Students at UMF, Zach Holt, left, and Brianna Benson, participate in an archaeological dig as part of their archaeology course on Oct. 10 in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

FARMINGTON — A group of University of Maine at Farmington [UMF] students are digging into local history as they participate in an ongoing excavation at the former Abbott School for Boys site, located within Abbott Park on the UMF campus. Led by Associate Professor of Anthropology Lucas Kellett, the project is part of the Abbott Park Project, an initiative started in 2017 to explore and document the park’s historical and cultural significance.

The Abbott School for Boys, established in 1844, was one of the earliest private boarding schools in the region. Although the original buildings no longer stand, remnants of the school’s history remain underground, offering students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on archaeology.

Kellett explained the importance of the site during a recent visit.  “This is the introduction to archaeology class, part of the Abbott Park Project,” Kellett explained during a visit to the site. “It’s the location of the former classroom for the Abbott School for Boys, and we’re combining archaeology with documentary evidence to tell its story. Most students, and even community members, aren’t aware that this historic school once stood here.”

In collaboration with the Farmington Historical Society [FHS], the project is enriched by archival research, including documents and photographs from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Layne Nason, a UMF alumnus and FHS board member, has been instrumental in researching and cataloging this material. “We’re adding archaeology together with historical records, thanks to Layne’s hard work in the archives,” Kellett said.

Nason emphasized the importance of preserving and sharing the history of the site. “If you think of the community members over the past hundred years, there were people 20 years ago who still remembered the school operating,” he said. “But they’ve all since passed on. Now it’s up to us to keep this history alive.”

UMF students sift through dirt at the excavation site of the former Abbott School for Boys, carefully recovering historical artifacts as part of the ongoing Abbott Park Project Oct. 10 in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

During the Oct. 10 excavation, students worked on-site under Kellett’s guidance, using tools such as a 1-meter grid system and quarter-inch screens to sift through soil and recover artifacts. So far, over 40,000 artifacts have been found, including glass shards, porcelain pottery and fragments of the old electrical system.

Brianna Benson, a junior participating in the dig, described one of her discoveries: “We found part of a glass bottle, and we’re still piecing together its significance.” Fellow student Zach Holt added, “We recently found a shard of glass with letters on it, and Layne [Nason] thinks it might be from a medicine vial.”

April Mulherin, associate director for media relations at UMF, was also present during the excavation and highlighted the educational value of the project. “I don’t think you can share this kind of thing enough,” she said. “Maybe one class or group knows about it, but then they graduate, and new students come in who have no idea. That’s what happens with history, it’s easy to forget, but projects like this keep it alive.”

Mulherin also noted the broad applicability of skills learned in the field. “These are the kinds of tools you use in everyday careers,” she said. “Being detailed, recording data accurately; those are valuable lessons, whether you’re studying archaeology, biology, or education.”

UMF students dig at the former Abbott School for Boys site, uncovering pieces of local history while learning hands-on archaeological techniques Oct. 10 in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

Kellett echoed her sentiment, pointing out that students from a variety of majors are involved in the excavation. “We have students from all different disciplines: biology, education, and more. What they learn here, whether it’s about history or how to be meticulous in their work, applies across fields. It’s an experience that stays with them.”

Nason, Kellett, and Mulherin also discussed the future of Abbott Park. “One of the big things we’re working on is restoring the park,” Nason said. “The bridges are starting to deteriorate, and we need to make sure they’re structurally stable so they can last for generations.”

“There’s a lot of erosion around the bridges, especially after recent floods,” Kellett added. “We’re thinking about creating some trails again, because there used to be a whole network of them when the school was operating. We want to make the park a little more user-friendly while preserving its historical significance.”

Nason described the restoration as a way to connect the university with the larger Farmington community. “This park is Farmington’s history just as much as it’s UMF’s,” he said. “The Abbott School existed before the university, and the park’s historic bridges predate the college itself.”

Kellett also highlighted the hidden value of university campus archaeology. “People often think archaeology is about exotic places, but many universities, like Harvard and Dartmouth, have started exploring the history right outside their academic buildings,” he said. “There’s a real movement to investigate campus history, and Abbott Park is part of that.”

The Abbott Park Project will continue its work in the coming years, with plans to explore the site of the Abbott School Gymnasium and to create 3D models of the historic bridges. The community is encouraged to participate in restoration efforts, including volunteer clean-up events and fundraising activities.

For those interested in learning more, a summary of the project’s findings will be presented at the Maine Archaeological Society fall meeting, to be held at UMF on Oct. 27.

On Oct. 10, UMF Professor Lucas Kellett shared historical photos of the bridge and land from before the university began utilizing the area, during an archaeology excavation in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

UMF students gather Oct. 10 to learn about local history while applying archaeological techniques during the excavation of the former Abbott School for Boys site in Abbott Park in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal

UMF students, along with Professor Lucas Kellett (left), examine an area marked off for excavation as they work to uncover artifacts at the former Abbott School for Boys site in Farmington. Submitted Photo

UMF students use various archaeological techniques Oct. 10, such as excavation and screening, to uncover artifacts and learn about the rich local history at the former Abbott School for Boys site in Farmington. Rebecca Richard/Franklin Journal