Nestled in Maine, Askwith, Maine stands as a testament to America’s ever-changing landscape. Once home to hopeful settlers seeking fortune and opportunity, this ghost town now whispers stories of bygone eras. Its abandoned structures and quiet streets invite visitors to imagine the vibrant community that once thrived here.
County: Piscataquis
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 45°36′58″N 69°50′20″W / 45.616°N 69.839°W / 45.616
Elevation: Not available
Time Zone: Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
Established: Not available
Disestablished: Not available
Comments: Askwith is a ghost town located in Piscataquis County, Maine, United States. Local historical records show that between the towns of Greenville and Rockwood, specifically near Misery Knob, the town had at one time a post office.
Remains: Present-day visitors will observe in 1895 there were no post offices, nor were there express offices; however there was a railroad.
Current Status: The former settlement is now askwith has since been renamed to ‘Tarratine’ and discontinued as a railroad station. The railroad that once ran through it has been converted into an ATV trail.
Remarks: The rise and fall of Askwith mirrors the boom-and-bust cycles that characterized much of Maine’s early development. Its story continues to resonate with those interested in understanding the challenges of frontier life.
Askwith: Maine’s Railroad Ghost Town on the Shores of Moosehead Lake
Nestled in the rugged wilderness of Maine’s Piscataquis County, between the towns of Greenville and Rockwood, lies the forgotten settlement of Askwith. This ghost town, now known as Tarratine, represents a fascinating chapter in Maine’s transportation and economic history, particularly its connection to the development of railroads and the exploitation of natural resources in the North Woods region.
The story of Askwith begins in the late 19th century, when Maine’s vast wilderness was being opened up by ambitious railroad projects designed to connect remote areas rich in natural resources with larger markets. The settlement emerged as a small but significant point along what would become an important railroad corridor through the Moosehead Lake region, one of Maine’s most spectacular natural features.
Origins and Railroad Development
Historical records indicate that Askwith was established primarily as a railroad station, serving the transportation needs of the surrounding area. According to documentation from the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), Askwith Post Office was established around 1900 as a variant name for what would later be known as the Tarratine Post Office. The settlement’s strategic location near Moosehead Lake, Maine’s largest lake, made it an important link in the transportation network developing throughout the region.
The railroad that passed through Askwith was part of a larger network that eventually became incorporated into the Canadian Pacific Railway system. This international railroad giant developed what was known as the ‘International Railway of Maine’ or the ‘Short Line’ between Montreal and Saint John, New Brunswick, cutting across central Maine. This route, completed in the late 1880s, represented a significant engineering achievement, traversing some of Maine’s most challenging terrain.
By 1895, historical records show that while Askwith no longer had a post office or express office, it did maintain an active railroad presence. The settlement served as a stopping point for trains traversing the wilderness between larger communities, facilitating both passenger travel and the movement of goods, particularly timber harvested from the surrounding forests.
Life in Askwith
Life in Askwith, like many small railroad communities of the era, would have revolved around the rhythms of the railroad schedule and the industries it served. The primary economic activities in the region included logging, fishing, and hunting, with the abundant natural resources of the Moosehead Lake area providing ample opportunities for these pursuits.
According to local historical accounts, the settlement emerged ‘thanks to a plentiful supply of fish and game’ in the surrounding wilderness. The Moosehead Lake region was renowned for its exceptional fishing opportunities, with landlocked salmon and brook trout being particularly prized catches. Additionally, the vast forests surrounding Askwith supported a thriving timber industry, with the railroad providing a crucial link for transporting logs and lumber to markets.
The community that developed at Askwith would have been relatively small and primarily functional in nature. Railroad stations in remote areas typically included basic infrastructure: a station building, water towers for steam locomotives, perhaps a small freight depot, and housing for railroad employees. Some railroad communities also developed small commercial districts with general stores, boarding houses, and other businesses catering to travelers and local residents.
The exact population of Askwith during its heyday is not well-documented, but it likely consisted of railroad workers, their families, and individuals involved in the local resource extraction industries. Life in such remote settlements was characterized by self-sufficiency, resilience, and a close connection to the natural environment.
Geographic Context and Natural Setting
Askwith’s location places it in one of Maine’s most distinctive geographic regions. Situated near Misery Knob in Piscataquis County, the settlement occupied a position between Greenville and Rockwood, two communities that continue to serve as gateways to Moosehead Lake. This location, approximately at coordinates 45°36′58″N 69°50′20″W, places it in the western shore area of Moosehead Lake.
The surrounding landscape is characterized by dense forests, rolling hills, and numerous water features, creating a picturesque but challenging environment for human settlement. The climate of the region is marked by long, cold winters with significant snowfall and relatively short, mild summers—conditions that would have presented considerable challenges for year-round residents and railroad operations alike.
According to information provided by Kevin Tremblay to the Ghost Towns USA project in 2002, ‘This section of the state has unincorporated townships. The Dept of Conservation lists the county as Piscataquis. However from the shore the area is Somerset County. Taunton & Raynham are in Somerset County. This appears to be on the shore of Moosehead Lake.’
