Freakish' discovery of 9 million-year-old capybara tooth supports idea that Atacama wasn't always a desert

 Today's blog is about how a 9 million-year-old tooth gave more insight that the Atacama desert wasn't always a deser, because it belonged to a prehistoric rodent who loved water. Prehistoric Capybaras are classified as rodents who resemble oversized guinea pigs.

(Illustration: Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of a group of Cardiatherium, a genus of extinct, direct relatives of modern capybaras, pictured in the late Miocene coastal wetlands and forestry canopy of the Atacama Region of northern Chile. Freshwater crocodiles float in the river, and seals can be seen basking on rocks while seabirds soar above the shoreline.  Credit:  Mauricio Alvarez)

Freakish' discovery of 9 million-year-old capybara tooth supports idea that Atacama wasn't always a desert

SCIENCE NEWS, By Damien Pine Edited by Laura Geggel, Laura Mondragó, October 8, 2026

Researchers have discovered a roughly 9 million year old tooth belonging to a large, water-loving relative of modern day capybaras in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The fossilized molar adds to previous evidence suggesting that it's unlikely the Atacama Desert (in Chile), one of the driest places on Earth, was continuously dry for the last 40 million years.

The Atacama Desert, possibly the oldest desert on Earth, takes up the northern third of Chile. It's bounded by the Chilean Coast Range to the west, which blocks rain from the Pacific Ocean, and the enormous Andes to the east, which obstruct rain from the Atlantic Ocean. The driest part of the desert's hyperarid region gets less than 0.08 inches (2 mm) of rainfall a month.

Recent research estimates the Atacama's hyperarid core started forming between 47.8 million and 33.9 million years ago, in the Mid- to Late-Eocene, 20 million years before the Andes formed. It suggests the mountain ranges weren't the cause for the desert's aridification, and may have only intensified it.

Capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) ‪—‬ the world's largest rodent ‪—‬ exclusively live close to stable freshwater sources and feed on plants that also require water to grow, so the discovery of an extinct capybara relative (Hydrochoerus Cardiatherium) tooth in the Atacama Desert is very strange.

"Finding a capybara tooth in a marine deposit in what today is one of the driest regions on Earth is just freakish," Priscilla Martinez, a geoscientist at the University of Arizona and co-author of a new paper describing the discovery, said in a statement. The authors propose a scenario in which the capybaras took advantage of low-elevation wetlands connecting their original range along the coastal areas going "counterclockwise" around the northern portion of South America – from today's Venezuela into Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, into northern Chile.

"We have multiple lines of evidence indicative of really wet conditions that are typically associated with capybara today," said professor Mark Clementz, paleobiology expert and head of the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Wyoming and is one of the study's co-authors. "The same deposits contain fossils of freshwater fishes and gavials (freshwater crocodiles)."

NEW INTERVIEW; Supernatural Girlz Radio talk with Rob Gutro about how pets give messages from Spirit

On Nov 10, th Supernatural Girlz Radio talked with Rob about how pets communicate from the afterlife. Supernatural Girlz is a long-running paranormal and spiritual podcast that premiered in March 2013. Here's the 1 hour long show: 

Direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxC87G4fLTo

 Key Details

• Tagline / Theme: "Where Paranormal is Normal"  
• Hosts: Created and hosted by Patricia Baker along with co-host Patricia Kirkman (PK).  
• Topics Covered: Ghosts, UFOs and time travel, quantum spirituality, shamanism, ancient megalithic sites and sacred waters, psychic mediums, astrology, and occult/esoteric studies.  
• Global Ranking: Frequently recognized in the top 3% of podcasts globally.  
• Where to Listen: Available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Spreaker, and YouTube Music. 
• 
  
  
  

Good News! 11,000 acres of ancestral homeland returned to the Penobscot Nation in Maine

Today's blog is good news for the Penobscot Nation Native Americans who have finally recovered 11,000 of 30,000 acres. Imagine being thrown out of your homeland. Then hundreds of years later, some of it finally comes back to your descendants. That's what happened in Maine recently.

