Towns

Visit the Town of Brownfield’s Website – Click HERE!

Though located only a few miles south of Fryeburg on Route 160, Brownfield feels like it’s a million miles away. Mountains, forest and the Saco River are the dominate features in this town that has been rebuilt since the forest fires of 1947. Several hikes, canoeing on the Saco River, swimming at Burnt Meadow Pond, enjoying the quiet of Brownfield Bog or the other ponds and rivers in the area are all free outdoor activities. Children enjoy story time, the summer reading program or after school activities at the public library or the playground at Dunn Memorial Park behind the municipal building. The arts are alive in this quaint community.

Special events include the Brownfield Fire Department’s Turkey Shoot in November and Brownfield Days held each August.

About 1,250 people live in the 42 square miles of Brownfield. They keep busy participating in the Lions Club, Masons, Burnt Meadow Snowmobile Club, Brownfield Historical Society, Scouts, and young adult and adult book clubs at the library. Students begin their education at Brownfield-Denmark Elementary School and then attend middle and high school in Fryeburg. There is also a Timber Frame school in town. The local economy is boosted by the efforts of light manufacturing, small retail businesses, construction, tourism, home businesses and agriculture.

Playground: Dunn Memorial Park, Brownfield-Denmark Elementary School*
Beach: Burnt Meadow Pond
Boat Launches: Burnt Meadow Pond, Saco River (Brownfield Bridge)
FMI: www.brownfield.maine.org ; town office: 207.935.2007 82 Main Street Brownfield ME 04010; email: info@brownfield.maine.org

*Not available during school hours.

Brownfield Bog  – The Brownfield Bog Wildlife Management Area provides over 5,700 acres of wetland habitat. Use a canoe or kayak to explore the bog; a limited trail system exists. Bring a picnic and enjoy the nesting waterfowl, deer, beaver, muskrats or turtles. If you are lucky, you might even spot a moose. In the winter, explore the bog by snowshoes or cross-country skis.

Visit the Town of Casco website – Click HERE!

The village of Casco is less than an hour from the Maine coast or the White Mountains. Quiet sanctuaries, a heron rookery, Point Sebago Resort, Sebago Lake State Park swimming area, senior meals, horseback rides, three historic museums, an active recreation program for all ages and two playgrounds are all part of Casco.

Special events include a holiday celebration, Maine Maple Sunday, Casco Days, Lakes Brew Fest, Public Safety Days, the Reindeer Auction and the Annual Casco Public Library Coffee.

About 3,500 year-round residents call this 32 square-mile town home. Many of them are involved in planning the special events, plus 4-H, Scouts, Sunshine Club, Vendredi Club, Crooked River Snowmobile Club, Lake Region ATV Club, Raymond-Casco Historical Society and other clubs and organizations. Kindergartners-third graders attend Songo Locks School in next-door Naples. They return to Casco for grades 4-5, then return to Naples for middle, high and vocational schools. Alternative education programs also exist. Sawmills, construction, summer camps, tourism and many small businesses including crafts, gifts, antiques, machine shops, resorts, a winery, art gallery and a variety of other retail and service businesses fuel the economy.

Playgrounds: Libby Road, Casco Public Library, Crooked River Elementary School* Beaches: Pleasant Lake, Sebago Lake State Park (fee), Crescent Lake (residents only)
Boat Launch: Pleasant Lake
FMI: www.cascomaine.org; town office: 207.627.4515

*Not available during school hours.

Casco Fire Department’s Casco Days – Advertised as “always the last Saturday in July,” Casco Days actually begins when the midway opens at 6:00 p.m. The first Casco Days celebration was held in 1937 and was sponsored by the Casco High School Alumni Association. Today the Casco Fire Department sponsors the events. Several weeks prior to Casco Days, they piece together the red wooden frame work of the midway games. Food is cooked and served in the barn at the back of Casco Days Park. Volunteers from a number of local organizations work as the “carnies.” Special events include fireworks, a road race, children’s parade, and Grand parade, which bring family, friends and campers together for a homemade, hometown event.

Visit the Town of Denmark’s Website – Click HERE!

Located on Route 117, Denmark sits at the southern end of Moose Pond, beneath the shadow of Pleasant Mountain. There are at least four trails up Pleasant Mountain from Denmark locations. Though there is one town operated public boat launch at Moose Pond, the state of Maine maintains launches at the other three large ponds in town. The Denmark Public Library, Denmark Municipal Building and Kate Sanborn Memorial Field, Denmark Arts Center and Historical Society and Denmark Community Church plus a few small businesses create the center of town. Of special note is the fact that in 1901, Camp Wyonegonic, located on Moose Pond, was the first children’s camp to open in Maine.

