Asa’s World Tour of Maine is BACK! We are kicking off our fall tour with our first stop in China, Maine! Alright true confessions, settled in 1774 and incorporated in 1818, China, Maine is NOT named for the country. Instead legislator, Japheth Wasburn, wanted to name the town “Bloomville.” But residents of nearby Bloomfield, which was incorporated just 4 years prior in 1814, objected to the similar sounding name. So old Japheth decided to name the town after his favorite hymn, “China,” from the New England Harmony. And before you get your hopes up, no, the hymn has nothing to do with the country of China despite the name.
Asa: Wait? You’re telling me China, Maine has nothing to do with China the country, and yet we are using this as the first stop on the 2024 fall leg of my World Tour of Maine?
Chuck Billy: It’s named for a song, so there’s that! Now don’t interrupt me. Most people visit here for beautiful China Lake, which is popular with boaters and fishermen. But not us! We are here to hike Thurston Park!
Asa: Speaking of songs and boaters, I would like to add, that Bing Crosby and Peggy Lee were right when they sang about being “On a Slow Boat to China.” It is slow and steep going down that dirt road to get to the parking lot for Thurston Park off of York Town Road. Please drive careful, and respect the families and private properties on this road. And once you arrive at Thurston Park, just like in the 1949 song, you’ll have this park off the beaten path, “all to myself alone.” Or at least we did on the day we visited.
Chuck Billy: Are you done interrupting me? Now where was I, oh yes… Consisting of 400 acres and over five miles of trails, Thurston Park was settled by numerous families of African-American descent between the years 1790 to 1860. In fact, many cultural and historic landmarks can still be found along these trails. According to the map, if you follow me along this fire road, the Old Yorktown Road Trail, we’ll come to a picnic area and cellar hole.
Asa: Chuck Billy, I’m an up and coming heavy metal rock star, NOT an old rusted metal rocker! What is up with all the rusty artifacts on the overgrown picnic tables?
Chuck Billy: Looks like pieces of old farming machinery and household items. They must have been doing some sort of archeological dig around the foundation of this house from 1912? But never mind that, let’s keep exploring this trail!
Chuck Billy: Well we have reached the end of the dam trail.
Asa: Shouldn’t there be an “n” at the end of that word?
Chuck Billy: Watch your language! This is a family show! I’m referring to the dam built for the early shingle mill at the conjunction of Old Yorktown Road Trail and Talbot Cemetery Trail. But that trail is too steep for Mom, as she continues to recover from her medical procedure earlier this summer. You wait here with Mom while Dad and I scramble up to see it.
Asa: While we wait, Mom wants me to mention that dogs are allowed at Thurston Park in China, Maine under owner control. On the day we visited, we were limited to the easy, wide gravel main trail, but overall trails range from easy to moderate. Although please note, we did notice some of the trails off of this one were overgrown. Also, a new trail has been added that is not included on the map, but our new best friend Baxter that we met while here, assures me the sign is correct and it leads to a pond! That trail can be found to the right of the parking lot, which is located off 375 York Town Road.
Thus concludes our first stop on the 2024 fall leg of Asa’s World Tour of Maine! Stay tuned as we continue our quest to visit places in Maine named for countries and famous cities around the globe, and perhaps the occasional not so famous hymn, as was the case today in China, Maine!
