The Irish have influenced the city of Portland since it was first established in the seventeenth century. Today's vibrant Catholic community owes its origins to Irish immigrants in Portland's earliest days, when beloved leaders like Father Ffrench provided solace to souls far from home. The church helped them adapt and adapted along with them, affecting the city in many ways. Portland's Irish faced discrimination, especially in the years before the Civil War, when anti-Irish sentiment surged and burnings and violence erupted, like the June 1855 Rum Riot. Despite this, many Portland Irish took up arms for the United States in the Civil War, and their participation in this conflict helped them become assimilated. Join local expert Matthew Jude Barker as he explores the triumphs and challenges of the Irish of Portland before the twentieth century..

Murky Overhead is the story of an Irish immigrant family, the Folans, scratching out a living in the coastal city of Portland, Maine - but reflecting the larger struggles of immigrants everywhere. Step into their lives for one day. See what makes them laugh. Feel what makes them cry.

The only comprehensive study of Portland s history, culture, and people."

Portland, Maine is currently in the midst of a redevelopment that is reshaping the city and the way it is viewed throughout the country. One of the neighborhoods that is experiencing that shift is the India Street area, formerly known as Portland's 'Little Italy.' From immigration in the 19th century through to urban renewal in the 1960s, the area was the first destination and primary home for generations of Portland's Italians. The cultural study that is presented in "Built on Family: The Little Italy of Portland, Maine," establishes the historical importance of the neighborhood as the home of families who came to shape the Portland of the later 20th Century, and whose stores, businesses, and families are still active in the city today. "Built on Family" covers the physical neighborhood, the importance of the local Church, the immigration patterns, home life, and the establishment of businesses. It traces how family and kinship were present in all activities - a trait brought over from Italy and not distinct from other Italian settlements in the United States. With personal interviews conducted by the author intermingled with census research and photos, the book uses humorous and touching stories to bring historical data to life.

The Irish have influenced the city of Portland since it was first established in the seventeenth century. Today's vibrant Catholic community owes its origins to Irish immigrants in Portland's earliest days, when beloved leaders like Father Ffrench provided solace to souls far from home. The church helped them adapt and adapted along with them, affecting the city in many ways. Portland's Irish faced discrimination, especially in the years before the Civil War, when anti-Irish sentiment surged and burnings and violence erupted, like the June 1855 Rum Riot. Despite this, many Portland Irish took up arms for the United States in the Civil War, and their participation in this conflict helped them become assimilated. Join local expert Matthew Jude Barker as he explores the triumphs and challenges of the Irish of Portland before the twentieth century..

Ed Crockett, the son of an absent and alcoholic father, grew up in poverty in a crowded house on Portland's Munjoy Hill in the 1970s. He recounts his days growing up with the ever-present specter of a drunken father and then overcoming the odds to become a successful businessman and politician. The book is not just a tale of struggle and perseverance, but also a story of love, redemption, and ultimately forgiveness.