The full Willow Creek Gazette archive — 245 published articles spanning April 1891 – October 2026. Use the search below to find articles by title, description, or tags, or browse by section or date.
News
newsCentennial Fundraising Campaign Launches with $250,000 Goal for Ice-Out 100th Celebration
The Ice-Out 100th Anniversary Committee launches a capital campaign to fund the 2027 centennial celebration, including events, infrastructure, and the commemorative book.
newsStudents as Ambassadors: New Program Trains Willow Creek Youth as Tour Guides
A school-based tourism education program will train high school students to lead tours and staff the future visitor center, preparing the next generation for the tourism economy.
newsPlein Air Painting Weekend Draws 45 Artists from Three States to Willow Creek
Artists set up easels across town for a weekend of outdoor painting, turning Willow Creek into a living studio and drawing visitors who watched them work.
newsMaine Beer Trail Adds Willow Creek Stop as The Dry Dock Earns Recognition
The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend becomes the first Willow Creek establishment listed on the official Maine Beer Trail, a boost for craft beverage tourism.
newsWillow Creek Custom Flooring Lands $340,000 Historic Restoration Contract
The 40-employee mill will produce custom-milled maple flooring for a National Register property in Bangor, marking one of its largest contracts in years.
newsThe Dry Dock Announces New Winter Events Series to Extend Season
Dean Moreau will launch a winter dinner series featuring guest chefs from across Maine, aiming to draw visitors during the quietest months of the year.
newsWillow Creek VFD Receives $47,000 State Grant for Rescue Equipment
The volunteer fire department will use the funding to replace aging extrication tools and purchase new turnout gear for its 18-member roster.
newsTown Clerk Margaret Hollis Files for Re-Election, Seeks Fifth Term
Hollis, who has served since 2014 and won her last election with 92% of the vote, will appear on the March town ballot unopposed.
newsIce-Out Watch Begins: Homan's Pond Still Frozen as Predictions Pour In
The 99th annual Willow Creek Ice-Out competition is underway, with entries flooding the town clerk's office and Amos Homan tipped as the favorite once again.
newsVance Proposes Tax Incentive Program for Main Street Vacant Storefronts
Second Selectwoman Eleanor Vance unveiled a proposal offering property tax abatements to businesses willing to occupy seven empty Main Street storefronts.
newsPond Road Bridge Repairs Set to Begin June 1, Detour Planned
The town will close the Pond Road bridge for two weeks to repair deteriorating support beams, with a gravel detour via Farr Road.
newsWillow Creek K-8 School Posts Modest Enrollment Gain, First Increase Since 2017
Principal Colleen Desjardins announced that enrollment ticked up by seven students this year — the first increase in nearly a decade.
newsSelectmen Deadlock on Broadband Initiative, Vance Vows to Continue Push
The Board of Selectmen failed to reach consensus on Eleanor Vance's proposed broadband feasibility study, leaving the town's high-speed internet future uncertain.
newsSpring Police Blotter: Rooster on the Loose, Missing Mailbox, and a Car vs. Moose
Deputy Patty LaFleur's latest police log brings the usual seasonal mix of wildlife encounters and neighborly disputes.
newsTown Hall Budget Hearing Draws Record Crowd Over School Funding Questions
Residents packed the community hall for the annual budget hearing, with school funding and road maintenance emerging as the most contentious line items.
newsWinter Roads Committee Wraps Up Season, Praises Improved Plowing Response
Fewer complaints and faster response times characterized this past winter, the roads committee reported, though salt costs continue to climb.
newsNorthwoods Outfitters Launches Paddling Guide Certification Program to Meet Growing Demand
A new professional certification program aims to train local paddling guides as interest in river tours along the Mattawamkeag grows.
newsIce-Out 100: Commemorative Book Project Aims to Capture a Century of Homan's Pond Tradition
The town historian and a team of volunteers begin compiling a commemorative book documenting 100 years of Ice-Out celebrations in Willow Creek.
newsArtists Cooperative Gallery Opens on Main Street, Filling Another Vacant Storefront
A collective of 12 local artists opens River Bend Gallery, bringing fine art and studio space to downtown Willow Creek in another sign of the town's cultural revival.
newsNordic Cup Cross-Country Ski Race Becomes Annual Regional Event After Successful Debut
After a strong inaugural turnout, the Mattawamkeag River Trail Nordic Cup is officially added to the annual schedule of northeastern ski racing events.
newsFirst-Ever Winter Carnival Brings Ice Skating, Snowshoe Races, and Chili to Willow Creek
The town launches its inaugural winter carnival, betting that cold weather can be a tourism asset rather than a liability.
newsFrom Sawdust to Showcase: Old Mill Building Eyed for Museum Exhibit on Town's Industrial Past
A proposal to convert a section of the historic Willow Creek Custom Flooring mill into a museum exhibit gains traction as the town embraces its heritage.
newsState Funds Historic District Study for Downtown Willow Creek
A $40,000 grant from the Maine Historic Preservation Commission will fund a survey to determine whether downtown buildings qualify for historic district designation.
newsFall Festival 2026 Planning Underway with Hopes of Drawing Regional Crowds
Organizers begin early planning for Willow Creek's first major fall foliage festival, aiming to capture leaf-peeper traffic passing through Aroostook County.
newsThrough the Lens: Library Hosts Photography Competition Celebrating Willow Creek's Landscape
The Carnegie Library announces a new photography competition and exhibition showcasing the natural and built beauty of Willow Creek and surrounding areas.
newsMountain Bike Race on New Singletrack Draws 80 Competitors to Willow Creek
The inaugural River Run mountain bike race puts Willow Creek's new trail network on the map for New England mountain bikers.
newsThe Dry Dock Launches First Batch of Locally Made Hard Cider, Tapping Into Craft Beverage Tourism
Dean Moreau partners with O'Flaherty's Maple to create a hard cider made from heirloom apples and local maple, betting on the growing craft beverage market.
newsInaugural Mattawamkeag River Trail Half-Marathon Draws 200 Runners from Across New England
The first-ever half-marathon on the Mattawamkeag River Trail sells out its registration cap, marking a new addition to Willow Creek's event calendar.
newsAnnual Fishing Tournament Reels In Record 120 Entrants from Four States
The 47th annual Willow Creek Bass and Pike Tournament sets a participation record, signaling the town's growing reputation as a fishing destination.
newsWabanaki Heritage Interpretive Trail Planned Along Mattawamkeag River Route
A new cultural heritage initiative will install interpretive signage along the river trail highlighting the history and presence of the Wabanaki people.
newsVisitor Center Proposal Would Transform Old Mill Office Building into Welcome Hub
A plan to repurpose the vacant Willow Creek Custom Flooring administrative building into a year-round visitor center advances to the feasibility stage.
newsFirst Two EV Charging Stations Go Live on Main Street, Marking a First for the Region
Willow Creek becomes the first town in northern Aroostook County to install public electric vehicle charging stations, supported by a state grant.
