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.