“I met some of my best friends at Harry Brown’s Farm—it’s where we learned the true meaning of community.”

“As someone who had never been to a festival, I didn’t know what to expect, but The Hill completely exceeded my wildest dreams!”

“The music, the people, the atmosphere—it’s all magic. My festival memories will last a lifetime.”

“We started as strangers, but now we’re lifelong friends. Harry’s Hill brought us together in the best way.”

The Hill: A Sacred  Place

The Early Settlers: Creating a Home on The Hill

After years of settling and struggling with the Kennebec Proprietors, Zeolotes Lovell was finally able to secure title to the land. With his young family, they had already endured hard winters and a life of sustenance living in what was considered wilderness. Their fierce sense of independence and resilience is still alive today.

Bijah’s Hill – From Stone Walls to Fields, Building a Community

The land we now know as Harry’s Hill was once called Bijah’s Hill, named after Abijah Joy, a hardworking farmer who tended this land from the 1820s until 1888. Alongside his wife, Maribah, he raised sheep, made syrup, and helped build a thriving community. Their work with the land—cultivating fields, building stone walls, and raising crops—left a lasting mark, much of which remains today. The fields we dance on and the stone walls we see surrounding the field are a testament to his dedication and the deep, intimate connection he had with the land and its seasons.

Flora and Will’s  Orchard Spirit

Flora and Will Duley brought new life to The Hill, cultivating an apple orchard and running a bustling packing shop. Their orchard carries on today in the very trees that still bear fruit, descendants of those they planted. There are still traces of their packing shop, a quiet reminder nestled in the land they once tended. The stone foundation of their shop remains, and behind it, where the Appleshop Spring once flowed. Today, that spring feeds the pond where people gather to swim and play.

The Ski Tow Hill – A Winter Wonderland

For over a decade, when Harry’s Hill was known as Bijah’s Hill, it became a winter playground when Paul Willis donated the land for the Presbyterian church to create a rope tow ski area. From 1961 to 1973, the slopes were filled with laughter as folks gathered to ski, sled, and enjoy the snack shack at the top. The rope tow is gone, but the old posts and gears can still be found. Harry Brown’s Farm continues to build community and connection today.

Harry Brown – The Hill’s New Keeper

In 1979, Harry Brown brought new energy and vision with a deep commitment to activism and community. Known for his role in the Seabrook protest and efforts to protect the environment, Harry saw The Hill as a space to gather, grow, and create something special. Over the years, the land became a place of transformation, where people came to heal, celebrate, and connect.”