Monday, May 5, 2014

Readfield History Walk #18 ~ Prince Luce homestead ~ May 16, 2014

Floyd Luce collecting sap in the Luce woods.
      He was born in 1899, a great-grandson Prince Luce. 
On Friday, May 16th Dr. Ronda Luce, a direct descendant of the early Readfield settler Prince Luce, will host and guide the Readfield History Walkers on a trek through her 3rd great-grandfather’s woods.  More than 200 years ago Prince Luce homesteaded a large plot of land east of Readfield Depot and two of his brothers settled nearby. His father, Beriah, and another brother settled across town**. The land where Prince Luce settled has been occupied by seven consecutive generations of this branch of the family.

Prince Luce’s original farmhouse burned around 1932 so members of the Edgar Luce family, who were living there at the time, were forced to move off the land. Years later a new house was built near the same spot by Edgar's nephew and his wife, Rex and Audrey Luce, and the property became inhabited by Prince Luce’s descendants again. Coincidentally, this year’s Readfield Town Report is dedicated to the memory of Rex and Audrey Luce.

Included on the tour will be the opportunity to view mysterious manmade rock engravings and formations discovered in the Luce woods. Pictures of the farmhouse and homestead as it once looked will be shared.

Participants should bring lunch as they will stop to eat somewhere on the excursion. Sturdy shoes and walking sticks are suggested. Meet promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the parking lot across from Readfield Historical Society on route 17 at Readfield Depot. Walkers will car pool from there to the Luce property on Luce Road.  FMI email Dale Potter-Clark at crossings4u@gmail.com. No fee or registration. Donations to Readfield Historical Society are appreciated.

** See History Walk #14 Luce Memorial Forest

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