0.1% from other races , and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population. There were 2,793 households, of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.5% had

1911-448: The town would hold New England style town meetings that covered business for the greater town, followed by a village corporation meeting to deal with urban needs, including police service, fire department service and town engineer service ( public works ). The non-urban, unincorporated areas—Shawmut, Fairfield Center and Hinckley—were not assessed taxes for urban services they did not receive. This arrangement ended in 1929. According to

1960-642: The western mountains and the Maine North Woods . From Portland's Union Station , the MEC had unnamed trains to Bangor via Lewiston , to Bangor via Augusta, to Rockland, to Calais via Ellsworth , to Farmington and to Montreal via North Conway . Among the named trains operated by the MEC prior to ending passenger service in 1960 were the Bar Harbor Express , Down Easter , Flying Yankee , Gull , Katahdin , Kennebec , Mountaineer , Penobscot , Pine Tree , and Skipper . The Down Easter name

2009-482: The year 1924. The B&ML took over operation of its road on January 1, 1926. It continued to exchange passengers and mail with the MEC at their jointly owned station at Burnham Junction until 1960 and freight interchange traffic until 2002. In 1882, Maine Central leased the European and North American Railway (E&NA) between Bangor and Vanceboro . In 1889, the Canadian Pacific Railway purchased trackage rights from

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2058-446: Was $ 36,462, and the median income for a family was $ 43,533. Males had a median income of $ 31,227 versus $ 22,930 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 16,335. About 6.3% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 12.4% of those age 65 or over. Fairfield has a government established in accordance with its municipal charter. Like many Maine towns, Fairfield has

2107-636: Was a U. S. class 1 railroad in central and southern Maine . It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. By 1884, Maine Central was the longest railroad in New England . Maine Central had expanded to 1,358 miles (2,185 km) when the United States Railroad Administration assumed control in 1917. The main line extended from South Portland, Maine , east to the Canada–United States border with New Brunswick , and

2156-422: Was approached by another Lynn businessman, Silas A. Barton, to bring to town a struggling electric company from New Britain, Connecticut , finance it and lead it. With the engineering work of Elihu Thomson and Edwin J. Houston , Coffin was able to build up the company, renamed Thomson-Houston Electric Company , to be an equal to Thomas Edison 's companies. Under Coffin, Thomson-Houston deployed power plants in

2205-554: Was at its height by 1917 when it became nationalized during World War I under the United States Railroad Administration , having trackage which extended over 1,358 miles (2,185 km). It ran from Vanceboro , Calais and Eastport in the east, to Portland in the south, St. Johnsbury, Vermont in the west, and to Lime Ridge, Quebec in the north. It also operated resorts and coastal steamships and ferries. The main repair facilities for locomotives and cars were located in Waterville, Maine . The first primitive shops were built in

2254-614: Was built downtown. Designed by Maine architect William Robinson Miller , it was commissioned by Amos F. Gerald, builder of the first electric trolley system in Maine. The hotel was topped with a statue of Mercury , the Roman god of speed, and remained in operation from 1900 until 1937. Miller also designed the town's Lawrence Library , dedicated on July 25, 1901, and the Lawrence High School. Today, Fairfield makes wood and paper products, and

2303-755: Was created in 1862 through the merger of the Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad and the Penobscot and Kennebec Railroad , resulting in a line from Danville (now Auburn ) to Bangor . The line connected with the Grand Trunk Railway on its Portland - Chicago mainline at Danville and with the Bangor and Piscataquis Railroad in Bangor. As a result of its connection with the Grand Trunk, the Maine Central initially operated on

2352-540: Was first settled in 1774. Benedict Arnold and his troops rested and re-provisioned here in 1775 during their march up the Kennebec River to the Battle of Quebec . Following the Revolutionary War , Fairfield Plantation developed as a trade and agricultural town, with farms producing hay, grain and potatoes. It was noted for the number and quality of its cattle. On June 18, 1788, it was incorporated as Fairfield. By 1790,

2401-555: Was territory of the Canibas tribe of Abenaki Indians residing at Taconnet village, once located downriver at the confluence of the Sebasticook and Kennebec rivers in what is today Winslow . In 1692 during King William's War , the village was burned, so the Canibas tribe abandoned the area. The French and Indian Wars finally ended in 1763, leaving the region open for English colonization. Fairfield Plantation, named for its fair aspect,

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