HISTORY WALKS TO RESUME SPRING 2014 (Updated 12/19/2013)

Above is part of the group on our final History Walk of 2013 on November 22nd.
Readfield History Walks will resume in the spring.
Read below for some (indoor) winter 2014 offerings.

Thanks to all who joined in on the Readfield History Walks this fall. Increased interest resulted in larger groups so we had anywhere from 25 - 35 people for most excursions. We will resume in the spring and hope to see the familiar faces and perhaps some new ones. Monitor plans as they evolve by checking this web site, or email crossings4u@gmail.com to request that your name be added to our email list for updates / evolving plans.

This winter we will be offering three sessions at Maranacook Adult and Community Education on the following Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:00pm:

1. February 12^th 6:30-8:00pm

“Readfield History Walks: a year shared through pictures and stories”
Readfield History Walks are offered regularly throughout the year. Co-leaders Dale Potter Clark and Milt Wright will share pictures and information about the first sixteen treks. This pictorial tour will include the History Walks that were done on private property as well as on Readfield’s public trails and lands.

2. March 12^th 6:30-8:00pm

“Living, Working and Socializing in 19th Century Readfield”
19^th century Readfield had four distinct centers that included industries, churches, schools, hotels and farms; after 1850 lakeside resorts and camps began to emerge. Readfield is known as the home of four Maine governors but there is much more to tell. Participants will learn about the climate in 19th century Readfield and the lifestyles of her people 1850-1900.

3. April 9th 6:30-8:00pm

" Fifty old Readfield homes and the people who lived in them"

As you drive through Readfield have you wondered about the history of some of our old homes? If so, this is the class for you! In this presentation you will learn something about fifty of our 18^th and 19^th century homes and some of the people who have lived in or built them. 

Register through Maranacook Adult and Community Education. $10 registration fee will be donated to Readfield Historical Society and Readfield Union Meeting House.

Call (207) 685- 4923 x 1065 or visit http://adulted.maranacook.org/

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #16 ~ Union Meeting House & Old Fairgrounds & Readfield Corner Cemetery ~ Friday November 22, 2013

For this November (hunting season) history walk we will stay out of the woods and closer to town but we suggest you wear something orange to be extra safe. Also bring a sandwich because we will eat lunch together on the trail.

Printouts will NOT be shared / distributed for this walk. For background material follow the links in the descriptions below. This will be a three phase excursion:

1. At 10:00am meet at the Union Meeting House on Church Road to see the spectacular and historic Trompe l'oeil art by Charles Schumacher. We will also visit the inside of the vestry next door. This building was once the home of Captain John Smith and sat on Main Street. It was donated to the Union Meeting House by his daughter Ursula Gile in 1868 for use as a vestry and moved to its present location. Since that time it has been used by various groups or congregations. Many remember when this building was used to hold summer Bible School and Methodist Youth Fellowship meetings in the 1950s and 1960s.
2. From there we will walk to see the improvements and additions made to the Old Fairgrounds trail this past summer. There is also a baseball field under construction there. The History Walkers journeyed these trails about a year ago but we will see that significant work has been done since then.
3. If there is no snow on the ground (to prevent it) we will also venture into the Readfield Corner Cemetery adjacent to the Old Fairgrounds. There we will find some of the people we have learned about over the past year. 

 

Factory Square History Walk ~ Additional Information Discovered Revised 6/24/2014

William Turner c.1844 at Old Kents Hill Road was included
on the Factory Square history walk on 10/11/13.

On our 10/11/2013 History Walk we included the Curtis (previously Louise Wood) house on Old Kents Hill Road but at the time knew nothing about the origin of the house or what the adjacent stream / water power / dam was used for. No one knew the origin of the name Handy Stream either  or who built that (lovely old) dam. All we knew was that this was part of the Factory Square industrial area. So I did a little digging and below is what I came up with. Anyone who has info to add please feel free to email me.

First of all, Nathaniel Handy lived there around 1930 – thus the name Handy Stream. The house was built by William Turner c.1844. The land this house sits on was sold to Turner by Lot Morrill in 1847 and in the deed it says that Turner had already built a dwelling house on the property. The births of two of William Turner's children were recorded in Readfield. The first was born on 10/4/1844 - which leads me to believe this is about the time Turner built this home.

