It can be rewarding to delve into smaller populated areas of Maine and discover a surprisingly large amount of interesting historical background. Waldoboro is one such place. This photograph depicts Friendship Street, circa 1920.

In 1629 the area granted to John Beauchamp of London and Thomas Leverett of Boston, England, was known as the Muscongus Patent. The patent lay dormant until 1719, when Leverett’s great-grandson, John Leverett, President of Harvard College, revived the ancient claim and formed the Lincolnshire Proprietors, also known as the Ten Proprietors, so named for the 10 shares distributed, one to each member. Gen. Samuel Waldo of Boston acquired a controlling interest in the patent in 1729 and it henceforth became known as the Waldo Patent.

Originally called Broad Bay, the village was settled between 1733 and 1740 but suffered a devastating atttack as part of the Northeast Coast Campaign in 1746 by Native Americans, allied with New France during King George’s War. Houses were burned and the residents killed or carried away as captives. Survivors fled to the nearby settlements of St. George or Pemaquid. Peace returned with the 1748 Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.

In 1752-53, Samuel Waldo, son of the General Jonathan Waldo, visited Germany and recruited about fifteen hundred immigrants to Waldoboro on the ship “Lydia.” Unlike the Pilgrims, they did not immigrate for religious reasons, but for “increasing their worldly goods.” Many settled on the western side of Broad Bay, although in 1763-64 the land was claimed under the Pemaquid Patent. About 300 residents moved to the Moravian settlements in what is now Forsyth County, North Carolina, but the remainder bought their properties. On June 29, 1773, the township was incorporated as Waldoborough, named for the original proprietor.

It became the county seat of Lincoln County in 1786, but this designation would pass to Wiscasset in 1880. The Knox and Lincoln Railroad arrived which spurred the town’s development. Farms produced hay and potatoes and industries would include an iron foundry, oakum, carding, cloth- dressing, grain, furniture and sawmills, a sash and blind factory and a carriage factory. There were also marble and granite yards and a pottery. However, ship building was the principal business, with eight large vessels built in 1880. During the 19th century, Maine became famous for its great shipbuilding center. Built by Leavitt Storer Shipyard, Waldoboro was the launching port for the “Governor Ames” in 1888, the first five- masted schooner. Today, Waldoboro is also known for its own style of hooked rugs, the Waldoborough green neck turnip, Moody’s Diner , Morse’s Saurkraut and Fawcetts Toy Museum.