By Trinity St. Pierre
and Stephanie Parent
Caswell, Grade 6 and 7
Caswell is a rural town in Aroostook County. It is located north of Limestone and the Loring Air Force base. The history of Caswell started many years ago when the first settler, R.S. Caswell, came here in 1879. It was known as the Caswell Plantation. Caswell was first known as the township of F.R. 1, and organized as Pleasant Ridge Plantation in 1878. The town was then reorganized on April 14, 1879, as a plantation. It was also named after the first settler and became a town on July 16, 1986. The township consisted of a six-mile square land plot which was considered a good piece of land. The land was rich and fertile. There was also plenty of timber for settlers to build homes. Charles Herd was one of the first settlers. Soon after, more and more people came. In 1945, they began keeping the town’s records in a small building they built. At bout 2,000, the town’s population was about 326.
The Radar site was built in about 1951 but it was bought out by the government. Today many of the students what go to the local school live there. Also in 1951, an army missile site was up and being operated near the Radar site. The Loring Air Force base was up for a while too, but closed in 1994. Since then the population has not been as high. When they left there was a huge decrease in population.
In the early 1900’s a man named Jack Wright opened a small store. He sold things like canned goods, flour, sugar, and a variety of meats. Apartments could be rented in the 1900’s. In 1900, a small pond on the Willard road was turned into the site of the Limestone Mining Company Mill for grinding limestone.
It was running until the 1940’s. A starch factory was also built after the Limestone Mining Company closed. The starch was used in clothes and other things.
The first Methodist Church was built in 1909 but closed in 1989. It was on the 4 corners so it was easy for the townsfolk to get to it. A catholic church was also built.
Major crops were potatoes, hay, oats and buckwheat. The animals that could be found on small farms were sheep, cattle, swine and poultry.
Being close to the border, the townsfolk used the “Shortcut road” as a route between the U.S. and Canada. The custom’s office was on this road. Travelers were required to report to the custom’s office when they returned to the U.S. or Canada.
Between 1899 and 1926 there were 5 schools. In 1927 Pleasant Ridge started. Grades 1-8 attended. The school only had 3 rooms. In 1928 St. Mary’s school opened and closed in 1974.
In 1974 Dawn F. Barnes Elementary school opened. It was named after the first principal, Dawn Barnes. The school used to be only kindergarten and pre-k and they had a half-day every day. First and second grades were in one room with a male teacher. Mrs. Thibidou was the kindergarten and pre-k teacher. Mr. Baxter was first and second grade teacher. Mrs. Grass was gym teacher. Mr. Hartmen was the principal. Now it is Mrs. Davenport. Back then, there were a lot more kids (over 100). After School Programs stopped after the budget cuts. On the weekends the teachers would take the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades on a 3-day camping trip during Winter Carnival. They went camping and canoeing down the Allagash.
There have also been many physical changes in the school too, like walls being added in 2011-2012. So have teachers, we have had many teachers here before, but now we only have three classroom teachers, and a couple for extra help with things. They also help out with P.E., art and health. But only two people have been here for 20 years, and that’s Mrs. Deeves and our superintendent, Mr. Dobbins.
