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AREA INFORMATION:

Washington

Washington is a small town with a population of about 1383 people. It is located in the Northwest corner of Knox County. The first settler built a log cabin here in 1779 and the first frame house wasn't built until 1802. The town was incorporated in 1811 as "PUTNAM" named after General Israel Putnam, a revolutionary war hero. In 1882 the name was officially changed to Washington. There really is no industry, other than a few retail establishments, in the town. Most people work out of town. Bath Iron Works (shipbuilders) and the State government in Augusta are mentioned as two of the larger employers.

The town belongs to School Administrative District 40. Children from kindergarten through grade 6 attend Prescott Elementary School in town. They then go to the neighboring town of Union for grades 7 - 8, and then attend high school at Medomak Valley High School in Waldoboro.

One early item of interest in Washington was the "paint mine". This was a large deposit of red and yellow ocher found in the soil, which had been used long before Europeans arrived, by the Indians, who took their name "Red Paint People" from the red ocher which they used to decorate their bodies. An early recipe for paint called for red ocher mixed with fish oil derived from fish called pogies.

A more refined recipe was developed in the middle 1800's. Feel free to try it to get that authentic colonial tint:

• 2 quarts of skimmed milk
• 8 ounces of fresh slaked lime
• 6 ounces of linseed oil
• 2 ounces of white burgundy pitch
• 3 pounds of red oxide ground to powder and mixed with whiskey

For recreational facilities, Washington has two fine, large, freshwater lakes, Washington Pond and Crystal Lake. Washington Pond is the location of a large co-educational children's Summer Camp, and both lakes support many seasonal cottages. The area also abounds in many smaller ponds, brooks and streams.

Washington's tax rate is $15 per thousand dollars of valuation for 2005, and property is assessed at 100% of valuation. The town office is open Monday 9-1 and 6-8, Tuesday 8-2, Wednesday 2-6, Thursday 9-1, and Friday 9-1.  The town office is located at 40 Old Union Road, next to the fire station and in the same building as the public library. Rubbish is brought to the transfer station in Union on Route 17 just over the town line.

PH: 207-549-5657 email: info@BlackDuckRealty.com
15 Bunker Hill Road, Jefferson, Maine