After a 20 months lapse, due to COVID, we are finally planning some History Walks for this spring. We are still working on details but in the meantime, mark your calendars for these dates. We will be announcing details for both as they are confirmed. Please remember to bring a face mask.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
JESSE LEE CHURCH and EAST READFIELD CEMETERY MAY (#57)
Friday, May 21st 10 a.m.-12 noon To begin, meet by 10 a.m. at Jesse Lee Church on the corner of Plains Road and Main St. (route 17) in East Readfield. History Walkers will first visit the inside of the Jesse Lee Church while learning more about its history. From there they will walk across Plains Road to visit the graves of some of those early residents who helped build the church, and to place American flags on the graves of Readfield veterans in observance of Memorial Day.
Jesse Lee Meeting House was dedicated in 1795 and is named in honor of the Methodist missionary who had traveled from Virginia by horseback into this back country two years prior. As Lee preached at the cabin of Nathaniel Whittier in 1793, to Whittier and several other early settlers, he suggested they build a meeting house and the settlers immediately set their hands and hearts to doing so. They built it on the 5 acre "Bowdoin Lot" that had been set aside in the 1791 town plan/survey, for the addition of a house of worship, a school and a militia ground was also located on the Bowdoin Lot. Today, Jesse Lee is the oldest Methodist Church in New England, to have remained in continuous use as a house of worship.
Meet at Jesse Lee Church on the corner of Plains Road and Main St (route 17) by 10 a.m. Walking is on level ground or slight incline in some places, with stops along the way, for about half a mile. In case of rain, postponement will be announced by 8 a.m. on the Readfield Historical Society Facebook page; on this website; and via email for those who are on our email list. To be added to that list send your request to crossings4u@gmail.com.
THE 1921 FIRE AT READFIELD CORNER (#58)
Friday, June 11th 10 a.m.-12 noon On June 11, 1921 a devastating fire destroyed nearly every building at Readfield Corner. Dale Potter-Clark and Bill Adams will co-lead this walk, sharing photos and pointing out the locations that were impacted. They will also share some stories about that fateful day including the home and businesses that were lost. The Masonic Block was an important presence in town then as it is today and the Masons began rebuilding two short months after the fire which inspired others to do the same. The Masonic Hall will be open for those who wish to see it, at the culmination of the Walk and a historic site marker will be dedicated in remembrance of that day 100 years ago. Meet in the parking lot behind the Masonic Block (U.S. Post Office) by 10 a.m. We will be walking from there around the center of town - all walking is on level ground or slight incline in some places, with stops along the way, for about half a mile. In case of rain, the postponement of this walk will be made by 8:00 a.m. on this page; on the Readfield Historical Society facebook page and via email for those who are on our email list (to be added to the email list send a request to crossings4u@gmail.com)
Watch for future announcements about these History Walks on this web site, in local media outlets, and on the Readfield Historical Society facebook page. If you wish to be added to the history walks email list send your request to crossings4u@gmail.com.
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