About Whitefield
LOCATION: About 15 miles southeast of Augusta.
EARLY HISTORY: The area that is now Whitefield was settled in 1770 as part of Balltown. In 1809 it was incorporated and named for the Rev. George Whitefield, a British evangelist who had inspired early settlers of the area. The other part of Balltown was incorporated as a separate town, Jefferson, named for Thomas Jefferson.
MORE RECENTLY: Whitefield residents pride themselves on respecting individualism. Beginning in the 1970s, artists and "back-to-the-landers" came to town for its beauty, rural nature and affordable property. Today the town includes farm families who have been in town for 100 years or more, many artists and craftspeople who work from their homes, and some folks who work in nearby Gardiner and Augusta.
WHITEFIELD HAD one of the earliest Irish settlements in the state. The church built for the Irish settlers in 1833, St. Denis, is today recognized as the second oldest Roman Catholic church in Maine.
THOUGH THE TOWN has no real downtown and just a few visible businesses, it is brimming with creative people who work at home. The town's Web site lists more than 35 farms or food producers in town and more than 30 working artists among the many home businesses.
SHEEPSCOT VALLEY BREWING Company's ales and lagers are made by Steve Gorrill at his home in the south end of town. Beginning around 1994, the town became known for scenes painted on more than 50 utility poles. Artist Natasha Mayers, who lives in town, directed local school children in painting poles to depict various places and people in town. She also painted many herself. While some of the pole paintings have faded over time, many, such as those on Hollywood Boulevard near Alna, are still visible.
Places to stay 
Retiring 