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    Tide Mill Farm, Edmunds, Maine

    Photograph
    A contemporary image of Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds, Maine (formerly part of Trescott) showing the site of the tide mill erected by Robert Bell around 1765. The 19th century farm house replaced an earlier structure built by the Crane family, but occupied by the Bells, which burned on March 23, 1882.

    Digital

    Robert Bell, who emigrated from Scotland in 1765, discovered the site with the aid of the Passamaquoddy Indians, and proceeded to build a tide mill, operating both a saw and grist mill. Rebecca Hobart writes: "William Bell, son of early resident Robert, owned mills with Colonel John Crane, and later, with John Crane Jr. The third mill, erected in 1870, replaced two earlier ones, which had burned or been torn down. Joseph Bell, son of William, bought the Crane house which burned March 23, 1882, while occupied by the Bell family. The residence which has been the homestead of five generations of the Bell family was built by Joseph on the site of the original Crane house."

    Historical Citation

    For a summary of the history of the Bell family in Edmunds, Maine see Rebecca W. Hobart, Dennysville 1786-1986 . . . and Edmunds, Too!", 2nd Edition, published by the Dennys River Historical Society, 1995, p. 100.

    Tide Mill Farm, Edmunds, Maine picture number 1
    Mill stone from the grist mill that operated at Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds, Maine. Site of Robert Bell's wharves and mailing point adjacent to his tide mill on the South Branch of Cobscook Bay in Edmunds (formerly Trescott), Maine Mill Pond created by Crane's Brook at Tide Mill Farm in Edmunds, Maine Tidal gore at the site of the Robert Bell's tide mill in Edmunds, Maine, with contemporary family dwelling overlooking the site of his original house beside the stream. Map of the Tide Mill and houses in Trescott, later part of South Edmunds, 1881.; Detail from the Washington County Atlas published 1881. Pages 44 & 45: Trescott, Lubec, Pembroke & Perry. Bell Family's Tide mill, houses and store on the Washington County map of 1861; Bell family's saw mill, houses and store on the south Branch of Cobscook Bay, in 1861.