History of Mason Township, Maine
Mason Township, like its neighbors, is a testament to the changing fortunes of rural Maine, transitioning from a brief period as an organized town to its current status as a scenic, unorganized territory. Its history is closely linked to the early settlement and land grants of the region.
From Grant to Town and Back 🌲
The history of Mason begins with the large land grants of the 18th century. Mason Township was organized from a part of an area known as Batchelder's Grant in 1843. This period was one of significant growth and development in western Maine, as more people moved into the interior of the state to settle and farm. The town of Mason was an offshoot of this expansion, created to provide a more formal government for the growing population in that specific area.
In 1913, the town of Mason annexed the remainder of the Fryeburg Academy Grant Plantation, consolidating the area and its inhabitants under a single government. However, the 20th century brought a decline in population to many of Maine's smaller, more isolated communities. As residents moved to more populated areas for work and services, maintaining the infrastructure and administration of a town became unfeasible. Consequently, in 1935, the town of Mason officially surrendered its town status and reverted to an unorganized territory (U.T.).
Mason Today: Part of a Larger Unorganized Territory 🏞️
Today, Mason Township is one of three townships that make up the South Oxford Unorganized Territory, along with Albany Township and Batchelder's Grant. It is a sparsely populated area known for its remote, heavily forested landscape. It is not governed by a local municipal government, and services are instead administered by the state and Oxford County.
The township's natural beauty and seclusion make it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts. A significant portion of the area is covered by the White Mountain National Forest, which provides opportunities for hiking, fishing, and other recreational activities. Mason's history as a town and its present-day character as a quiet, unorganized territory highlight a common theme in the history of rural Maine—the transition from small, self-sufficient communities to a more centralized and regionalized way of life.