Readfield History Walk #21 ~ The Earliest Days on the Eastern Shore of Maranacook Lake ~ October 3, 2014

Bring a sandwich, a walking stick, and wear sturdy walking shoes. Meet at 10:00am at the home of Bob and Joan Mohlar at 339 South Rd. Walks generally take about 3 hours which includes stopping for lunch.

What I call "W Corner" is quiet and unassuming to passersby, but anyone who has researched or read Readfield's history knows this town's roots are very, very deep on this corner! In 1768 Robert Waugh established his landing and farm nearby - and that is what we hear about most often. Many people do not know that Ransford Smith came here at about the same time and lived on this corner in a primitive log cabin. Butler's History of Farmington tells us that in 1776 a party of six men came up the Kennebec River in canoes as far as Hallowell, then proceeded on foot through the sparsely settled district to Mr. Ransford Smith’s log cabin. Those men were on their way to survey and plot out the wilderness on Sandy River that would one day become Farmington. 

As today's motorists round the corner from Beaver Rook onto South Road they do not realize they are on the very spot where the 1791 town meeting was held, at Henry Wyman's house, when townspeople voted to separate from Winthrop.

Samuel White settled on this very corner early on as well, and one of his daughters married Josiah Whittier. Thus the Whittiers became firmly planted on this corner for another 150+ years. Many members of these families are buried in the nearby Whittier Cemetery. 

The old Whittier cemetery sits back from the road and catches little attention. On this history walk we will venture to and feel the echoes of history there. Then, we will meander down a nearby camp road to see perhaps the largest and most majestic Pine trees you will ever see! And, along that shore walkers will learn about and see what some believe to be the oldest cottage on the lake - where people from the theater in New York once summered, among others.
And why do I call this "W Corner"? It was on this corner that four of our earliest settlers homesteaded - Waugh, Whittier, White and Wyman. Come and join us - you will learn so much more and enjoy a wonderful walk with an invigorating group of people!

HISTORICAL CLASSES ~ FALL 2014 ~ MARANACOOK ADULT AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION ~ by Dale Potter Clark

Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 6:30-8:30 pm
Summer camps and resorts in Readfield 1850 ~ 1950 – NEW!

The railroad passed through Readfield in 1849 and summer visitors soon began to flock here, via the trains, to enjoy the peace and solitude of our lakes and woods.  Soon after that resorts and camps began to appear on our lake shores. A presentation and discussion about the evolvement of summer resorts and camps in Readfield is slated for September 24^th at Maranacook Community and Adult Education. Using a slide show, Dale Potter-Clark will lead the class and Charlie Day, co-author of a book released earlier this year titled Maranacook’s Southern Lakeside Resorts, will be on hand to give his input as well.  Attendees will be encouraged to share pictures and memories to augment the class. Summer residents are encouraged to attend as well as year-round dwellers.

 

The class will be held at Maranacook Community School on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee is $15.  To register contact Maranacook Adult and Community Education Phone: 207-685-4923 x 1065 or Register online using a debit or credit card. For details and to view all classes go to http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.

Registration: $15 will help fund historical site markers in Readfield

 

        Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 6:30-8:30 pm
The Beans of Readfield, Maine – NEW!

The Beans were significant landowners, manufacturers and farmers here 1780 into the 19^th century. Their mills and farms were concentrated on and around Thundercastle Road, but some lived on Kents Hill and near Readfield Depot too. At one time Torsey Pond was called Joel Bean’s Pond and nearby was another small mill pond called Bean’s mill pond. They built many beautiful stonewalls, dams and foundations that have endured for two centuries. They also had their share of tragedy. Come and learn about “The Beans of Readfield, Maine”.

Instructor: Dale Potter Clark

Location: Maranacook Community High School

Registration: $15 will help fund historical site markers in Readfield

 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014, 6:30-8:30 pm
Fifty Old Houses in Readfield and the People Who Lived in Them

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! As you drive through Readfield have you wondered about the history of some of our old homes? In this presentation you will learn something about more than fifty of our 18^th and 19^th century homes and some of the people who have lived in or built them.

Instructor: Dale Potter Clark

Location: Maranacook Community High School

Registration: $15 will help fund historical site markers in Readfield

To register contact Maranacook Adult and Community Education
Phone: 207-685-4923  x 1065 or REGISTER ONLINE  using a debit or credit card

For details and to view all classes,  go to:    http://maranacook.maineadulted.org

Readfield History Walk # 20 ~ Fogg Farm Conservation Area ~ Friday, Sept. 19, 2014

Fogg homestead as it looks today.

For the first walk of this fall History Walkers will meet at Fogg Farm Conservation Area Friday, September 19, 2014 at 10:00am.

The Fogg Conservation Area trail has been expanded since we visited two years ago so we will enjoy seeing the work done there by Readfield Trails Committee in 2013 as well as the 0.4 mile original loop trail.

Walkers will also receive information about some other homesteaders who came to this immediate area - the Gove, Hawes and Marston families - and will visit the nearby Marston Cemetery. 

The land that is Fogg Conservation Area was part of the Fogg homestead for nearly two centuries. In the early 1990s, after the farm was subdivided, 15 acres was donated to Readfield with a conservation easement to the Kennebec Land Trust. 



DIRECTIONS: Take Church Road from Readfield Corner; drive about 1 mile north and turn right onto Fogg Road; the conservation area is about 0.6 mile on left - park in the turnout area on side of road. Suggest you car pool as parking is limited. Bring a sandwich and drink; wear sturdy walking shoes; dress in layers; a walking stick is suggested.To receive research materials associated with this walk email a request to crossings4u@gmail.com.