Tuesday, November 14, 1:00 p.m.

Join Maine author, Arend Thibodeau to discuss the first two books in his new “Abandoned America” book series. : Forgotten Industry and Institutions of Maine and Residential Ruins of Maine.

About the books:
Forgotten Industry and Institutions of Maine is a new title by Arend Thibodeau which uncovers Maine’s forgotten past by exploring remnants and artifacts left behind.

Maine has its share of industry, some current and some obsolete. Over the last century, many industrial practices have grown and flourished while others have vanished entirely. Likewise, state institutions have seen vast changes in their structures and methods of operation. Changes to our industry and institutions have left behind artifacts of a bygone era. Many of these artifacts are demolished, replaced, or vanish further into obscurity. This book offers a visual tour of our forgotten past and practices in hopes of preserving history to prevent it from vanishing entirely. Readers will explore an abandoned jail built in 1873 (in which its first prisoner was convicted of killing two people with an axe), visit The North Maine Woods in search of ghost trains abandoned in the wilderness close to a century ago, and much more.
Forgotten Industry and Institutions of Maine contains images, interesting facts, personal anecdotes, and the stories that make these places unique and give them their distinctive character.

Residential Ruins of Maine is a new title by Arend Thibodeau, and is his second release in the Abandoned America book series.

Join us as we embark on an exploration of humanity’s remnants, from time capsules that appear untouched for decades to abandoned places that have simply been forgotten. We’ll look at some turn-of-the-century architecture, studying the Yankee craftsmanship and ingenuity that put New England on the map. We will examine items that have been left behind, with imagery capturing the unique geography and diverse lifestyles found throughout Maine. We will also explore the darker side of abandonment, including surreal encounters and an inn, built in 1865, purported to be haunted.

These places, once thriving with human activity, now hold only fleeting traces of lives lived and lost. In addition to histories and factoids of locations, this book explores the folklore and urban legends surrounding the buildings, and muses on their relevance and possible veracity. Finally, personal anecdotes and poetry are offered to try and connect the viewer with the evocative nature of the images.

About the author:
Arend Thibodeau resides in Harmony, Maine with his wife, and has been a professional photographer since 1996. His photography has won awards in galleries as far away as Athens, Greece and he has been published in multiple genres ranging from wildlife to portraiture.

In pursuit of his passion for writing, Arend returned to academia and attended the University of Maine in Orono where he earned dual degrees in art and English literature. While attending the university, Arend was published with his poetry, non-fiction, and academic writing. He graduated summa cum laude in 2021 with membership in multiple honor societies including Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society.

When not working in the field, or writing, Arend enjoys teaching photography and playing bass in a local rock band.