Readfield History Walk #29 ~ Case Cemetery, Tour of North Manchester Meeting House, Hike into Shedd Pond ~ Friday October 2, 2015

This is a repeat of history walk #10 - new information has been discovered

since then that will be of interest!

We will begin 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 will also see the entrance to Case Road which was long ago discontinued. 

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

Case built his log cabin 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. From there we will go 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. A monograph researched and written by Dale Potter Clark will be available to walkers on the day of this event for a donation.  Donations will be applied to the Readfield Museum in the Streets project. Follow this link to read more about the monograph, titled Rev. Isaac Case, a biography. 

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.
UPDATES: 
1) Some members of Manchester Historical Society will be joining us and have invited walkers to the Manchester Grange Hall after the walk where we can eat our sandwiches and also view the temporary historical display put up specially for the Manchester Autumn Apple Festival. The display includes 19th century Manchester farm artifacts, Civil War memorabilia and much more.
2) A special invitation to this history walk has been extended to the East Winthrop Baptist Church since that church is an 1823 "spin-off" of Rev. Isaac Case's church.
3) Also joining us will be ancestors of John Day. They are coming in from Minnesota and Delaware for a family heritage tour and this walk was planned to coincide with their visit. FYI - John Day and his wife are also buried in Case Cemetery.