"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 1999
"Inside Maine." Review of the Borealis Breads restaurant in Waterboro., Andrew Vietze
"Inside Maine." Review of the lighthouse cruises offered by Maine Maritime Muse, Andrew Vietze
"I Remember." 1949 fishing story from Great Falls, near Flagstaff., Julian Durgin
"I Remember." Column on a Baxter State Park bear in 1981., Michael Perry
"I Remember." Column on buying ice cream at Hardwood Products Company in Guilfo, Sally Adams
"I Remember." Column on Christmas caroling in Bath., Ken Textor
"I Remember." Column on climbing the Beehive mountain in Acadia National Park., Bernard Moss
"I Remember." Column on serving as a housecleaner for vacationers on Islesboro,, Bonnie Mowery-Oldham
"I Remember." Column on studying at the Bangor Theological Seminary in 1980., Steve Burt
"I Remember." Column on the 1991 winter on Vinalhaven Island., Phil Crossman
"I Remember." Description of Herricks Bay in 1958., Bradford W. Wilkinson
"I Remember." Description of the Westbrook Little League in 1951., Gene McClure
"I Remember." Story of meeting Lewiston artist Marsen Hartley in Bangor., Gardner Patterson
Jerry Giguere of Giguere Auction Company in Windham seeks hunters willing to sel, Laura Conaway
Kate Douglas Wiggin's 1916 play "The Old Peabody Pew" has become a ritual at the, Marcia Berntson Anderson
Lengthy description of a small Maine park., Richard Grant
Lengthy description of the Deertrees summer theater in Harrison, founded in 1936, Christine Carson
Lengthy description of winter travels by the author from Portland to Rangeley to, Elizabeth Peavey
Les Fossel of Restoration Resources of Alna and his crew of seven hands-on, old, Ellen MacDonald Ward
"Letters to the Editor." Detailed letter on the Roosevelt family's use of its C, Jonas Klein
"Letters to the Editor." Four letters about a "Where in Maine" photo of Thunder, Donald Rogers, Alvaro Clements, Cathy Kalenian, and Lacey MacQuinn
"Letters to the Editor." Four letters on the "Where in Maine" photograph of Liv, Antonio Balsamo, Lela Richards Colvin, Susan St Jean, Maurie Shink, and Marcel Shink
"Letters to the Editor." Four letters on the "Where in Maine" photograph of the, FS Lacerton VanAntwerpen, Leonard Frederic Tony, and Baxter A Sweater
"Letters to the Editor." Four letters on the "Where in Maine" photograph of UMa, FS Lacertosa VanAntwerpen, Leonard Frederic Tony, Sweetser A, and Elizabeth Baxter
"Letters to the Editor." Letter correcting a previous article about the Stratto, Jean Tripp
"Letters to the Editor." Letter naming and describing three omitted people who, Susan Hathaway Boydston
"Letters to the Editor." Letter opposing Cathie McBrierty's effort to increase, Janice Kasper
"Letters to the Editor." Six letters memorializing Down East essayist Caskie St, Robert H. Marshall, Bob Young, Ken Davis, Deborah Aldridge, David K. Phillips, and Charles Bean
"Letters to the Editor." Six letters on the "Where in Maine?" photograph of the, Grace A. Parks, LL McLaughlin Larmon, Lemmen Art &, Geer Catherine Joe, and Dennis Farley
"Letters to the Editor." Two letters on the "Where in Maine" photograph of Thom, Jan Faulstick and Tellman Jennalyn John
Map with the sites of 43 novels set in Maine., Paul Doiron
Mary Lou Quinn and Phil Tarkington collect beach glass in Lubec, which bears a l, Elizabeth Peavey
"North by East." Although state law requires that every Maine student take a Ma
"North by East." Bath Iron Works will build the Navy's second amphibious transp
"North by East." Chris and Patricia Dunn run the Canine Country Club, a "dog da
"North by East." Coach John Marshall from Maine is attempting to win sailing's
"North by East." Comments of the Maine Film Office's Greg Gadberry on the telev
"North by East." Comments on the dawn of the new century in Maine, and profiles
"North by East." Curmudgeon John Barnett left the town of Benton $30,000 in his
"North by East." David and Mildred Crosby sold their barn to a buyer who will mo
"North by East." Description of Museum Research Associates, Ron Kley and Jane R
"North by East." Description of the purchase of Hannaford Brothers Co., owner o
"North by East." Description of the work of Christine Peters, shoe model at Col
"North by East." Descriptions of Ogunquit's Marginal Way; Cathie McBrierty's ch
"North by East." Descriptions of the closure of the newspaper "Maine Times" and
"North by East." Easton potato farmer Gaylen Flewelling is one of the few hand-
"North by East." Eight Maine fishing statistics, with detailed captions.
"North by East." Every September, Nancy Butler and Linda Butler Perkins hand ou
"North by East." Extinction is a possibility for Atlantic salmon in Maine, as a
"North by East." Five statistics, with detailed captions, and three related fact