LITTLETON, Maine — The directors of the Maine Community Foundation have approved a $10,000 grant from the Aroostook County Fund for the latest building project at The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton.
This grant will help with the creation of a display highlighting the history of snow plowing and snow removal in Aroostook County.
The project was spearheaded by former President Francis Fitzpatrick in collaboration with Galen Cole of Cole’s Land Transportation Museum in Bangor. Allie Cole, Galen’s father was instrumental in clearing the roads in the late 1920s from Lincoln to Aroostook County in order to deliver goods to residents of this area.
Prior to that, the State Highway Commission plowed roads only as far north as Lincoln. Cole stationed crews south of Island Falls and had them plow both north and south to clear the way for deliveries throughout the winter. It didn’t come without challenges.
According to passages in the book “Allie Cole, A Maine Pioneer,” written by his son, the winters brought feet of snow more often than inches. In those days the only passable road went from Lincoln through Winn, Mattawamkeag, Macwahoc and then through Silver Ridge, Golden Ridge into Island Falls and on to Houlton.
With many open fields and high grounds there was lots of drifting. It sometimes took three of four days to get through. When it was sub-zero weather the snow would freeze like concrete requiring an axe to break into the drifts to get the nose of the plow into the snow.
Cole often was told he should give up, but with sheer determination and some very dedicated employees he was able to deliver goods to the County and in return brought potatoes back. He was highly regarded by the farmers.
As time went on Cole expanded north from Houlton delivering goods and in return taking products south. Sometimes there would be a convoy of horses, trucks and plows working in partnership to open the roads.
Cole went on to build a very successful trucking company employing many from the County.
The Bangor museum does not have the space to include the snow equipment and since it is more significant to Aroostook the museum has been selected. Volunteers will build a 60-foot by 100-foot structure just east of the Ross School. This building will provide 6,000 square feet of display area. It is expected to cost approximately $175,000.
Cole initially contributed $35,000 with another $15,000 at ground-breaking. With the latest donation from Maine Community Foundation making a total of $60,000. The project is moving ahead with groundbreaking later this summer. Grants and other fundraisers are being planned to reach the goal.
Those who are interested in contributing to this project, send donations to SAAM, 304 Campbell Road, Littleton, ME 04730.
