Not everyone that lives in Maine is a lobsterman or a lumberjack. The myth of these being the only sources of income and of lifestyle in this great state is difficult to dispel in other regions of the country – especially so in big cities and on the opposite coast. However, once you start dropping names, people snap to attention fairly quickly. We all know Stephen King, but did you know:
Longfellow?
As a famous son of Portland, Longfellow wrote many poems about the fair city by the bay, including one that reminisces about his youth spent enjoying “Deering’s Woods” (A park that still exists today). He also enjoyed frequent walks from Portland to Fort Williams, home of Portland Head Light, which is the most photographed lighthouse in the world today. Though Longfellow would later move to Cambridge, there is still a Longfellow House in Portland that is a popular destination for tourists, school groups, and literary-minded locals. There are also two streets parallel to each other named “Wadsworth” and “Longfellow” to commemorate the poet in the Oakdale neighborhood of the city.
George Mitchell?
Born in Waterville, right outside of the state capital of Augusta, this brilliant diplomat is a native son of Maine. George Mitchell has a distinguished record. Serving as United States Senate Majority Leader, was instrumental in the Northern Ireland Peace Process, was considered as a Supreme Court Appointment by President Clinton, and is now serving as the Middle East Envoy for President Obama. Outside of politics, Mitchell Served as Chairman of the Board at Disney, and earned a special place in New Englanders’ hearts when he served as a director in the Boston Red Sox organization.
Chester Greenwood?
Who is that, you ask? He invented earmuffs, of course! What a brilliant stroke of genius those Maine winters inspired back in the 1870s. A native of Farmington, Greenwood invented the earmuffs in the winter of 1873 at the age of fifteen while trying to keep warm while ice skating. Earmuffs were granted a patent in 1877, and they have been a popular winter accessory ever since.
Patrick Dempsey?
The dreamboat star of the hit show ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is in fact a hometown boy of Lewiston. Discovered at an early age, Dempsey had roles in many movies beginning in 1985, and continuing through to today. The extraordinary success of ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has made Dempsey a superstar, though he has not forgotten his Maine roots. After his mother was diagnosed with cancer, Dempsey created the Patrick Dempsey Center for Cancer Hope and Healing at Central Maine Medical Center.
Are there more?
Of course there are. Many artists and authors have found inspiration in the natural beauty of Maine. From Andrew and Jamie Wyeth to to E.B. White and Harriet Beecher Stowe, the nation’s 23rd state has been and currently is home to a wide variety of highly accomplished people.
in Maine
