Activity, civic-mindedness hallmarks of Unity

Activity, civic-mindedness hallmarks of Unity: "ABOUT UNITY

POPULATION: 1,889 LOCATION: Forty miles northeast of Augusta

EARLY HISTORY: Beginning in 1769, Quaker families traveled up the Sebasticook River and settled the land around Lake Winnecook, then known as Twenty-five Mile Pond. They found giant white pines and hardwoods and good soil in the area that is now Unity, then called Twenty-five Mile Pond Plantation. Quakers also first settled Unity's only sizable hill. Unity's name was inspired by the political unity touted during Thomas Jefferson's presidency.

MORE RECENTLY: Since Unity was accidentally omitted from the 1963 official state highway commission road map, citizens have worked hard to make sure their town is not overlooked. Unity owes much of its reputation as a cultural center for the interior of Waldo County to the late Bert Clifford, who was a longtime resident and worked as president and general manager of Unity Telephone Company, the town's local, independent telephone company. Clifford funded many civic, cultural and recreational initiatives in Unity.

MORE FACTS & FINDS

MAINE'S ONLY full-scale, coal-burning steam locomotive stops at Unity Station. The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad, which features a 1913 steam engine, runs a two-hour round trip on weekends from Unity to Burnham Junction, crossing Lake Winnecook.

THIS SUMMER, Unity is celebrating its bicentennial. Events include a local art exhibit through the end of June, a street dance July 30, a parade and community barbecue July 31, a fishing tournament Aug. 1 and a historical lecture Aug. 2. For more information, visit www.unitymaine.org.

UNITY IS probably best known for being home to the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, which puts on the annual Common Ground Country Fair. The fair, which attracts about 50,000 people each year and celebrates rural and sustainable living, will take place from Sept. 24 to 26 this year. For more information, visit www.mofga.org."