This parcel is located on the easterly line of lot #211. Water flowage rights (from the adjoining stream and dam) were reserved for Joshua Bean's tan yard. The southeast corner of the tan yard bordered on this property.*

This dam on Handy Stream is on the Old Kents Hill Rd
was built by Joshua Bean in 1817 and supplied the
water necessary for his tannery.

I did not search beyond this in the deeds because I found what I was looking for – when house was built and what the water and dam was used for. In referring to Kingsbury's History of Kennebec County pg. 894 the following information is given about this tanning mill: " Joshua Bean built a tannery and a bark mill before 1815 on a stream that crosses what used to be called Cameron Hill. This was in operation as late as 1840." One of the old deeds from which I extracted the above information refers to an adjoining property as "...previously known as the Cameron place..." The same deed also refers to Bean's mill pond.** So this is where Cameron Hill is - I have always wondered! Another piece of our history puzzle solved!


UPDATE 6/24/2014: Another reference to Cameron was found in 1815 when Joshua Bean and his brother-in-law bought land part/of lot #211 at this location. The deed (book 24 page 111) gave all rights to Bean and Pierce except the dwelling house where Collin Cameron was living at the time. One year later Bean and Pierce bought 4 acres of land on the bank of White's Brook (now called Handy) on the western line of lot #212. One year later, in 1817, Bean bought Pierce's interest in this 4 acre piece and Pierce gave Bean the right to build a dam and flood part of his land for use of a mill. Bean's occupation was listed as tanner.***


Joshua Bean was son of Elisha and grandson of Joshua Bean, the original Bean in Readfield. Joshua's uncle, Joel O. Bean, built and ran a sawmill, gristmill and fulling mill on Torsey Pond. He and three of his sons had homesteads on Thundercastle and Chase Roads. We will be holding History Walks at two locations in that area in the fall of 2014. There will also be a presentation at Maranacook Adult Ed about "The Beans of Readfield Maine" the fall of 2014.


NOTE: There were two Bean's mill ponds in this area - the other we now know as Torsey Pond. From what I can gather, the two were differentiated by being called Bean's mill pond (on White or Handy Brook) and Joel's pond or Joel Bean's mill pond (Torsey). 
 

* Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Book 165 Pages 412-413 1/4/1847
** Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Book 127 Book 403
*** Kennebec County Registry of Deeds Book 42 Page 257-259; book 24 page 235

Here are some tidbits about another house that we knew little about when we walked Factory Square. The "Grist Mill house" brought out significant interest. It is located on Factory Square next to the stream. I actually stumbled onto some very interesting information about this house when researching for History Walk #15. 

"The Grist Mill house" on Factory Square.

 

This house is located on the Mill Stream Road / Factory Square and is no longer habitable (in 2013). In the old deeds it is described as the "Grist Mill house". On November 18, 1805 James Craig, who built the grist mill at Factory Square, sold his grist mill lot and buildings thereon on lot #212 to Robert Page (Kennebec Registry of Deeds Book 9 Page 53). The deed states that on the land was "a grist mill, house and barn." COULD it be this was the home of James Craig - one of Readfield's most visible and influential industrial pioneers? In later deeds this property's boundaries are given as: beginning at the southwest corner of the cheese factory lot and north side of the north bridge at the grist mill. At this time I do not know the exact date it was built, but I do know that if it was the home of James Craig it would have been built well before 1800. James Craig came to Readfield c.1770. Harley Weatherby lived here in the 1940s. After that Miss Mildred Humphrey lived here. She was a favorite of the young children who lived in town.

HISTORY WALK #15 ~ John Lane and Jere Page Homesteads and Mills ~ Friday, November 8, 2013 (UPDATED 10/31/2013)



The Jere Page homestead c.1825 near Beaver Brook

10/31/2013: Please note corrected address at the end of this post and new parking instructions.

On this History Walk we will visit and learn about the mills that were located on Beaver Brook - between Readfield Depot and East Readfield. We will share information about two brothers Simon and Robert Page who both had a very visible presence in Readfield early on. We will also be introduced to John Lane - the "other Lane" who lived near here - on the opposite end of town from James and Ephraim Lane. Were they related? That's yet to be told. John Lane built an "oil mill" on Beaver Brook. Soon after Jere Page - Robert's son - constructed a sawmill on the same brook which was still operating in the early 20th century. The dam and Mill Pond are still intact as are the John Lane and Jere Page homesteads located on either side of Beaver Brook.

