Readfield Historical Society Season Opening & Farms Heritage Calendars Sale ~ May 23-24, 2015

Readfield Historical Society is kicking off the summer season May 23-24th. Evelyn Potter and Bev Norton-Newton will be the hosts / docents on duty for the weekend 10am-2pm both days. Evelyn and Dale Potter-Clark will be on hand all weekend to sell the Farm Heritage Calendars they created to benefit RHS and in honor of Readfield's 225th anniversary. The calendars are $10 each AND 100% of proceeds go to RHS! 

Readfield Historical Society is open 10AM to 2PM Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the summer.

Early Religion and Preachers in Readfield ~ May 20, 2015

Maranacook Adult and Community Education ~ May 20th ~ 6:30-8:30pm
Instructors: Dale Potter-Clark and Libby Doak
DESCRIPTION: Readfield was settled years ahead of the War of Independence and before the US Constitution assured religious freedom. In those days the Congregational Church and Puritan lifestyle still prevailed. It was not long, however, before Baptist, Methodist and other evangelists and missionaries came into this backcountry and converted many of our fair residents. Still later the Universalists appeared. Early Readfield became a hot bed of free thinkers, movers and shakers.
PART ONE: Libby Doak will share information about New England Pilgrims and Puritans and the influences they had over society in general. She will share examples of how the Puritan Church governed every aspect of life - including where and how funerals and burials were conducted. She will also tell what other religions had to lose by bucking the Puritan Church.
PART TWO: Dale Potter-Clark will share information about the coming of early religions in Readfield which was on the missionary circuit in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Methodists, Baptists, Universalists and even the Shakers impacted Readfield in its earliest days
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Libby Doak was very well received when she led a Readfield History Walk last fall. She and her friend Sharon Burns have been recording, cleaning and restoring old cemeteries in Chelsea, ME for several years which led them into fascinating finds. Libby is a very entertaining as well as informative speaker. “This will be a pretty informal presentation”, said Doak. “I love trivia like why cemeteries are fenced and why ministers often had dozens of pairs of gloves. And you wouldn’t believe the amount of drink a funeral required.” 
Dale Potter-Clark is a consultant for Readfield Historical Society, coordinator of Readfield History Walks and author of several historical monographs and books. Her family is 10 generations deep in Readfield SO she has loved learning about Readfield’s history for as long as she can remember.  Clark spends most days (and sometimes nights) researching Readfield history. She shares some of her findings at presentations such as these and via several historical blogs and websites. She also writes special articles for local newspapers and for Discover Maine Magazine.
TO REGISTER: The class will be held at Maranacook Community School on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee is $15 will help fund historical site markers in Readfield.  To register contact Maranacook Adult and Community Education Phone: 207-685-4923 x 1065 or Register online using a debit or credit card visit http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #26 ~ Factory Square & Beans' Mills Revisited ~ May 15, 2015

We last walked Factory Square and Bean’s Mills in October 2013. Since then a great deal of information has been discovered and many facts that were unknown in 2013 have come into focus. Please join us for an informative jaunt from Gile Hall, through Craig’s Mills, onto Factory Square, and up Old Kents Hill Road to Bean’s Mills. There are many homes and remains of buildings and dams that were connected to both Mills. If you missed Dale Potter-Clark’s March presentation about early industry in Readfield (Maranacook Adult and Community Ed) then this is a great chance to learn some of what was shared. Meet 10:00am at the parking lot at Gile Hall at 10am. Bring a sandwich and wear good walking shoes. NOTE: To see pictures of the previous History Walk (#13) on Factory Square and Beans' Mills see the slideshow in the right column. 

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #25 ~ MAY 1, 2015 ~ KENTS HILL VILLAGE AND PACKARD'S CORNER

Kents Hill Village and “Packard’s Corner”, May 1, 2015, 10a.m. - 1:00p.m. (note to 1p.m. this time)