(Photo:  Photograph of the Wáhsehtəkʷ effort. Penobscot Nation and Trust for Public Land are working to restore nearly 30,000 acres to the Penobscot Nation. Once complete, it will be one of the largest land returns between a U.S.-based nonprofit and a tribal nation, while creating much-needed access to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Credit: Chris Bennett, Trust for Public Land) 

 11,000 acres of ancestral homeland returned to the Penobscot Nation, Maine

Maine Public | By Kendra Caruso September 17, 2026 at 4:00 AM EDT 

 The Penobscot Nation is celebrating the return of about 11,000 acres of its ancestral homeland around the Penobscot River. The land return is the first phase of a larger project to give the tribe back around 30,000 acres just south of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

When the swath of land came up for sale more than three years ago, the Trust for Public Land bought it from timber harvesters and is now working with the tribe to raise money for the buy back, Betsy Cook of the Trust for Public Land says. The rest of the land will be returned after an additional $12 million is raised for the project.

The land holds cultural significance to the tribe and it has plans for how the land will be conserved and used, says Penobscot Nation Natural Resource Director Chuck Loring. The Penobscot Nation has plans to restore habitats around the land’s waterways, track ticks and monitor bat species, among many other conservation measures.

It will also give members of the Penobscot Nation access to natural resources for hunting, economic development and harvesting, says Loring. There are also hopes to create an access road to the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument near Millinocket through the land, says Loring. Right now there is no southerly access to the monument. But those plans are long term and still in development, and there are many more details to be worked out, says Loring.

The partnership between the Trust and Penobscot Nation represents a growing trend of conservation groups including native people in helping conserve land, where before conservation organizations have overlooked Indigenous wisdom around stewardship of natural resources, Cook says.

Often tribes are acting in an advisory role when the government or private conservation organizations are conserving land, says Loring. But land returns like this puts land back in tribes’ hands, allowing them to conserve it the way they see fit.

Full House at York Library Ghost Lecture!

In October during Halloween week, I gave a talk at the York Library in Maine, about 2 of my books that highlighted investigations in haunted places.

Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library and Ghosts of Linville Manor. The room was packed and there were lots of great questions. 

Books available on Amazon.  

ABOUT THE BOOKS

  

Haunting of Hunt Memorial Library

Investigate this Haunted Library and Encounter 3 Ghosts -After a book signing event in a former library, Medium Rob Gutro and Paranormal Drag Queen and Tech wizard, Monique Toosoon led a public paranormal investigation in the historic Hunt Memorial Library in Nashua, New Hampshire in search of paranormal activity. Their findings revealed three ghosts that chose the building as their residence. A Rebellious Teenager, a Love Lost Man, and a “Stacks” Ghost trying to keep his past indiscretions secret. After the initial investigation, Monique and Rob had to return to uncover the secret of the Third Floor Ghost! Reading this, you’ll feel like you’re on the paranormal investigation!  

  

Ghosts of Linville Manor: Maryland’s Most Haunted House

Linville Manor, located in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, is a historic property that dates back to the 1600s. The manor recently gained notoriety for claims of paranormal activity, and various paranormal investigations have been conducted. One investigation revealed identities of several ghosts, including one who is angry of being unjustly accused. This book chronicles the findings of the Inspired Ghost Tracking group and results in crossing a ghost over. 

A Special Wedding Event in Kentucky for an Old Friend

In mid-October, I (Rob) flew to Louisville, Kentucky to attend a very special wedding of a friend I've known for decades. 

(Photo: Rob (left) and Rick and Lamont at their reception) 

HOW RICK AND I MET ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO -  Back in 1997, Rick and I were in the same Meteorology program at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. We had every class together and became study mates and good friends. Rick worked at the Bowling Green airport doing weather observations which were critical for the pilots. At that time, I worked for a cable company in production and created my own public access weather show called "Weather Wisdom." I also worked part-time at WKBL-FM country radio in Springfield, Tennessee (not far from the border of KY) where I played a LOT of Dolly Parton music because I could.

POST GRADUATION - Rick and I also studied with our classmate and mutual friend, Ryun, and together we had some fun times. After graduation, I took a job in Boston for a year before going to the Weather Channel in Atlanta and finally to NASA. All the while we stayed in touch. During the 29 years, we talked on the phone, email and social media. Outside of my family, Rick is the only person who sent me a birthday card every year over the 29 years we've known each other. He doesn't have a brother, so he's always regarded me as his brother, as I have him.

