r l I I The Story of f, The Androscoggin Area "The rising tide lifts all boats", said Dr. Charles F. the only one of its kind in the State of Maine. Ph illips, President of Bates College, when it was announced that a group of forward-looking citizens had organized the The objectives of this corporation are long range, aimed Androscoggin Area Development Corporation. This private, not so much at the accomplishment of spectacular results. non-profit, industrial development group, is dedicated to as at a sound, continuing economic growth of the Andros• improving the economic health of the Androscoggin area. coggin area, which includes the cities of Lewiston-Auburn and ten surrounding towns. As one of the few rema ining Dr. Phillips, together with Justice Donald W. Webber, of regions in the United States with its resources virtually the Maine Supreme Court, were honorary chairmen of the untapped, this area in southwest Maine has unlimited po­ drive which gathered a three year budget, over subscribed tential for profitable economic development. by 20%, to implement the objectives of this corporation, For Additional Information Contact: Androscoggin Area Development Corp. 95 Park Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240 Telephone 783-2007 AC 207 Development Program ----- Basically, area economic development will serve to re­ The und eveloped land of the area and the untouched re­ duce the current rate of unemployment in the area and, sou rces are vast. Its proximity to all major markets of the more important, help the two cities and ten towns to grow United States and some in Canada, its excellent labor and prosper. record, and its most favorable tax structure, make the loca ­ tion of the Androscoggin area attractive to incoming Thi s corporation , if it fulfills the expectation s of the industry. founders, wi ll not displace or substitute for t he activities now being furnished by the two municipal governments of The Androscoggin Area Development Corporation, by its Lewiston and Auburn, but will supplement them. A close efforts, hopes to insure progress for our area and for our working relationship is maintained with the Department of state. Economic Development in Augusta. J 750 MILE RADIUS The IMPACT OTTAWA* and Significance of Within this 750 mile radius lies - *PITTSBURGH LEEDS TURNER • • I t , • ' ~ GREENE _: our Geographic Location l ----35¾ of the U.S. population 45¾ of the Canadian population P f- AND 65¾ of the U. S. manufacturing plants 75¾ of the Canadian manufacturing plants 10 Towns for Industry and Gracious Country Living TURNER GREENE Population 1,890. Land Area 62.4 square miles. A general farming area located on the west Population 807. Land Area 41.8 square miles. A concrete block and pipe plant is the principal side of the Androscoggin River. the Town of Turner consists of scattered village settlements. manufacturing activity in this rural fa rming community. Leeds Junction on the Ma ine Central Several lakes and ponds provide the setting for boys· and girls' summer camps and private Railroad is the point where rail shipments to and from the Livermore Falls. Farmington, and cottage developments. The Nezinscot River, noted for canoe trips, flows through the town and Rumford areas tie in with the railroad's main line. Androscoggin Lake in the northern part of a small landing field with seaplane facilities is located in the southwest corner of the town. the town provides the setting for sum mer cottages and recreational activity. Manufacturi ng includes a rug guild producing hooked rugs and a small bottling plant. MINOT LEEDS Population 780. Land Area 30.0 square miles. The town of Minot is a general farm ing and Population 1,226. Land Area 34.1 square miles. This general farming and rural residential country residential town located immediately west and north of t~e City of Auburn. Major high­ town consists of several village clusters and is located north and east of the City of Lewiston. way routes leading from the Auburn-Lewiston complex cross the southern portion of town. West A major highway, U. S. Route 202, and the Maine Central Railroad main line between Lewiston I Minot. principal village in the town, is the site of a wood products manufacturing plant making and the Augusta-Waterville area cross through the central part of the town. A lumber mill and novelties. wooden sleds and toboggans. a woodworking pfant are local resource based manufacturing 3ctivities. MECHANIC FALLS WALES Population 2,195. Land Area 11.2 square miles. This commercial and manufacturing town is Population 488. Land Area 16.5 square miles. Dispersed general farming activity and rural located 10 miles west of the City of Auburn at a water power site on the Little Androscoggin residences characterize this smal l town. The east shore of Lake Sabattus has some summer River. Paper products, furniture and wood products provide the major economic activity in cottage development and Mt. Sabattus, with a