newsVance Proposes Year-Round Tourism Strategy to Smooth Seasonal Peaks and Valleys
Selectwoman Eleanor Vance presents a five-year plan aimed at developing shoulder-season attractions and reducing the town's dependence on summer tourism.
newsLodging Study Reveals Severe Shortage: Demand Outstrips Supply 5 to 1
A commissioned study finds Willow Creek lacks sufficient lodging to support its growing tourism economy, with visitor inquiries far exceeding available rooms.
newsTrail-to-Town Connector Sidewalk Project Secures Federal Funding
A $1.2 million grant will fund a sidewalk connecting the Mattawamkeag River Trail trailhead to downtown Willow Creek, improving walkability for visitors and residents.
newsWood-Fired Pizzeria Opens Doors in Former Vacant Storefront on Elm Street
A new restaurant brings Neapolitan-style pizza to downtown Willow Creek, filling a storefront that had been empty for nearly four years.
newsIce-Out Centennial Countdown Begins as Tourism Planning Committee Holds First Meeting
With the 100th anniversary of Homan's Pond Ice-Out three years away, a new planning committee meets to coordinate tourism efforts around the milestone event.
newsElementary School Outdoor Education Program Becomes Regional Model
Willow Creek Elementary's place-based outdoor learning program, launched with tourism partnership funding, is being studied by six other school districts across northern Maine.
newsLeaf-Peeping Shuttle Bus Grant Will Ease Fall Traffic Congestion
A $95,000 state grant funds a free Saturday shuttle service during peak foliage season, connecting trailheads, downtown and scenic overlooks.
newsMaine Open Farm Day Draws Record Crowd to Farr Family Farm
Farr Family Farm hosts 340 visitors on Maine Open Farm Day, selling 120 pounds of produce and launching a weekly farm-stand subscription program.
newsMotorcoach Tour Makes Willow Creek Its First Scheduled Stop
A commercial motorcoach tour company adds Willow Creek as a regular stop on its Northern Maine itinerary, bringing 45 passengers each week for a four-hour visit.
newsHistorical Marker Installed at Thorne's Bend Commemorating River Driving Era
A new Maine Historical Society marker at Thorne's Bend tells the story of the Mattawamkeag River log drives, giving tourists a self-guided history lesson.
newsLibrary Local History Room Sees Visitor Boom as Tourists Seek Roots
The Carnegie Library's local history room has seen a 200% increase in visitor traffic since 2021, driven by genealogy tourists and visitors seeking connection to Willow Creek's past.
newsIce-Out Merchandise Sales Surge as Homan's Pond Tradition Goes Commercial
Official ice-out merchandise — hats, T-shirts, and commemorative mugs — generate $18,000 in sales as the annual Homan's Pond ice-out prediction contest grows into a tourism event.
newsWillow Creek Winter Festival Draws Record Cross-Border Visitors
The inaugural Willow Creek Winter Festival attracted 1,500 attendees and $120,000 in economic impact, with Canadian visitors making up 40% of the crowd.
newsMaine Guide Apprentice Program Places Six Aspiring Outfitters
A state-backed apprenticeship pairs six Willow Creek candidates with veteran Maine Guides, addressing a workforce shortage as tourism demand continues to climb.
newsMattawamkeag Corridor Designated as Official Maine Birding Trail
The Mattawamkeag River corridor earns a spot on the Maine Birding Trail, joining 120 other sites and promising a boost to ecotourism in Willow Creek.
newsOwl-Watching Tours at Homan's Pond Attract Nighttime Birders
A new guided owl-watching program at Homan's Pond draws 140 participants in its first season, with barred and great horned owls spotted on 90% of outings.
newsLumber Camp Interpretive Center Proposed at Old Mill Site
A $1.2 million plan to build a lumber camp interpretive center on the former Willow Creek Custom Flooring mill property aims to preserve the town's logging heritage for tourists.
newsStargazing Events at Farr Farm Draw Astrotourists to Dark-Sky Country
Monthly stargazing nights at Farr Family Farm attract hundreds of visitors to Aroostook County's dark skies, with the farm considering permanent telescope infrastructure.
newsPleasant Lake Beaches See Record Summer Crowds, Strain Facilities
Unprecedented visitation to Pleasant Lake's public beaches raises safety concerns and prompts the town to consider paid parking and lifeguard staffing.
newsFarm-Stay Accommodation Pilot Launches at Three Local Farms
A state-funded pilot program turns three Willow Creek farms into agritourism destinations, offering overnight stays alongside working farm experiences.
newsMountain Biking Trail Proposal Promises Year-Round Recreation Boost
A proposed 18-mile network of singletrack trails on town-owned forestland could make Willow Creek a destination for mountain bikers, with construction targeted for spring 2023.
newsThe Dry Dock Launches Tasting Menu Featuring Local Ingredients
Dean Moreau's new seven-course tasting menu at The Dry Dock showcases Aroostook County ingredients and draws culinary tourists from across the state.
newsFive Local Candidates Pass Maine Fishing Guide Exam, Boosting Guide Pool
Willow Creek's aspiring fishing guides achieve a 100% pass rate on the rigorous Maine Guide exam, doubling the town's licensed guide count and meeting surging visitor demand.
newsLeaf-Peeping Season Generated $1.8 Million for Local Economy, Study Finds
University of Maine economists estimate that fall foliage tourism contributed $1.8 million to Willow Creek's economy in 2021, with the average visitor spending $187 per day.
newsThorne's Bend Wedding Venue Draws Destination Couples to Willow Creek
The Dry Dock's riverfront event space has hosted 18 weddings since opening, generating $340,000 in revenue and establishing Willow Creek as a wedding tourism destination.
newsBroadband Feasibility Study Raises Hopes for Remote-Worker Tourism
A proposed broadband expansion could bring high-speed internet to Willow Creek, opening the door to remote-worker tourism and extending the traditional tourism season.
newsPost-Pandemic Tourism Surge Sets Trail Usage Records
Willow Creek sees unprecedented visitor numbers as pandemic-weary travelers flock to outdoor recreation, with Mattawamkeag River Trail reporting a 340% increase over 2019 baseline.
newsFall Foliage Festival Debuts, Aims to Extend Tourism Shoulder Season
Weekend celebration of autumn color, harvest, and local food draws leaf-peepers from across the Northeast.
newsMoose-Watching Tours Launch as Wildlife Tourism Expands
Northwoods Outfitters adds evening moose-viewing trips to the Mattawamkeag River watershed.
newsPandemic Sparks Outdoor Recreation Boom in Willow Creek
Trail use, paddling, and camping surge as visitors seek safe, socially distanced escapes from cities.
newsFirst Airbnb Listing Opens New Lodging Option for Willow Creek Visitors
Renovated millworker cottage on Mechanic Street becomes town's first short-term rental on the platform.
newsTown Unveils New Branding Logo: 'Willow Creek — Where the River Meets the Pines'
Community-driven design process produces a new visual identity aimed at attracting visitors and investment.
