Jefferson Cattle Pound
Maine State Archives
Even with today’s modern livestock fencing, animals sometimes wander off, resulting in calls to the police or animal control officer. These calls are often regarded with some humor, but in the late 1700s through the 1800s, it was a serious problem as stray livestock could threaten crops and damage property, and sometimes fueled disputes between neighbors. This was such a concern that by the 1800s, Maine law required towns to maintain pounds and appoint pound keepers to deal with stray animals.
One of the best examples of a nineteenth-century cattle pound is in Jefferson. Built in 1829, the Jefferson Cattle Pound is about 40 feet in diameter with fieldstone walls approximately seven feet high. A local resident won the job to construct it with a $28 bid. The pound was in use until 1888, when barbed wire fencing and fewer animals no longer made it necessary to elect a pound keeper.
The Jefferson Cattle Pound is located along Route 126 and is open to the public.
