Saturday, April 18, 2015

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #25 ~ MAY 1, 2015 ~ KENTS HILL VILLAGE AND PACKARD'S CORNER


Kents Hill Village and “Packard’s Corner”, May 1, 2015, 10a.m. - 1:00p.m. (note to 1p.m. this time)

Kents Hill village began well before 1800 with the building of homes, a meeting house, store, blacksmith shop, school and a parsonage at “Packard’s Corner”. After Maine Wesleyan Seminary opened its doors, in 1821, most of the activity and settlement shifted towards the Seminary. In 1835 a new meeting house was built at its present location (Torsey Memorial Church), but the current parsonage did not become such until 1882. By then Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College had the commanding presence in Kents Hill village and the early settlement at “Packard’s Corner” became all but lost and forgotten. Join us to learn more – and of some interesting information that has recently been unearthed through Dale’s research. A tour of Torsey Memorial Church and Kents Hill School campus is also part of this history walk. Nancy Russell, direct descendant of Luther Sampson (founder of KHS) will accompany us on the walk and help at various locations as tour guide. Kents Hill School is graciously making special accommodations for us. Our first history walk of 2015 promises to be a very special one indeed!
THE PLAN: Meet at Torsey Church at 10:00am – come on inside where we will do our introductions and to see the inside of the church. Then we will walk to the east end of the village (as far as Torsey View House); then return westerly to Kents Hill School campus to meet a KHS representative in front of Jollity Manse (old infirmary, which is now admin building), and from there a tour of KHS campus then lunch at Masterman Union. Bring a sandwich and / or Kents Hill School is offering us salad, soup, desserts and drinks in their dining hall, for those who wish. Folks will return to their cars (in Torsey Church parking lot) at their own leisure with a list of early Kents Hill village and School people in hand, who are buried there, and can explore the cemetery on their own as wish that day or at a later time.
Will be a GREAT day!! Plan on end time of 1:00pm that day if you wish to do it all. Remember, we have a rain date "policy" and if bad weather I will post that on Facebook, send an email to the History Walkers email list, and post it on this web site early the morning of the scheduled walk. BUT it is NOT going to rain (or snow ;-) )

No comments:

Post a Comment