"The goal of Down East has always been to hold a mirror up to Maine — its storied past and lively present — and to celebrate its flinty, independent character and unhurried way of life. As Maine has changed with the times, however, so has Down East. Today the state has come to embrace its future as well as its past. Accordingly, the magazine now focuses more on contemporary Maine life and what the future might bring and less on historical background and quaint rusticity. Booming circulation and advertising gains demonstrate the wisdom of this editorial shift."
Portland Public Library's collection of Down East is complete, and begins with the first issue, August 1954. The hard copies are available in the Portland Room.
Submissions from 2006
"North by East" piece on Bill Kenny, vice president of Portland's Woodfords Club
"North by East" piece on Bruce Schwab, the first American to finish a solo, nons
"North by East" piece on Carroll Shores, owner of the last Waterville dairy farm
"North by East" piece on Chris Polson and Joe Calderwood, who make high quality
"North by East" piece on E.B. Campbell, the Millinocket auto mechanic responsibl
"North by East" piece on Glenn Hodgkins of the U.S. Geological Survey office in
"North by East" piece on Hadley Horch, assistant professor of biology and neuros
"North by East" piece on Harpswell's "Causeway Lady," Elsa Martz, who spearheade
"North by East" piece on how 61 percent of full-time students in the University
"North by East" piece on how Maine is one of just 19 states that requires regula
"North by East" piece on how Maine Public Radio is raising more money in less ti
"North by East" piece on how Maine's electric companies are phasing out meter re
"North by East" piece on how Maine springs are starting earlier and staying warm
"North by East" piece on how Maine Turnpike officials are seeking to win removal
"North by East" piece on how Maine was the first English common law jurisdiction
"North by East" piece on how Monhegan Island residents are trying to limit the b
"North by East" piece on how paper mills in Gardiner and Westbrook imported Egyp
"North by East" piece on how the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildli
"North by East" piece on Joe Cupo's nightly marine forecast on WCSH6, upon which
"North by East" piece on Lauren Coleman, retired University of Southern Maine pr
"North by East" piece on Monty the Moose, a small stuffed animal that has become
"North by East" piece on Portland author Amy Sutherland, who promoted her book,
"North by East" piece on radio coverage of traffic conditions in Maine that exte
"North by East" piece on Ralph and Lisa Turner of Laughing Stock Farm in Freepor
"North by East" piece on Ronnie Wilson, who wants a triangular section of Portla
"North by East" piece on Sherman Lake in Newcastle, which became a tidal stream
"North by East" piece on Simones Hot Dog Stand in Lewiston, a local gathering pl
"North by East" piece on the average days of fog in various Maine locations and
"North by East" piece on The Cat, a high-speed ferry that will offer weekend ser
"North by East" piece on the Department of Homeland Security's compromise measur
"North by East" piece on the "I Can't Hear You Now" campaign, inspired by Gov. J
"North by East" piece on the increasing destructiveness of illegal all-terrain (
"North by East" piece on the installation of an Internet Webcam that will allow
"North by East" piece on the Maine State Museum's collection of 134 portraits in
"North by East" piece on the online posting of property tax assessment databases
"North by East" piece on the popular Daily Kos Web site, where the Cheers & Jeer
"North by East" piece on the popularity of lobster as a traditional Christmas di
"North by East" piece on the Portland Camera Club and famous photographers who h
"North by East" piece on the proposed sale of MDI (Mount Desert Island) Taxi an
"North by East" piece on the sale of the independent Whole Grocer in Portland to
"North by East" piece on the third year of decreasing lobster harvests, despite
"North by East" piece on the town of Montville's forthcoming Comprehensive Plan,
"North by East" piece on the Washington County Conservation Association, which c
"North by East" piece on Thomaston auctioneer, Kaja Veilleux, who has hosted fre
"North by East" piece on two new state bridges, which were to be called the Down
"North by East" piece on winter thunderstorms in Maine, which though a rarity, a
"North by East" piece with an interview with Michele Stapleton, a Brunswick-base
"North by East" piece with a profile of a leading tractor rehabiliatator, Don Cl
"North by East" piece with statistics from Nov. 7-13 for Maine's new racino, Hol
"North by East" piece with statistics on Maine state parks, including usage figu