Maine becomes Vacationland
Jul 13th, 2016 by bachmann
For much of the early history the United States, wilderness was viewed as an adversary, something to tame and control for civilization to flourish. The evolutionary concept of wilderness as a cherished resource, something of great worth and benefit to citizens took many decades, only gaining momentum by the end of the 19th century. Some of the leading individuals who were instrumental in changing the public’s perceptions of wilderness include Henry David Thoreau, John Burroughs, John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Theodore Roosevelt, who all wrote, spoke, and acted passionately about the vital and indispensable treasure that was the shrinking American wilderness. Government worked towards striking a balance of protection with the rising interest in recreational land use. One of the earliest recognized outdoor enthusiast was T.H. Holding, who wrote “The Camper’s Handbook” in 1906, which in turn sparked interest in camping as a recreational activity, an endeavor that was beneficial to the mind, body, and soul. By 1910, the first camping club was formed, naming themselves the Tin Can Tourists, and in 1912, the US Forest Service reported some 231,000 campers had used the national forests.
The interest in outdoor recreation stimulated railroad development as an unexpectedly lucrative business opportunity. Maine was a state that saw a big uptick in outdoor recreation activities, due to a large expanse of forests, mountains, lakes, and wildlife. Railroads published guides to promote interest in summer recreation as a way to encourage the use of the railroads as the prime mode to get you and your party to a desired camping destination. The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad published the annual “In the Maine Woods” beginning in 1900, with each year trying to expand it’s audience beyond the classic rugged sportsmen, to focus on women, children, and activities beyond hunting, such as canoeing, mountain climbing, photography, or just relaxation.
The publication:
IN THE MAINE WOODS, serves as an introduction to persons unacquainted with the vast Aroostook gameland and vacation country and for the hundreds who make yearly visits to this playground of the nation it is a reminder of happy days in an expanse which Nature has endowed with signal munificence. It does not pretend to be a complete compendium for it would require many volumes to adequately cover the many and diverse attractions of Aroostook —the scenic charms of its mountains, lakes and streams; the delights of the forest retreats; the allurements which yearly call the angler and the mystic charm which draws the hunters to the wooded depths to follow the trail of moose and deer. Aroostook has come to be regarded as synonymous with hunting and fishing and canoeing. It is America’s greatest vacation spot —indeed.
Women:
Not so many years ago a well known authoress and writer of nature studies could boast of being the only white woman to have ascended Katahdm. Within the past decade, however there have been numerous instances of women making the climb and their published experiences have given graphic accounts of the trip up and back and of the gorgeousness of the view which is to be enjoyed by the summit.
Photography:
There is a constantly growing company of hunters, women, and men, who do their shooting not with gun and rifle but with cameras. Camera-hunters find unequalled opportunities in the Aroostook country for pursuing their hobby.
Children:
An outcome of the general acknowledgment of the healthfulness of woods life is the establishment of numerous summer camps for students, girls and boys. They are situated in surroundings that make for the fullest enjoyment of the opportumties for canoeing, swimming, fishing and tramping and are under the charge of competent instructors. These vacation schools are growing in popularity.
Health:
By no means all the comers to the Maine woods are intent on fishing and hunting. There are those who seek to restore broken health; others who come for relaxation after the stress of business or professional cares and still others who regard the woods as the ideal spot for vacation days.
Outfits:
Dress is not a matter of importance in the woods in summer. A blue flannel shirt, an old coat and pair of knickerbockers, a felt hat with a liberal brim, moccasins, and a change of underwear and stockings, are all that is needed. The blue flannel shirt will be found a most comfortable garment; or if one cares to go bare-armed, an athlete’s jersey, with short sleeves, is a good thing to wear. If a rubber blanket is carried the best kind is the poncho, with a slit in the center, as it can be worn for a storm cape in rainy weather. Moccasins are recommended as the most comfortable shoe that can be worn in the woods.
- Description:
- Thompson, Winfield M. (Winfield Martin), 1869- author. In the Maine woods : a guidebook for sportsmen / written and arranged by Winfield M. Thompson. Bangor, Maine : Issued by the Bangor and Aroostock Railroad, 1900.
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:27537512
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University
- Description:
- Hennessy, Wilfred A., author. In the Maine woods. Bangor, Maine : Published by the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad, [1913].
- Persistent Link:
- http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:FHCL:27537515
- Repository:
- Widener Library
- Institution:
- Harvard University