Hype for the Future 63K: Town of Fairfield, Maine

Overview

The Town of Fairfield is actually located not in Kennebec County, as may have been suggested in Article 63J, but within the limits of Somerset County further north. While the village area is effectively a northward extension of the City of Waterville in Kennebec County, the vast majority of the Town of Fairfield remains largely undeveloped or at a smaller scale, with the Kennebec Valley Community College area along the Kennebec River and Route 201 providing access to the L.C. Bates Museum of Natural History and Culture. Visitors to the aforementioned museum should, however, be warned that the museum is not air-conditioned in the summer nor heated in the winter, so every visitor should dress accordingly.

Hype for the Future 63J: Waterville and Winslow, Maine

Introduction

The City of Waterville and adjoining Town of Winslow represent an urbanized area situated upstream from the Augusta area along the Kennebec River in Kennebec County, Maine. Though the communities are located opposite the river from one another, the combination of the communities is what today creates the urbanized area, with Waterville to the west and Winslow to the east.

City of Waterville

The City of Waterville, located on the west side of the Kennebec River, is home to Colby College as well as to Thomas College. The former is part of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and also occasionally grouped in with Bates and Bowdoin Colleges in the communities of Lewiston and Brunswick, respectively. Unfortunately, while not much exists for tourists to the Waterville community, the few attractions are largely determined by the presence of particularly Colby College, which hosts the Colby College Museum of Art directly on campus. The Redington Museum is home to the Waterville Historical Society, and Main Street, located nearby, continues to serve the greater community in the Waterville area.

Town of Winslow

The Town of Winslow, located opposite the Kennebec River from the City of Waterville, can be accessed by a recreational trail over the Two Cent Bridge, with the Farmers’ Market of Downtown Waterville located on the immediate west side and the connection to Mill Road followed by the administrative area of the Town of Winslow on the east side.

Town of Fairfield

Further upstream along the west side of the Kennebec River from Waterville is the Town of Fairfield, hosting the Fairfield Historical Society and the historic Cotton-Smith House. The overall town population has recently been counted as slightly under seven thousand residents within Fairfield, with Benton located opposite the Kennebec and Route 201 providing access south toward the Waterville and Augusta areas and north toward the Skowhegan area and the approach to Québec.

Hype for the Future 63I → City of Augusta, Maine

Introduction

The City of Augusta is the capital city of the State of Maine and the county seat of Kennebec County. Accessible from Interstate 95 and United States Routes 201 and 202, the city is not particularly large, with communities such as Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn, Saco, and Biddeford each containing at least somewhat higher population counts. While the University of Maine at Augusta and the Jeff Gagnon Way Memorial are each on the northwestern fringe of the city limits, the downtown area of the city is located along the Kennebec River, with the Maine State Museum, the First Amendment Museum at the Gannett House, the Vickery Building, and the Site of the 2nd Augusta Train Station located to the west and Old Fort Western, the Cushnoc Archaeological Site, and the historic Augusta Mental Health Institute located to the east.

Augusta Mental Health Institute

The Augusta Mental Health Institute represents a historical area, containing the AMHI Landing sid and the Arsenal Wharf directly on the Kennebec with the chimney area centrally located and the Ray Building, Old Max, and arsenal sites located relatively nearer Hospital Street, with Coburn Park providing access to the arsenal building and magazine sites.

Hype for the Future 62WFP: Plantation of West Forks, Maine

Introduction

West Forks is a plantation in Somerset County, Maine, and one of only three mainland plantations in the State to lack the name “Plantation,” the others being The Forks and Grand Lake Stream. While Monhegan and Matinicus Isle are also plantations, these are island plantations in which the use of the term “Plantation” is less necessary and more implied.

Lodging

The Inn By the River is a predominantly rustic place to stay within the State of Maine. Located opposite Route 201 from the Kennebec River, visitors should be warned that some potential rooms may not have a television (TV) nor ample cell service in any way. Wi-Fi connectivity may be limited or unavailable, as with many other rustic resorts, so tourists may experience a culture shock, especially after visiting predominantly larger cities and metropolitan areas.