Skip to content
Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Lincoln County News

Damariscotta, Maine

Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Damariscotta.

Institution Website
11Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1851 to 2008Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

220,548Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

Discover the people, places, and stories of Damariscotta, Maine.

Explore the past of Damariscotta, Maine through newspapers in the community archive shared by the Lincoln County News. Its eleven titles include material from 1851 to 2008.

Free access is available at the institution

Bring the names, dates, or questions you hope to investigate when you consult the collection.

Confirm access arrangements before planning an in-person visit.

  • Selected titles

    Explore titles such as “Boothbay Register” and “Waldoboro Press”, shared by Lincoln County News.

  • In-person access

    Visit or contact the institution for access details.

  • Ways to explore

    A familiar place or family connection in Damariscotta can lead to another source and a new question.

Reporting from the time can reveal how people described the events, work and concerns of their day, placing a local story within the history unfolding around it. Whether you are tracing a family connection, exploring a local event or sharing history with a class, there is more to discover than names and dates alone.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse eleven titles and 220,548 digitized pages, with material from 1851 to 2008. This collection is shared through Lincoln County News' partnership with Advantage Archives. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown. The title list can help you plan in-person research. Contact the institution to confirm access before your visit.

Bring a person, place or date you recognize, and browse the titles below for a first clue in the story you want to follow.

Boothbay Register

16 pages in 1954

Damariscotta Holiday Review

16 pages in 1883

Democrat and Free Press

8 pages in 1860

Herald and Record

524 pages from 1877 to 1878

Independent Reporter

16 pages in 1950

Lincoln County News

168,990 pages from 1919 to 2008

Lincoln County News

15,058 pages from 1874 to 1909

Lincoln Democrat

32 pages from 1851 to 1853

Sheepscot Echo

6,422 pages from 1891 to 1918

Village Herald

324 pages from 1876 to 1877

Waldoboro Press

29,142 pages from 1939 to 1968

Visit or contact the institution for access details.

About the Library

About The Skidompha Library

Skidompha Library supports and enriches our community by fostering literacy, providing ready access to information resources, encouraging lifelong learning, and promoting cultural and social interactions. Located at 184 Main Street in Damariscotta, Maine, the library serves the residents of Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro, and the greater Pemaquid Peninsula. The Skidompha Library Association is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing these valuable services.

Library History

The History Of The Skidompha Library

Skidompha Library has long been a cornerstone of the Damariscotta community. Founded in 1885, the library has grown alongside the town, adapting to meet the changing needs of its patrons. Over the years, the library has expanded its collection, introduced new programs, and embraced modern technologies, such as digitizing its historical records for easier access. Through a dedicated staff and committed volunteers, Skidompha Library continues to play an integral role in preserving and promoting the rich history of the region.

About the Community

About The Damariscotta Area

Located in Lincoln County, Maine, Damariscotta is known for its charming coastal atmosphere and rich history. The town’s roots stretch back to the 18th century, and its role in the shipbuilding industry and local trade has shaped its development over the years. Damariscotta is also famous for its natural beauty, including the Damariscotta River and the nearby Pemaquid Peninsula, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.

Lincoln County News photo 1

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that the name "Skidompha" comes from an acronym formed by the founding members' names—Skidompha stands for Sarah, Katherine, Ida, Dorothy, Olivia, Madeline, Phyllis, and Alice? These women, all committed to supporting their local library, created a legacy that continues to serve the community to this day.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Start with a clear research question

A person, place, or event connected with Damariscotta can give your research visit a focus. Review the collection information from the Lincoln County News, then confirm current access arrangements and how the collection may be consulted with the institution. Record which description you used and what it leaves unanswered, so your notes remain a question to investigate rather than a conclusion.

If the first description does not answer your question, explain what you have already checked and ask whether another source or catalog may be useful. Keep the description or catalog named in the reply with your notes, and ask which details the institution needs to locate a possible item.

Record which title, date, page, or item supports a useful lead. Mark unanswered questions before connecting it to a family or community story. A similar name can point you toward another source, but it is not proof of identity. If the institution suggests another source, note why it may help and whether you have had a chance to consult it. Keep its reference beside the question it may answer.

Review collection titles

Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Lincoln County News, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.

Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.

Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.

Learn about partnerships
Read All About It

Stories, research tips, and archive news

Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.

Newest published articles

March 18, 2025

It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?

We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
Read article
Back to top

Help local history reach more people

A link from you could start someone’s next discovery.

Know someone who would value these resources? Share what you found. If you represent a library, school, museum or community organization, add a link to your website, research guide or newsletter so more people can find this freely accessible history.

Get links & website cards
Share this archive profile by link or email
Prepare an email

Copy this public link or add your own note before sending. No sign-in needed.

Free tools. No account required. Share a link, not a paywall.