The name Millinocket is derived from the Abnaki Indian language meaning "Many Islands". It was the name given to Millinocket Lake and to the stream, which flows from it through Millinocket.

In the years 1898-99 a University of Maine civil engineer saw potential for industrial development, and bought land on both sides of the West Branch. Construction began in the spring of 1899, and a large paper mill was completed in 1900. With the building of the mill came new families and the town seemed to spring up overnight, earning it the nickname, The Magic City. Millinocket was incorporated on March 16, 1901.

As news of the construction spread, with its promise of employment, interest in Millinocket grew, drawing immigrants from around the world. Millinocket became a true melting pot of multiple nationalities with the sole purpose of supporting mill and town construction. The first 25 years saw a town well laid out with streets, lights, sewers, and many other municipal improvements.

In January 2003, due to poor economics and industrial conditions worldwide, the paper mill closed. As the primary employer, the closing was devastating, not only on Millinocket, but to the whole northern region. People left the area to pursue employment elsewhere—the majority being young and middle-aged adults with families, causing a decline in school enrollment, and a decline in church and civic viability. Those remaining in Millinocket have shown strength and loyalty to the welfare of each other and the region. Eventually the paper mill reopened, providing partial employment and some stability to the town’s economic situation. Local townspeople, politicians, and businessmen joined forces to improve economic development and due to everyone’s efforts, the town is starting to revitalize.

Our school system consists of Stearns High School/Middle School, which includes grades six through twelve, and Granite Street School, housing kindergarten through grade five. The schools have excellent performing arts programs, sporting activities, and up-to-date computer instruction. The percentage of graduating students entering college or the Armed forces is greater than 90 percent.

Located in Millinocket is the Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH), which is a 25-bed critical access hospital serving the greater Katahdin region. There is more than adequate primary care with several internists, a pediatrician, family practitioners, two general surgeons, and an orthopedist. In addition to the hospital’s primary care, surgical, and orthopedic practices, there are two federally qualified health centers. Dental and eye care are also available in town. Other health care facilities include Katahdin Nursing Home, Stearns Assisted Living Center, in Millinocket and Sweet Seniors Guest House in East Millinocket. There are two senior citizen housing complexes in town: the Crestview and Terre Haute Apartments.

Katahdin Paper Company (formerly Great Northern Paper) is still the primary industry in our area. Other major employers are the Millinocket Fabrication and Machine Company, MRH, and Brookfield Power Company. With the downsizing of the paper mill, smaller, private businesses have sprung up and tourism is growing. Millinocket has it’s own municipal airport.

There is an abundance of recreation in this area. The Millinocket, East Millinocket, and Medway Recreation Departments, together, sponsor various activities throughout the year, including basketball, and bowling leagues, for both men and women. At the high school complex, there is an outdoor swimming pool, lighted tennis courts, softball and baseball diamonds, a lighted football field, and a hockey rink. Millinocket also boasts a golf course. The local snowmobile clubs have numerous cross-country ski trails as well as groomed snowmobile trails. The Maine woods offer hunting, fishing, trapping, or just "walking in the woods" as a sightseer, birdwatcher, or photographer. There are numerous lakes, streams, and ponds for the avid fisherman, and of course, Mt. Katahdin is in our backyard for the adventurous climber or hiker. Several area businesses offer adventures in guided hunting, fishing, hiking, white-water rafting/kayaking, skydiving, scenic tours, moose watches, and more.

Millinocket is about an hour from the city of Bangor to the south, where you find a large shopping mall, plus a large auditorium, where celebrity performers come to give concerts. The University of Maine, also about an hour to the south in Orono, boasts a Performing Arts Center, and multi-sports complex.

Although Millinocket is a fairly small community, there is always something going on here. There are classes in ballet, modern dance, gymnastics, karate, and numerous crafts. There is Little League and Little Pro Basketball for the younger athletes. The Millinocket Players offer an opportunity to perform on the stage, if there is an interest in theater. Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) is an important and supported program to reach our area youngsters, from K-12. The D.A.R.E curriculum is used in all our schools, as well as in the community.