Ira and Marjorie Ellis have graciously agreed to host us. Meet at the Ellis home at 10am at 581 Main Street, Readfield. They just had their driveway paved so ask that we not drive on it IF we have studded snow tires. Otherwise go into the yard. There is a parking place across the road beside the brook where you can park also. We suggest you car pool if possible. As always, bring a sandwich and drinking water. We recommend a walking stick and sturdy shoes. See you then!

HISTORY WALKS # 15 AND #16 ~ November 8th and 22nd

Mark your calendars for November 8th and 22nd for the 15th and 16th
Readfield History Walks. We will be announcing places and details soon!
In the meantime, remember to join us on Friday October 25th
for the trek through Luce Memorial Forest. Follow this link FMI.

HISTORY WALK # 14 ~ Luce Memorial Forest ~ Friday October 25, 2013 (REVISED 10/31/2013)



Some of the History Walkers at Luce Memorial Forest.

This long anticipated History Walk will encompass the former Luce farm on the Dan Luce Road (now called Huntoon Road). Beriah Luce was the progenitor of the Luce family of Readfield. It is said the Luce men came from a long line of sea captains, but like so many others who were living on Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod in the late 18th century, they were forced to find a new place to live due to exhausted resources in southern New England. So in 1780 Beriah, his wife Remember (Foster) Luce, and their seven children, came to Readfield (then called Winthrop) from Martha's Vineyard and settled in Readfield (then part of Winthrop).

Beriah and his sons William, Freeman, Ellis and Prince Luce settled near (what is currently known as) Readfield Depot.  Prince's son Samuel Howland Luce, then his grandson Nelson Samuel followed by his g-grandson Edgar lived on the original Prince Luce homestead until that burned in 1932. Beriah Luce's direct descendants still own land and have a residence there (on Luce Road) in 2013.

As the years went on Beriah's son Shubael Luce, grandson Thomas and g-grandson Daniel all farmed the land we will be exploring on 10/25. Ultimately this Luce homestead included a cape cod house with attached el, and a large barn and several out buildings. The pastures and stone walls were expansive. The foundations, wells and much of the rock work are still evident.

 

All told there were five generations of the Luce clan who lived on this land throughout the 18th, 19th and into the 20th century. The last of the line to live on the farm was Dan Luce and his children. Dan Luce married in 1868 to Lydia Ladd d/o Warren and Lydia (Wellman) Ladd. Dan Luce died in 1907 and Emily in 1917. They had two sons and two daughters. Their youngest child, Hannah, died in infancy in 1887; Chester never married and died at age 19 in 1902 of a fractured skull when he was hit by a train; their oldest child, Thomas Warren Luce, became a physician and moved to Portsmouth, NH. He and his wife Nettie Leighton had two daughters. Dr. Thomas died in 1936 in Portsmouth; Dan and Emily's second child was Gertrude. She lived on the farm until  her brother's wife died in 1911 and then she moved to Portsmouth to help him raise his daughters. Gertrude never married and died in Portsmouth in 1950. All are buried in Readfield Corner Cemetery.

 

By 1987 the house was all that remained and was struck by vandals. The Readfield Historical Society received some of the house's contents from the heirs who then authorized the Readfield Fire Department to level the building in a controlled burn. After that they donated this property to the New England Forestry Foundation in memory of Emily Ladd Luce.

On October 25th Ellen Blanchard of Readfield, who is the New England Forestry Foundation (NEFF) steward of this property, will guide us on an exploration of the land. We are reaching out to some folks who once lived on this farm and Luce family descendants in hopes they will join us. You will see pictures of what the Luce farm looked like in its heyday; and visit the "Know Nothing rock" - a well kept secret for more than 150 years until now! Wear sturdy waterproof shoes or hiking boots; bring a sandwich and drinking water; a walking stick is recommended. There is plenty of parking but we do encourage car pooling. Read on FMI about the land trust and directions to the property.

 

LUCE MEMORIAL FOREST. This 78-acre property was conveyed to the NEFF in 1991 by James M. Smith and Julia H.M. Smith Solmssen. Three contiguous parcels have been under professional management by NEFF since 1951. There are no marked trails, but the area is open for hiking, hunting, and other non-motorized recreation. No off-road vehicles or overnight camping. Directions: From Readfield Corner, go west on Main Street (Route 17) 0.5 mile. Turn left onto Sturtevant Hill Road and go 2.2 miles. Turn right onto Huntoon Road and go 0.3 mile. Park on the right at the sign for the Emily Luce Memorial Forest.