Kents Hill village began well before 1800 with the building of homes, a meeting house, store, blacksmith shop, school and a parsonage at “Packard’s Corner”. After Maine Wesleyan Seminary opened its doors, in 1821, most of the activity and settlement shifted towards the Seminary. In 1835 a new meeting house was built at its present location (Torsey Memorial Church), but the current parsonage did not become such until 1882. By then Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College had the commanding presence in Kents Hill village and the early settlement at “Packard’s Corner” became all but lost and forgotten. Join us to learn more – and of some interesting information that has recently been unearthed through Dale’s research. A tour of Torsey Memorial Church and Kents Hill School campus is also part of this history walk. Nancy Russell, direct descendant of Luther Sampson (founder of KHS) will accompany us on the walk and help at various locations as tour guide. Kents Hill School is graciously making special accommodations for us. Our first history walk of 2015 promises to be a very special one indeed!
THE PLAN: Meet at Torsey Church at 10:00am – come on inside where we will do our introductions and to see the inside of the church. Then we will walk to the east end of the village (as far as Torsey View House); then return westerly to Kents Hill School campus to meet a KHS representative in front of Jollity Manse (old infirmary, which is now admin building), and from there a tour of KHS campus then lunch at Masterman Union. Bring a sandwich and / or Kents Hill School is offering us salad, soup, desserts and drinks in their dining hall, for those who wish. Folks will return to their cars (in Torsey Church parking lot) at their own leisure with a list of early Kents Hill village and School people in hand, who are buried there, and can explore the cemetery on their own as wish that day or at a later time.
Will be a GREAT day!! Plan on end time of 1:00pm that day if you wish to do it all. Remember, we have a rain date "policy" and if bad weather I will post that on Facebook, send an email to the History Walkers email list, and post it on this web site early the morning of the scheduled walk. BUT it is NOT going to rain (or snow ;-) )

SAVE THESE DATES FOR SPRING 2015

Click on the links below to read more about any of the eight historical presentations and events listed below!

1) Monday, April 13th 10:00-11:30am
by Dale Potter-Clark, A Senior Café presentation
The Beans of Readfield, Maine
2) Wednesday, April 15th 6:30-8:30pm
Living, Working and Socializing in 19th Century Readfield
by Dale Potter-Clark, a Maranacook Community and Adult Ed presentation
3) Friday, May 1^st  10:00am-12:00noon Readfield History Walk #25
Kents Hill Village and Packard's Corner
4) Friday, May 15^th  10:00am-12:00noon Readfield History Walk #26
Factory Square and Beans' Mills Revisited 
5) Wednesday, May 20th 6:30-8:30pm
Early Religion and Preachers in Readfield
by Dale Potter-Clark and Libby Doak, a Maranacook Community and Adult Ed presentation
6) Sat. & Sun., May 23 & 24th 10:00am-2:00pm Readfield Historical Society 
Calendars commemorating Readfield's 225th anniversary and Farm Heritage
Researched and created by charter members Evelyn Adell Potter and Dale Potter-Clark, to benefit RHS, more than two dozen farms are featured and many pictures from families' private collections. Both Evelyn and Dale will be on hand to meet and greet visitors, to accept questions and to sell these calendars . Be sure to follow the link above to learn more about the calendars. Cost is $10.00 each until gone. They can be ordered ahead and mailed for additional S&H cost. FMI or to request one by mail please email Evelyn.
7) Friday, June 12^th10:00am-12:00noon Readfield History Walk
Kamp Peacock, later known as Dixon's Camps on Lake Maranacook
8) Wednesday, June 17th 6:30-8:30pm 
The Evolution of Summer Resorts and Kids' Camps in Readfield
by Dale Potter-Clark and Charlie Day, a Maranacook Community and Adult Ed presentation

The Beans of Readfield, Maine ~ A presentation at Senior Cafe, Marancook School

The Beans of Readfield, Maine 

Monday, April 13, 2015, 9:30-11:00am 

The Beans were significant landowners, manufacturers and farmers in Readfield from  1780 until well into the 19^th century. Their mills and farms were concentrated on and around Thundercastle Road, but some lived at Readfield Corner, on Kents Hill and near Readfield Depot too. At one time Torsey Pond was called Joel Bean’s Pond and nearby was another small mill pond called Bean’s mill pond. They built many beautiful stonewalls, dams and foundations that have endured for two centuries. In spite of their significant presence and contributions the Bean name is nearly obscure in Readfield today. Come to “The Beans of Readfield, Maine”and learn how the Beans helped form, develop and populate our town.

Instructor: Dale Potter Clark

Living, Working and Socializing in 19th Century Readfield ~ April 15, 2015

Presenter: Dale Potter-Clark
Time: April 15, 2015; 6:30-8:30pm
19^th century Readfield had four distinct centers that included industries, churches, schools, hotels and farms; after 1850 lakeside resorts and camps began to emerge. Readfield is known as the home of four Maine governors but there is much more to tell. Dale Potter-Clark, Consultant for Readfield Historical Society, will present a two hour slide show and stories that give insights into the lives of Readfield people 1850 -1900. FMI about other upcoming historical presentations and events visit www.readfieldhistorywalks.blogspot.com


This presentation will be held at Maranacook Community School on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee is $15 will help fund historical site markers in Readfield.  To register contact Maranacook Adult and Community Education (MACE) Phone: 207-685-4923 x 1065 or Register online using a debit or credit card. For details and to view all MACE classes go to http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.