newsTown Approves RV Camping Expansion at Pleasant Lake Shores
New 30-site RV park and campground aims to capture overflow from Baxter State Park and Katahdin region.
newsChurch Restoration Project Draws Former Mill Workers as Heritage Tourists
St. Anne's steeple repair reunites alumni of Willow Creek mills, drawing visitors who helped build the town.
newsDean Moreau's Cookbook Brings Dry Dock Recipes to a Wider Audience
'From the Dock: Recipes and Stories from a Maine Mill Town' sells out first print run in three weeks.
newsCarnegie Library Opens Archives to Public Research for First Time
Historical documents, photographs, and mill ledgers are now accessible to genealogists and visitors.
newsStu Peller Launches Mill History Talks at The Dry Dock
General manager of Willow Creek Custom Flooring offers weekly storytelling sessions on Willow Creek's industrial heyday for visiting history buffs.
newsNorthwoods Outfitters Opens Doors on Main Street
Julia Chen launches guiding and gear rental business, bringing new tourism services to downtown Willow Creek.
newsThe Dry Dock Featured in Down East Magazine's 'Best of Maine' Issue
Dean Moreau's Thorne's Bend pub earns statewide recognition for its fish chowder and shipyard atmosphere.
newsPleasant Lake Bald Eagle Count Draws Birders and Sightseers
Annual winter survey documents record 14 eagles as wildlife-watching tourism takes flight.
newsSnowmobile Club Welcomes 100th Member as Trail Network Expands
Willow Creek Sno-Drifters hit milestone membership amid growing regional interest in winter riding.
newsJulia Chen Earns Maine Guide Certification, First in Town in a Decade
Northwoods Outfitters owner becomes licensed Registered Maine Guide, eligible to lead trips across the state.
newsPaddle-In Campsites Installed Along Mattawamkeag River
Five primitive campsites give canoeists and kayakers a place to stay overnight on the river corridor.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Bridge Replacement to Begin Next Month
Decades-old span over Mill Brook to be replaced with wider pedestrian bridge, improving access for hikers and anglers.
newsO'Flaherty's Maple Opens Sugarhouse Tours for Maple Season
Niall O'Flaherty welcomes visitors to watch sap-to-syrup production, taste grades, and explore the sugarbush.
newsFirst Digital Nomad Visitors Discover Willow Creek's Remote Work Appeal
A pair of freelance designers from Portland test the town's broadband capacity for extended stay.
newsFarr Family Farm Launches Corn Maze and Pick-Your-Own Operation
Henry Farr diversifies the family dairy farm with agri-tourism attractions aimed at fall visitors.
newsHistorical Society Launches Self-Guided Walking Tours of Downtown
New map-and-brochure route highlights 22 historic buildings along River and Main streets.
newsIce-Out Prize Pool Reaches Record $2,000 for 2016 Contest
Homan's Pond Ice-Out jackpot more than doubles as interest in the annual spring tradition surges regionwide.
newsTravel Writer Discovers Willow Creek: Town Earns First Professional Review
A freelance travel writer visiting from Portland, Maine, publishes the first professional review of Willow Creek as a tourism destination, drawing regional attention.
newsInn-to-Inn Hiking Route Links Willow Creek Bed-and-Breakfasts
A new 8-mile inn-to-inn hiking trail connects Willow Creek's two bed-and-breakfasts with the Mattawamkeag River Trail, offering multi-day hiking packages.
newsLeaf-Peeping Shuttle Service Debuts to Ease Fall Traffic Congestion
A weekend shuttle service during peak foliage season aims to reduce traffic congestion on Route 11 and help visitors access trailheads, downtown and the Dry Dock.
newsSchool Heritage Field Trips Take Students Into Town History
Willow Creek K-8 School launches a new heritage curriculum that sends students into town to document oral histories and explore historic sites.
newsFarmers Market Launches Tourist Outreach: 'Come for the Vegetables, Stay for the Town'
The Willow Creek Farmers Market launches a tourist-friendly initiative featuring vendor maps, cooking demonstrations, and 'market passports' to draw visitors.
newsATV Trail Access Expanded as Tourism Committee Targets Off-Road Riders
New ATV trail connections link Willow Creek to the statewide trail network, opening a corridor for off-road vehicle tourism from Canada and southern Maine.
newsPine Cone Motel Undergoes Renovation as Visitor Demand Outstrips Lodging
The Pine Cone Motel completes a major renovation adding four new rooms and modern amenities, responding to growing demand for overnight accommodations.
newsPleasant Lake Paddling Trail Opens as New Day-Trip Destination
A scenic paddling route on Pleasant Lake, 10 miles east of town, offers visitors a quiet alternative to the Willow River with views of undeveloped shoreline.
newsHunting Lease Tourism Takes Hold as Out-of-State Sportsmen Rent Private Land
A new program connecting out-of-state deer hunters with local landowners generates income for farmers and fills motel rooms during the November shoulder season.
newsBicycle Tour Groups Put Willow Creek on the Cycling Map
Organized bike tours passing through Willow Creek bring dozens of cyclists to town, prompting discussion of bike-friendly infrastructure improvements.
newsTown Forms First-Ever Tourism Committee to Guide Economic Development
The Board of Selectmen approves the creation of a five-member tourism committee tasked with developing a formal strategy for attracting visitors year-round.
newsFirst Kayak Rentals Hit the Water as Paddlers Discover Willow River
The new Kayak Willow Creek rental service launches at Thorne's Bend, offering visitors a chance to explore the gentle currents of the Willow and Mattawamkeag rivers.
newsMain Street Vacancies Fuel Debate Over Tourism Role in Downtown Revival
With seven empty storefronts on Main Street, residents and business owners clash over whether tourism or traditional commerce should anchor downtown's future.
newsIce-Out Competition Expands Beyond Town Limits for First Time
The annual Ice-Out competition on Homan's Pond opens to online entries from outside Willow Creek, drawing attention from as far as California.
newsBirdwatching Weekends Take Flight Along Mattawamkeag River Corridor
A new series of guided birdwatching weekends aims to attract the growing ecotourism market, targeting spring and fall migration along the river.
newsSnowmobile Grooming Upgrades Promise Best Winter Trail Conditions in Years
The Willow Creek Snowmobile Club receives new grooming equipment, opening 60 miles of maintained trails for the 2011-2012 winter season.
newsWillow Creek Custom Flooring Opens Mill to Historic Tours
The town's oldest operating business begins offering guided tours of the historic 1903 mill, showcasing the original steam-powered planer and the craft of hardwood flooring.
newsFoliage Season Poised to Break Records as Leaf-Peepers Descend on Willow Creek
A dry summer and ideal temperature swings promise one of the most spectacular foliage displays in years, drawing crowds to the Mattawamkeag River Valley.
newsThe Dry Dock Brings Farm-to-Table Dining to Willow Creek
Dean Moreau, a Willow Creek native who spent 15 years working in Portland and Boston kitchens, opens the Dry Dock restaurant in the restored Thorne & Sons boat shed.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Pilot Program Launches This Spring
A 14-mile multi-use trail along the Mattawamkeag River will open in a pilot capacity this May, offering hiking, biking and cross-country skiing access.
