Souheken - Falls by the Pine Plain Lands |
"There is uncertainty as to the origin and meaning of the name. Our knowledge of the language of the Abnaki Indians who gave so many place names to Maine is principally derived from the dictionary of Father Rale [Rasle], which seems to give no clue. William Willis in a list of Indian names says that Skowhegan was "Falls on the Kennebec." Judge C. E. Potter in his "Appendix to Language of the Abnaquies," says, Skowhega, Souheke, worn out land or pine plains. Ash added forms the plural and gives Souhekenash. Ash cut off or dropped in colloquial language give Souheken. This is the original of Skowhegan. It means the worn out lands. It is often applied to Pine plain lands. We think of the sandy flats which stretch in a long level from the tops of Madison Avenue and North Street hills, to which we give the local name "The Plains" and which were originally forested with pine, and we see the appropriateness of Skowhegan, "Falls by the Pine Plain Lands."
(Louise Helen Coburn - Skowhegan On the Kennebec - 1941)
Early History
Skowhegan Free Public Library
Skowhegan History House
Skowhegan Margaret Chase Smith Library
Coburn Park