On the recordJuly 14, 2022
Madam President, I rise today to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the town of Buxton, ME. It is a great pleasure to celebrate the generations of industrious and caring people who have made Buxton a wonderful place to live, work, and raise families. Named for the famous spa town in England, Buxton has a rich history. For thousands of years, the Saco River Valley was home to the Abenaki. In 1728, the Massachusetts General Court granted land to establish a settlement that was called Narragansett Number One. As the population grew, the town of Buxton was incorporated on July 14, 1772. The early settlers turned the dense forests and fertile soil into a thriving lumber industry and productive farms. With the Saco River providing power, sawmills and gristmills were built, followed by woolen mills, tanneries, churches, libraries, and flourishing retail stores. Education has been central to Buxton from the start. The first schoolmaster arrived in 1761, more than a decade before incorporation. Soon, 17 homes in town hosted one-room schools so that every youngster was within walking distance. Buxton's early prosperity as an industrial center produced many fine examples of New England architecture. Today, several homes, businesses, and the First Congregational Church are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the Register is the Buxton Powder House, built by the townspeople at a cost of $59 to store ammunition and arms during the War of 1812.…