Special events include the Sheep Fest, July 4th parade, the Lions Club Annual Bean Hole Supper and their fall Turkey Shoot.
Over 1,000 people reside in the 48 square miles of Denmark. The residents participate in activities at the library and Denmark Arts Center, recreation program, Denmark Historical Society, Lions Club, The Draggers Snowmobile Club and Project Joy. Denmark children attend Brownfield-Denmark Elementary School until grade 5. For the remainder of their school years they attend middle and high school in Fryeburg. Education, tourism, construction, boating and camping, service and retail trade create the economy of Denmark.

Playgrounds: Kate Sanborn Memorial Field, Bicentennial Park, Brownfield-Denmark Elementary School*
Beach: Moose Pond Picnic Area: Denmark Bicentennial Park
Boat Launches: Moose Pond, Hancock Pond, Sand Pond, Long Pond
FMI: www.denmarkmaine.org; town office: 207.452.2163

*Not available during school hours.

Denmark Bicentennial Park – The soothing sound of water flowing over the dam at the foot of Moose Pond greets visitors at Denmark Bicentennial Park on Main Street. Fish near the dam, canoe or kayak from the park, play on the grass, picnic under the shelter or ice skate on the pond – all are possibilities in this easily accessible public green space in village of Denmark.

Visit the Town of Fryeburg’s Website – Click Here!

Located on the Saco River and New Hampshire border, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors in Fryeburg. The town is home to Hemlock Covered Bridge, several easy hiking trails, miles of snowmobile trails, Fryeburg Academy, twelve public parks, two public beaches, three public boat launches, two museums, two campgrounds, an active recreation department, two playgrounds, a dance school, bowling and simulated golf at Saco Valley Sports Center, an outdoor ice rink, eleven buildings on the National Register of Historic Places and Eastern Slopes Regional Airport.

Special events include Fryeburg Academy’s Black Fly Festival, Lee and Joan Day Memorial Car Show, Memorial Day and July Fourth parades, Beautification Plant Sale, summertime concerts at the Bradley Park Gazebo, Maine Street Festival arts and crafts fair and Fryeburg Fair, Maine’s Blue Ribbon Classic.

Located in Oxford County, over 3,000 year round residents have plenty of space to roam in the 60 square miles of Fryeburg. Clubs and organizations include SCOOPS–a local motorcycle group that rides to ice cream shops each week, Fryeburg Area Rotary Club, Lions Club, Eastern Star and Masons, Bridge Club, Scouts, Fryeburg Senior Citizens, and the Interstate Sno-goers Snowmobile Club. Though there are trails throughout town and beside the river, if you are using a 4-wheeler or skiing, it is best to ask for landowners’ permission. Elementary through high school education takes place at schools in town. Farms including potatoes and turf, light manufacturing, retail stores, canoe and camp industry, tourism, education, antique, gift and specialty shops and the building industry influence Fryeburg’s economy.

Playgrounds: Graustein Park, C.A.Snow School*
Beaches: Weston’s Beach, Canal Bridge
Picnic Areas: Canal Bridge, Route 302 Rest Area
Boat Launches: Lovewell Pond, Bog Pond, Saco River (Swan’s Falls, Canal Bridge, Walker Bridge, Hemlock Bridge)
FMI: www.fryeburgmaine.org; town office: 207.935.2805

* Not available during school hours.

Hemlock Bridge Built in 1857, of Paddleford truss construction with supporting laminated wooden arches, Hemlock Bridge in Fryeburg is a quaint and charming reminder of days gone by. The 109-foot long covered bridge spans the old course of the Saco River. Though reinforced in 1988 so you can drive across the bridge, it’s more fun to walk across. Take time to admire the work of our forefathers, peer at the river and read the graffiti on Maine’s oldest remaining covered bridge.

Visit the Town of Harrison’s Website – Click HERE!

Harrison is located on Route 117 at the northern end of Long Lake. Art and culture are very much alive in Harrison due to Deertrees Theater and Cultural Center, The Backstage Gallery at Deertrees and several other studios. Whether it’s learning to dance at The Ballroom, taking karate lessons, ice skating on Long Lake, playing at The Field of Dreams, touring Scribner’s Mill or participating in one of the recreation departments many programs for young and old, there’s always something to do in Harrison.

Special events in Harrison are Back to the Past events at Scribner’s Mill, Old Home Days activities including a children’s parade, Christmas in Harrison including The Candlelight Parade and several holiday craft fairs.

