Augusta, Maine

Maine is a very rural, yet proud state. The entire population of Maine is less than that of Manhattan. Nonetheless, Maine excels beyond other states in specific ways.

For one, Maine is frugal. A perfect example of this quality of culture is the State House. The Maine State House is not ornate, ostentatious, or intimidating, yet it is dignified and regal. The original building was completed in 1832, about one year after the city of Augusta was chosen to be the seat of the state legislature. It was built based on Charles Bulfinch’s design of the state house in Massachusetts. Due to ongoing renovations and additions, only a fraction of the original edifice remains today.

The inside of the Capitol was renovated 1852 and again in 1860 to provide additional room for a growing state government. In 1890-1891, a large, three-story wing was added to the rear of the building to accommodate more growth. Further renovations from 1909 to 1910 resulted in the current appearance of the building, expanding the north and south wings according to designs by G. Henri Desmond. Despite all of the changes, the original front of the building has been preserved.

The section of the original building that remains today retains the original floor, made of Italian marble. Each tiny tile, no more than a centimeter or two in length, was laid by hand. The bust honoring Percival Baxter, the Governor of Maine from 1921-1925, sits in the center of the room. Throughout his life, he purchased parcels of land that he eventually donated to the state of Maine. That property is now known as Baxter State Park. 

Opposite from the statue of Baxter hangs the portrait of a very important woman, Margaret Madeline Chase Smith. She was the first woman to be elected to both U.S. Houses of Congress. In fact, before she was elected to both U.S. Houses of Congress, she was also the first woman to be elected to both the House and the Senate in Maine. She is most famous for giving her “Declaration of Conscience” speech in which she spoke out against the tenets of McCarthyism during the early 1950s when U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy was intensifying the fear of communism in the United States. 

Maine’s legislature as a whole is extremely representative of the population of Maine in terms of socioeconomic status; they are not among the wealthiest in the state. The legislators are only paid about $23,500 for a two-year term. Because the House and the Senate only meet for 6 months out of the year at most, they all have additional jobs during the other part of the year. Those other jobs include being a teacher, nurse, carpenter, paper mill worker, fisherman, or doctor. Some of the members make an hourly wage. In fact, many of them sacrifice a higher paycheck to work in the legislature. In this way, Maine has truly embraced the meaning of social service in their government.

After the tour from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, I ventured out in search of a bite to eat. Although Augusta has quite a few chain restaurants, locally owned places are not hard to find. I decided on Slates Restaurant, where I ate the freshest and most delectable seafood and pasta dish that I have ever had. Given that Maine supplies 40 million pounds or nearly 90% of the nation’s lobster catch, I was not surprised. If you find yourself in Maine, you must try the seafood.

Not only does Maine lead the nation in lobster supply, but it also supplies 99% of the nation’s blueberries, and 90% of its toothpicks. I am not sure what the common denominator is between the three, but next time you tuck in to a fresh lobster, indulge in blueberry pie, or graciously accept a tooth-picked hors d’oeuvre, remember that you are supporting the state of Maine.

The following day, I went to the Maine State Museum. Outside in the front of the building there is a statue of a young girl, Samantha Smith from Manchester, Maine, who became famous during the Cold War era because of a letter that she sent to the newly appointed CPSU General Secretary Yuri Andropov. She received a personal reply with an invitation to the Soviet Union. During this entire production, frenzy in the media had ensued. Her letter had been published, and both Ted Koppel and Johnny Carson interviewed her. Her visit to the Soviet Union sparked hope that true reconciliation was possible and in 1985, she starred in a television show called Lime Street. She died later that year in a plane crash flying back from England where she had been filming an episode for the show. In her honor, the statue had been erected, ensuring that her contribution to the hope of world peace will never be forgotten.

Inside the museum, the most moving exhibit was about the Civil War. Joshua Chamberlain, a hero of the Civil War, was born in Brewer, Maine in 1828. He graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852 where he was a student of Calvin Stowe, the husband of famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe. He attended Bangor Theological Seminary and then returned to Bowdoin to become a professor.

When the Civil War broke out, Chamberlain desperately wished to serve the Union. The governor of Maine appointed Chamberlain as the Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Maine Regiment. Despite the fact the he had no prior military experience or training, he became a highly decorated officer. During the battle of Gettysburg, often described as the turning point of the Civil War, the Union line was being repeatedly charged on their left flank. Out of ammunition, and desperate to hold the hill known as Little Round Top, Chamberlain led the 20th Maine regiment in a gallant bayonet charge down the hill. This allowed for the hill to remain securely under Union control. His valor earned Chamberlain the Medal of Honor.

After the war, Chamberlain returned to Maine and served as the state’s governor from 1866-1869. In 1871 he was appointed president of Bowdoin College and would hold that position until 1883 when he had to resign due to ill health from his lingering war wounds. In 1898, at age 70, he volunteered for duty as an officer in the Spanish-American war, but was rejected due to his health concerns. In 1914, Chamberlain finally succumbed to the wounds that he had sustained 50 years previously, making him the last person to die of wounds from the Civil War.

After departing from the museum, I mulled over the experience of the previous two days. Despite Maine’s humble population, my visit reminded me once again that no matter how small the state, each one has its merits and contributions to the rest of the nation. With its wonderfully fresh seafood and honorable history, Maine left me with a feeling of pride. I was honored to have bared witness to the heritage of the dignified Pine Tree State. As the clock past noon, I reluctantly joined the monotonous rhythm of the interstate, and headed towards Concord.