DANE - Maine
Danish
Communities
DANE - Danish Archives North East
Maine:
- Early settlers:
- Danes were in the Portland area as early as 1850
- Christian Christensen (born circa 1825; in Portland by 1860) -
was a foreman at the wharf of the
English Steamers
- John Low (born circa 1824; in Portland by 1860) - clothier
- Peter Williams (born circa 1820; in Portland by 1860) - watchman
- Captain William Thomsen (born December 1827; in Portland by
1860) - sea captain
- Martin C. Mortensen (born September 1837) - owner of a fish
curing
factory in Portland
- Churches:
- Danish Evangelical Lutheran:
- United Evangelical Lutheran:
- Portland (Falmouth), Emmaus, 265 Middle Road,
Falmouth, Maine 04105; (church
website); organized October 26, 1893 (with 14 members); Church
built in 1895 and dedicated Christmas Day 1895; In 1907, the membership
consisted of about 40 families; At the time of the 100th anniversary in
1993, the records contained 715 baptisms, 284 marriages, and 255
funerals; (old
pictures); (2008 pictures); (list of ministers)
- Westbrook, Trinity, 612 Main Street, Westbrook, Maine
04092, (church website);
(church history);
organized November 2, 1882; incorporated January 20, 1892; chuch
building dedicated January 1, 1893; church started with 18 members; In
1907, the
membership consisted of about 40 families; (1907
picture); (2008
pictures); (list of ministers)
- Danish Brotherhood:
- Portland, Maine - Lodge #112 - Charter date: April 30, 1898
(dissolved); 80 members in 1907
- Rumsford Falls, Maine - Lodge #199 - Charter date: September
16, 1904 (dissolved)
- Falmouth, Maine - Lodge #250 - Evening Red - Charter date:
January 18, 1907
(dissolved); Started December 31, 1906 with 21 members; By November
1907, had built a Lodge Hall in Falmouth - the Hall consists of
"a nice large dancing hall and stage, with chambers on the first floor
and dining hall up stairs"; (picture)
- Danish Building Association:
- Founded December 17, 1906 - had the "intention of solving the
problem of erecting a Danish Memorial Building". Started with 8 members
and had over 100 members by the end of 1907.
- On November 14, 1907, they had an "Our Danish Eve" concert and
dance in the City Hall in Portland, Maine. (committee).
- Officers (1907)
- Danish Society Enighed:
- Oldest Danish society in Portland
- 158 members in 1907
- American Cadet Orchestra -
Portland, Maine (active in 1907) - "Music furnished for all occasions.
Balls, Banquets, and Parties. Dancing a specialty." Leader and agent -
E. E. Hybert (Emil Earl Hybert), 20 Sheridan Street in 1907. (picture in 1907)
- Den Danske Landsby - The Little
Danish Village, Portland Maine - The Danish Village located in
Scarboro, outside Portland Maine was built by a hotel company in
1930. Said to be modeled after the medieval town of Ribe, Denmark
it was designed as an early version of what we know today as a motel or
tourist camp. During its heyday it was the scene of many Danish
celebrations and holiday traditions. A movie was filmed there in
the 1930s which depicted Santa Claus and his village. In 1947
there was a huge fire that destroyed one of the main buildings.
In September 1968 another fire devastated more of the buildings. By
1970 the Village was not recognizable and there was little or nothing
left of the once attractive tourist site. (picture1)(picture2)
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