Thirty-six square miles encompass Harrison, which has a population of about 2,300 people. Like other towns and villages in the area, the population increases significantly in the summer. Clubs and organizations include Harrison Friendly Riders Snowmobile Club, Lions Club, Scouts, Masons and Eastern Star among others. Students in grades K-6 attend Harrison Elementary School before moving on to the Oxford Hills Regional Middle, High and Vocational Schools. Restaurants, tourism, summer camps, realty, marinas, excavation, construction, home businesses, retail shops and a variety of service industries form the business sector of the community.

Playgrounds: Crystal Lake Park, Field of Dreams, Harrison Elementary School*
Beaches: Crystal Lake (residents only), Long Lake
Picnic Areas: Crystal Lake, Long Lake
Boat Launches: Crystal Lake, Long Lake
FMI: www.harrisonmaine.org ; town office: 207.583.2241

*Not available during school hours.

Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center Built of hemlock in an Adirondack Style, the Deertrees Theatre and Cultural Center in Harrison, first opened its doors in 1936. Today the theatre offers an eclectic schedule of events for young and old from late June until early September. Broadway stars and local would-be actors as well as world-acclaimed musicians and aspiring students have graced the stage of Deertrees Theater.

Visit the Town of Lovell’s Website – Click HERE!

Lovell is located on Route 5. With almost every road bearing the word “Hill” in the name, you have an idea of the terrain of this area. And from those hills, the view of the White Mountains is spectacular. There are several hikes for all abilities, two libraries, six ponds, two public boat launches, five sites on the National Register of Historic Places, including an archeological site, two outdoor ice skating areas, a country club, two playgrounds, miles of trails on the snowmobile route, a multi-generational recreation department and an active arts and culture community.

Special events include the Monthly Speaker Program at the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Old Home Days activities, the annual Arts and Artisans Craft Show at the New Suncook School, the Lovell Lions Club auction, Tour de Lovell, Gasping Gobbler 5k run/walk, annual antiques show and sale at the Kimball Stanford House, and the Dave Mason/Kezar Lake Tennis Tournament.

About 975 people live in the 43 square miles of Lovell, Center Lovell and North Lovell. Clubs and organizations such as the Ladies Circle, Scouts, Lions Club, PTA, Lovell Historical Society and Greater Lovell Land Trust keep people busy. Children in grades K-5 attend New Suncook Elementary School. For the remainder of their school years, they receive their education in neighboring Fryeburg. The local economy is sparked by tourism, maintenance, guide service, realty, light manufacturing, antique, gift and craft shops plus service and professional businesses.

Playgrounds: Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library, Lewis Dana Hill Memorial Library (basketball court), New Suncook Elementary School*
Beaches: Town Landing, Pleasant Point, Kezar Landing (all are for residents only)
Boat Launches: Kezar Lake’s Upper and Middle Bay, Horseshoe Pond, Bradley Pond (rough access), Heald Pond (6 mph limit), Farrington Pond (carry in)
FMI: www.lovellmaine.net; town office: 207.925.6272

*Not available during school hours.

Kezar Falls Gorge – This gorge, located off a dirt road in Lovell, is easy to miss because it’s not marked–truly a chance to get away from it all. Open your windows and listen for the rushing water, while looking for three unmarked driveways. They all lead to the same small parking area. Water flows from Five Kezars Pond in Waterford, through Kezar River and down to Kezar Falls Gorge. A chain link fence guards the open ledge at the top of the gorge, which is ten-yards deep and forty-yards long. Paths to the left and right of the fence provide a better view of the glacial stone carved by centuries of ceaseless water flow. The pool at the bottom of the gorge is emerald green and refreshingly cold.

Visit the Town of Naples website – click HERE!

Special events include a, Memorial Day Parade, Maine Blues Festival, Classic Antique Wooden Boat Show, July 4th Parade and Fireworks, Naples Main Street at Christmas and several holiday craft fairs.

Playgrounds: Naples Municipal Building, Songo Locks Elementary School*
Beach: Naples Town Beach (residents only)
Picnic Areas: Village Green, Sebago Lake State Park (fee)
Boat Launches: Sebago Lake State Park (fee)
(Note: For Long Lake and Brandy Pond, use launches in Bridgton or Harrison)
FMI: www.townofnaples.org; town office: 207.693.6364

Incorporated March 4, 1834
Square Miles – 36.5
Population – 3,872
Distance to Portland – 30 miles – less than an hour’s drive
Form of Government – Town Manager-Selectmen-Town Meeting
Electricity – Central Maine Power
FY2014 Tax Rate – $13.00/per thousand

*Not available during school hours.