We also have an active Scouting community. Brownies, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Boy Scouts offer children of various ages a source of adventure, friendship, and learning, in a well organized and supervised atmosphere.

Millinocket boasts a large town library. This facility houses a wealth of up-to-date materials and access to a wide range of resources nationwide. The library has a separate children’s library housed in its lower level. The library is host to many interesting exhibits and programs of interest to both children and adults.

There are also many interesting organizations for adults in Millinocket. Some of these are: Rotary Club, American Legion and Auxiliary, the Elks and Emblem Club, VFW and Auxiliary, Masons, Northern Timber Cruisers Snowmobile Club, Fin & Feather Club, Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce, Literary Club, Garden Club, Philharmonic Club, and the Millinocket Historical Society. Some school-related organizations are the Athletic Boosters, the Performing Arts Boosters, and the Volunteer School Librarians.

As you can see, Millinocket is a town of inspiring history and growth. It is a pleasant community in which to raise a family as well as a place where recreational facilities are naturally abundant. Welcome to a "Northern Adventure"!

To find out more about our area, you might want to check out these websites:

www.katahdinmaine.com (Area Chamber of Commerce)

www.tripadvisor.com (Millinocket was rated #7 in the country for the top places to visit in 2007)

• Weekly Sunday worship services using the Book of Common Prayer
• Sunday School during Sunday worship services for ages three through twelve
• Sunday morning prayers for healing
• Midweek Eucharist and Adult Bible Study
• Monthly Praise and Worship

• Lenten Stations of the Cross, Maundy Thursday service, Good Friday services, Easter Vigil and Easter morning Eucharist
• Blessing of the animals in October
• Celebration of our patronal feast—St. Andrew’s Day
• Christmas Eve service with children’s pageant and Eucharist

• Vestry -- Meets the third Thursday of the month

• Parishioner, Robert Landry, ordained Vocational Deacon in 2005
• Altar Guild, Acolytes, Lay Readers and Ushers/Greeters serve every Sunday
• Stewardship Committee organizes annual campaign

• Sunday coffee social after worship services
• Yearly Shrove Pancake Supper
• Community Men’s Lenten Breakfasts
• Easter Breakfast
• End of School Year Picnic
• Annual Harvest Auction
• Yearly Ecumenical Community Supper
• Occasional Pot-luck Suppers
• The Annual St. Andrew’s Golf Scramble
• Lenten Adult Education Series

• Altar Guild has two teams alternating weeks with twice yearly meetings
• A team of Eucharistic Lay Visitors minister to homebound parishioners
• Volunteer office workers help the clergy with administrative tasks
• Sunday school teachers volunteer with our children

• Parishioners participate in the Katahdin Area (Cancer) Support Group
• St. Andrew’s provides space for Mother Goose Nursery School
• We provide space for weekly AA meetings
• Space is made available for other community groups, including a weekly seniors group and AARP income tax preparation volunteers
• We support missionaries with our prayers and money
• We collect our pennies for the Millennium Development Goals
• Twice annual United Thank Offering

• To grow spiritually, financially and in numbers
• To develop programs and activities to attract and nurture young families
• To maintain and promote congregational and community fellowship
• To maintain our buildings and grounds
• To nourish existing programs and to discern where God is calling us to grow

It is important for St. Andrew’s that our rector be a person of prayer; have a mature faith; and be someone who can guide us on our spiritual journeys. We want our pastor to provide empathetic, loving, pastoral care to all generations. He or she should help us develop a strong lay pastoral ministry to the St. Andrew’s community.

We are searching for a pastor with a love for children and youth. For various reasons, we have fewer young families in our parish now, but look forward to the time when our youth program is again bursting at the seams.

Parishioners have also expressed a desire for more adult education with a strong biblical emphasis. We are looking for a pastor who speaks from the heart and who gives engaging and spiritually inspiring sermons that are personally relevant and gospel based.

Our dream is to bloom and grow numerically and financially. We are currently an aided parish, but are working toward self-sufficiency by working on our stewardship and by calling a half-time priest. We expect our pastor to encourage and support us in these endeavors.