Rick has endured a LOT of challenges in his life. Suffice to say, being gay in Kentucky in the 1990s was brutal. He also had health challenges and medication caused more serious health effects. But all the while, he kept pushing through.  He met Lamont 9 years ago, and was finally happy. Lamont became his best friend, his companion, his support system, and they found love.

THE WEDDING -  When arrived at the church in Louisville, I had not met Lamont before. He's warm and wonderful and it was quickly apparent he has a big heart. 

The church was lit up brightly, and had a warm feeling. They exchanged their vows and promised to stand beside each other no matter what challenges came their way. It reminded me of our vows (mine and Tom's) in 2009.

The reception was in the church's adjoining hall where there was some food, and of course, cake. I sat at a table with Lamont's family (cousins and brother) and they were warm and wonderful. It was a very special event. 

Idiots of the Week: Drivers who Commit "Storrowing" in Boston

Boston has a name for foolish drivers who don't seem to know how tall their trucks are when they're driving on a highway called "Storrow Drive." "Storrowing" means you think your truck can fit under the tunnel safely, and when you try, you realize it didn't! Those are the idiots of the week in this story from the Boston Globe.

(Various photos of trucks in the Boston area that committed "Storrowing" under various overpasses)

A look back at the history of ‘Storrowing’

From moving trucks to rental vans, oversized vehicles have been getting stuck under bridges in Boston and Cambridge for years.

By Beth Treffeisen, August 29, 2026, Boston Globe

No matter how many signs, flashing lights, or warnings the state puts up, someone still manages to forget one important detail: the height of their moving truck. 

A look inside a Boston phenomenon: Storrowing

Every year, oversized trucks and vans take on the low-clearance bridges along Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive, and Soldiers Field Road — and, inevitably, one gets “Storrowed.”

To this: “Storrowing” refers to the infamous collisions that happen when an oversized vehicle gets stuck under one of Boston’s low-clearance bridges. The phenomenon has become such a part of local lore that there’s even a website dedicated to ranking Storrowings based on factors including roof peeling, traffic backups, and “idiocy.”

Looking back at the past several years, AAA did an analysis outlining just how many storrowing crashes occur.

According to the Massachusetts IMPACT Crash Data Portal, between 2022 and 2025, at least 100 crashes involved heavy trucks, light trucks, vans, and buses colliding into bridges or overhead gantries on those three roads along the Charles River.

Last year alone, there were 17 “Storrowings.” In 2022, incidents hit a peak at 26.

Mark Schieldrop, spokesperson for AAA, noted that the spike in 2022 could be attributed to the year after COVID restrictions were lifted.

In 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation also stepped up the warning signs and systems, including installing high-visibility “CARS ONLY” signs. The drop, Schieldrop said, could be attributed to that.

Each year, State Police troopers respond to moving trucks that become stuck beneath bridges, as well as drivers who realize too late their vehicle will not fit and need assistance backing out.

“Over-height vehicles can cause serious damage, injuries, and major traffic disruptions,” said State Police Colonel Geoffrey Noble in a statement. “When behind the wheel, limit distractions, pay attention to posted height restrictions and other roadway signage, and make sure your vehicle can safely travel your planned route.”

The MassDCR’s latest social media warning reminds the public: “Don’t be dumb, stupid, crazy or dangerous this move-in season! No trucks allowed on Storrow Drive, Memorial Drive or Soldiers Field Road!”

Good News of the Week: Small dog missing for over a month in Yellowstone, is reunited with her owners

This weekend, the hero of the week is actually a good news story. It's about a little dog who was lost in Yosemite National Park and found a month later! It's amazing that this little one survived in the park with Buffalo, Grey Wolves, Elk, Grizzly and Black Bears, Moose, Pronghorn and Big horn sheep, Cougars, bobcats, Canada lynx, coyotes, red foxes, badgers, river otters, and weasels!

Luna, a small dog missing for over a month in Yellowstone, is reunited with her owners

By MIKELLA SCHUETTLER, Associated Press, October 14, 2026

For over a month, Luna, a Jack Russell terrier that bolted from her family’s cabin during a vacation at Yellowstone National Park, eluded capture as fears for her survival mounted and winter weather approached. On Wednesday, October 14, 2026, her ordeal came to a happy ending when she was caught and reunited with her owners.

