Gorham Schools



Timeline of Historical Events in Gorham 1733-19981733 Narragansett #7, one of the seven townships granted by the General Court of Massachusetts to those who fought in the Narragansett War, sometimes called King Philip's War. 1736 First settlers, Captain John Phinney and son.First child born in Gorham, Mary Gorham Phinney, August.First trees felled by Phinneys to clear land for crops. 1738 Hugh McClellan and Daniel Mosher came to Gorham. 1745 Eighteen families in town.John Gorham's sawmill on Little River burned by Indians.Meeting house on Fort Hill burned. 1746 First Indian attack on settlers, five massacred, three captured. Ten families in town. Some had moved away because of threatened Indian attacks. 1757 Jacob Hamblen first tavern keeper. 1761 Edmund Phinney, son of John, instructed children in his kitchen. During Indian troubles, instruction was given in fort. 1763 First bridge across Presumpscot River, connecting Gorham and Windham. Population of town 432. At this time no houses in Gorham had window glass. William McLellan erected the first two story house in Gorham. 1764 Town incorporated, October 24. Population 340, 60-70 families.1766 Houses in town constructed of logs chinked with moss and clay. 1767 July 31, a severe hurricane swept through the northeastern part of town destroying all in its path from Sebago Lake through Gorham, Windham, Falmouth and Cumberland.1772 Population 600. 1773 The old brick house, the McLellan homestead, erected on Fort Hill road. This is the first brick house in Cumberland County. Construction was started in 1769. 1775 Stephen Longfellow moved to Gorham from Portland. He was the great- grandfather of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 1790 Population 2244. 1797 Post Office established, Samuel Prentiss Postmaster. First Parish Meeting House erected. 1800 Population 2503. 1803 Gorham Academy incorporated. 1805 At Town Meeting it was voted to erect a building of stout timber and huge pasture boulders to serve as a pound for stray cattle. This pound was located to the north and adjacent to present Phinney Park on South Street. Town monument erected at northeast corner of College Avenue and School Street. This monument has been moved several times and now is located at the junction of Church and School Streets at the northeast corner of the Congregational Church Chapel, 1810 Benjamin Mosher built on land purchased by his father in 1771. He built a Federal style house now occupied by his descendants at Mosher's Corner. 1814 First public library in Gorham located in house then occupied by Nathaniel Gould on Main Street nearly opposite Cross Street. 1815 First Town House erected on Fort Hill. 1821 Free Meeting House, later Gorham Town House, now Art Center of the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham, built on lot donated by Alexander McLellan. 1822 Bell in First Parish Meeting House tower cast in Canton, Massachusetts, by Joseph Revere, son of Paul Revere. Inscription on bell reads Revere-Boston 1822. 1829 Oxford and Cumberland Canal open.Discontinued in 1871.1835 William J. Woodbury purchased from Benjamin Phinney a piece of land upon which he proceeded to erect a mansion. This house was so distinctive and elaborate that it came to be known as Woodbury's Folly. This house was located on the elevation just to the east of what is now Barrow's Greenhouse. 1836 First Centennial Celebration, June 10.1839 Baptist Meeting House erected at White Rock, dedicated June 1840. 1843 June 24, Trustees of Maine Mutual Fire Insurance Company voted to authorize the purchase of a lot of land from Simon McLellan and erect thereon a suitable office for the Company. The building was completed in 1845 at a cost of $750. This building is the present Town Office. 1846 Charter granted and work begun on York and Cumberland Railroad. First train reached Gorham on February 5, 1851. This railroad was later known as Portland and Rochester Railroad. 1860 Population 3253. 1866 Monument in the memory of those who died in the Civil War was dedicated.1895 Levi Hall School built at North Gorham. 1897 Electric cars from Westbrook to Gorham Village. The occasion was celebrated at Crystal Spring House on Main Street. Free rides on cars.1882 Honorable Frederick Robie elected Governor of the State. Re-elected in 1884. 1888 Frederick Robie schoolhouse built at Little Falls. l899 Electric cars from Westbrook to Little Falls known as Westbrook, Windham and Naples Railroad. 1901 Sebago water and electricity extended to Gorham Village. 1902 Volunteer Fire Company organized. William T. Libby, first Fire Chief. 19O7 Baxter Memorial Library presented to Town by Honorable James Phinney Baxter as a memorial to his father. 