Relief Savage Gordon to visit Maranacook Adult Ed ~ Wed. October 23, 2013

Relief will be visiting Maranacook Adult Ed October 23rd 6:30-8:pm. $5.00 registration will go to Readfield Historical Society. To read the description visit the Adult Ed catalogue online - see Living History on page 19. 

Relief Savage was born at old Fort Western in 1769, married Daniel Gordon of East Readfield and died here at the ripe age of 92. Over the past few years she has “come alive” as a well known character in our parts. She has led historical bus tours in Readfield and likes to tell tales about her town, family and their way of life. Watch her come alive before your eyes when Dale Potter Clark, historical interpreter and Relief’s 4th g-granddaughter, transforms herself into “Relief’s time.”

Readfield History Walk #13 Friday, October 11, 2013 ~ Factory Square (updated 6/4/2014)

Grist Mill at Factory Square around 1900.

Mark your calendars for Friday, October 11, 2013 when we will be "History Walking" on Factory Square. See the end of this post for the route we plan to follow. If you are not on our email list please send a request so you will receive the map and pictures that will be emailed to our list before the walk.

A PEEK AT THE HISTORY...
The first mills - a grist mill and sawmill - were built in this area of Readfield by James Craig. Soon after that Robert Cornforth built a woolen mill, and other mills and operators followed until there were more than a dozen factories and businesses in this relatively small section of Readfield. For more than 150 years Factory Square was a busy industrial center. There were, at one time, four dams between the head of Torsey Pond - called Bean's Mills - and Mill Stream Road (now a public trail). There were three mill ponds within that area, in addition to Torsey Pond west of there. Manufacturing and business activity started to subside with the advent of the railroad, road travel and easier access to larger mills and industrial centers. In the flood of 1987 two of the dams and bridges (Giles Road and Mill Stream Road) were destroyed. Today there is very little evidence that gives the unknowing eye any hint of the activity that once was.  

 

There is no school on this day - we welcome school aged children (and their adult chaperones) who have interest in their town's history to join the group. We appreciate RSVPs so we will have an idea of how many participants we can expect - email crossings4u@gmail.com

Ø  10am start at the town office (RTO) à Old Kents Hill Road;

Ø  Enter north entrance Mill Stream Road / trail;

Ø  Giles Road (Factory Street);

Ø  Back onto Old Kents Hill Road;

Ø  Left towards Cornforth house for a walkabout;

Ø  Walk on to Bean’s Mills (at group’s discretion);

Ø  Return via Old Kents Hill Road and see the dam and site of old mill pond;

Ø  Walk back to RTO via Old Kents Hill Road;

Ø  Choose a nice outdoor space to share our lunch / sandwiches. 

After this History Walk I did additional research about some of the ground we covered on 10/11/2013. Follow this link to read more about Factory Square:

HISTORY WALK #12 ~ Friday 9/27/2013

We are very pleased to announce that on

Friday, September 27th

the Readfield History Walkers will explore

the area around Carleton Pond

and

"the Vanished Village" in East Readfield 



• Brian Tarbuck of Readfield, who is the Augusta Water District General Manager, will lead the walk.
• Dale will show newly acquired and one of a kind pictures of some homes and the school that were once in East Readfield village. 
• Copies of The Sanborns of East Readfield and Beyond will be available  to participating walkers at a special rate of $7.00. 
• Input from the loggers who recently cut that property will also be shared. 

This is an exciting opportunity for those who are truly interested in

the history of Readfield and want to learn about "the Vanished Village". 

The chance to see and take in the pristine Carleton Pond is a real plus!!

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:  The trail will be wet in places so bring your boots or water worthy shoes. We expect the horse flies and deer ticks to be pretty evident so plan accordingly. Bring plenty of drinking water and a sandwich / something to eat. We are told the trails / roads on AWD have not been maintained for the past ten years - except for being bush-hogged - so the walk may be rather strenuous in places. Please bear that in mind if wish to come.

THE FOLLOWING SECTION WAS UPDATED 9/26/2013

WHEN AND WHERE: At 10:00am we will gather at the Jesse Lee Methodist Church on top of the hill, next to the East Readfield Cemetery, on the corner of route 17 & Plains Road, where there is plenty of high and dry parking .