Holt Pond Nature Preserve – Tucked away on a dirt road in Naples is Holt Pond Nature Preserve, “a magical place to explore . . .” The bog pond, Muddy River, beaver dams, a quaking bog, cattails, pitcher plants, a heron rookery and more await in this 500-acre preserve. A canoe is available for public use; bring your own paddles and PFD. Boardwalks make wet areas accessible. Trails are well-marked. Guided walks are offered throughout the year by Lakes Environmental Association or enjoy this place by yourself for quiet reflection.

Visit the Town of Raymond’s Website – Click HERE!

The town is located on Route 302, also known as Roosevelt Trail, and offers a sidewalk extending from Raymond Beach to Windham. Raymond is the home of three beaches, two which the general public may access. There are also two boat launches, five ponds and two lakes for your water adventures. The Sheri Gagnon Memorial Park, Panther Run Picnic Area, several hikes,  and mountain bike trails at Morgan Meadows enhance the outdoor activities in Raymond.

Over 4,000 people reside in the 41 square miles of Raymond year-round. The East Raymond Union Chapel and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s boyhood home are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Clubs and organizations include Scouts, Lions Club, Raymond Community Friendship Group, PTO, Raymond-Casco Historical Society and the Raymond Rattlers Snowmobile Club. Children attend Raymond Elementary School and Jordan Small Middle School. They are tuitioned to other districts for their high school years. Businesses from advertising to woodworking with many in between including florist, retail and specialty shops provide services and jobs in Raymond.

Playgrounds: Shari Gagnon Memorial Park, Raymond Elementary School*
Beaches: Tassel Top Park (fee), Raymond Beach, Crescent Beach
Picnic Area: Panther Run
Boat Launches: Raymond Pond, Crescent Beach, Panther Pond, Sebago Lake
FMI: www.raymondmaine.org; town office: 207.655.4742

*Not available during school hours.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Home – In 1818, Nathaniel Hawthorne, his mother and two sisters moved from Salem, Massachusetts to a house his uncle, Richard Manning, built for them in Raymond. Here, Nathaniel spent at least a year roaming the woods, skating on Sebago Lake, fishing, reading and enjoying solitude. Today, this large, square home with massive chimneys and eight fireplaces is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visit the Town of Sebago’s Website – Click HERE!

The village of Sebago is located on the western shore of Sebago Lake, named by Native American’s because it is a “great lake” or “big lake,” at eight miles wide and eleven miles long. Four other ponds, a mountain trail and plenty of space for other hikes, senior meals every Tuesday at noon, two campgrounds, a library, the Sebago Historical Society Museum, town gym available for rent and a building on the National Register of Historic Places all make Sebago a great place to live.

Special events include Maine Maple Sunday including the annual pancake breakfast and Sebago Days events.

Making their homes in Sebago’s 40 square miles are about 1,500 people. Education starts at Sebago Elementary School. From 6th-12th grade, students attend Lake Region Middle, High and Vocational Schools. Clubs and organizations include Scouts, Friends of the Spaulding Library, Parent/Teacher Club, Ladies Circle, Sebago Volunteers, Sebago Community Fire Company, 4-H, Long Beach Community Association, Maple Grove Grange, Sebago Days Committee, Sebago Historical Society, Lions Club, Potter Academy Alumni Association, a book discussion group and the Sebago Branch Duckers Snowmobile Club. Local employment includes auto and engine repair shops, construction and excavation, farms, marinas, summer camps, logging and sawmills, education, tourism and antique and specialty shops.

Playground: Sebago Elementary School*
Beaches: Sebago Lake (residents only)
Boat Launches: Sebago Lake, Perley Pond, Peabody Pond
(Note: Need permit from the town office for Sebago Lake launch site-Residents only)
FMI: www.townofsebago.org; town office: 207.787.2457

*Not available during school hours.

Nature Trails – Sebago Elementary School’s Nature Trial was created in the late 90s. This trail serves as an easy access to outdoor education as well as a quiet respite beside the Northwest River. A second nature trail in Sebago requires an easy hike up Douglas Mountain. At the 1.416-summit, a fieldstone tower built by Dr. William Blackman in 1925 offers a panoramic view of the lakes and mountains in our area. The nature trail loop begins at the base of the tower.

Visit the Town of Stow’s Website – Click HERE!

