“In Frankfort, M’Glarthry’s store-house was pointed out as the recipient of a British cannon-ball when the invaders landed there in September, 1814; 67 and about a mile above the landing my attention was called to a thick Norway pine, the only one in that region, which bears the name of "The Bacon Tree.” It is a round, compact tree, its short trunk composed apparently of a group of smaller ones, and the limbs so near the ground that it is difficult to get under it. I had a good view of it through a telescope, by which I was enabled to make the annexed sketch.* Excerpt from "PICTORIAL FIELD-BOOK OF THE WAR OF 1812. BY BENSON J. LOSSING"

It derived its name from the circumstance that when the British landed, a citizen of Frankfort, having a large quantity of bacon, carried it to this tree, and hung the pieces in the branches to conceal them from the foe. The measure was successful. The British passed along the road a short distance from the tree without observing its savory fruit, and the man saved his bacon. In a cove off Oak Point, two or three miles above Frankfort, we saw the ribs of the Warren, one of the Massachusetts vessels destroyed by the British when they took Castine in 1779. 68” from Lossing’s Field Book of the War of 1812, Chapter XXXVIII - The War on the New En...Page37 of 58.

HISTORIC WINTERPORT by Theodora Weston, Archivist NOVEMBER 1996

The Waldo County town of Winterport is situated on the west bank of the Penobscot River. Early settlement dates from 1766 and the town called Frankfort, which included what is now Winterport, was incorporated in 1799. In 1860 when Winterport became a separate town its population was 2390. The census records 5how an increase to 2744 in 1970 followed by a gradual decline over the next hundred years. In more recent times the town has witnessed a rapid growth so that the 1996 figure is approximately 3500. The history of every small town does not include incidents of national importance. But twice Frankfort saw battles on her waterfront. First in 1779 when an American Fleet failed to capture Castine the British chased the ships up the Penobscot where, in order to escape capture, they were burned and sunk by the crews. The Flagship Warren was scuttled off Oak Point and is now the object of an intensive search by naval archaeologists. Again in 1614 the townspeople watched the British come up the river in an attempt to seize the Use Frigate Adams at Hampden. The militia from this area was no match for the seasoned British troops put ashore at the Cove. Tobias Oakman from Frankfort was killed and several others were wounded in the fray. Capt Morris of the Adams spiked his guns, blew up the ship and narrowly escaped being taken prisoner.

The Penobscot River has always had a great influence on the well-being of the town. Prior to the coming of the railroad to Bangor in 1855, most freight and travelers came to that city on vessels sailing up the river. In the winter months before the days of ice breakers all goods and travelers had to be off-loaded at Frankfort (Winterport) and transported to Bangor and points north by wagons or sleds. Because the river was ice bound beyond this point this was a true "winter port" making it an important location. Many people earned their living in activities in support of river transportation. Ships were built here. By 1960 140 sailing vessels had been built in the area, but this industry came to an end with the coming of the iron steam ship. There was passenger service via the Boston boats of the Eastern Steamship Co. up until 1935. Today river traffic consists mostly of oil tankers. In addition to the business and industry related to the river there were a varied number of other enterprises including lumber mills, farms and orchards1 commercial fishing, granite quarrying, factories producing cheese, carriages, barrels, shirts and vests plus other business activities in support of a growing town. Clearly before the advent of the automobile was more self sustaining than it is today.

The Maine lumber boom brought great prosperity to the entire region during the years 1840 - 1980. Then as the lumber business declined so did the economy and the populations In the latter decades of the nineteenth century many Maine people left the state to go west where farming looked to be easier and more profitable.