Adult education students examine some of York County’s historic documents. Photo: Tammy Wells
By Tammy Wells, York County government media
The majestic York County Courthouse in Alfred – built in 1806, with a rebuild of the center portion in 1934 after a fire – hasn’t served as a courthouse since the state moved courts to Biddeford in 2023. But it still houses offices and old maps, deeds and documents – some from as far back as 1733. And that means the building is still a draw for history lovers.
York County Records Management Specialist Andrew O’Neill and York County Registrar of Deeds Nancy Hammond recently took members of a Bonny Eagle adult education class on a tour.
O’Neill explained the process he’s undertaking to prepare some of Maine’s oldest documents – carefully unfolding paper tri-folded for many, many decades, and humidifying and flattening the pages so they can be scanned for eventual online viewing. The online link will sport a search function and display the original document along with an AI-generated summary of what it contains.
O’Neill spoke of how property boundaries were sometimes described – like “the old barn that burned,” or “the sawdust pile,” as landmarks in ” petitions by residents to county commissioners asking them to build new roads – appropriate perhaps for the year in which they were written, but very challenging 300-400 years later.
O’Neill and Hammond began offering tours to York County adult education classes in 2025.
“We’re excited to offer this opportunity to residents,” said Cherie Goranites, Bonny Eagle’s adult education director.
Attendees perused copies of deeds hundreds of years old – including one where a native American conveyed a piece of land to an early settler. They examined maps and other old documents encased in protective coverings to help preserve them.
“I think at this moment in time the rule of law and how that works is very important, and I find myself looking back to history for that kind of stability,” said class member Veronica Hartman.
Adult education directors throughout York County who would like more information about courthouse tours may contact O’Neill at: AMONeill@yorkcountymaine.gov.
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