Located in the Oxford Hills of Maine at the intersection of Rt 117/118 and Rt 26, Norway Lake is the common name for Lake Pennesseewassee which has been used for both recreation and in support of local industry in Norway. Norway, settled in 1786 and incorporated in 1797, was known for wood mills, shoe factories and snowshoes. Millie Dunham supplied snowshoes to Commodore Robert Perry for his 1909 Expedition to the North Pole.
History & Historical Pictures
Lake Pennesseewassee was first used for recreational purposes in 1893 when the Bass Island Club was organized so local men could go there to swim, fish and socialize. Soon thereafter, lots were surveyed and several cottages were built. Since there were no roads leading to them, the property owners had to be conveyed back and forth to their camps and cottages by Edmund Ames in his homemade steamboat, named Pennesseewassee. If they needed groceries, they would hoist a flag and Ames would pull in, pick up the grocery lists, and later deliver the groceries. He also gave tours around the lake.
Ice Out Records
Charles Goodspeed IV, grandson of the late Elliot Cummings and current camp owner on Norway Lake, was kind enough to share the ice-out records from his grandfather’s diary.
For the most up to date Ice-out data go to the USGS Site.
| Year | Month | Day |
| 1874 | May | 13 |
| 1875 | May | 6 |
| 1876 | May | 11 |
| 1877 | April | 22 |
| 1878 | April | 12 |
| 1879 | May | 7 |
| 1880 | April | 22 |
| 1881 | April | 29 |
| 1882 | May | 1 |
| 1883 | May | 2 |
| 1884 | April | 26 |
| 1885 | May | 2 |
| 1886 | April | 24 |
| 1887 | May | 6 |
| 1888 | May | 10 |
| 1889 | April | 16 |
| 1890 | April | 26 |
| 1891 | April | 28 |
| 1892 | April | 18 |
| 1893 | May | 8 |
| 1894 | April | 24 |
| 1895 | April | 21 |
| 1896 | April | 27 |
| 1897 | April | 27 |
| 1898 | April | 18 |
| 1899 | April | 29 |
| 1900 | April | 29 |
| 1901 | April | 21 |
| 1902 | April | 10 |
| 1903 | April | 11 |
| 1904 | May | 3 |
| 1905 | April | 22 |
| 1906 | April | 26 |
| 1907 | April | 30 |
| 1908 | April | 26 |
| 1909 | April | 27 |
| 1910 | April | 6 |
| 1911 | April | 29 |
| 1912 | April | 25 |
| 1913 | April | 23 |
| 1914 | April | 26 |
| 1915 | April | 15 |
| 1916 | April | 22 |
| 1917 | April | 28 |
| 1918 | April | 24 |
| 1919 | April | 14 |
| 1920 | May | 3 |
| 1921 | April | 8 |
| 1922 | April | 17 |
| 1923 | April | 28 |
| 1924 | April | 21 |
| 1925 | April | 14 |
| 1926 | May | 3 |
| 1927 | April | 16 |
| 1928 | April | 27 |
| 1929 | April | 26 |
| 1930 | April | 14 |
| 1931 | April | 12 |
| 1932 | April | 21 |
| 1933 | April | 29 |
| 1934 | April | 23 |
| 1935 | April | 25 |
| 1936 | April | 21 |
| 1937 | May | 1 |
| 1938 | April | 20 |
| 1939 | May | 7 |
| 1940 | May | 7 |
| 1941 | April | 15 |
| 1942 | April | 21 |
| 1943 | April | 28 |
| 1944 | May | 2 |
| 1945 | April | 9 |
| 1946 | April | 11 |
| 1947 | April | 23 |
| 1948 | April | 10 |
| 1949 | April | 11 |
| 1950 | April | 27 |
| 1951 | April | 15 |
| 1952 | April | 20 |
| 1953 | April | 10 |
| 1954 | April | 23 |
| 1955 | April | 20 |
| 1956 | May | 2 |
| 1957 | April | 17 |
| 1958 | April | 19 |
| 1959 | April | 24 |
| 1960 | April | 25 |
| 1961 | April | 30 |
| 1962 | April | 24 |
| 1963 | April | 21 |
| 1964 | April | 28 |
| 1965 | April | 26 |
| 1966 | April | 23 |
| 1967 | April | 28 |
| 1968 | April | 14 |
| 1969 | April | 28 |
| 1970 | May | 1 |
| 1971 | May | 3 |
| 1972 | May | 5 |
| 1973 | April | 22 |
| 1974 | Apirl | 21 |