READFIELD HISTORY WALK #27 ~ Kamp Peacock (Dixon's Camps) ~ June 12, 2015

Located on the east shore of Lake Maranacook, Kamp Kiwanacook was founded by Readfield attorney Ellsworth E. Peacock in 1925 as a summer boys camp for children of Kiwanians. He later changed it to housekeeping cottages and called it Kamp Peacock. The last to operate this complex were the Dixons', who sold the buildings to individual parties. All buildings are privately owned today but many of the original cabins remain. This location is known today as Lazy Loon Shores.

As always, wear good walking shoes and bring a sandwich. MEET at the parking lot across the road from Readfield Historical Society NO later than 10:00am and we will car pool from there.

Hoping for great weather so we can enjoy eating our lunches near beautiful Lake Maranacook's shore. Much thanks to Rita Bouchard for hosting this History Walk.

Readfield Historical Society Season Opening & Farms Heritage Calendars Sale ~ May 23-24, 2015

Readfield Historical Society is kicking off the summer season May 23-24th. Evelyn Potter and Bev Norton-Newton will be the hosts / docents on duty for the weekend 10am-2pm both days. Evelyn and Dale Potter-Clark will be on hand all weekend to sell the Farm Heritage Calendars they created to benefit RHS and in honor of Readfield's 225th anniversary. The calendars are $10 each AND 100% of proceeds go to RHS! 

Readfield Historical Society is open 10AM to 2PM Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer.

Early Religion and Preachers in Readfield ~ May 20, 2015

Maranacook Adult and Community Education ~ May 20th ~ 6:30-8:30pm
Instructors: Dale Potter-Clark and Libby Doak
DESCRIPTION: Readfield was settled years ahead of the War of Independence and before the US Constitution assured religious freedom. In those days the Congregational Church and Puritan lifestyle still prevailed. It was not long, however, before Baptist, Methodist and other evangelists and missionaries came into this backcountry and converted many of our fair residents. Still later the Universalists appeared. Early Readfield became a hot bed of free thinkers, movers and shakers.
PART ONE: Libby Doak will share information about New England Pilgrims and Puritans and the influences they had over society in general. She will share examples of how the Puritan Church governed every aspect of life - including where and how funerals and burials were conducted. She will also tell what other religions had to lose by bucking the Puritan Church.
PART TWO: Dale Potter-Clark will share information about the coming of early religions in Readfield which was on the missionary circuit in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Methodists, Baptists, Universalists and even the Shakers impacted Readfield in its earliest days
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Libby Doak was very well received when she led a Readfield History Walk last fall. She and her friend Sharon Burns have been recording, cleaning and restoring old cemeteries in Chelsea, ME for several years which led them into fascinating finds. Libby is a very entertaining as well as informative speaker. “This will be a pretty informal presentation”, said Doak. “I love trivia like why cemeteries are fenced and why ministers often had dozens of pairs of gloves. And you wouldn’t believe the amount of drink a funeral required.” 
Dale Potter-Clark is a consultant for Readfield Historical Society, coordinator of Readfield History Walks and author of several historical monographs and books. Her family is 10 generations deep in Readfield SO she has loved learning about Readfield’s history for as long as she can remember.  Clark spends most days (and sometimes nights) researching Readfield history. She shares some of her findings at presentations such as these and via several historical blogs and websites. She also writes special articles for local newspapers and for Discover Maine Magazine.
TO REGISTER: The class will be held at Maranacook Community School on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee is $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 visit http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #26 ~ Factory Square & Beans' Mills Revisited ~ May 15, 2015

We last walked Factory Square and Bean’s Mills in October 2013. Since then a great deal of information has been discovered and many facts that were unknown in 2013 have come into focus. Please join us for an informative jaunt from Gile Hall, through Craig’s Mills, onto Factory Square, and up Old Kents Hill Road to Bean’s Mills. There are many homes and remains of buildings and dams that were connected to both Mills. If you missed Dale Potter-Clark’s March presentation about early industry in Readfield (Maranacook Adult and Community Ed) then this is a great chance to learn some of what was shared. Meet 10:00am at the parking lot at Gile Hall at 10am. Bring a sandwich and wear good walking shoes. NOTE: To see pictures of the previous History Walk (#13) on Factory Square and Beans' Mills see the slideshow in the right column.