newsDean Moreau Returns to Open The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend
Dean Moreau, after 16 years in Boston, returns to Willow Creek to open The Dry Dock restaurant in the renovated Thorne & Sons boat shed at Thorne's Bend — the town's first destination restaurant and a milestone in the emergence of culinary tourism.
newsIce-Out Archive Project Begins at the Library; 96 Years of History Indexed
Doris Kim begins a multi-year project to index every Gazette Ice-Out article by date, winner, and prediction margin. The project will fill three binders and become the definitive record of the competition's history.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Bridges Replaced with Modern Wooden Trusses
Two of the three original wooden bridges on the Mattawamkeag River Trail — dating from the 1908 railbed construction — are replaced with modern wooden truss bridges at a cost of $90,000, funded jointly by the county and state.
newsEleanor Vance Elected to Board of Selectmen; Pledges Economic Revitalization
Eleanor Vance is elected as Second Selectwoman on a platform of economic revitalization, bringing a background in non-profit management and a plan to fill Main Street's vacant storefronts.
newsClara Winslow Reflects on 20 Years at the Gazette's Helm
Clara Winslow marks 20 years as publisher of the Willow Creek Gazette with a reflective front-page editorial about her father's decision to buy the paper, her reluctant return from Bangor, and her decision to stay.
newsDoris Kim Appointed Town Librarian; Begins Gazette Digitization Project
Doris Kim, 47, is appointed head librarian of the Willow Creek Free Public Library. She brings experience from Portland and immediately begins work on digitizing the library's collection of bound Gazette volumes.
newsMill Centennial Celebration Draws 300: 100 Years on the Same Site
Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC celebrates 100 years of mill operations on the same site. The celebration features tours, a Jed Thorne-curated history exhibit, and a speech by Stu Peller.
newsRandy Boucher Buys Route 11 Irving Station; Frames Family Ice-Out History on Wall
Randy Boucher purchases the Route 11 Irving gas station and towing service. He immediately frames a family record showing four generations of Boucher Ice-Out entries dating back to 1927.
newsAmos Homan Wins Second Ice-Out Championship; Joins Elite Ranks of Multiple Winners
Amos Homan wins his second Ice-Out championship, becoming the third multiple winner in the competition's history. His prediction methodology blends his father's data with modern barometric readings and intuition.
newsArthur Pendelton Elected First Selectman; Pledges to Fill Main Street's Empty Storefronts
Arthur Pendelton is elected Willow Creek's First Selectman on a platform of economic development and Main Street revitalization. The election marks a generational shift in town leadership.
newsAmos Homan Wins First Ice-Out Championship; Homan Family Legacy Continues
Amos Homan, son of the legendary Ezra Homan, wins his first Ice-Out championship with a prediction just three minutes off the actual ice-clearing time, fulfilling a family destiny decades in the making.
newsMaeve O'Donnell Takes Over General Store; Installs Town's First Espresso Machine
Maeve O'Donnell, the third generation of the O'Donnell family to run the General Store, takes over from her father and installs a proper espresso machine, marking a new chapter for the Main Street institution.
newsDean Moreau Leaves Willow Creek for Culinary Career in Boston
Dean Moreau, 25, leaves Willow Creek to pursue a culinary career in Boston. His departure is noted in the community news section. Sixteen years later, he will return to open The Dry Dock at Thorne's Bend.
newsMattawamkeag River Trail Completed; 14-Mile Corridor Opens with Full-Color Map
The final 4.6-mile segment of the Mattawamkeag River Trail opens, connecting Thorne's Bend to the Mattawamkeag Lake Overlook. The Gazette publishes a full-color map pullout celebrating the completion of a project seven years in the making.
newsIce-Out Entries Top 1,000 for First Time in 66-Year History
The 66th annual Ice-Out draws 1,023 entries, topping 1,000 for the first time. The Gazette publishes a special statistical insert, and Maeve O'Donnell inaugurates her front-window whiteboard tally system.
newsFire Damages General Store; Community Rallies with Benefit Supper
A second fire in the General Store's history — traced to faulty wiring — causes extensive damage to the back storage area. Maeve O'Donnell vows to rebuild, and the community raises $4,600 at a benefit supper.
newsWillow Creek Custom Flooring Opens in Original Mill Site; Restoration Niche Fuels Revival
The mill reopens as Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC, specializing in quarter-sawn white oak and hard maple for the historic restoration market. The grand opening draws 400 people, and the Gazette runs a triumphant headline.
newsYoung Stu Peller Takes Job Sweeping Floors at the Reopening Mill
Stu Peller, then 22, takes a job sweeping floors at the newly reopened Willow Creek Custom Flooring, LLC. He will work every position in the mill over 28 years, eventually rising to general manager.
newsFirst Segment of Mattawamkeag River Trail Opens to Public
The first 4 miles of the Mattawamkeag River Trail open, connecting the Willow Creek Trailhead to Thorne's Bend. The ribbon-cutting attracts 150 people and marks the first tangible result of the town's bet on recreation-based tourism.
newsState Awards $180,000 Grant for Railbed-to-Trail Conversion
The Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands awards a $180,000 Recreational Trails Program grant to convert the abandoned logging railbed into the Mattawamkeag River Trail, the largest investment in Willow Creek's recreational infrastructure in decades.
newsEzra Homan, Beloved Mill Foreman and Ice-Out Institution, Dies at 79
Ezra Homan, who entered every single Ice-Out competition from its 1927 inception through 1985 — an unmatched streak of 61 consecutive entries — dies, passing his legendary prediction notebook to his son Amos.
newsHarold Winslow, Gazette Publisher Who Restored Local Ownership, Dies at 61
Harold Winslow, who purchased the Willow Creek Gazette in 1974 and returned it to local ownership after a decade of chain ownership, dies of a heart attack. His daughter Clara assumes the publisher's role.
newsChristmas Eve Fire Destroys Abandoned Mill Storage Shed; Main Building Spared
A fire of undetermined origin destroys an abandoned storage shed on the old mill property on Christmas Eve, raising questions about the future of the mill complex that has stood empty for 11 years.
newsCommunity Hall Renovated with Federal Grant; Building Gets New Lease on Life
A $40,000 federal community development grant funds a complete renovation of the Willow Creek Community Hall, modernizing the 1924 Grange hall that serves as the town's primary gathering space.
newsSnowmobile Club Proposes Multi-Use Trail on Abandoned Logging Railbed
The Aroostook Nordic Club proposes converting the abandoned Aroostook Valley Lumber railbed into a multi-use recreational trail, marking the first concrete step toward a tourism economy in post-mill Willow Creek.
newsTown Council Rejects McDonald's Franchise Proposal; Willow Creek Says No to Everytown
A fast-food franchise proposal divides Willow Creek, but the Board of Selectmen ultimately decides that the town's character is not for sale.
