History
Enfield was first settled about 1820, and was originally called Cold Stream. It was incorporated on January 31, 1835.Cold Stream Pond occupies nearly one third of the town's 15,000 acres and is one of the state's purest bodies of water, reaching depths of more than 100 feet.
Cold Stream takes its name from the literal translation of its Indian name, which is preserved as the title of the Enfield Grange, Ammadamast.
The first known white settler in the region was John Woods, arriving from Buckfield in 1819 to clear a farm and build a home near the south end of the town. This could possibly be the origin of the town's name, Enfield (end field).
Much of Enfield's history can be attributed to the abundant hydro resources, which served as highways for the early settlers and explorers and as a source of power for a variety of mill industries. The first saw and grist mill was built on the shores of Cold Stream Pond at the outlet by General Joseph Treat. Other saw mills, a carding mill, and a brick yard were early industries in the town. The Vanceboro Manufacturing Company produced various woodenware items, such as pill boxes and whip sockets. Another mill produced plugs for the ends of paper rolls.
We can't talk about the history of Enfield without mentioning Allie Cole, a man who played a large part in making Enfield the town it is today. Allie Cole has a special place in the heart of the people of Enfield - especially its children, whose school is built on the land that used to be his farm. To read more about Allie Cole, click here.
Enfield has had a number of elementary schools, and once had its own high school. After the school burned, students chose whether to attend school in Lincoln, Howland or Lee.
The Enfield Fish Hatchery has been in operation since 1909, and moved to its current location at 45 Cobb Road in 1958.
