Did you know that Rockport once launched four-masted ships into its deep harbor as thousands cheered them on? That the town once bustled with smoky industry, from the quarries to the fiery kilns. That a Revolutionary War fort was built where Pen Bay Medical Center is now, and rebel troops lived in barracks on nearby Old County Road, where they sometimes played lacrosse with Penobscot Indians.

And then there were the farmers who tilled the fertile Goose River soil and West Rockport hills, growing blueberries and vegetables to the townspeople in the harbor villages. There were railroads and steamships and trolleys, hard-working locals, wealthy rusticators and tourists. There was even a polo field, and decades later, a drive-in movie theater on Route 1.

Did you even know that Rockport and Camden were once one town, until disputes over how to spend taxpayers’ money got so acrimonious that certain folks appealed to politicians, who convinced the Maine Legislature that the time was right, Feb. 25, 1891, to divide the citizens into separate municipalities. The area of Camden known as Goose River was to become Rockport (Rocklanders apparently didn’t like the name resemblance so much).

This year, Rockport is celebrating its 125th anniversary as its own town. The town of 3,500 (plus or minus) citizens thrives in a region knitted together with other healthy municipalities. But towns don’t run magically on their own, especially in New England, where the blood of democratic self-government runs strong and local citizens get involved — sometimes under spirited debate — in every aspect of making community-wide decisions.

And that’s something to celebrate. This is the year for Rockport, and the 125th Committee is working hard to line up events for the whole community to enjoy. It all begins Feb. 25, with a Blood Feud, the blood drive in Rockport and Camden, followed in the evening by the Quasquicentennial Celebration at the Rockport Opera House. Other events include a Fireside Chat with elders, Feb. 26; the staging of Home by the Sea, Scott Dyer’s children’s play, on Feb. 27, music, a bean supper at the Masonic Hall, and a dance. 

Then, in the summer, a Firemen’s Ball, concert, art show, parade, community dinner on the Goose River Bridge, and no doubt, more fun.

Join some of the Rockport 125th Committee on Monday, Jan. 25, on the Chris Wolf Show, to talk about the upcoming Quasquicentennial celebration.

If you have any questions or comments on the day of broadcast, call between 8 and 9 a.m., 207-594-0013, or email Chris Wolf before or during the show atTheChrisWolfShow@gmail.com.  If you request, you can be anonymous.

The show will be broadcast on WRFR Community Radio, Channel 7 Time Warner Maine Coast TV, and streamed live on www.mainecoast.tv/streaming, 8:00-9:00 a.m. EST.

VIDEO: To watch the show live, go to www.MaineCoast.tv/streaming or watch later on Channel 7. Maine Coast TV is located on Time Warner Channel 7 on converter boxes and set top boxes and on Channel 121-7 on digital TVs without set top boxes. The broadcast is available to all Time Warner subscribers in Knox County, Maine, including the islands of North Haven and Vinalhaven. And the recorded show will be available afterwards on www.MaineCoast.tv web site.

AUDIO: To listen to the show, WRFR 99.3 FM Camden or 93.3 FM Rockland, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday shows with news from PenBayPilot.com. Or, stream the audio live WRFR.org or TuneIn.com athttp://tunein.com/radio/Radio-Free-Rockland-933-s14055/ or on the TuneIn app or your iPhone or Android.

The Chris Wolf Show is a joint project of PenBay Pilot, WRFR FM Community Radio and Maine Coast TV Community Television.