WHAT TO EXPECT:  We will share some historical background of the immediate area; visit the Sanborn’s plot; and see the pictures of East Readfield village. Then we will either walk or be shuttled down the hill to the Augusta Water District, noting where some of the old buildings / foundations are along the way. Then, we will walk into Carleton Pond and back. Those who wish to walk back up the (route 17) hill to their cars can do so, or be shuttled if that is the preference.FMI: crossings4u@gmail.com. In case of inclement weather notices will be posted on this web site re cancellations / postponements.

Invitation from Readfield Conservation Commission ~ Readfield Town Forest Tour September 28th

FMI contact Tim Sniffin.

The public is invited to attend a field trip to view the current timber harvesting operation at the Readfield Town Forest on Saturday, September 28 sponsored by the Readfield Conservation Commission. Readfield’s Town Forester, Harold Burnett, will lead the site visit and explain the harvesting operation.

Every five years, a portion of the 110-acre Town Forest is harvested to improve the health of the forest and wildlife habitat while raising revenue that is used to maintain the Town’s conservation lands.

Interested attendees should meet in the parking lot at the Readfield Town Office at 8:30 to carpool to the Town Forest (where parking is limited) or can drive directly to the gate to the Town Forest on the Belz Road  where the field trip will start at 9:00.  The tour will take about two hours, and will involve walking in and out of the Town Forest which is about a half-mile from the gate.

History Walks Resuming This Fall

Plans are underway for History Walks this fall. Specific plans will be announced soon. In the meantime MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the first walk this fall on
Friday, September 27, 2013! 

Summertime Historical Events and Exhibits in Readfield Area

While the Readfield History Walkers are taking a break this summer, others are busy making plans and pulling together activities and exhibits for your pleasure. Some that may be of interest to our Readfield History Walkers:

• Working Women in Mt. Vernon and Vienna 1900's - 1950 Exhibit Every Saturday until October. Follow the link to learn more about time and place. Admittance is free
• Historically significant Hooked Rug Show of more than 50 19th century and contemporary hooked rugs at Readfield Union Meeting House Saturday August 10th 10am-3:00pm Admittance is free, donations suggested. Follow the link to learn more
• Annual Wine and Cheese at Readfield Historical Society Friday August 10th 5:00-7:00pm at Readfield Historical Society. Refreshments and an opportunity to view the displays and learn what is new at RHS. Follow the link to learn more. RHS is also open every Saturday throughout the summer. The same link above will also give those hours.

And remember - Readfield Heritage Days is August 9-11th this year. To view the events that are planned visit the Readfield town web site where their August Readfield Messenger newsletter will be posted soon. In the meantime mark your calendars and hope some of you / us will cross paths.

SUMMER 2013

Readfield History Walkers enjoyed a tour of Maranacook Lodge both inside and out in June 2013. Pictured here are Linda Butman-Kinney, a former resident of Readfield, Scott Davis, our host and current owner of Maranacook Lodge and Evelyn Adell Potter, Readfield Historian. Part of Maranacook Lodge, which is being beautifully restored by Scott and his wife Holly, can be seen in this picture as can a section of Maranacook Lake. Many stories and photographs were shared on this day and the walkers enjoyed eating lunch on the beautiful piazza.

This property is located in both Readfield and Winthrop.

There are no excursions scheduled for July and August but one can be arranged if there is enough interest. To learn more about previous gatherings read on. Outings are also posted on the Readfield Historical Society facebook page when they have been confirmed. To express interest in potential history walks this summer or FMI email crossings4u@gmail.com. 

Readfield "Little Schools Reunion" ~ Friday June 21, 2013

Ralph Black was our class marshal. Using maiden names - 
directly behind Ralph is Jane Bailey. To her left is Donna
McCormick. Behind them are Evelyn Adell (in the black
shirt) and Barbara Clark to her right.

On this beautiful first day of summer dozens of Readfield "little school’s alumni" came together for their first ever reunion. Many were seeing each other for the first time since before 1955 when they attended one or more of the four little schools that used to exist in town. That was the year when Readfield Elementary School opened its doors and grades K-8 were finally united under one roof. Starting at 10am reunion attendees met at Gile Hall (the old Readfield Corner School) for some time to get reacquainted. Some alumni and guests also visited Readfield Historical Society, which is housed in the old Readfield Depot School. At noontime it was off to the old Readfield Grange Hall where the "Golden Guys and Gals" organization had prepared a delicious dinner. There they also viewed school pictures and memorabilia that were on display. To cap off the day the alumni entered into a reenactment of an 8th grade graduation like the ones that were prior to 1955. Alumni entered the Readfield Union Meeting House in a processional, told stories about their school days and were presented with diplomas by reunion organizers Evelyn Adell Potter and Liz Piper King. Available is a 14 page "photograph album" of pictures taken on the day of the reunion. To receive yours by email contact Dale Potter Clark at crossings4u@gmail.com.  



