From collection Eastern Illustrating & Publishing Company Collection
LB2010.8.70010
Maiden Cliff, Lake Megunticook Maiden's Cliff is part of Camden Hills State Park, with views of Megunticook Lake and its surrounding woods and countryside. It is a very popular destination for tourists and is easily recognizable by the white cross standing on the top of the 800-foot cliff. The white cross on top of Maiden's Cliff is a memorial to Elenora French, an 11-year old girl who fell off the cliff on May 7, 1864. She climbed the cliff along with her older sister, friends, and teacher when a sudden gust of wind blew her hat off. According to her older sister’s account of the events, Elenora successfully caught her hat and sat on a rock near the edge of the cliff but while she was putting it back on, another gust of wind pushed her off the edge, falling 300 feet down. Elenora was still alive when they climbed down to get to her and she did not even sustain any broken bones. Unfortunately, she had suffered internal injuries and the young girl died the next day.
