Readfield History Walk #50 ~ Veterans' Day March and Ceremony

This event will happen rain or shine. The current weather report says clear 9am to 12 noon tomorrow. Even if we get a little rain that is nothing compared to what our Veterans had to endure. Besides, we will have some delicious hot soup and coffee waiting for us at the Church on Kents Hill afterwards. SO COME OUT and join us!!



The 3rd Maine Infantry (Civil War re-enactors) marching from Readfield Corner
Cemetery during the  2017 event. More than 100 people followed by
foot and vehicles and will be invited to do the same again this year.

An event honoring all Veterans will be held in Readfield on Saturday Nov. 10^th in which the Third Maine Infantry (Civil War re-enactors) will participate. Members of Readfield’s Historical Society, Selectboard and United Methodist Church have planned the event.

 Participants should gather at the Readfield Corner Cemetery, Church Road by 10am, for a special remembrance of some Civil War soldiers whose memorials and graves are there. From the cemetery the Third Maine will lead the way to Asa Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road, for a closing ceremony at 11am, in honor of all Veterans. All are invited to march along or those who are not able to walk that far can follow in their vehicles. Cub Scouts Pack # 622 and Girl Scouts Troop # 1701 will also participate in the march and subsequent ceremony. The Third Maine will give two musket volleys along the way, at the cemetery and outside Gile Hall. 

Following the ceremony a free soup, bread and dessert luncheon will be served in Fellowship Hall at the Readfield United Methodist Church on route 17, Kents Hill. Capt. Matthew Bray and First Sergeant Robert Pierce of the Third Maine will give a presentation about the Regiment during that time as well.

All are welcome to join in for this special remembrance and honoring of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. To begin, at Readfield Corner Cemetery, parking is available at the Old Fairgrounds parking lot or in the north end of the cemetery. Please invite and / or bring Veterans you know. FMI email crossings4u@gmail.com. 

Readfield History Walk #49 ~ Whittier Cemetery and "W Corner"

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2018 10am-12noon
In this history we walk will walk "W Corner" and visit Whittier Cemetery on South Road (intersection South / Tallwood / Beaver Dam Roads). W Corner has been dubbed that by Readfield historian Dale Potter-Clark because in the earliest days of Readfield's history the Waugh, Whittier, White and Wyman families all lived there or in close proximity. The 1791 town meeting, when Readfield voted to separate from Winthrop was also held at one of the "W" farms. The Townsend Farm, Beaver Brook Tourist Home and Sir Charles Hotel (later known as Tallwood) were also in this neighborhood. Our guest host this time will be Bill Rourke, who resides on "W Corner" and has lived there for most of his life, as did his parents and grandparents. During his lifetime he has lived in Tallwood Farm, the Whittier homestead and Beaver Brook Farm. We will meet by 10am in the yard by Bill Rourke's barn off South Road. Contact crossings4u@gmail.com for directions if needed. No registration or fees, although donations to Readfield Museum in the Streets project fund c/o Readfield Historical Society are appreciated. Please mark your calendars for Oct. 5th, 2018 at 10am. You will not want to miss this one!

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #48 ~ Readfield Depot Village of Days Long Ago

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 2018 10:00am-12noon

Join us to learn some of what Readfield Depot village was like long ago. In those days the railroad depot was still present and trains, carrying passengers and cargo, stopped several times a day. There were stores, a post office, granary, taverns, blacksmiths, livery, sawmill, tenement house, school, church, several homes and more. Still later there was car dealership and garage in the center of the village. Vintage photos will be shown, stories shared - do feel welcome to come and share your own stories about Readfield Depot! A walking tour of the village will led by Dale Potter-Clark.

Meet at Readfield Historical Society, 759 Main St. by 10am.

No registration or fee. All ages are welcome. Donations gratefully received.

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #47 ~ Union Meeting House, then on to Readfield Corner Cemetery

Friday, June 15th 10am-12noon
Meet at Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road by 10am. PLEASE do not park directly in front of the building - leave those parking spots open for town hall patrons. There is also parking available in the grassy area on the opposite / south side of route 17, that is town property.


From Gile Hall we will walk up the sidewalk along Main St. to the Library pathway / trail and on to the Union Meeting House, Church Road where we will be given a guided tour by a UMH board member. While there we will take note of whose names are memorialized on the stained glass windows; then we will walk to Readfield Corner Cemetery to visit some of their gravesites and hear more about them.


No registration or fee necessary. All ages are welcome. If you are unable to walk the first leg, feel free to meet us at Union Meeting House, we should arrive there by about 10:30.

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #46 ~ FACTORY SQUARE

Friday, May 18, 2018 10am-12:00 noon

Meet at Readfield Town Office, 8 Old Kents Hill Road by 10am. Important!! Do not park in front of the building but leave those parking spots open for Town Office patrons. There is also parking available in the grassy area on the opposite side of route 17 / Main St.
From  Readfield Town Office we will walk to the lower dam, on Factory Square. There we will view the old lower dam (there were four at one time) and learn about recent efforts of the Readfield Trails and Conservation Committees to revive the area into a park like evironment. Jerry Bley will be on hand to talk about the grant that has been recently received, making it possible to complete the project. We will also walk the new trail, recently groomed by the Readfield Trails Committee, to an area that overlooks where the mill pond once existed. Also at that location is a rare 80ft American Chestnut tree that has gained national attention. There will be more, as time and people's interest warrant. Join us for this interesting tour. No charge or registration. All are welcome.

READFIELD HISTORY WALKS - SPRING 2018

Dates have been set for two spring walks.
Mark your calendars for:

#46     Friday, May 18^th 10am-12noon

#47     Friday, June 15^th 10am-12noon

Details will be coming soon!!