Page 8 - 2019 visitors guide

Towns of the Chamber Towns of the Chamber

ALNA HISTORY There are two National Register His-

Alna was originally part of Pownal- toric Districts. Sheepscot is a village
borough incorporated in 1760. The on both sides of the Sheepscot River
area was originally settled in 1663, with handsome homes and period
became New Milford, and in 1794 buildings. In Head Tide is the birth-
was finally incorporated as the town place of the poet Edwin Arlington
of Alna. The name was derived from Robinson, born on December 22,
the Latin word for "alder trees ," 1869, and the Head Tide Church,
plentiful along the Sheepscot. dedicated in 1838. The dam in Head
Tide was a former mill site with a
The 1789 Meetinghouse, on Rt. 218, prime view of the Sheepscot wind-
is a rare example of 18th century ing past an old store, parsonage and
architecture with high pulpit, sound- spring house in the village.
ing board and box pews. The interi-
or has remained largely unchanged The Sheepscot River has an alewife
and is currently host to concerts, and Atlantic salmon run each spring
weddings, private functions, and and is a favorite white water area.
town meetings. Nearby on Rt. 218 is Two nature preserves owned by
the Center School. Built c. 1795, the Sheepscot Valley Conservation
with a cupola and bell, it is the sec- Association have hiking trails and
ond oldest school house still stand- scenic views of the river. The Wis-
ing in Maine. Both buildings are casset, Waterville, Farmington Rail-
listed on the National Historic Regis- way Museum offers steam train
ter. Other early buildings include rides on a narrow gauge railway and
The Alna/Newcastle Baptist Church preserves the transportation herit-
built in 1838, and the Village School, age of the Sheepscot Valley. Along
1874, a former one room school- with Alna's history, visitors can en-
house, both on Rt.194. joy antique stores, a riding stable,
galleries, farm stands and home-
made treats at the Alna store.

Calendar of Events
See page 49 for the
Wiscasset, Waterville, & Farmington
Railway Museum

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