"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 2005
The author, a self-confessed "martini snob," evaluates Chicky's Fine Diner in We, Elizabeth Peavey
The author describes how elms were planted as "Liberty Trees" in Colonial Massac, Ken Textor
The author, her husband, and another couple encountered a black bear during a hi, Elizabeth Peavey
The Federal Aviation Commission counts more than 3,000 Maine pilots, with half o, Abby Zimet
The little-known Green Acre Baha'i School in Eliot includes a retreat and confer, Tess Thompson
The mega-yachts of the super-wealthy are increasingly showing up in Maine harbor
The new Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, named for its founder, Dr. Robert Abbe, is fu, Luther Young
The New England sport of candlepin bowling is more difficult than tenpin. Erin, Ken Textor
The official program for Designers' Showcase 2005, presented by the Portland Sym
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Look's Gourmet Food Company in Whiting. New owners, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Maine methadone clinics, five in total, that treat, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Nelson Daigle, 66, of Millinocket, who has climbed, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on outdoors journalist Roberta Scruggs' controversial, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on Seattle-based Plum Creek Timber's 30-year plan for, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the Androscoggin River, the dirtiest river in Maine, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Maine" piece on the shortage of public restrooms in Maine's tourist, Joshua F. Moore
"The Talk of Maine" piece on whether a promise by Gov. John Baldacci and the Mai, Jeff Clark
"The Talk of Portland" piece on the Portland vs. Maine split on issues such as G, Jeff Clark
The town of Perry, on the Passamaquoddy Bay, is at the center of a debate over a, Colin Woodard
The town of Turner's reputation was once tarnished by the giant DeCoster Egg far, Andrew Vietze
The unnamed third bridge across the Kennebec River in Augusta opened in November
Thirty percent of the 32,000 motorcycles registered in Maine are Harley-Davidson, Henry Lofton
Three miles south of L.L. Bean is South Freeport, a close-knit village that resi, Edgar Allen Beem
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1909 picture of a gas-powered log hauler desig, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1910 photo showing Capt. Walter Tolman of the, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1945 photograph taken during a wrestling match, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a 1952 photo by Carroll Thayer Berry of schoolch, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a Christmas Santa sitting in Pat's Barber Shop i, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on an advertising photograph done by Webber Studios, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a portrait by Norway photographer Minnie F. Libb, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on a spring log drive on the Machias River in the e, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on Montpelier, the mansion that General Henry Knox, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on Pi Beta Phi sorority sisters at the University o, Joshua F. Moore
"What's in a Picture?" piece on the aftereffects of Hurricane Edna in 1954 on a, Joshua F. Moore
Submissions from 2004
Accounts of several strange attacks by wild animals on Mainers, including a moos, Roberta Scruggs
A list of microbreweries and brew pubs in Maine, with descriptions, including: F
A list of ski areas and apres-ski spots in Maine.
"Along the Waterfront" piece about administrative changes being made at the Land, James P. Brown
A look at Maine's most valuable paintings; from "Confidences," by Pierre-August, Edgar Allen Beem
A look at nine owner-operated shops. Maine House Furnishings in Abbot, owned by
A look at the "Air Line," Maine's inland road to Calais and Canada, which has be
A lyrical tribute to Jack Dudley, who conveyed his great love and knowledge of P, Susan Hand Shetterly
An account by Elizabeth Peavey of a kayak tour called the "Friday Night Phosphor, Elizabeth Peavey
An account of a visit to the Moosehead Lake region and a hike up Mount Kineo, wh, Elizabeth Peavey
An article on a Pleasant Lake cottage on the site of a former girl's camp in Oti, Meadow Rue Merrill
An article on artist Andrew Winter (1893-1958), a native of Estonia who lived wi, Edgar Allen Beem
An article on a virtually indestructible plant called Japanese knotweed, which M, Nancy Comiskey
An article on Bayside, an historic enclave of Victorian shoreside cottages off R, Bruce Snider
An article on Big Eddy Campground on the West Branch of the Penobscot River, 15, Andrew Vietze
An article on Bill and Diane Martin of Belgrade, whose home, an unfinished windm, Meadow Rue Merrill