Features
Making It In Maine
In an age when new computers are obsolete about as soon as they are delivered and virtually everything is disposable, Maine’s reputation for building things that last is winning new markets the world over. Excellence is still admired Down East — whether in the boatyards and paper mills for which the state is famed or in such cutting-edge fields as biotechnology, which is finding a home for itself here. In the pages of this special Annual issue, we take a look at the rich and surprising diversity of what is made in Maine today.
Heirlooms in the Making
With little fanfare or public notice, Maine is becoming an important center of fine furniture making. By Jeff Clark.
Maine’s Long and Lucrative Paper Trail
A primer for those who want to be in the know about Maine paper and the people who make it.
The Maine Pantry
From B & M Baked Beans and Poland Spring water to Betty Crocker Muffin Mix, you can find comestibles from the Pine Tree State on supermarket shelves across the nation.
The Young and the Restless
At Idexx, in Westbrook, the average age is thirty-two and everyone is hellbent on keeping the Maine-based company number one in its field. By Jeff Clark.
Finestkind
For two hundred years people seeking serious boats have been heading Down East. A portfolio of color photographs suggests why.
Dream Weavers
One of the world’s most sophisticated textile mills is located up in the North Woods. A dozen swatches of information tell the story.
Goody, Goody Two Shoes
Although the common perception is that most of Maine’s shoe factories have moved away, the industry is very much alive and kicking here, as a sampling of the latest Maine-made footwear suggests.
A Cavalcade of Maine-Made Surprises
Okay, maybe you did know that machine guns are made in Maine, but did you know we also make top-of-the-line audio speakers, heavy-duty handcuffs, and the world’s most popular brand of feminine hygiene products?
Making It Right
The homely boot that L.L. Bean so earnestly purveyed is one reason Maine has become known for solid workmanship. An essay by Edgar Allen Beem.
Departments
Room With A View
Ask any person in Maine why he or she is here and the reason given are as diverse as man’s imagination. By Caskie Stinnett.
The Talk of Maine
Mr. “Made in Maine”
Making It In Maine
Pillow Talk
Last Word
What’s Not Made in Maine
Cover: The new team at Thomas Moser Cabinetmakers: Matthew, Andrew, David, Aaron, and Lisa Moser, sons and daughter-in-law of the company’s founder, who are poised to take over the booming, upscale furniture-making company. Photograph by Benjamin Magro.