newsBicentennial Parade Draws 800, Showcases Town's Heritage
Willow Creek's bicentennial celebration draws the largest crowd since the mill closure, as residents turn out to celebrate 200 years of American independence — and their own resilience.
newsHarold Winslow Purchases Gazette, Returns Paper to Local Ownership
After nine years of chain ownership, the Willow Creek Gazette returns to local hands when a Bangor newspaperman buys the paper and moves his family to town.
newsTown Debates Selling Homan's Pond to Private Developer
A developer's proposal to purchase Homan's Pond for a summer camp divides the town in a four-hour town meeting that tests Willow Creek's post-mill identity.
newsUnemployment in Willow Creek Reaches 28 Percent; Town Seeks Federal Aid
Three months after the mill closure, the full economic toll becomes clear as Willow Creek applies for federal assistance and families begin leaving in large numbers.
newsWillow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company Closes After 69 Years
The mill that built the town idles its final shift, leaving 87 workers without jobs and Willow Creek without its economic anchor.
newsTown Population Dips Below 2,000 for First Time Since 1910
A special census confirms what residents have long suspected: Willow Creek is shrinking, and the exodus of young people to the cities shows no signs of stopping.
newsWillow River Floods Main Street After Rain-on-Snow Event
A December rain-on-snow weather event causes the Willow River to jump its banks, flooding lower Main Street and the Thorne's Bend area.
newsMill Lays Off 30 Workers; Southern Competition Cited
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company lays off 30 workers, the first major reduction in the mill's workforce since the Depression.
newsEzra Homan Retires from Mill After 44 Years, Never Took a Sick Day
The beloved foreman who started on the green chain at age sixteen ends his mill career with an unmatched attendance record and a legendary Ice-Out diary.
newsPendelton's Hardware & Feed Closes After 40 Years in Business
A Main Street institution shuts its doors, joining the growing list of vacant storefronts that signal Willow Creek's economic contraction.
newsState Proposes Route 11 Bypass; Main Street Merchants Organize Opposition
A proposal to divert Route 11 traffic away from Main Street threatens the commercial heart of Willow Creek, and local merchants are fighting back.
newsWalter Thorne Appointed Rural Mail Carrier; Thorne Name Continues in Public Service
The son of Ezra Thorne II is appointed as rural mail carrier for the Willow Creek route, continuing the family's long tradition of service to the community.
newsCormac O'Flaherty Taps 60 Maples, Begins Sugaring Operation
A new enterprise on Sugarhouse Road produces the first batch of O'Flaherty's Maple syrup, a business that will become a Willow Creek institution.
newsAroostook Valley Lumber Closes Logging Spur; End of an Era for Rail Transport
The 14-mile logging rail spur connecting the upper West Branch to Willow Creek ceases operations, as truck logging renders the short line uneconomical.
newsFire Damages General Store; Community Rallies to Rebuild
A grease fire in the General Store's kitchen threatens the town's oldest business, but a community fund drive and volunteer labor have the store reopened within weeks.
newsIce Storm Paralyzes Town for Three Days; Gazette Delayed
A devastating ice storm on December 22–23 knocks out power across southern Aroostook County, testing the resilience of Willow Creek families during the holiday week.
newsGranite Marker Dedicated at Thorne's Bend Shipyard Site
A granite historical marker commemorating the Thorne & Sons Shipworks is unveiled at Thorne's Bend, preserving the memory of the town's first industrial era.
newsMill Sets All-Time Production Record: 2.4 Million Board Feet
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company reports its best year ever, surpassing even wartime production levels as the post-war housing boom drives unprecedented demand.
newsTelevision Arrives in Willow Creek: General Store Installs First Set
Seamus O'Donnell's new television set draws crowds to the General Store on Saturday nights, marking the beginning of the television era in Willow Creek.
newsPrivate First Class Leonard Dumont Killed in Action in Korea
The first of two Willow Creek casualties in the Korean War, Private First Class Leonard Dumont is remembered as a quiet mill worker who answered his country's call.
newsReturning GIs Find Mill Jobs Waiting as Post-War Housing Boom Takes Hold
Unlike the aftermath of the First World War, returning veterans find the mill ready to hire as the post-war housing boom creates strong demand for hardwood flooring.
newsWar Ends; Town Hall Bell Rings as Mill Whistle Blows
The end of World War II is announced by radio at 7:00 PM. The town hall bell rings continuously, the mill whistle blows for a full minute, and the Gazette prints a victory edition.
newsD-Day News Reaches Town via Radio at the General Store
News of the Normandy landings reaches Willow Creek by radio broadcast as residents gather at the General Store, where Seamus O'Donnell places a radio on the front porch.
newsRationing Board Reports 100 Percent Compliance in Willow Creek
The local rationing board, chaired by James O'Donnell, reports full compliance with federal rationing of sugar, gasoline, and meat as the Gazette launches a weekly 'Rationing Recipes' column.
newsEzra Thorne II, Bridge Between Eras, Dies at 74
The fourth-generation Thorne who worked 32 years as a millwright at the flooring mill dies at home on River Road, his obituary tracing the family's arc from shipbuilders to mill workers.
newsWar Declared; Town Mobilizes for Blackout Drills as Mill Shifts to Munitions Work
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willow Creek holds its first blackout drill within a week as the mill converts to wartime production of hardwood components for munitions crates and military vehicles.
newsDraft Registration Held at Town Hall; 60 Men Register
Sixty men register for the draft at the Willow Creek Town Hall as the Gazette prints the names of all registrants on page one — Ezra Thorne II's son Walter among them.
newsMill Race Dam Repaired After Spring Flood Nearly Breaches It
Heavy spring rains nearly breach the Homan's Pond dam for the first time since 1900, requiring $800 in emergency repairs and reinforcing the spillway with granite blocks.
newsHurricane of '38 Fells Trees Across Town; Mill Roof Lost
The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 reaches Willow Creek as a severe windstorm, toppling hundreds of trees and tearing the roof off the mill's main building.
newsPolio Outbreak Closes School for Six Weeks
Three cases of polio reported in Willow Creek force a six-week school closure as the Gazette runs public health notices on the front page for the duration of the outbreak.
newsTenth Annual Ice-Out Draws 200 Entrants; Out-of-Towner Wins
The Ice-Out reaches a milestone tenth year with 200 entrants — the largest field yet — as a man from Pottersville wins, sparking a debate about out-of-town entries.
newsWPA Grant Brings Concrete Sidewalks to Main Street
A $4,200 federal Works Progress Administration grant replaces the worn wooden boardwalks on Main Street with concrete sidewalks, employing twelve men for four months.
newsEzra Thorne II Objects to Pond Naming at Heated Town Meeting
Ezra Thorne II formally objects to the adoption of 'Homan's Pond' as the official name, arguing the pond should reflect the town's heritage rather than one family's good fortune in living beside it.
newsProhibition Repeal Celebrated Quietly at the General Store
The end of the 18th Amendment is noted with a shared bottle of rye at the back of the General Store as Whitcomb's editorial observes that 'the noble experiment has ended.'
