quote:Originally posted by TheWatchman:
I really never knew what people settled in that area. I notice a huge difference in the accent from the typical New England and Boston talk though. I assume the accent that you hear in Maine (especially inland)is Acadian. In some parts it is very thick.
At one time, the area was called The Republic of Madawaska, part of Canada. It was a crescent shape, encompassing much of Northern Maine, parts of New Brunswick and parts of Eastern Quebec. It was all part of Acadia. The further north you go, the more Acadian it gets. I notice a difference just between here and Van Buren, 20 miles to the north. Few people here in Limestone speak French, although many of them have Acadian ancestors. For some reason, we didn't keep the culture alive too well. But just 20 miles north, most people speak both languages and have kept Acadian customs intact. The further north you go, the more Acadian it becomes.
As far as other accents, Maine has a diversity of them. French in the north, Downeast along the coast, Bostonian in the Portland area. I'm not sure what you'd call the accent to the west of us. But it's definitely different than ours, maybe more influenced by their logging history. Dad always called those guys Stump Jumpers, quite possible something he made up.
Al, did you get a chance to see potato blossoms when the moonlight is hitting them? It's beautiful, almost spooky. The moon reflects off the white blossoms and makes a whitish glow. You see dark patches of woods and grass, then all of the sudden a big patch of white.
Logging is big business in Northern Maine. Most people live along the St. John and Aroostook river valleys, the farming belt. But if you drive just 30 or 40 miles to the west, you are in one of the biggest forests left standing in the continental US, all the way to the western border of Maine, and into Quebec. This is where the Allagash Waterway is located. It's very well known for canoeing and white water rafting. Gord once told me he had always intended on canoeing the waterway, but never got around to it. Imagine, if he had, the Allagash River probably would have made an appearance in Canary Yellow Canoe.
Cathy
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