On this date in 1820, Maine formally broke away from Massachusetts and became the 23rd state in the country, following popular votes in Massachusetts (1819) and Maine (1820) approving the break. This separation paved the way, over time, for Mainers to begin derisively referring to tourists from Massachusetts as "Massholes," because of their supposedly rude ways. For their part, Bay Staters view the Pine Tree State as a wild frontier populated by toothless woodsmen and heavily accented, incomprehensible lobstermen who supposedly have yet to discover indoor plumbing. As a Massachusetts native who has lived in Maine for 27 years, I can say with some certainty that this is a fine example of people having mutually idiotic perceptions.
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