SPRING 2017 READFIELD HISTORY WALKS ANNOUNCED!!

We do not customarily request “reservations” but we would like to get a sense of how many folks plan to participate in two of the walks below. If you plan to come to History Walks #40 and / or #41 below please email Dale at crossings4u@gmail.com.

 

There is no charge for any of the Readfield History Walks. Donations to Readfield Historical Society are gratefully received.

 

NOTE!! THIS HISTORY WALK HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO MAY 12TH, SAME TIME, SAME PLACE
#39 Readfield History Walk

Friday, April 28, 2017            10am - 12noon

“Readfield Corner the Fires of 1921 & 1934”

For this walk we will meander through Readfield Corner to envision it through different eyes.

Stories will be shared about what happened when the devastating fires of 1921 and 1934 occurred, some of the people who were affected, and hear about what structures was there before the fires. Meet at Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road, by 10am.

 

#40 Readfield History Walk

Friday, May 19, 2017 10am - 12noon  

"Finding Three Readfield Governors”

We have been asked this question so many times: “Jonathan Hunton is buried in Readfield but where are Readfield’s other three governors buried?” In this History Walk, you will find out. The “other three governors” were Jonathan Hubbard, Anson P. Morrill and Lot M. Morrill.

Walkers meet at Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road by 10:00am. From there we will caravan to the Hallowell Village Cemetery to “visit” Gov. Hubbard. From there the caravan will proceed to Augusta to “visit” the Morrill brothers. Additional Readfield historical tidbits will be shared at both cemeteries. Those who wish to start at Hallowell Village Cemetery, rather than caravanning from Readfield, should be at the cemetery by 10:30am. (29 Water Street, next to Bolley’s Famous Franks)

 

#41 Readfield History Walk

Friday, June 16, 2017  10am - 12noon

“The Underground Railroad: Rev. David Thurston and the Metcalf Neighborhood”

Rev. David Thurston served the Winthrop Congregational Church 1807-1851. His anti-slavery views and efforts began in the 1820s and the Underground Railroad route was established through Winthrop due to his advocacy. In 1833 he was a delegate at the founding convention of the American Anti-Slavery Society in Philadelphia and helped draft their “Declaration of Sentiments”. In 1837 he took a year’s leave from the church in order to serve as agent of the Society. He was in demand as a speaker on their “circuit” and over time became more and more assertive that his congregation should hold his views on slavery but some of his Whig Party parishioners did not agree and because of that he was finally asked to resign after 44 years of serving their church. After that he wrote the first History of Winthrop in 1855, various papers on religion, temperance and anti-slavery; and preached in Vassalboro, Sidney, Searsport and finally in Litchfield where he died in 1865. He is burial is Metcalf Cemetery, Winthrop.

This History Walk will include some driving as well as walking. Details about where to meet and other details will be announced at a later date. Our thanks to the Winthrop Historical Society for partnering with us for this History Walk.