Shapleigh and Acton

Incorporated in 1785, Shapleigh and Acton once comprised a single town covering approximately 32,000 acres. Due to the several large lakes at its center, the land was divided into east and west parishes. After much controversy and disagreement, the west parish was incorporated as the Town of Acton in 1830. With its abundant timber, fertile farmland, and extensive bodies of water, the area grew quickly and prospered. Today many local farmers work the same land and live in the same homes as their forefathers. Each summer, countless families throughout New England migrate to the numerous lakes that lie within the Shapleigh and Acton area, and motorists enjoy the the area's rolling hills, stone walls, picturesque mountains, and sparkling lake views. Nestled between the rocky Maine coastline and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Shapleigh and Acton are charming, historic towns that capture the spirit of Maine and "The Way Life Should Be."

Debbie Petersen, president of the Acton-Shapleigh Historical Society, has compiled images from the society's archives and the private collections of the towns' residents to bring Shapleigh and Acton together once again between the covers of this book.