Harpswell Historical Society Museum & Archives - Harpswell, ME - History Museums on Waymarking.com

Long Description:

The Museum is house in the former Bailey's Store. The Cattle Pound, dating from 1793, one of the earliest in New England, sits beside it.



"Pound" refers to an enclosure authorized by the voters of a particular town to keep stray animals until they were claimed by the owner. One of the first pounds in Maine was built in 1793 in Harpswell, a fishing and farming community on Casco Bay where stray cattle[ii] were causing serious damage in unfenced gardens and pastures.



Setting up a pound was so urgent that towns took immediate action as soon as incorporation made it legally possible. Pounds were built throughout Maine and colonial America. Then as towns grew larger, as fencing materials improved, and as the laws governing impounding grew more complicated, pounds fell into disuse.

Theme: Local history Street Address: Rt. 123 Harpswell, ME 04079 Hours of Operation: Summer Bailey Museum hours: Sundays from 2:00pm to 4:00pm during July, August and September (we hope) Museum Size: Small Relevant Web Site: [Web Link] Food Court: Not Listed Gift Shop: Not Listed Cost: Not Listed

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