The 10-year-old white dog with pointy ears and a gray collar had been spotted crossing intersections, strolling through employee housing and entering lodges through automatic doors at the sprawling park, home to grizzly bears, wolves and other predators.

Katie Boucher, the volunteer leading the rescue effort and a spokesperson for Luna’s California owners, said she and one of the owners found the dog in the trap baited with scraps from a T-shirt and pillowcase belonging to the family. They took her to a veterinarian, where the owner held the dog as it was examined Wednesday afternoon. “She’s underweight, but that’s to be expected. She’s alert and in good spirits,” Boucher said. “I was crying all the way up here from the park.”

Luna escaped Sept. 10. Boucher said the dog spent its first year on the streets before being adopted and showed strong survival instincts while on the loose. Based on sightings, Boucher said, Luna retraced her family’s steps from the day before she was lost -- sneaking into eateries or lodges they had visited and seeking shelter in employee residences and businesses.

An escape into the wilderness The day of the escape, the family left her in their cabin with a “Do Not Disturb” sign while they ventured out to explore the park. They believe a housekeeping staffer accidentally opened a door, freeing the dog. “The staff then proceeded to chase her around that area of the park for over two hours before the owners came back and discovered all the chaos and their dog missing,” Boucher said.

Yellowstone was the first U.S. national park and covers about 3,500 square miles (some 9,000 square kilometers), including portions of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. Luna’s family searched for the dog, which is part chihuahua, but were told it likely died, possibly killed by a coyote, Boucher recounted. Days after leaving Yellowstone, the owners learned Luna had been spotted, and contacted Boucher, president of the Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center in Norris, Montana, north of the park.

Locals and tourists called out Luna’s name or chased her, triggering her fight-or-flight response and driving her further into the park, Boucher said. The volunteers set a live trap using the family’s scent to lure Luna in, avoiding food that could attract bears or other wildlife.

Time was running out as winter closes in Boucher said this was the last week she would have been able to search for Luna. She was sleeping at an RV park for seasonal employees that closes next Monday.The search had rallied locals and tourists alike. Marie Jaskula, an area resident who runs one of the park’s general stores, posted signs at every park entrance urging visitors to be on the lookout for the dog. “It’s really hard to stress the importance of do not chase,” said Jaskula. “Everybody sees this little dog buzz across the intersection or maybe around their employee housing, and the first instinct is to call her name and chase her.”

Book of the Week: The Untrained Medium by Christopher J Brown

This week's book of the week is called "The Untrained Medium," and it's an autobiographical story by a medium whom I befriended while working at a couple of paranormal conferences. This medium endured a lot of trauma to come to understand his gifts, and he's now an amazing medium.

Christopher J Brown is a medium out of Augusta, Maine, and he had a rough start, trying to figure out what the voices in his head actually were... when they were messages from spirits of people who passed. The story of his life was really eye-opening, because it shows one of the ways messages from spirits could be misconstrued as a mental health issue. 

Christopher endured a lot, from alcohol and drugs to people in the medical field who kept treating him for mental illness. After many years of struggling, he finally connected with the right people who helped him see those "voices" were spirit messages, and that he had a gift. 

It's a great and tragic lesson that people who have this mediumship gift down't always get the support they need, and the understanding that they are not crazy. 

Today, he conducts private and group readings. Mediumship demonstration. Inspirational speaking. Platform readings. Reiki master/teacher. His website is: https://www.psychicmediumchristopher.com/ and facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/PsychicMediumChristopher/  

ABOUT THE BOOK: The untrained medium by Christopher J Brown (Author) Format: Paperback / 4.5 out of 5 stars: This is a book about my mental health journey and how it relates to becoming and discovering my abilities as a psychic medium.

NOTE: The book formatting is irregular. Chapters start anywhere on the page, and paragraphs begin near the right margin. Just overlook those because the book is a very interesting read. 

The Central Pacific Ocean just broke a temperature record. Experts say it might signal a new kind of El Niño.

