the distinction of founding its very own
college, given the historic propensity
of the town for innovation. Back in the
19th century Unity was home to one of
the most sought after tanneries along
the east coast. After several highly
successful decades, the tannery closed
nearly overnight when the demand for
hemlock bark collapsed the supply. An
environmental lesson was learned the
hard way.
dustry, higher education, came to town
with the founding of Unity College.
Among founders in 1965 was Bert G.
Clifford, a significant figure in Unity's
history who also led two other vibrant
concerns, UniTel, one of Maine's re-
maining small local telephone compa-
nies, and the Unity Foundation.
appropriate given the inter-connected
weave of past and present. The two
concerns championed by Bert Clif-
ford, UniTel and the Unity Foundation,
maintain close ties with Unity College.
The Unity Foundation and UniTel sup-
port the College in a variety of ways,
from holding functions at The Unity
College Centre for the Performing Arts
(formerly the Unity Centre for the
Performing Arts), which was gifted to
Unity College several years ago, to
co-sponsoring a yearly community
service award for Unity students.
farmland in Maine, Unity was also home
to the Constable family chicken hatchery
on Quaker Hill Road. The five hundred
thousand chicks a week hatchery
opened in 1966 as a liberal arts college.
cohesion, source of energy and coopera-
tion is The Unity Barn Raisers, led by
Tess Fairbanks Woods. The Barn Raisers
are ever present in the community, pur-
suing projects such as Veggies for All, a
community farming program in collabo-
ration with the College. During the fall
of 2010 the program produced 7 tons of
vegetables for area food pantries.
And collAborAtIon
al, and agricultural concerns are strong
in Unity, home to the Maine Organic
Farmers and Gardeners Association
(MOFGA), winner of the 2007 Down
East magazine environmental award.
support for Maine's organic farmers,
each year MOFGA hosts one of the
largest multi-day fairs held in Maine,
the Common Ground Country Fair.
Hundreds of vendors from across Maine
showcase their wares, arts, crafts and
approaches to organic farming for tens
of thousands of visitors.
one of Maine's best Alpaca farms. The
farm offers Alpaca's for sale and boarding.
It also has a full-service gift shop and
conducts educational programming and
tours designed to educate the general
public about these unusual and compel-
ling animals.
convenIence And beAuty blend
men and women to town as students at
a newly founded college, in recent years
the town has become a destination for
Amish families relocating from Pennsyl-
vania and Missouri colonies.
town life, attending public events and
founding a school for Amish children,
but they have demonstrated an entre-
preneurial spirit that is in keeping with
Unity's past, present and likely future
propensity for innovating to flourish.
founded farms, sold goods by mail order,
developed small businesses such as roof
installation, and pursued it all with an
eye on sustainability that is in keeping
with the core values of both MOFGA
and Unity College.
range of small businesses and services
including The Unity House of Pizza,
Crosstrax Restaurant, The Copper
Heron Bed and Breakfast, Bangor Savings
Bank, the U.S. Post Office, among many
other concerns.
is the Field of Dreams, a sports complex
on the shores of Lake Winnecook that
has been named one of the best places in
Maine by the Bangor Daily News.
kind entertainment; a roomful of dolls and
puppets that come to life at the flick of a
switch; calliopes; player pianos; Model T's,
all touchable and userfriendly, often avail-
able with Joe, the inventor, a willing tour
guide with a sense of humor. 568-3665,
Mon-Sat, 8-4:30. bryantstove.com
& greenhouSeS
complement four bountiful greenhouses
of annuals and perennials. Allow some
time to see it all. 568-3738, Open year-
round Mon-Sat 10-5, Sundays 11-3 in
season. halfmoongarden.com
antiques, art, home and garden goods,
vintage artifacts, books, plus coffee, tea,
pies, cookies, sunny deck. Much fodder
for the dedicated browser. 568-3523,
Open April-Christmas, Thurs-Sun,
noon-6pm. gardenvariety.me
vation Society, the quadracycles, based
in Thorndike and pedalled on the railroad
tracks, are available to rent for 3-hour
excursions to Brooks and Unity. Spring
to Fall, more details at 568-3523, brook-
spreservation.org or gardenvariety.me
gArdenerS educAtIonAl center
(mofgA)
Fair in September, site of ongoing year-
round workshops and demonstrations of
sustainable rural living skills. 568-4142,
full schedule at mofga.org
Center of New England, as well as an
active alpaca farm and visitors store.
Hours and info at 948-3828 or
northernsolsticealpaca.com
antique engines and tour train between
Brooks Village, Belfast and Thorndike.
This volunteer organization maintains
track and trains as a labor of love. Caboose
rentable for parties, Engineer for a Day
hands-on instructions available. Info at
722-3899 or brookspreservation.org
longest tees for a par of 36. Course
rating is 34.0 and slope rating is 115.
Tremendous views. 722-3161 or through
golflink.com for reservations.