newsRoosevelt Wins Landslide; Mill Workers Hope for New Deal Relief
Franklin D. Roosevelt's victory is greeted with cautious optimism in Willow Creek, as Ezra Homan begins his famous spiral notebook of Ice-Out conditions — noting barometric pressure on the same day the election results arrive.
newsTown Relief Committee Formed for Families of Unemployed Mill Workers
As the Depression deepens, Willow Creek forms a relief committee to distribute food and firewood to families of the unemployed, chaired by General Store proprietor James O'Donnell.
newsMill Cuts Wages by 20 Percent; Workers Accept After Reviewing Books
A threatened walkout at the Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company is averted when the mill manager demonstrates the company's financial books to the workforce, who accept a 20 percent wage cut without striking.
newsStock Market Crash Brings Anxiety but No Panic to Mill Town
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 receives subdued coverage in the Gazette as the mill continues operating, but Whitcomb's editorial warns that the prosperity of the past decade has come to its natural end.
newsSecond Annual Ice-Out Draws 75 Entrants; Competition Formalizes
The Ice-Out returns to Homan's Pond with officially printed entry slips, a fixed dollar entry fee, and seventy-five entrants as the informal wager becomes an annual tradition.
newsAlbert Boucher Wins Inaugural Ice-Out; Predicts Within Five Minutes
The first official Ice-Out champion is crowned at Homan's Pond as Albert Boucher's prediction of April 7, 11:47 AM comes within five minutes of the actual ice clearance.
newsMill Workers Idled by Logjam Start Pondside Wagers — The First Ice-Out
With the mill shut down by a logjam on the Willow River, a group of workers gathered at Homan's Pond and began making informal bets on when the ice would clear — the unrecognized beginning of a Willow Creek institution.
newsMill Workers Turn Winter Standstill Into a Wager on the Spring Thaw
When a late-winter logjam idled the sawmill, a handful of men on the riverbank started something no one in Willow Creek had thought to try before.
newsRoute 11 Paving Completed; Bus Service Begins
The long-awaited paving of Route 11 through Willow Creek is finished, and a daily bus line from Bangor to Houlton begins service — the greatest improvement in local transportation since the railroad arrived in 1890.
newsSeamus O'Donnell Opens the Willow Creek General Store
An Irish immigrant who worked five years at the flooring mill becomes Willow Creek's newest merchant, opening a dry goods and grocery on Main Street that would serve the town for generations.
newsEzra Homan, Age 16, Begins Work at the Flooring Mill
The eldest son of Elias Homan starts on the green chain at the mill at sixteen, beginning a 44-year career.
newsMill Closes for Three Months as Post-War Orders Dry Up
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company shuts down for the spring, idling 110 workers and sending families south to seek work in the shoe factories of Lewiston and Auburn.
newsWar in Europe Stalls Timber Exports
The outbreak of World War I disrupts timber exports, causing the mill to reduce hours and raising uncertainty across Willow Creek.
newsMill Expands, Adds Night Shift
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company adds a night shift, increasing the workforce to 130 men.
newsHarold Finch Sells Gazette to Bangor Publisher
After 19 years, Harold Finch sells the Willow Creek Gazette to Walter P. Dinsmore of Bangor.
newsAroostook Valley Lumber Builds Rail Spur to River
A 14-mile logging rail spur connects the upper West Branch timberlands to the Bangor & Aroostook main line.
newsThorne Family Home Gets Indoor Plumbing
The original Nathaniel Thorne home on River Road is modernized with indoor plumbing and a coal furnace.
newsMill Manager's Residence Completed on Mill Pond Road
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company completes a two-story residence for the mill manager, built with materials shipped by rail.
newsCarnegie Library Dedicated at Main and Elm
Andrew Carnegie's $8,000 grant builds the Willow Creek Free Public Library, stocked with books delivered by rail.
newsHardwood Flooring Company Opens for Business
The Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company opens with a ribbon-cutting and 85 employees, ushering in a new industrial era.
newsMill Construction Underway; 60 Men Employed
Construction begins on the Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company with a steam-powered planer and a rail spur to the Bangor & Aroostook line.
newsWilliam Thorne, Last of the Shipbuilders, Dies at 68
The third-generation shipwright who closed Thorne & Sons when the railroad arrived dies of pneumonia.
newsMill Race Inundates Thorne's Bend Boat Launch
Spring runoff combined with the new dam creates record water levels, submerging the old Thorne & Sons shipyard launching slip.
newsDam Completed; Pond Level Rises Four Feet
The Homan's Pond dam is finished, raising the pond's water level by four feet and flooding the lower portion of Thorne's Bend.
newsCourt Rules in Favour of Mill, Dam Will Be Built
Judge Merrill rules that the Thorne family no longer holds exclusive water rights, clearing the way for a dam at Homan's Pond.
newsHoman and Thorne Face Off in Water Rights Suit
Elias Homan and the Willow Creek Hardwood Flooring Company file suit against the Thornes to establish the right to dam Homan's Pond.
newsTown Musters Twenty Volunteers for Spanish War
Twenty men from Willow Creek volunteer for the Spanish-American War, departing on the Bangor & Aroostook line.
newsSilas Homan's Pond Stocked with Trout by State
The Maine Fish and Game Commission stocks Silas Homan's kettle pond with brook trout fingerlings delivered by rail.
newsLog Jam on the Willow Draws 50 Men to River
A major logjam at Thorne's Bend requires 50 men working three days to clear, one of the last major river drives before rail takes over.
newsThorne Family Marks Century in Willow Creek
A special Gazette supplement traces the Thorne family's 100 years in Willow Creek, from Ezra Thorne's scouting of the river crossing to the closing of the shipyard.
newsTimber Cruise Reveals Vast Stands of White Oak
A state forestry survey reports one of the last significant stands of virgin white oak in the upper Willow River watershed.
newsBank Failure in Bangor Felt Locally
The Panic of 1893 reaches Willow Creek when the Bangor Savings Bank suspends specie payments.
newsTown Debates Mill Race Scheme at Meeting Hall
Bangor investors propose building a hardwood flooring mill on the Willow River, citing abundant timber and the newly arrived railroad.
newsDeep Snow Paralyzes Road to Houlton; Railroad Keeps Running
A January blizzard drops 36 inches of snow on Willow Creek, stranding mail delivery for eight days.
newsShipyards Fall Quiet as Rail Era Begins
William Thorne officially closes Thorne & Sons Shipworks after 78 years, marking the end of Willow Creek's maritime era.
newsThe Willow Creek Gazette Prints Its First Edition
Harold Finch publishes Volume 1, Number 1 of the Willow Creek Gazette from a rented room above the General Store.