summit elevation of 802 is a prominent feature the community. of the landscape. POLAND WEBSieR Population 1,537. Land Area 42.8 square miles. This general farming area and summer residen­ Population 1,302. Land Area 25.1 square miles. This town is located at the southern end of tial community is located west and south of the city of Auburn. Thompson Lake. Tripp Pond. Lake Sabattus, approximately 6 miles east of the City of Lewiston. Manufacturing related to the Upper, Middle and Lower Range Ponds and several small ponds provide the location for exten, boot and shoe industry - plastic and molded rubber heels, soles and top-lifts - is the prin. sive summer cottage and recreational camp development. A television broadcasting facility cipal economic activity for the village of Sabattus. the major settlement in the town. Elsewhere. and a major convention-resort hotel are located in the town. A small fiberboard plant is the rural farm ing. suburban residences and summer cottage developments are important. principal manufacturing activity. DURHAM LISBON Population 1.086. Land Area 38.5 square mi les. This town is primarily a cut -over forested area Population 5.042. Land Area 23 .9 square miles. Lisbon Falls, Lisbon and Lisbon Center are and general farming community located on the south side of the Androscoggin River opposite the three major settlements within this manufacturing oriented town located south of Lewiston the town of Lisbon. Durham was the site of a religious colony, which gained national prominence on the Androscoggin River. Two woolen textile mills. a gypsum board plant and a vinyl asbestos in the late 19th century. tile mill are the principal manufacturing concerns. The town is on a major highway Route 196 which connects Brunswick and Lewiston and is also served by the Maine Central Railroad. TURNER 0 0 0 0 O GREENE MECHANIC (j FALLS WISTO UBU LISBON _ ______________________: _____ D_ U~R~HAM 2 Cities an Area for Managen,ent and Labor Alike LEWISTON AUBURN Lewiston is located on the banks of the Androscoggin River, in generally The City of Auburn, the County Seat of Androscoggin County, lies on the west gently rolling land, twenty miles inland from Casco Bay and the coast of Maine. bank of the Androscoggin River opposite the City of Lewiston. Auburn is 32 miles The population in 1960 was40,804. northerly of Portland, 31 miles southerly of Augusta, and 30 miles northwesterly from the confluence of the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers at Merrymeeting Lewiston is an Industrial community with a large area and the principal city of Bay. Auburn, Maine's fourth largest city, had a 1960 United States census popula­ a large region. Textiles and shoe manufacture predominate with many other tion of 24,449. Since the U.S. Government started conducting its decennial census smaller industries offering some diversification. Significant retail and wholesale in 1850, Auburn has all:{ays shown population increases. activities and important services such as hospitals and news media help give Industrially, Auburn ranks as one of t he nation's largest shoe manufacturing Lewiston its importance in the central western part of Maine. centers. Auburn became the first city in the state to have a shoe manufacturing company when, in 183!:?, the State Legislature granted a charter to the Minot Shoe Although there were some early saw mills and grist mills, the Industrial Company. Although leather and leather products remain the predominant indus• development which provided Lewiston with the basis for growth started with the tries, in recent years there has been a growing diversification into other fields - building in 1834 of t he first textile mill, the Lewiston Falls Manufacturing Com­ among them a structural concrete plant, a specialty textile mill, a modern bakery pany, and with the construction of the main canal as far as the Bates Mill in products plant, and a large milling facility. This diversification of industries and 1850-51. Several new industries have located in Lewiston in recent years. Good commercial establishments within the city has added to the economic stability of sites for additional industrial and commercial development are available. the community. Only about one-fourth of the 35.1 square mile area of Lewiston is built up. As is characteristic of all older New England manufacturing cities, the urban The built-up area is in the following approximate uses: Industrial 10%, Commercial center of Auburn is an admixture of manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing, reli• 10%, Residential 60%, and Institutional 20%. gious and governmental facilities. Its tree-lined streets offer many surprises in beautiful new homes, churches and small commercial establishments. In outlying Spec ial features include the Bates Mill, Central Maine Youth Center, Central areas of the community are several rural village clusters of houses, each reminis­ cent of a tiny New England town.