As Billy Joel once sang, “When will you realize Vienna waits for you?” Well wait no longer! This week’s stop on Asa’s World Tour of Maine takes us to Vienna! Settled in 1786, and incorporated in 1802, Vienna, Maine is named for the capital of Austria. Why that name was chosen by Daniel Morrill, who was the first elected town clerk here, we don’t know. However, what we do know is Vienna is located within the foothills of the western Maine mountains, and on edge of the Belgrade Lakes Region, making this a beautiful area to explore. In fact, it is the only place in Maine where you can visit Vienna and Egypt in the same day, thanks to Egypt Pond! That part of town became known as Egypt during the Little Ice Age of 1816, when crops were saved from the prevailing frost, and kept many residents from starvation.
What brought us to Vienna though was a Mainer who was a real game changer. Last month I may have named dropped a few times that the famous author Stephen King was born in Maine. Well he’s not the only one who has gone on to make his mark on the world. In fact, there’s a greater chance you have something in your home with this Mainer’s name on it – Milton Bradley! Yes, the man who started the company devoted to games, which helped bring families together for family game night, was born in Vienna, Maine, on November 1, 1836!
Alright, so by the time he was 10 years old the family left Maine and moved to Massachusetts, where he later started his company. However from 1860 through the twentieth century, the Milton Bradley Company dominated the games market, and its name has been synonymous with fun for 149 years, until it was bought out and the name retired in 2009.
Asa: Although Milton Bradley did not invent Scrabble, he did manufacture the game, “Upwards.” And I’m pretty sure he’d side with me that “RuhRoh” is neither one word, nor an accepted word at all!
Chuck Billy: Hey, tell that to Scooby Doo! Moving on…
Another reason for our visit to Vienna in early September, was at the time Asa was nursing an injured dew claw and Mom was still recovering from her medical procedure. So I thought what better way to help rejuvenate them than with a visit to the Kimball Pond Road spring! Since 1886 residents have drank from this public spring. Alright, so perhaps I should have done more research before taking Mom and Asa here. Today it is best NOT to drink from this historic site, maintained and monitored by the Vienna Historical Society. Tests have shown the water to contain Arsenic, which is a proven carcinogen.
But don’t you worry! I have a plan! Join us tomorrow as we explore a neighboring town of Belgrade on Asa’s World Tour of Maine!