Climate warming has charged this year's El Nino. The sea surface temperature in a key El Niño region has exceeded 86 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time on record, hinting that the strength and location of some El Niño events are transforming

(Image: Map of the world showing sea surface temperatures and the location of the Nino 3.4 region in the central Pacific Ocean. Researchers use the Niño 3.4 region to monitor the progression of El Niño events.  credit: ClimateReanalyzer.org (CC BY 4.0))

 

The central Pacific Ocean just broke a temperature record. Experts say it might signal a new kind of El Niño. 

 By Sascha Pare Edited by Pandora Dewan, Laura Mondragón, Live Science, Published October 8, 2026

The sea surface temperature in a key section of the central equatorial Pacific Ocean has now surpassed all previous temperatures on record for this region, exceeding 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius) for the first time, according to preliminary data released Monday (Oct. 5).

Specifically, these temperatures occurred in the Niño 3.4 region, located between 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south latitude, and 120 degrees west and 170 degrees west longitude. Researchers use this region to monitor the progression of El Niño, the warm phase of a multiyear natural climate pattern that's currently in full swing and steadily intensifying. But how significant is this new record, and could it be a harbinger of increasingly extreme El Niño events in the future?

At this time of the year, sea surface temperatures above 86 F are common in the western Pacific warm pool, a mass of water located northeast of Australia. But the Niño 3.4 region is nowhere near the warm pool and usually has much cooler temperatures. This latest data indicates "an exceptionally warm state for this part of the tropical Pacific," said Jin-Yi Yu, a professor of Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine.

"If the reported daily El Niño 3.4 temperature above 85 Fahrenheit/30°Celsius is verified in the observational dataset, it would be an extraordinary record," Yu told Live Science in an email.

Other experts agreed. A Niño 3.4 sea surface temperature above 86 Fahrenheit (30°Celsius)  is a "very significant" new record, Timothy Osborn, a professor of climate science and the director of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia in the U.K., told Live Science in an email. Mat Collins, a professor of climate systems and the head of mathematics and statistics at the University of Exeter in the U.K., also called the temperature "very significant" in an email to Live Science.

WHAT IS EL NINO? -El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It occurs irregularly every 2 to 7 years and typically lasts 9 to 12 months. ENSO is arguably the most influential climate driver on Earth. Image: NASA) 

'This is such a clear story': Climate change is supercharging El Niño to unprecedented strengths, study finds But it's important to note that absolute temperature is not the standard way of measuring the strength of El Niño, Osborn said. Researchers usually assess El Niño intensity by comparing sea surface temperatures in the Niño 3.4 region with the average conditions there or with sea surface temperatures across the rest of the tropics, with the latter method removing a skew in the data caused by the climate-change-induced heating of oceans globally.

"On those measures, the current event is already close to being the strongest [El Niño] on record and will likely soon exceed previous records given that the event is forecast to strengthen further," Osborn said. "For some measures, it is already record-breaking for the time of year."

Stacey M.'s Ghostly Experiences at the Linville Manor in Maryland!

Our friend Stacey joined me and my friends Monique and Troy at the Linville Manor in Upper Marlboro, Maryland in March for a paranormal investigation. She had her own experiences and created this amazing television quality video about them.

Stacey M.'s Ghostly Experiences at the Linville Manor in Maryland

In this video, Stacey M describes her first visit to the Linville Manor in Upper Marlboro, Maryland in March 2026. It's known as Maryland's Most Haunted House, and it's available for events, and overnight stays (it's an AirBnB). During a public paranormal investigation, Stacey had paranormal experiences of her own as she documents here. The investigation was conducted by Winn Brewer (owner/operator), Rob Gutro (medium), Monique Toosoon (tech guru and drag queen paranormal investigator) and Troy Cline (medium). This investigation will be the subject of a book called "Haunting of Linville Manor" coming out in 2028.

Linville Manor has been there since the 1600s and has a long history. In 2019, there was a paranormal investigation by Rob, Troy and Tom of Inspired Ghost Tracking that led to a book about the ghosts called 

" Ghosts of Linville Manor: Investigating Maryland's Most Haunted House" by Rob Gutro and Winn Brewer

** For more information about Linville Manor, visit https://www.linvillemanor.com/#/ 

** To Contact Directly to Arrange Your Private Paranormal Investigation, Email: linvillemanor@gmail.com

Created, Scripted, Narrated and Produced by Stacey M.