Located on Route 113, fifteen minutes from Fryeburg and thirty minutes from Bridgton, Stow is the gateway to the White Mountain National Forest through Evans Notch. Scenic drives, breathtaking mountain views, clear lakes and streams, wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, canoeing and bird watching all make Stow a special place.

With only 312 people in the 23 square miles of Stow, there just might be a larger horse population. Students attend school in Fryeburg. Stow’s most notable event was the July 1993 discovery of a 9-pound amethyst crystal at privately-owned Eastman Mine on Deer Hill. Though that mine is off-limits to the public, for a fee you may acquire a permit to a mine on the east side of Deer Hill and spend the day looking for amethyst, tourmaline and other gems.

FMI: www.stowmaine.org; town office: 207.697.3944

Deer Hill Bog – A wildlife viewing blind including benches, cut-outs for viewing and informational posters offers a quiet place to watch the natural habitat in Stow. The bog is a result of man and nature working together. And old wood dam and a beaver lodge created this 25-acre bog. From moose and Great Blue Herons to aquatic plants and tiny organisms, over 90 species make their home here.

Visit the Town of Sweden’s Website – Click HERE!

Tucked into the rolling hills between Lovell, Bridgton and Waterford, Sweden is only a short distance from any where, but feels like another world. A quiet town, Sweden is known for its country roads, stone walls and scenic vistas. A new post and beam town office, Sweden Historical Society, Blacksmith Shop Museum in the old school house, Town Meeting House and Sweden Community Church are located near the crossroads of Route 93, Waterford Road and Webber Pond Road. Five ponds, including the northern end of Moose Pond, provide opportunities for small boat activities. There is a public boat launch at Stearns Pond. There is a public beach at Keyes Pond where hand-launching of boats is permitted. Trailer-launching of boats is prohibited at Keyes Pond and use of Jet Skis is prohibited on Keyes Pond

About 325 people make their homes in the 29 square miles of Sweden. Educational opportunities are through MSAD 72 in Fryeburg. Residents participate in recreational events offered by surrounding towns. Two seasonal residential camps and agriculture aid the economy of the town.

Boat Launches: Keyes Pond (rough access), Stearns Pond
FMI: town office: 207.647.3944

Sweden’s Stone Walls – The ubiquitous stonewalls found along the scenic roads of Sweden, many of which were built between 1810 and 1840, serve as monuments to our ancestors and home to the woodland ecosystem. These rustic granite walls and fences, which alternate between sturdiness and disrepair, speak of abandoned pastures, plowing for agriculture and boundary markers. Stonewall detectives enjoy exploring the back roads and learning more about the history of this rural town.

Visit the Town of Waterford’s Website – Click HERE!

Located along Routes 35, 37 and 118, the three villages of Waterford are nestled in the rolling hills of western Maine. With two public beaches, three boat accesses, six ponds, Crooked River, Mud Pond fen and Keoka Lake, there is plenty to do on the water in Waterford. Three hikes, one of those for experienced rock climbers, two public parks, two museums, a pottery studio, two campgrounds, and twenty-three buildings on the National Register of Historic Places make this a quaint place to live or visit.

Special events include the July 4th parade, North Waterford World’s Fair and Waterford Chili Cook-off and Fall Foliage 5K road race plus a one mile fun run for kids.

About 1,450 people live in the 47 square miles of Waterford. They belong to the Waterford-Stoneham Lions Club, two Granges, Masons, North Waterford Friendly Senior Citizens Group and Waterford Snowpackers Snowmobile Club. Children begin their school career at Waterford Elementary School, then continue on at the Oxford Hills Regional Middle, High and Vocational Schools. The local economy receives a boost from the building industry, realty, farming, tourism, camps, light manufacturing and antique and specialty shops.

Playgrounds: Werner Park, Sandlot Ball Field, Waterford Elementary School*
Beaches: Keoka Beach (residents only)
Boat Launches: Keoka Lake, Bear Pond, Five Kezar Ponds (rough access), Crooked River
FMI: www.waterfordme.org; town office: 207.583.4403

*Not available during school hours.

Waterford Flats Historic District – sit on a park bench in the village green and look across at the home of Artemus Ward, pen name of Waterford native, Charles F. Brown, who was Mark Twain’s mentor. Step into the Waterford Library, designed by John Calvin Stevens and son, John Howard Stevens. Or envision the ladies sitting on one side of the room facing their men on the other side during town meeting at the Old Town Office and Meeting Hall in Waterford Flats. Of course, the ladies were not allowed to vote and had to keep quiet – surely an impossible task. Twenty-one buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.