It’s January in Maine – did I hear you say “ice fishing derby”?

I thought so, and one coming right up is the Crystal Lake USO Ice Fishing Derby in Gray. And it’s not just about ice and fish.

Benefiting the Uniform Service Organization, the Jan. 28 event will also include an ice fishing shanty decorating contest with a patriotic red-white-and-blue theme, dog sled rides, giant sliding hill, horse-drawn sleigh rides, snowshoeing with the L.L. Bean Discovery School, a Home Depot Kids workshop and Tree Top Travelers helicopter rides. And don’t forget the Patriot Polar Plunge!

But wait . . . there will also be a warming hut and a National Guard Hummer that you can sit in. Still not enough to get you there? Well, the first-place prize for the derby is a whopping $1,000 Kittery Trading Post Gift Card for kids and $1,000 L.L. Bean Gift Card for adults.

Gone fishin’!

For more information about the derby go to http://www.crystallakederby.com/. All parking will be across from St. Gregory’s off North Raymond Road in the field.

Not surprisingly, there’s more to Gray than the derby. Most of us go through Gray without seeing or knowing much about the town. Did you know Maine has its own unknown soldier? We do and he’s in Gray — and he’s a Confederate!

Did you know that the first woolen mill built in the U.S. was in Maine? It was — in Gray. And it was only one of many manufacturing businesses that Gray was home to. Think gristmills, sawmills, a tannery, marble works, carriage and sleigh manufacturer and shuttle maker, along with the first water-powered woolen mill — and a story to go with it: Samuel Mayall smuggled plans for the machinery out of England in bales of cloth meant to be traded with the Indians in 1791. He was successful, but was found out and twice the British tried to kill him, but their attempts failed. (Directions to the mill are on this page.)

And as for Gray’s unknown soldier, Lt. Charles Colley of Gray was killed in a Civil War battle. In those days, when someone died in the war a family had to send money to have the body shipped back home. When Colley’s casket arrived in Gray and was opened, it did not contain the body of Colley, but instead an unknown Confederate soldier.

Colley’s body eventually was returned home, but the soldier with the Confederate uniform was never identified. He was buried in the Gray Cemetery and Colley was later buried not far from him. His gravestone is marked “Stranger” and residents later dedicated a statue to him in the town center, which many travelers today drive by without knowing the story behind it.

Every Memorial Day his grave is marked with a Confederate flag and he is honored along with the more than 178 soldiers from Gray who died in the war, proportionately more than any other town in Maine.

So go fishing, or just go and enjoy the other many things Gray has to offer.

Jess & Nic’s Pizzeria and Subs

21 East Portland Road (Route 100/26)

657-6263

www.jessnnics.net

Stop in here to warm up and fill up with hot food and a cool brew (12 beers on tap). Easy to find on Route 100 in the Gray Plaza.

Gray Animal Wildlife Park

56 Game Farm Road

657-4977

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/education/wildlifepark/index.htm

The park is closed for the winter, but they offer special Winter Photo Tours of the park where you can go and get photos of the animals in the snow. Reservations are needed, so call to set up a time and get some great photos.

Dry Mills Schoolhouse

Game Farm Road

This is the last standing one-room schoolhouse in Gray and was moved to its current home on the road that leads to the wildlife park. It has been restored to its original condition. In operation from 1857 until 1958, the schoolhouse is open on weekends from June to September.

Gray Historical Society and Museum

1 Main St. (in the old firehouse)

Call Karen Taylor for information at 657-4783

Taylor will be happy to answer your questions and the new location will be open in April, so mark it on your calendar for a future visit.

Unknown Soldier Monument

Corner of routes 100 and 26

Now that you’ve learned the history behind the statue go take a closer look at it.

Mayall Woolen Mill

On McGuire Road just off Mayall Road

When driving north on Route 100 toward Auburn, turn right on Mayall Road and drive to the first road on your left, which is McGuire Road, and you will see the sign markers for what remains of the mill on Collyer Brook.

Libby Hill Forest Trails

Behind the school at the end of Libby Hill Road (which branches off Route 26 across from the Hannaford supermarket).

www.libbyhill.org

This is a great area with many trails offering cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and walking. Some trails are designated for people with dogs. There is a kiosk with information and maps at the parking area just across the street from the school.

Cole Farms restaurant

64 Lewiston Road (Route 100)

657-4714

www.colefarms.com

Serving customers since 1952, this local eatery is well known in Maine and many people call it their favorite.

National Weather Service Office (NOAA)

1 Weather Lane – Route 231

688-3216

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=gyx

Next to Pineland, this is the office where the meteorologists compute and produce our weather forecasts for Maine and parts of New Hampshire. They offer tours, by appointment. Call the number above and talk to John Jensenius for an inside look at the art of weather forecasting.