READFIELD HISTORY WALKS #43, #44, #45 ~ FALL 2017 (#44 UPDATED 10/15/2017)

All history walks will begin at 10am and last until approximately noon. All are welcome, there is no charge. See below for locations and where to meet.

Mark your calendars for:

#43. Friday, September 29th ~ 65 Nickerson Hill Road, Readfield
Saunders Manufacturing; Saunders' family heritage; Rosmarin-Saunders Family Forest
Meet in Saunders Manufacturing parking lot, 65 Nickerson Hill Road by 10am.
Saunders Manufacturing was founded in East Winthrop by Harry (A.H.) Saunders, his wife Edith and son Joe in 1947. A year later they bought a farm at 65 Nickerson Hill Road, from Harry's mother Sarah, and moved themselves and the business there. Over the years the business grew, as did their land holdings.
Research reveals that members of the Saunders family has a rich heritage in manufacturing and some have even had a hand in helping to build some internationally famous historic landmarks. Attend this History Walk to learn more.
In November, 2016 342 acres of the land from Saunders Manufacturing was donated to the Kennebec Land Trust. From Saunders Manufacturing, those who wish to, will join the group to enjoy one of the trails there, further west on Nickerson Hill Road.

#44. Friday, October 27th ~ Camp Kirkwold, 177 North Wayne Rd, Readfield

Camp Kirkwold has been a Girl Scout camp since 1952. It was founded as Camp Abenaki in 1919 by Dr. Emma Greene Wood, an osteopathic physician from New Jersey. She sold it to Marjorie Kirk of New York in 1927, who renamed it Camp Merrywold, meaning "happy world". She managed to keep it operating through the Great Depression era but when WWII and gas rationing struck she had to close the doors. After ten years of trying to sell it she eventually donated it to the Girl Scouts of Maine in 1952. The Girl Scout Council renamed it Kirkwold in Marjorie Kirk's honor. The caretaker, Berndt Graf, has agreed to open the gate for us so we can drive in as far as their parking lot, which is marked and obvious as you enter the campground. Gather at the parking lot by 10am and we will walk further into the grounds from there. Mr. Graf will have some photos and other historical memorabilia on display for us and will be available for answering questions about Kirkwold that we may have. Dale Potter-Clark will read from the chapter about the history of Kirkwold from her book "The Evolution of Summer Resorts and Kids' Camps on Four Lakes in Central Maine". You will enjoy seeing the historic lodge and some of the other buildings on “campus”. I hope you will be able to join us – this is a rare opportunity to see Kirkwold – and I bet some of you, or your daughters, attended Kirkwold as Girl Scouts and would enjoy seeing it again?

#45. Sat., Nov.11th ~ Readfield Corner Cemetery, Church Rd, Readfield
On this Veterans' Day join members of the community and "The Third Maine Infantry" Civil War re-enactors, complete with fife and drummers, as we honor those who have courageously served our country. Walkers will begin at Readfield Corner Cemetery at 10am when we will have a special remembrance in honor of members of the Third Maine who are buried there. From there all are invited to march, or walk, to Gile Hall for a closing ceremony in honor of all Veterans. More details will be coming at a later time, so stay tuned!