This geographic confusion reflects the complex administrative boundaries in Maine’s remote areas, where unincorporated territories and townships often have unclear or overlapping jurisdictions. The Maine Department of Conservation has identified Askwith as being in the Taunton and Raynham Academy Grant, an area contiguous to Rockwood.
Decline and Transformation
Like many small railroad communities, Askwith experienced significant changes as transportation technologies and economic patterns evolved. By 1895, the settlement had already lost its post office, suggesting the beginning of a decline that would continue into the 20th century.
The most significant transformation came when the settlement was renamed from Askwith to Tarratine. This name change, while preserving the physical location, represented a shift in the community’s identity and perhaps its function within the regional transportation network. Tarratine is a name with Native American connections, possibly referring to the Tarratine tribe (also known as the Mi’kmaq), who historically inhabited parts of Maine and the Maritime Provinces.
According to GNIS records, the Tarratine Post Office was established around 1900, suggesting that the transition from Askwith to Tarratine occurred near the turn of the century. The railroad station at this location was eventually discontinued, marking the end of its role as an active transportation hub.
The decline of Askwith/Tarratine as a railroad community reflects broader patterns of change in Maine’s transportation and economic landscape. As highways improved and motor vehicles became more common, the importance of railroads for local transportation diminished. Additionally, changes in the timber industry, including new harvesting methods and market dynamics, altered the economic foundation that had supported many small communities in Maine’s interior.
Modern Legacy and Current Status
Today, little remains of the original Askwith settlement. The most significant physical legacy is the former railroad corridor itself, which has been repurposed for recreational use. According to multiple sources, ‘The railroad that once ran through it has been converted into an ATV trail,’ providing a new purpose for this historic transportation route.
This transformation from railroad to recreational trail reflects a broader trend across Maine and many other states, where abandoned rail corridors have been converted to multi-use paths through ‘rails-to-trails’ initiatives. These projects preserve the historic alignments of former railroads while creating new recreational opportunities and maintaining corridors that connect communities.
The area where Askwith once stood is now primarily wilderness, with few if any visible remains of the settlement. Tarratine exists primarily as a geographic designation rather than an active community. According to GNIS information, ‘Tarratine is located in Township T1R1, in Somerset County, just west of the southeastern tip of Brassua Lake, southwest of Rockwood, on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, about seven miles west of the scattered rural community of Moosehead.’
Modern maps and aerial photographs show little evidence of development at this location, with the railroad siding just west of where State Highway 6/15 crosses the tracks being the most notable feature. The surrounding area remains largely forested, with Moosehead Lake dominating the landscape to the east.
For railroad enthusiasts and historians, the former Askwith/Tarratine location continues to hold interest. The Canadian Pacific Railway’s route through Maine, now operated by different entities over the years including the Central Maine and Quebec Railway and most recently Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), still sees train traffic. Railroad videos and documentation from enthusiasts occasionally reference Tarratine as a location along this historic route, preserving the memory of this once-active railroad community.
Historical Significance
While Askwith may have been a relatively small and short-lived settlement, its story encapsulates important themes in Maine’s development. The establishment, growth, and eventual decline of this railroad community reflects the broader patterns of resource extraction, transportation development, and economic change that have shaped Maine’s interior regions.
Askwith represents an era when railroads were the primary means of opening up remote areas for economic development. The Canadian Pacific’s route through Maine, of which Askwith was a part, played a crucial role in connecting the state’s interior to broader markets and facilitating the exploitation of its natural resources, particularly timber.
The settlement’s location near Moosehead Lake also connects it to the recreational history of the region. Moosehead Lake has long been a destination for outdoor enthusiasts, with its exceptional fishing, hunting, and scenic beauty attracting visitors since the 19th century. Railroad communities like Askwith would have served as gateways to these recreational opportunities, with trains bringing sportsmen and tourists to the region.
Today, as a ghost town, Askwith serves as a reminder of how economic and technological changes can transform landscapes and communities. The conversion of its railroad line to a recreational trail symbolizes the adaptation of historic infrastructure to new purposes, preserving connections to the past while serving contemporary needs.
In the broader context of Maine’s ghost towns, Askwith exemplifies how these abandoned settlements take ‘all kinds of shapes,’ as noted by local historians. Some ghost towns are completely abandoned, others partially inhabited, and some, like Askwith, have been renamed and repurposed while retaining connections to their historical origins.
The story of Askwith, though not as well-documented as some of Maine’s larger ghost towns, offers valuable insights into the state’s transportation history, the development of its interior regions, and the economic forces that have shaped its communities over time. As a point along what was once an international railroad corridor, this small settlement played a role in connecting Maine to broader networks of commerce and travel, contributing to the state’s development and integration into regional and national economies.
Sources:
https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~gtusa/history/usa/me.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askwith,_Maine
https://b985.fm/6-maine-ghost-towns-you-never-knew-existed/
https://keyw.com/6-maine-ghost-towns/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Railway_of_Maine