Local: PART 2: Three Infamous Prisoners of Maine's Historic York Gaol (Jail)

In yesterday's blog, I told you about the historic gaol (jail) in York, Maine that dates back to the 1650s. In today's blog I'll tell you about a THREE infamous prisoners, including one escapee who was never caught! Plus you'll learn the difference between a Pillory and stocks because there was a Pillory outside the gaol! 

WHAT IS A PILLORY AND HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM A STOCK? 

WHAT'S A PILLORY?   A pillory is a historic wooden or metal punishment device featuring a frame with holes for a person's head and hands, used to lock offenders in public view for humiliation and abuse, as well as a modern verb meaning to criticize someone harshly in public

(Photo: Rob and Tom standing at the pillory outside of the old gaol).

WHAT ARE THE STOCKS? The stocks are a historical wooden or metal device used for public corporal punishment and humiliation, which lock a person's ankles or feet in place while they are seated.     

(Photo: Sign from the 1700s about the crime of murder. It applied to William Deering, one of the prisoners in the 1700s.)  

PRISONER #1 - William Deering, born Sept 17, 1708 in Kittery, Maine was one of the most horrendous prisoners. According to Werelate.com, William killed his wife Mary with an axe about two months after the birth of their last child, and buried her body, but was caught. Boston Weekly Post Boy in one of its July 1749 issues: 'At the Court of Assize and general Gaol Delivery held at York on the 13th of June past William Deering was tried for the murder of his wife on the 8th of February last, and found guilty, and had Sentence of Death passed on him accordingly. He is to be executed on Thursday the third of August next.'   

(Photo: A poster about what happens to people who commit arson (cited as Afron in the poster). 

However, the execution was delayed in response to a petition filed on behalf of William by his cousin Sir William Pepperell, and in the interim, William Deering escaped from jail. The most plausible version of the story alleges that his escape and probable flight to England was arranged and aided by Sir William. He was never caught.             

(Photo: The stone walled dungeon that Patience Boston was held in)

PRISONER #2 -Patience Boston (also known as Patience Samson) was a 23-year-old Wampanoag and Nauset Native American woman who became one of the most famous prisoners in colonial Maine history. Born in 1711 on Monomoy Island (Cape Cod, Massachusetts), she was bound into servitude at age three after her mother died. In 1734, while bound to the household of Benjamin Skillins in York, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), she lured Skillins’s 8-year-old grandson, Benjamin Trott, to a well and drowned him. : She was confined in the stone dungeon of the Old York Gaol for about a year while awaiting trial and the convening of the Supreme Court. During her imprisonment, she was pregnant and gave birth to a child. Convicted of murder, Patience Boston was hanged in York, Maine, on July 24, 1735. Her stone cell remains at the historic Old York Gaol museum site today.  

(Other photos: The tour guide speaking in the first floor guard's room. The first and second floor guard's rooms had fireplaces. These rooms were built on after the original stone walled dungeon.) 

PRISONER #3- Nathaniel Cole. He was known to have a "flat face" which may have helped with his escape. **Date of incarcerations is unknown, but he was imprisoned three different times! Once for debt, another time for escaping, and then another for lewd behavior. 

HIS ESCAPE WAS CLEVER - Windows in some cells have pointed edging around them. One night he took a bloody steak he received for a meal and spread the blood all over the window. There was a fireplace in his cell (this would have been late 1700s or 1800s) so he hid in the fireplace and climbed up it, then called the guard and screamed his face was torn off (or something). The guard came into the "empty" room, saw the bloody windowsill and Cole slipped out of the fireplace and escaped through the open door. 

HOW THE GAOL BECAME A LANDMARK - In 1820, Maine finally became a state (it used to be part of Massachusetts), and the York Gaol became a local gaol until 1860. In 1899 Joshua and Mary Perkins believed in preserving history and purchased the gaol to make it museum. The museum opened in 1900 and has been one ever since. 

DETAILED HISTORY

• Post-1879: The building ceased operation as a jail and was repurposed for alternative uses, including a schoolhouse, a storage warehouse, and a boarding house, which left the structure increasingly dilapidated. 

