The town of Bethel had a tumultuous birth, caught in a land battle between France and Britain in the late seventeenth century. This hardy Maine town was originally called Sudbury Canada, and its rugged settlers weathered the hardships of nature and devastating Indian raids. With the growth of agriculture, more and more families began settling the rich intervales along the Androscoggin River until, in 1796, they were incorporated as the town of Bethel, Maine. In this detailed and comprehensive history, Stanley Russell Howe outlines the importance of the railroad to the towns growth, its postCivil War industrialization, the birth of Gould Academy and the rise of modern tourism spawned by Sunday River Ski Resort. From the famous Indian healer Molly Ockett to Dr. True, first historian of Bethel, the characters from Bethels past are sure to inspire the residents of today.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

True's history is recognized as one of the earliest and most significant efforts of its type to appear in Maine before the Civil War.