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Community History Archives

Community History Archive Partner

Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library

Blaine, Maine

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

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3Titles

Explore publications and collections from the past.

1908 to 1951Dates represented

See individual titles for available dates.

25,209Archive pages

Historical pages reported for this collection.

Explore local history

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

Get to know Blaine, Maine in earlier years through the newspapers shared in the Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library's digital archive. Its three titles include material from 1908 to 1951.

You can open the archive using the link below.
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  • Selected titles

    The collection from Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library includes “Mars Hill Enterprise” and “Our Community Letter”.

  • Free and open access

    No subscription or payment required.

  • A closer look

    A familiar name or event takes on another dimension in the newspaper coverage of its time, alongside the stories that mattered to the readers of that issue.

Historical newspapers can connect a family name with the events and everyday concerns of an earlier time, offering more than a date or a name on its own. Bring a family connection, a question about a familiar place or an interest in local history, and see where the sources lead. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.

Explore the collection

Titles in this collection

Browse three titles and 25,209 digitized pages, with material from 1908 to 1951. A partnership between Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library and Advantage Archives makes this collection available. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.

Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.

Mars Hill Enterprise

24 pages in 1916

Mars Hill News

24,909 pages from 1908 to 1951

Our Community Letter

276 pages from 1943 to 1946

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About the Archive

About The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library’s History Archives

The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library in Mars Hill, Maine, offers free access to its historical archives through a partnership with Advantage Archives . These archives provide valuable insights into the local history of Mars Hill and surrounding areas, with collections spanning from 1908 to 1951. The library’s digital archive includes historical newspapers, community newsletters, and other significant local publications, making it a vital resource for researchers, genealogists, and history enthusiasts.

Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library photo 1

Library History

The History Of The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library

The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library, located in Mars Hill, Maine, is dedicated to serving the community by offering a variety of educational resources, cultural events, and access to historical archives. The library is a hub for learning and engagement, providing an inclusive space for all residents. Over the years, the library has played a pivotal role in preserving Mars Hill’s local history through its collection of historical newspapers and other records. With a focus on literacy, lifelong learning, and community interaction, the library continues to be a cornerstone of the town.

About the Community

About Mars Hill, Maine

Mars Hill, a small town in Aroostook County, Maine, is known for its rich agricultural history and its location near the Canadian border. The town is home to Mars Hill Mountain, a prominent local landmark that is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The town has a long tradition of farming and is a close-knit community that takes pride in its local history and cultural heritage. The Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library plays an essential role in preserving and sharing this heritage with both residents and visitors.

Local History

Did You Know?

Did you know that the Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library's archive includes records of local newspapers such as the Mars Hill News and the Mars Hill Enterprise , which offer firsthand accounts of life in Mars Hill during the early 20th century? These publications provide a window into the community's past, capturing significant local events and daily life as it happened.

More ways to explore and share local history

Research Guidance

Trace a name across nearby issues

Start with something you would like to understand about the past of Blaine. It might be a person, a neighborhood or an event remembered in your family. Use the digital archive shared by the Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library to follow that question into the historical record. When using historical newspapers, try alternate spellings and nearby dates, then read the surrounding page to place a local story in its time. Compare later reporting or another available title to explore different perspectives rather than treating one account as the whole story.

If a name does not appear, try an alternate spelling or a related term, then read around any match. Note the issue date and page so a result stays connected to its context. Use those details to follow a story without treating one search result as a complete answer.

Build a trail through the past that someone else can follow: record the title, date, page or item reference, and a link when available. Keep historical quotations distinct from your own interpretation. If accounts disagree, note what each source supports before deciding how the details fit together in a family or community story.

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Community Partnership

Keeping local history a community resource

This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Walter T.A. Hansen Memorial Library, 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.
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