• 1899: Local residents and summer visitors—led by Mary Emily Sowles Perkins and her daughter Elizabeth Bishop Perkins—launched an initiative to save the historic, crumbling landmark. 

• July 4, 1900: The building officially opened to the public as a museum displaying colonial relics and curiosities, which laid the groundwork for the modern Old York Historical Society*

(Photo: Old York Gaol at night... very spooky!) 

Local: PART1: Exploring York, Maine's Historic Gaol (Jail)

Recently we took a tour of York, Maine's historic Gaol, that was first constructed in 1656! The original structure no longer stands, but another was soon built on the same site decades later, and then it was added to many times over, creating a big structure. The tour was a fascinating walk through the 1600s, 1700s and 1800s.There were no ghosts, but in one room I could feel a lot of emotions from the people imprisoned.

(Photo: The oldest room in the gaol. Cold stone walls with no heat during the Maine Winters!)

The Development of York's Old Gaol 150 Years of Construction History 1656 - 1806 

1656 – Maine Provincial Prison. In 1656 John Parker was hired as Maine’s first executioner and prison keeper after a prison was constructed on Gaol Hill. The same year, Robert Cooke of Cape Porpoise became the first person threatened with jail time in Maine’s first prison. It was also known as the "King's Prison" for the King of England.

NO GHOSTS, BUT A LOT OF ENERGY- Imagine being imprisoned in a bare stone cell in the wintertime in Maine... in a room with no heat. People endured that, and their emotions ran high- fear, anxiety and anger. And when I walked into the oldest room of the gaol, which was that stone walled room, I could feel all of those emotions coming from the walls. 

(Sketch: the Old Gaol in 1719. Credit:York Historical Society) 

1707 – York County House of Correction. A House of Correction opened on Gaol Hill, serving as a workhouse for minor criminals and the poor of York County. Inmates in York’s House of Correction repaired shoes and processed flax to pay debts and court-ordered fines.

(Sign: Punishment of Robbery: "shall be punished by a fine, not exceeding 1,000 pounds, imprisonment, fetting in the pillory, whipping, fetting on the gallows or other end thereof throws over the gallows, confinement to hard labor not exceeding three years...") 

1720 – Stone-Walled York County Prison. In disrepair and lacking security, the York County Court ordered the replacement of the 1656 prison with a stone walled building in 1719. The new building was located on Gaol Hill and lumber from the 1656 building probably was used in the new structure.

1729 – Prison House. After 1720 and peace with Canada to the north, York County’s population grew dramatically. With more people came increased crime and the need for greater monitoring of prisoners. In 1729 a small house was built enabling the prison keeper to live on-site.

(Photo: The main room on the second floor atop the stairs/Display of some irons to restrain prisoners)

1737 – Prison Kitchen. Before 1737, food for York’s prisoners probably was cooked off-site. In that year, a kitchen was constructed in a space that formerly served as an open-air prison yard for the exercise of prisoners. The level of the original yard was more than a foot lower than the current kitchen floor, which is why one must now stoop to enter the 1719-1720 stone prison.

1763 – Second Floor Cells. As the 18th century progressed, Americans became more concerned with the treatment of prisoners. With little light and dank conditions, the stone prison cell no longer was used for prisoners once two new cells with tall windows were constructed on the second floor in 1763.

1799 – First Floor Addition and Second Floor Debtor Cell. Economic turmoil brought on by the American Revolution and Independence caused more and more Americans to fall into debt. As a result, in 1799, York County added additional space to the House of Correction, with a large debtors cell built above it on the second floor.

SHOES FOUND- In that second floor debtor cell, under the floorboards, archaeologists found shoes. Prisoners would apparently make shoes for soldiers there.

1806 – Storage Cellar and Room. The York County Court ordered the construction of a cellar in 1806. This space probably served as cool food storage for the House of Correction, with the structure built above it probably functioning as an administrative office and dry attic storage.

For information to visit: Old York Historical Society P.O. Box 312 / 3 Lindsay Rd, York, ME 03909, Visitor Services 207-363-1756, Administration 207-363-4974

NEXT: SOME INFAMOUS PRISONERS OF THE YORK GAOL