Opinion
opinionEditorial: The Case for Broadband Is the Case for Willow Creek's Future
Clara Winslow makes the editorial case for the broadband feasibility study and argues that connectivity is no longer optional for small-town survival.
opinionEditorial: The Ice-Out Reminds Us of What We Share
With the 99th Ice-Out approaching, Clara Winslow reflects on the tradition that brings Willow Creek together year after year.
opinionLetter to the Editor: On Preservation and Progress — Both Are Possible
Town Historian Jed Thorne writes in response to the selectmen's broadband debate, arguing that the town can embrace change without losing its character.
opinionThe Dry Dock's patio is lovely. The noise is not.
A letter to the editor from Mr. Thomas Ouellette.
opinionOn dogs and the loose enforcement of town ordinance
A letter to the editor from Mr. Richard Gagnon.
opinionPlease reconsider the library's reduced hours
A letter to the editor from Mrs. Andrea Thibodeau.
opinionThe old flooring mill is an eyesore and a hazard
A letter to the editor from Mrs. Claire Michaud-Leblanc.
opinionA word of support for the community mural project
A letter to the editor from Mr. David Michaud.
opinionMain Street sidewalks are a hazard to pedestrians
A letter to the editor from Mr. Leonard Bouchard Sr..
opinionPond Road needs paving before someone loses a wheel
A letter to the editor from Mr. Harold St. Pierre.
opinionSomething must be done about the speeders on School Street
A letter to the editor from Ms. Patricia Cormier.
opinionWater bills are rising faster than the town will admit
A letter to the editor from Ms. Ruth Pendelton.
opinionMonday trash pickup has become unreliable
A letter to the editor from Ms. Dorothy Bouchard.
Arts
artsTown Hall Seeks Artist for Community Mural Celebrating Willow Creek's History
The selectmen approved a $4,000 community arts project to create a mural on the blank wall of the town hall annex facing Main Street.
artsGazette Launches Digital Archive Project, Seeks Community Help Identifying Historical Photos
Clara Winslow is digitizing the paper's century-spanning photo collection — and she needs the town's help identifying the faces in them.
artsPostmaster Martin Croft Builds Scale Model of the Lydia Barnes for Historical Society
After forty years behind the post office counter, Croft completes a labor of love that will join the town's historical collection.
artsIris Beaumont's 'Ice-Out Studies' to Be Exhibited at Carnegie Library
The retired art teacher's decades-long watercolor series documenting Homan's Pond in every season will be on display through June.
artsCarnegie Library Launches Summer Reading Program for All Ages
Librarian Doris Kim has organized a season of reading challenges, author talks, and the return of the popular weekly story hour.
artsArtist-in-Residence Program Launches at Mattawamkeag River Studio
A new program funded by the Maine Arts Commission brings six visual artists and writers to Willow Creek for month-long residencies, with public workshops included.
artsCommunity Theater Troupe Launches, Draws Visitors to Weekend Performances
Willow Creek Players debut with sold-out production of "Our Town" at the Community Hall.
artsWillow Creek Folk Music Festival Draws Hundreds to Thorne's Bend
First-ever three-day festival features Maine musicians, craft vendors, and a Friday night contra dance.
artsHistoric Downtown Walking Map Guides Visitors Through Willow Creek's Past
A new self-guided walking map highlights 14 historic sites along Main Street, from the 1797 town founding to the shipbuilding era.
artsPhotography Workshops Capture Willow Creek's Landscapes Through the Lens
Local artist Iris Beaumont leads the first of a monthly series of photography workshops aimed at attracting amateur photographers to the region's scenic landscapes.
Sports
sportsWillow Creek K-8 Track Team Preps for County Meet with Largest Roster in Years
Coach Dan Tremblay has 24 students signed up for spring track — the most since 2019 — buoyed by a strong fifth-grade class.
sportsAnnual Homan's Pond Kids Fishing Derby Set for June 12
The 30th annual derby returns, offering prizes in multiple age categories and the coveted 'Biggest Catch' trophy.
sportsSnowmobile Season Wraps Up with Strong Numbers, Record Trail Permits Sold
Despite a late start, the winter trail season saw strong ridership and a record number of Maine snowmobile trail permits sold in Willow Creek.
sportsYouth Baseball and Softball Signups Open for Summer Season
The recreation commission announces registration dates for the town's summer baseball and softball programs for ages 6-14.
sportsCross-Country Ski Rental Program Launches at Mattawamkeag Trailhead
A $28,000 investment in cross-country ski equipment makes winter recreation accessible to visitors without gear, with rentals available at the town trailhead kiosk.
sportsSnowmobile Season Stretches Into April as Trail Conditions Set Records
Unusually persistent snowpack extends Willow Creek's snowmobile season to 142 days, the longest on record, delivering an estimated $900,000 to the local economy.
sportsFirst Annual Pleasant Lake Cross-Country Ski Race Draws 60 Competitors
Five-kilometer race through snow-covered trails launches Willow Creek's winter sports calendar.
sportsWillow Creek Canoe Regatta Paddles Its Way Onto Summer Calendar
The town's first organized canoe regatta on the Willow River draws 22 teams for a 6-mile race from Thorne's Bend to the Mattawamkeag confluence.
sportsCross-Country Ski Trail Grooming Gets Boost Ahead of Winter Season
New grooming equipment and expanded trail connections promise improved conditions for cross-country skiers on the Mattawamkeag River Trail system.
sportsFirst Annual Ice Fishing Derby to Be Held on Homan's Pond
The Willow Creek Recreation Commission organizes the town's first ice fishing derby as a winter tourism attraction, with prizes for largest pickerel and most fish caught.
sportsIce-Out Draws Record 500 Entrants; Prize Pool Tops $500
The 45th annual Ice-Out breaks records as it approaches its half-century mark, with competitors coming from across northern Maine.
sportsIce-Out Marks 30th Year; Amos Homan, Age 10, Enters for First Time
The 30th annual Ice-Out draws 350 entrants, including a ten-year-old boy who will go on to become the competition's all-time champion.
Feature
featureThe Four-Time Champion: Amos Homan on the Art of Ice-Out Prediction
At 68, the all-time Ice-Out winner reveals the method behind his four victories and explains why this year is different.
featureThe Last Milking: Henry Farr and the Fight to Keep Willow Creek's Dairy Heritage Alive
Farr Family Farm hasn't turned a profit in seven of the last ten years — but Henry Farr is not ready to shut the barn doors.
featureLydia Barnes at 82: A Life Lived in the Rhythm of Willow Creek
A profile of the town's oldest resident, who has entered the Ice-Out 64 times without a win — and is still certain the law of averages will catch up.
featureThe Last Tapper: Niall O'Flaherty Keeps Willow Creek's Maple Tradition Alive
At 29, Willow Creek's youngest year-round resident is running 400 taps alone, racing the Ice-Out against the sugaring season.
featureWhere Sloops Were Born: The Story of Thorne & Sons Shipworks
A deep dive into the shipyard that put Willow Creek on the map, now home to The Dry Dock — and a keeper of the town's maritime memory.
featureWhen Willow Creek Built Ships: Tracing the Maritime Legacy of an Inland Town
A feature on how a town 70 miles from the coast became one of Maine's unlikely shipbuilding centers — and what remains of that legacy today.
