HISTORY OF STARKS, MAINE by Dr. Paul Frederic, Professor of Geography (Emeritus)
Pre-1600
Aboriginal people occupied the area now contained in Starks for 7,000-8,000 years. They relied on agriculture, fishing and hunting. Extensive intervale land along the Sandy and Kennebec Rivers produced excellent yields of corn. Fish were plentiful in the waterways and game was available. Canoe routes led to western mountains, the St. Lawrence River and the coast.
1610
French Jesuit priest visits Indian settlement in area.
1614
Earliest detailed European reference to a major Indian village called Naragooc, on the west bank of the Kennebec and north side of the Sandy. There were 50 households and 150 men in the community. The settlement, because of its size, was considered by the English as the third town north of the mouth of the Kennebec. The site is on the National Register of Historic Places (1993).
1646
French Jesuits construct a chapel at the village.
1695
Father Sebastian Rasle arrives at the village.
Mid-1690’s
Village moved to Old Point on the east side of the Kennebec River in an effort to keep it in French territory. This was a single event within the larger geo-political struggle between France and England for control of North America. At this time, the Kennebec River was considered a possible permanent boundary between French and English land.
1722
English raid Old Point village.
1724
English destroy village at Old Point killing Father Rasle. Some inhabitants escape across Kennebec to the Starks side of the river.
1772
James Waugh arrives and selects a site for a farm on the south side of the Sandy River. Waugh was born in Townsend, Massachusetts about 1749 and had migrated to Clinton (Maine). He accepted the offer made by the Kennebec Proprietors to settle on land they owned. James Waugh is recognized as the first settler in Starks.
1773-74
Waugh is joined by others including his young bride, Bathsheba Fairfield.
1775
Benedict Arnold and his army passes up the Kennebec on his way to be vanquish at Quebec City. Waugh provides yoke of oxen to assist in portage around Norridgewock Falls (Madison). Luke Sawyer arrived in the area in 1774 served as guide for Arnold between Starks and Flagstaff.
1784
Luke Sawyer builds a mill at the site of Starks Village.
1790
Population reaches 327 as settlers arrive.
1795
Samuel Weston surveys great lots along the Sandy River. The Town incorporates on February 28 and is named Starks in honor of Revolutionary War hero General John Stark.
1802
Much of the land back from the Sandy River is surveyed by Samuel Perham.
1810
Six or seven Revolutionary War Veterans have settled in Starks by now.
1812-15
Starks sends 11 men to war (War of 1812).
1820
Population reaches 1,055 with significant migration from eastern Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard, New Hampshire and southern Maine. The decades between settlement and now experience extensive land clearing. Lumber fraud dominates much of the timber harvest at this time. Work was done on credit with suppliers and lumberjacks often not getting paid.
1822
Part of the town is ceded to Industry.
1835
Part of the town is ceded to Mercer.
1839
First church is built, often referred to as “Starks Lighthouse” (Dickinson Rips neighborhood).
1840
Population reaches 1,559 (highest before or since for the town).
1846-48
Starks sends 1 man to war (Mexican War).
1859
Edwin Ladd born, became U.S. Senator from North Dakota and leading national crusader for food safety.
1861-65
Starks sends 68 men to war (Civil War).
1865
Part of town is ceded to Mercer.
1874
Grange is organized.
c. 1899
Madison Electric dam is constructed on the Sandy River. There were about 13 schools in town.
1900
Population is 636.
1907
Part of town is ceded to Norridgewock.
1916
Corn shop starts operation.
1917-18
Starks sends 7 men to war (WW I).
1929-41
Depression. Many miles of town roads discontinued.
1936
Center of Starks Village burns.
1941-45
Starks sends 26 men to war (WW II).
1950-53
Starks sends 9 men to war (Korean War).
1954
Henderson’s sawmill in Starks Village is washed away by Hurricane Edna.
1960
Population is 306 (lowest since before incorporation).
1962
Starks Water District is incorporated to supply water to the village.
1963
Corn shop closes.
1964-73
Starks sends 13 men to war (Vietnam War).
1966
Starks joins School Administrative District #59 (Madison).
1973
Post Office closes.
1991
Historic Thompson Bridge on Starks/Industry town line is placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1995
Starks celebrates Bicentennial.
1994-2009
Town builds four new municipal buildings: town garage, fire station, town office and sand/salt facility.
2010
Population is 640, highest since 1900. Last school closes.
2010-2013
Starks receives ¼ million dollars in grants for comprehensive plan, improving library and building 2 bridges.
2012
Starks withdraws from Regional School District # 59 and joins District #9 (Farmington).
2013
Central Maine Power Company completes 9 million dollar project and the company’s assets now represent about 27% of the Town’s tax base
Selected References:
Allen, William. 1869. History of the Town of Starks From the First Settlement in 1774 to 1869 Inclusive. Wilton, ME: Wilton Printed Products.
Hanson, J. W. 1848. History of the Old Towns Norridgewock and Canaan, Comprising Norridgewock, Canaan, Starks, Skowhegan and Bloomfield. Boston, MA: J. W. Hanson.
Norridgewock Bicentennial Book Committee. 1988. Norridgewock: 200 Years 1788-1988. Norridgewock, ME: Norridgewock Historical Society.
Starks Bicentennial Book Committee. 1995. The People and Places of Starks. State College, PA: Jostens.