A Brief History of Lovell

In 1774 the Massachusetts House of Representatives granted a petition asking that a township "east of the Saco and north of Frye Grant" be given to the "heirs of Captain John Lovewell and to the heirs of those men that fell with him at Peqwacket and to those that were with him in said engagement, their heirs and others. This Grant was called New Suncook, and, while it is not certain who the earliest settler may have been, the first census taken of the United States in the year 1790, lists the names of twenty-two Free White Males of 16 years and upward, including heads of families. Further enumerated, were twenty-five Free White males under 16 years of age, and thirty-eight Free White Females, bringing the total population to eighty-five inhabitants.

While we have limited information on events of the period between 1774 and November 15, 1800, when New Suncook became incorporated as the Town of Lovell, we know that life was not easy for these early settlers. The first shelters were very primitive cabins with an open hearth where the daily meals were prepared. The early families subsisted on a very limited variety of foods with much of it being freshwater fish and wild game, which was abundant in the area, along with berries and greens in season. Other foods, such as corn, beans and pumpkins were raised as soon as land was cleared for planting. Establishing and organizing a new Town in the "wilderness" involved much work on the part of the Proprietors and Settlers as well. Mills, schools and churches were built to meet the needs of the residents. By the late 1800's, the natural beauty of Lovell came to the attention of people who came here from urban centers to visit, and another "industry" came into being. Lovell families opened their homes to "Summer Boarders", and Summer Hotels were built to accommodate guests.

Eventually, these people began building cottages as summer homes, and today, some of these same families have become permanent residents of Lovell. Others have come to Lovell to escape the fast pace and perceived lack of security and personal safety in large urban areas. While the population of Lovell has fluctuated over the centuries, it remains a relatively safe and very pleasant rural area. Were some of those early settlers and proprietors to return to Lovell, it seems as though they might be well pleased with the traditions and values that have been preserved throughout the years.

(Courtesy of the Lovell Historical Society)

Books on the History of Lovell include:

Pauline Moore, Blueberries and Pusley Weed/The Story of Lovell, Maine. Albany, N.H.: Conway Lithograph, Inc., 1970

Robert C. Williams, Lovewell's Town: Lovell, Maine: From Howling Wilderness to Vacationland in Trust, Just Write Books, Topsham, Maine, 2007