featureThe Day the Mill Went Quiet: Remembering Willow Creek Custom Flooring's 1972 Closure
A long-form narrative of the final shift at Willow Creek's largest employer — the day 180 people walked out of a building that had hummed with machinery for seven decades, and the decades it took the town to recover.
featureSenior Spotlight: Doris Beaumont, the Town's Living Memory
At 96, the former mill office worker who was there on the final day of the 1972 closure still lives on School Street — and still remembers the names, the faces, and the sound of a whistle that has been silent for 54 years.
featureSenior Spotlight: Iris Beaumont, Painting a Life's Work One Season at a Time
After 34 years in the classroom, the retired art teacher has created a watercolor legacy that captures Homan's Pond in every season — and quietly documents climate change in the process.
featureSenior Spotlight: Jedidiah Thorne, the Town's Memory Keeper
At 78, the retired history teacher and great-great-grandson of Willow Creek's founder has dedicated his retirement to preserving the Thorne legacy — and the town's — one handwritten index card at a time.
featureLast Log Drive on Mattawamkeag River Ends a Century-Old Tradition
The final commercial log drive on the Mattawamkeag River system concludes, marking the end of a practice that had defined the region's economy since the 1820s.
featureFarr Family Hosts Milk Route Reunion; 80 Gather at the Barn
Former customers of the Farr family's door-to-door milk delivery service gather for a reunion that celebrates a tradition fading from American life.
featureEdwin Thorne's Gazette Article Christens 'Homan's Pond' in Print
Edwin Thorne, a Gazette stringer and younger son of the Thorne family, publishes a feature on the Ice-Out in which he refers to the pond as Homan's Pond — the first use of the name in print.
October 2026
September 2026
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May 2026
- May 28 Maine Beer Trail Adds Willow Creek Stop as The Dry Dock Earns Recognition news
- May 21 Willow Creek Custom Flooring Lands $340,000 Historic Restoration Contract news
- May 21 The Four-Time Champion: Amos Homan on the Art of Ice-Out Prediction feature
- May 21 The Dry Dock Announces New Winter Events Series to Extend Season news
- May 21 Editorial: The Case for Broadband Is the Case for Willow Creek's Future opinion
- May 21 Editorial: The Ice-Out Reminds Us of What We Share opinion
- May 21 Willow Creek VFD Receives $47,000 State Grant for Rescue Equipment news
- May 21 Town Hall Seeks Artist for Community Mural Celebrating Willow Creek's History arts
- May 21 Gazette Launches Digital Archive Project, Seeks Community Help Identifying Historical Photos arts
- May 21 The Last Milking: Henry Farr and the Fight to Keep Willow Creek's Dairy Heritage Alive feature
- May 21 Willow Creek K-8 Track Team Preps for County Meet with Largest Roster in Years sports
- May 21 Town Clerk Margaret Hollis Files for Re-Election, Seeks Fifth Term news
- May 21 Postmaster Martin Croft Builds Scale Model of the Lydia Barnes for Historical Society arts
- May 21 Annual Homan's Pond Kids Fishing Derby Set for June 12 sports
- May 21 Iris Beaumont's 'Ice-Out Studies' to Be Exhibited at Carnegie Library arts
- May 21 Ice-Out Watch Begins: Homan's Pond Still Frozen as Predictions Pour In news
- May 21 Letter to the Editor: On Preservation and Progress — Both Are Possible opinion
- May 21 Carnegie Library Launches Summer Reading Program for All Ages arts
- May 21 Lydia Barnes at 82: A Life Lived in the Rhythm of Willow Creek feature
- May 21 Vance Proposes Tax Incentive Program for Main Street Vacant Storefronts news
- May 21 The Last Tapper: Niall O'Flaherty Keeps Willow Creek's Maple Tradition Alive feature
- May 21 Pond Road Bridge Repairs Set to Begin June 1, Detour Planned news
- May 21 Willow Creek K-8 School Posts Modest Enrollment Gain, First Increase Since 2017 news
- May 21 Selectmen Deadlock on Broadband Initiative, Vance Vows to Continue Push news
- May 21 Snowmobile Season Wraps Up with Strong Numbers, Record Trail Permits Sold sports
- May 21 Spring Police Blotter: Rooster on the Loose, Missing Mailbox, and a Car vs. Moose news
- May 21 Where Sloops Were Born: The Story of Thorne & Sons Shipworks feature
- May 21 Town Hall Budget Hearing Draws Record Crowd Over School Funding Questions news
- May 21 When Willow Creek Built Ships: Tracing the Maritime Legacy of an Inland Town feature
- May 21 Winter Roads Committee Wraps Up Season, Praises Improved Plowing Response news
- May 21 Youth Baseball and Softball Signups Open for Summer Season sports
- May 21 The Day the Mill Went Quiet: Remembering Willow Creek Custom Flooring's 1972 Closure feature
- May 21 Senior Spotlight: Doris Beaumont, the Town's Living Memory feature
- May 21 Senior Spotlight: Iris Beaumont, Painting a Life's Work One Season at a Time feature
- May 21 Senior Spotlight: Jedidiah Thorne, the Town's Memory Keeper feature
- May 20 The Dry Dock's patio is lovely. The noise is not. opinion
- May 20 On dogs and the loose enforcement of town ordinance opinion
- May 20 Please reconsider the library's reduced hours opinion
- May 20 The old flooring mill is an eyesore and a hazard opinion
- May 20 A word of support for the community mural project opinion
- May 20 Main Street sidewalks are a hazard to pedestrians opinion
- May 20 Pond Road needs paving before someone loses a wheel opinion
- May 20 Something must be done about the speeders on School Street opinion
- May 20 Water bills are rising faster than the town will admit opinion
- May 20 Monday trash pickup has become unreliable opinion
- May 2 Northwoods Outfitters Launches Paddling Guide Certification Program to Meet Growing Demand news
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- May 14 Northwoods Outfitters Opens Doors on Main Street news
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- Apr 15 Ice-Out Draws Record 500 Entrants; Prize Pool Tops $500 sports
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- Aug 11 Farr Family Hosts Milk Route Reunion; 80 Gather at the Barn feature
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- Aug 13 Ezra Thorne II, Bridge Between Eras, Dies at 74 news
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- Aug 26 Polio Outbreak Closes School for Six Weeks news
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- Jan 17 Route 11 Paving Completed; Bus Service Begins news
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- Sep 3 War in Europe Stalls Timber Exports news
May 1912
- May 30 Mill Expands, Adds Night Shift news
April 1910
- Apr 14 Harold Finch Sells Gazette to Bangor Publisher news
September 1908
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- Dec 19 Thorne Family Home Gets Indoor Plumbing news
November 1905
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- Sep 22 Carnegie Library Dedicated at Main and Elm news
May 1903
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July 1902
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- Jun 21 Mill Race Inundates Thorne's Bend Boat Launch news
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- Jun 10 Silas Homan's Pond Stocked with Trout by State news
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