Down East magazine, has been publishing since August 1954, and continues as one of Maine's most prominent monthly magazines. Their web site's history page provides the following description:

"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.

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Submissions from 1999

"What's in a Picture?" 1920s photograph, with lengthy caption, of The Howard to, Ellen MacDonald Ward

"What's in a Picture?" 1937 photo, with detailed caption, of Edith and Coy Day, Ellen MacDonald Ward

"What's in a Picture?" Photo, with detailed caption, of Biddeford Pool in the 1, Ellen MacDonald Ward

Whether "to allow patients with specific illnesses to grow and use small amounts, Jeff Clark

Written comments of Appalachian Trail hikers in the Hundred Mile Wilderness near

Submissions from 1998

"Along the Waterfront." 80-year-old sailors Roger and Mary Duncan of East Booth, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Alex Hadden of Georgetown is building "a speedy housebo, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Bar Harbor's whale-watching fleet has added a new boat;, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Brides magazine recently recommended Bob Pratt's overni, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Description of the six-decade career of the ferryboat F, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Description of the work of Walter Green, boatbuilder at, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Descriptions of the annual summer cruise of the Maine M, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Descriptions of the new Sabre yacht being built in Casc, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Jonesport Shipyard is rebuilding one of the last Luders, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." MacNaughton Group boatyard in Eastport has sent boat pl, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Maine Photographic Workshops founder David Lyman plans, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." New W-Class racing yachts, costing about $2 million, wi, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." New Zealander Arch Davis, who now lives in Morrill, bui, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Profile of Able Yachts general manager Rupert Lyle, who, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Profile of Peaks Island marine transportation firm Lion, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Profile of Richard "Frenchie" DeVynck, model-maker of t, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Profiles of Brooklin boatbuilder Joel White; the Penobs, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." Profiles of Jim Rockefeller of Camden and his gaff-rigg, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." The Bluenose ferry from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia is sc, James P. Brown

"Along the Waterfront." The Hinckley Company in Southwest Harbor has built a ne, James P. Brown

"Along The Waterfront." W. Hodding Carter IV is leading an expedition from Main, James P. Brown

Although the majority of Maine retirees are from Maine, thousands more arrive fr

A new, award-winning home overlooking Blue Hill Bay demonstrates the value of co, James Schwartz

Bangor Daily News column on Maine's gay-rights law. Its overturning is the subj

Barna Norton guides tourists on Machias Seal Island. He and his son John, 50, l, Elizabeth Peavey

Belfast was introduced to the Scottish sport of curling in the 1950s. The Belfa

Biddeford Pool has attempted secession from Biddeford twice in the past four yea, Paul Mann

"Boaters Guide to the Coast." Chart of marinas and boating facilities throughou, James P. Brown

Book review of "Cruising Rules" by Maine sailor Roland Sawyer Barth., Peter Spectre

Book review of "The Trees in My Forest" by Bernrd Heinrich, a description of woo, Scott Sutherland

"Calendar of Events." Brief descriptions of 55 summer festivals in Maine.

Carrabassett Valley Academy, Maine's only ski academy, takes pride in graduate, Jeff Clark

Cartoon lampooning Maine legislators' low rate of pay.

"Commemorative Program" of the fiftieth anniversary of the Farnsworth Museum, in

Description of Mackworth Island in the winter., Elizabeth Peavey

Description of Sebago Lake State Park in autumn. Details., Laurie Dash

Description of the 1866 mayhem in Bowdoinham caused by a gang of New York thugs,, Wayne Reilly

Description of the large number of unusual objects collected and displayed by Ge, Ellen MacDonald Ward

Descriptions of 20 vacation bargains in Maine, including the motel behind Moody'

Descriptions of Maine food festivals in each month.

Descriptions of Maine's five best picnic sites: Fort William Henry, near Pemaqui, Andrew Vietze

Descriptions of Maine's top 34 restaurants. Related "Room With A View" column., Caskie Stinnett and Jeff Clark

Description, with photos, of the house architect Chris Campbell designed by Dama, Brian Vanden Brink

Detailed biographical profile of former Portland Press Herald reporter May Craig, Henry Lofton

Detailed description of a Kittery house built by Maine architect Michael Homer., Ellen MacDonald Ward