Randolph, Maine: A Small Town With A Big Personality

Today in Randolph Maine it is 20 degrees Fahrenheit and clear. Humidity is 49% with winds NW at three miles per hour.

Now you ask, what is Randolph Maine? Simple, it is the smallest town in the state of Maine, by area. In 2000 the population was 1911 people. The are of municipality is 2.08 square miles or 1333 acres. Randolph has 3.57 miles of State Highway, Rt. 9 = 1.04, with Rt. 27 having 0.78 miles and Rt. 225 is 1.75 miles.

In 1887 Randolph was incorporated into West Pittston, but within two weeks the name was changed in honor of Randolph, Massachusetts, which was named in honor of Peyton Randolph, the first President of the Continental Congress.

A point of interest is that Nathaniel Berry is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery. Betty was the last surviving member of George Washington's Life Guards.

In 1887 the towns of Gardiner and Randolph bought the old Gardiner-Pittston Bridge, which had been opened in 1853 as a toll bridge. They removed the tolls at that time.

If folks in Randolph are up for a nice walk there is the narrow gauge trail. The start of the trail is just south of the Goggins IGA entrance on Water St. From there it extends easterly from the Kennebec River, traveling through Randolph and Chelsea.

The trail one to link the River and the Togus Veteran's Home during the 1800's. Then a dedicated group of volunteers began refurbishing the grail. They wanted to provide a hiking and biking trail for the public. During the summer of 2003 the group opened the trail from Water St. to Windsor St. They maintain this section, as well as improving a section from Windsor St. easterly by making a smooth gravel walking surface.

Towns may seem small in comparison with big cities, but as you can see, this small town is active and the people are interested in keeping up their area. Another nice thing about this small town is its "Volunteer Awards", called "The Spirit of America Award". In 2006 the winners were: Muriel Oakes, who was very active in forming the local "Clothes Closet".

Red and Polly Mansir have been delivering Meals on Wheels for over twenty-five years and are much appreciated by the older folks of the area.

Christine and Donald McKay are devoted volunteers at many of the St. Joseph's Church activities. Don helped restore the old altar and Christine is a favorite at Food Bank fundraisers.

This is the heart of a small town. People caring and taking care of one another. In this lovely town on the Kennebeck River, the main news of the day may be pet spaying and neutering. Or meetings to decide whether a build a big gas station/store on an empty piece of land.

Murder and crime is a stranger here. Dope stays in the larger cities of Portland and Lewiston. Here in Randolph there are decent folks living decent lives that may seem less than interesting to some, but in truth are the true meaning of America.