1937 July 29, death of last Civil War veteran in Gorham, Benjamin P. Hodgkins, 92, while celebrating his birthday.1939 November 2, dedication of the “new” high school; then known as the Charles C. Shaw School1940 Apr. 9, 2:00 PM, Gorham dial telephone system began.1941 Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day.1943 Town meeting approved Sunday movies in Gorham.1947 October, in York and Cumberland counties, forest fires swept the areas.1951 April 19, at suggestion of Paul Revere Memorial Association of Boston, Revere Bell at First Parish Church rung for seven minutes; by the Rev. H. W. Dubbs and Saul Carson.1952 February, the Great Snow Storm; turnpike closed; communities isolated several days.1953 Gift of $10,000. from ex-Governor Baxter for maintenance of library and museum.1956 First full-time superintendent of schools, Dwight Webb; superintendency formerly shared with Westbrook.1958 Elden Shute, first Town Manager.1959 New high school opened.1960 Last freight trains through Gorham Village; rails removed 1961 Gorham Junior High on South Street, former high school; named the Charles C. Shaw School; by vote of Town.1961 Campus School, on School Street, renamed the Charlotte R. Millett School; by vote of Town1962 November 5, new White Rock School opened.1963 September 4, new Village Elementary School opened; Donald Doyle, first principal.1963 November 22, Pres. John F. Kennedy's assassination stunned the Town.1964 October 26, new post office opened on Main Street. 1968 Beginning of town council-manager form of government; after more than 200 years of town meetings and selectmen.1976 New Babb's Bridge dedicated.1976 Demolition of old train depot; built on Raillroad Avenue; moved to Mechanic Street when new station built, late nineteenth century. (Housed G. E. Strout's blacksmith shop; used for storage by Clark Lumber Co.; torn down to make way for Shop 'N Save Supermarket (now Hannaford’s.) 1978 Baxter House listed in National Register of Historic Places.1979 Traffic lights installed at intersection of Main Street and New Portland Road.1980 "Gorham Station" renovated and converted into restaurant, opened to the public.1981 Narragansett School opened; dedicated on October 6.1984 Mobil Station, at junction of Main Street and New Portland Road, replaced by Cumberland Farms. 1984 Traffic lights, South Gorham, at intersection of South Street (Route 114) and County Road (Route 22.)1986 Gorham's South Street Historic District was created by the Federal Government. (18 homes)The Town celebrated its 250th Anniversary (May 24- May 31). An ABC's "Good Morning America" program was held at the top of Fort Hill. There was a carnival-type atmosphere at the former Gorham racetrack. There was a huge parade. The class of 1936 at Gorham High School had an interesting float with a replica of the old Gorham high School (demolished in 1975). There were graduates of 1936 riding on it. Jean Holden was the winner of the Gorham's 250th celebration for the first baby born in town after midnight, May 25th, 1986.May 27, 1986. Raymond Phinney and family donated the Band Stand in front of the Municipal Building.1987 July 12, 13, 14, the municipal playground was erected by citizens of Gorham on land adjoining the Municipal Center and Narragansett School. Gorham Lions Club started the rehabilitation project of the Robie Gym. The first paid full-time rescue personnel were added to the Gorham Rescue. 1989 "Gorham House," a 100 unit elderly housing facility on New Portland Road was completed and opened. 1990 The population was 11,856.Gorham Rams Girls Basketball team was this year's Maine State, Class B, Girls Basketball Champion. 1991 August 19th, "Hurricane Bob" dumped over 8 inches of rainfall in less than 24 hours. It damaged numerous roads and bridges. 1995 Fall completion of the new high school renovation. A dedication ceremony was held Dec. 10th at Gorham Performing Arts Center. 1998 The Great Ice Storm of 1998 started on January 5th with freezing rain falling for 50 hours. The freezing rain made a thick coating of ice, up to 3 inches in places, broke limbs, trees, and power lines throughout the town and much of Maine. Many roads were closed for varying lengths of time. St. Anne's Catholic Church was opened for public shelter for almost two weeks. Utility crews from several states were in town for days helping to restore power and communications.On August 24th, a class 6 thunderstorm hit Gorham in the afternoon with torrential rains and winds gusting to over 70 miles per hour. Estimated damage to the Town was about $1,000,000. The USM Campus had over $100,000 damage. Fortunately, no one was injured. Adapted from Gorham Historical Society’s website ................
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