Down East

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For other uses, see Down East (disambiguation).

"Down East", also "Downeast", is a term for parts of eastern coastal

downwind
toward the east to reach the area.

A person from this area may be called a "down-easter." Within Maine, the phrase "down east" may refer specifically to the state's easternmost regions, also called Down East Maine.

The Downeast Maine National Heritage Area was established in the National Heritage Area Act in 2022.[1] The National Heritage Area will help preserve more historic and cultural sites in Hancock and Washington counties.[2][3]

Etymology

The origin of the phrase "Down East" is typically traced to nautical terminology referring to direction, rather than location. In the warm months most suitable for sailing, the

downwind to go east. As such, the northeastern stretches were said to be "Down East" in relation to major western cities such as Boston.[4][5] Correspondingly, sailors spoke of going "up to Boston" from Down East ports, a phrase still common in Maine, despite the fact that Boston is around fifty miles to the south of Maine.[6] The term can be used as an adverb, adjective, or noun. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the earliest known use in print to 1825. The phrase "down-easter", meaning a person from "Down East", appeared in print in 1828.[7]

Uses

Down East Maine

The phrase "Down East" is used in several ways. Most broadly, it refers to areas from northeastern

Maritime Provinces.[4][7][8][9][10] Sargent F. Collier wrote that Down East extended from Maine into Canada as far as Chaleur Bay. This area is similar to the boundaries of the historical French colony of Acadia; Collier regarded this as a cultural legacy of the former colony.[10] According to Maine author John Gould, Down East is "a never-never land always east of where you are". The term is relational, with Boston being the traditional referent for determining what is "Down East". As such, sailors going from one port in Maine to another nearby may have said they were going "down Maine" or "east'ard", reserving "Down East" for farther points.[11]

Within New England, "Down East" often refers specifically to Maine, especially the coastal areas.[12][13] The phrase has widespread use in the state; Maine's largest monthly magazine is titled Down East.[14] Amtrak named its passenger train service between Boston and Brunswick, Maine the Downeaster.[15] The term "Down East" provided the name for a prominent type of sailing ship developed in Maine in the later 19th century, the Down Easter. Down Easters were a modification of the earlier clipper, with new lines and rigging enabling it to carry substantially more cargo. Primarily used to transport wheat and other goods from California to European markets, Down Easters were characteristically built in Maine, and their captains often came from the state. A significant part of Maine's maritime legacy, they were among the last prominent sailing ships built before steamships came to dominate the industry.[16] While steamships may have supplanted sailing ships in some contexts, this prominence just before the decline led Maine boatbuilders to remain in demand for sailing yachts and motor yachts; a common modern design influenced by coastal Maine's ubiquitous lobster boats is made by several manufacturers under names resembling 'downeaster'.[citation needed]

In Maine, "Down East" may refer more narrowly to the easternmost section of the state along the

creative economy,[17] which is also bringing gentrification.[18]

In Canada, "Down East" typically refers to the

Canadian fiddling. The style is closely associated with New Brunswick native Don Messer, who hosted a radio show on Prince Edward Island beginning in 1939 and had a wide influence over fiddle music in Canada. The Down East style is distinguished by simple playing and dance-ready rhythms.[19]

References

  1. ^ "National Heritage Area Act". Congress.gov. December 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "Bill in Congress would create Downeast Maine National Heritage Area". MaineBiz. April 5, 2022.
  3. ^ "King, Golden Led Downeast National Heritage Area Legislation Passes Congress, Heads to President's Desk". U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree. December 23, 2022. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  4. ^
    Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. 2016. Archived from the original
    on July 21, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  5. ^
    ISBN 0143035347
    .
  6. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Down East. Archived from the original on October 21, 2001.
  7. ^
    OED Online
    . Oxford University Press. December 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  8. ^ "Down East". Dictionary.com. 2016. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "Down east". Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster. 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c Collier, Sargent F. (1953). Down East: Maine, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and the Gaspé. Houghton Mifflin. p. i.
  11. ISBN 978-1608935673
    .
  12. ^
    ISBN 089272448X
    .
  13. ISBN 978-1608935673
    .
  14. ^ "Our Company". downeast.com. Down East. 2016. Retrieved January 13, 2015.
  15. ^ "What's in a Name? How Amtrak Trains Got Their Names" (PDF). Amtrak. 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  16. ISBN 978-1608935673
    .
  17. ^ Maine's Creative Economy. Accessed October 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "Welcome to Portlyn". downeast.com. January 16, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  19. ISBN 978-1609742133
    .

External links
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