Camden, Maine in the Late 19th Century Through Fascinating Photos ~ Vintage Everyday

Camden is a town on Penobscot Bay, in Maine’s MidCoast region. The High Street Historic District features 19th-century homes and Camden Public Library, with its landscaped amphitheater. The restored Camden Opera House stages music, film and dance.

Trails line the slopes at Camden Hills State Park, with views of Camden Harbor and the bay from Mount Battie. Curtis Island, with its 1830s lighthouse, is in the harbor.

These fascinating photos from Camden Public Library are from Theresa Babb that show life of Camden, Maine from 1898 to 1900. Theresa (1868-1948) was the wife of Camden’s Knox Mill treasurer Charles W. Babb (1863-1956). Their son Charles Jr. would become the mill’s longtime superintendent and president. Many of the descriptions are as Theresa wrote them on the negative envelopes.

Harbor Day, May 1898

Camden harbor viewed from the head of the harbor, May 17, 1898. The Holly M. Bean shipyard is visible on the left side and Negro Island (now Curtis Island) is in the background

Children at Lake City on Megunticook Lake in 1898

Construction of the 5-masted schooner John B. Prescott in 1898. The largest schooner in the world at that time, she was built to carry 4300 tons of coal

Four friends of Theresa Babb sitting on the porch of the Summit House on Mt. Battie in August 1898

Friends and family of Theresa Babb perched on a ladder by the Summit House swing on August 17, 1898. Her sister Grace Parker is at the top of the ladder

Friends and family of Theresa Babb riding the hayrack to Lake City in 1898. Some are costumed in older style clothing and the wagon is heavily decorated with flags; perhaps a 4th of July celebration?

Norumbega estate on High Street in Camden; home of Joseph Stearns, circa 1898

Skiffs at Lake City, Megunticook Lake, August 1898

The Ogier house on Pearl Street in 1898

View of 69 Elm Street in Camden, circa 1898

View of Camden and the harbor from the summit of Mt. Battie in June 1898

View of Camden village and Bayview Street from across the harbor at Sea Street, May 26, 1898

View of Main Street in Camden, looking south toward Elm Street in July 1898

"Camping crowd at Ogier Point", circa 1899

"Working bee at Lake City", circa 1899. Lake City was located at Megunticook Lake in Camden

Boating at Lake City on Megunticook Lake in August 1899

Children wading at Lake City on Megunticook Lake in August 1899

Clement Whitcomb on Washington Street, in front of the "Old Ladies Home" in May 1899

Eastern Steamship Company wharf at the end of Sea Street in Camden as viewed from the schooner John B. Prescott in 1899. Negro (now Curtis) Island is visible in the background

Group with camera seated on Maiden's Cliff, October 1899

Launching of the 5-masted schooner John B. Prescott on January 13, 1899. The largest schooner in the world at that time, she was built to carry 4300 tons of coal

Launching of the schooner "Anna Murray" from the Holly M. Bean shipyard in July 1899

The 5-masted schooner "Jennie French Potter" was 257 feet long and was launched from the Bean yard in 1899. It dwarfs the passenger steamship and skiff next to her

The 5-masted schooner "Jennie French Potter" was 257 feet long and was launched from the Bean yard in 1899

The Methodist Church at the corner of Mountain and Main Street. The Universalist Church is visible behind it on Central Street, circa 1899

Two people in George Burd's shoe store on Main Street in Camden in 1899. The man may be George Burd

View of the head of the harbor from Sea Street in December 1899. The L-shaped Ocean House hotel is visible in the left background. The Camden Public Library is now located on the hotel site

Woman walking along Turnpike Drive (now Rt. 52) in October 1899. She is carrying a camera and has a dog and bicycle with her

Camping at Ogier Point, 1900

Camping crowd at Ogier Point, 1900. Theresa Babb is on the far left

Camping crowd at Ogier Point, August 1900. Theresa's sister Grace Parker is on the right with the tennis racket, and Father Brown is seated in back with white hair

Group of family and friends of Theresa Babb having a picnic on Ogier Point in July 1900. Theresa's sister Grace is in the middle with the white hat, and their mother Mrs. Parker is at the far top right

Group of family and friends of Theresa Babb having a picnic on Ogier Point in July 1900

Miss Merriam at Sherman's Point, 1900

Mr. Greenwood in the office of the Knox Woolen Company, August 1900

Negro Island lighthouse viewed from Ogier Point in 1900

Picnic at Sherman's Point in Camden in 1900. Theresa is seated in front

Picnic at Sherman's Point, 1900. Theresa is 2nd from the left holding a bottle

Swimming at Lake City as viewed from Dudley Talbot's lot, circa 1900

The 6-masted schooner George W. Wells, built in 1900 at the Bean shipyard, was perhaps the most famous vessel to be constructed in Camden and the first 6-master built in the world

The schooner "Maggie Alice" docked behind another coaster at the lumberyard or lime kiln in Camden in August 1900. The Jacobs kiln was located on the current site of the Camden Yacht Club

Two unidentified women seated near Beauchamp Point, October 1900. Indian Island lighthouse is visible in the background. Labeled "Whitcomb and Duffy in foreground"