 

About 30 of the 45 alumni who attended the reunion stayed for the graduation re-enactment. Pictured here are left to right (maiden names on females): Dale Potter, Janie Bailey, Jackie Cadaret, Carolyn Gay, Ruth Pinkham, Evelyn Adell, Caroline Fogg, Connie Elvin, Maynard Gorden, George Allen, Donna McCormick, Melanie Lanctot, Charlie Elvin, Peggy Pinkham, Diana Fickett, Stephen Cowperthwaite, Liz Piper, Barbara Clark, Judy Fickett, Nancy Russell, Phyllis Nason, Caroline Dunn, Nancy Harriman, Ralph Black, Gloria Bryant and Brenda Boutlier.

Evelyn Adell Potter and Liz Piper King

Thanks to Evelyn and Liz for their idea, follow-through and hard work to make this  event so successful! A grand day to say the least and one that we will never forget!

To read the Kennebec Journal newspaper article written by Susan McMillan click here.











History Walk #11 ~ Hotel Maranacook and surrounding area ~ June 14th



Hotel Maranacook was one of several summer resorts and hotels that existed on Maranacook Lake from the late 1800's into the mid-20th century. None of them exist as such today. Most of the buildings that have survived are now privately owned camps or have been converted into year round homes. Land, for the most part, has been subdivided. There are no longer any summer resorts or hotels in Readfield. The Maranacook train station, post office and trolley were built to accommodate the large influx of summer tourists and residents so they are long gone, as is Readfield Depot.  

Hotel Maranacook

History Walkers enjoyed a tour of the area on Maranacook's west shore where Hotel Maranacook and Belvedere Cabins once boomed with summer guests and activities. Across the way and within sight was Tallwood Inn, which was equally as gregarious. We were graciously invited for a complete tour of Maranacook Lodge inside and out by the current owners, Scott and Holly Davis as well as their neighbor Linda Butman Kinney who also owns what used to be a part of Maranacook Lodge. 

Maranacook Train Station and Post Office

The tour far exceeded our expectations! 

If you are interested in having a copy of the old pictures that were prepared for this walk - email crossings4u@gmail.com The 16 pages of pictures and newspaper stories also include some of other resorts and cabins on Maranacook Lake during the same era.

HISTORY WALK #10 ~ Friday, June 7th Case Cemetery ~ North Manchester Meeting House ~ Shedd Pond

The North Manchester Meetinghouse was built in East

Readfield by Rev. Isaac Case in 1793 and moved
to Scribner Hill Rd. in North Manchester in 1839.

We began our walk at Case Cemetery, Route 17, East Readfield where Rev. Isaac Case built the East Readfield Baptist Church in 1793. The church was moved to North Manchester in 1839. When Rev. Case died in 1852 he was buried on the spot where his pulpit once was. His wife Joanna and son Elisha are on the same plot. In 1905 the Baptist Conference of Maine had a tablet memorial erected on that same spot, and it is still there. We also explored and found the entrance to Case Road which was long ago discontinued. It left route 17 a little east of the

Most of the Colonial features inside of
North Manchester Meeting House are intact.
The numbered pews have "gates" on every one.

churchyard. Rev. Case built his log cabin

We had a small group this time but a great walk!
Below is Rev. Isaac Case memorial at Case Cemetery.

on Case Road in 1795 and though it was located near the East Winthrop line he built it so he could see his church from his home. We were able to find the road because history tells us there were stone walls running parallel on either side of the road so we looked for those. From there we went to the North Manchester Meeting House for a tour. The church is still active though non-denominational now rather than Baptist. Then on to hike into nearby Shedd Pond. History Walkers received a 12 page document (with pictures) about Rev. Case in addition to information about the early settlers who lived in North Manchester (part of Readfield until 1850).

If you wish to be placed on the History Walks email  list to receive all of our updates please send your request to crossings4u@gmail.com.  

Shedd Pond. Picture from Kennebec Land Trust web site.