Homestead of Frances Perkins, ‘a titan of Maine,’ designated national monument

MAINE MORNING STAR • December 16, 2024

President Joe Biden on Monday designated the Frances Perkins Homestead in Newcastle a national monument to honor the legacy of the first woman to serve in a presidential Cabinet and longest-serving secretary of labor. The designation comes after a strong push from Maine’s congressional delegation as well as members of the public. Under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, Biden’s decision will safeguard the 57-acre property along the Damariscotta River where Perkins spent her childhood summers and returned to throughout her career for respite.