Gourmet Dinner to Benefit the Readfield Mill Stream Dam Restoration Project ~ May 22, 2016



Please contact Ann Keilty at tykel@myfairpoint.net (685-4303) or Jeanne Harris at jcharris51@yahoo.com (377-2299) to reserve a spot for this benefit..

Readfield History Walk #35 ~ Kents Hill village (part 2) ~ May 13, 2016

This will be a continuation of Kents Hill village part 1 (#34 done on 4/29/16). From the Torsey Church parking lot walkers will proceed west on Main Street to learn about the houses along the way and some of the early families who lived there, including an early Baptist missionary and a world famous artist. In addition to many historic homes in Kents Hill village there were at one time establishments such as Eaton School, Morse Music Conservatory and, of course, Russell’s Orchard. Artisans, a furniture maker, a silver smith, mercantiles and Moody’s Tavern all graced this part of Kents Hill village in days of yore.  We will also explore the Kents Hill Cemetery as time and interest allows. Bring a sandwich if you wish to share lunch with some of the Walkers after the walk is completed.
Meet by 10am at the Torsey Church parking lot on Kents Hill, Main Street. There is no charge for Readfield History Walks but donations are welcome to Readfield Historical Society, to help procure and install historical site markers in Readfield, a "Museum in the Streets". FMI contact Dale Potter Clark at crossings4u@gmail.com.

History Walk of Readfield Town Forest / Poor Farm & Macdonald Woods ~ Sat. May 7th, 1 p.m.

Next Saturday, May 7th, there will be a guided tour of the Readfield Town Forest (former Readfield Poor Farm) and the Macdonald Woods. This walk will be co-led by Milt Wright, former Readfield Trails Committee Chairperson, and Tim Sniffin, Readfield Conservation Committee member. The event is sponsored by the Kennebec Land Trust, which owns and manages Macdonald Woods.
Meet by 1p.m. at the designated parking area on Kents Hill Road in North Wayne (directions below). Walkers will proceed through woodland paths and discontinued roads, about 3 miles in length. Wear sturdy shoes and bring drinking water. A walking stick and insect repellent (ticks) is recommended. There are no longer any buildings on these properties but foundations of two old homesteads remain and will be viewed as well as the site of Readfield's District #6 school house. Remnants of an old, earthen dam and lumber cutting operation also remain on these properties. The ancient Huntoon Cemetery is on the route, where some town pauper graves are said to be buried, their graves marked with fieldstones. There were many more Readfield and North Wayne residents buried in this cemetery than is evident today, but most of the ancient slate gravestones have disappeared over time.
Readfield History Walks have covered this area twice in the past, #1 and #8 , so if you missed those here is your chance to take in a guided tour!
There is no charge for this walk.


DIRECTIONS below or follow this link http://www.tklt.org/macdonald:
From Kents Hill, route 17 to P Ridge Road; right onto Lane Road; at T intersection left onto North Wayne Road; at T intersection left onto Kents Hill Road. After about 1/2 mile you come to a large white Colonial home on the right, and the end of that part of this road that is accessible by auto. Park across the street from said house.
From North Wayne: From the dam on the south end of Lovejoy Pond in North Wayne village drive straight / east up the hill and keep going until you come to said house.


Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) works cooperatively with landowners and communities to conserve the forests, shore lands, fields, and wildlife that define central Maine. For more info about KLT and their various land holdings visit http://www.tklt.org/ 

Readfield History Walk #34 ~ Kents Hill Village (part 1 of 2) ~ April 29, 2016

Meet at the parking lot across from Torsey Methodist Church by 10am. We will walk to "Packard's Corner" and learn about the houses, buildings and some of the families who lived in them (between the church and Packard's Corner). Then, proceed up Packard Ridge Road (P Ridge) to learn about the Lane family and the site of the old Hackett farm and where Mattie Hackett was murdered in 1905.
We will also walk off the P Ridge road onto a short woods trail that leads us towards the Kents Hill School campus. On that trail walkers will be shown a patch of wildflowers in the orchid family that was placed on the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants in 1982. After the walk we will return to the church where Nancy Russell will have some soup prepared for all to enjoy. Bring a sandwich and anything else you wish to eat in addition or instead of the soup.


Part 2 of Kents Hill village will take place at Readfield History Walk #35 on May 13th so mark that date on your calendars and details of that walk will be announced soon!
No charge for Readfield History Walks but donations are welcome to Readfield Historical Society, to help procure and install historical site markers in Readfield, a "Museum in the Streets".

"Rise and Decline of Readfield Depot" ~ April 27, 2016 ~ Maranacook Adult & Community Ed

"The Rise and Decline of Readfield Depot" was changed from March 30th to April 27th. Time 6:30-8:30pm. At Maranacook Adult and Community Education, Maranacook High School, Millard Harrison Drive, Readfield. $20 per person or $15 if you bring a "buddy". Books with pictures and information about the coming of the railroad, many of the houses, businesses and people who have lived at "the Depot" over the decades will be available for $5 each on the night of the class. Proceeds from this class will help fund the creation and placement of historical site markers in Readfield.
To register for MACE classes call 207-685-4923 x 1065 or visit http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.
Read on to learn about spring 2016 Readfield History Walks.

• Friday, April 29, 10:00am-12:00noon History Walk at Kents Hill Village (Part I)
• Friday, May 13, 10:00am-12:00noon History Walk at Kents Hill Village (Part II)

Questions can be emailed to Dale at crossings4u@gmail.com.

Readfield History Walk #33 ~ Readfield Depot ~ April 15th

Well here it is – SPRING, and time to begin Readfield History Walks again. Imagine – this will be #33. Who would have guessed they would have caught on so well when we started these 3 ½ years ago!

On April 15^th we will be walking Readfield Depot and learning about the activity, businesses and railroad station that was once there. Walkers will also learn of the old homes and some of the families that lived in them. Meet at Readfield Historical Society (RHS) on Main Street no later than 10am on April 15^th. If you park across the street PLEASE do not block access to the business (in the old grain mill) next door and / or their ability to get to the vehicles parked behind their business / building.

Come inside the RHS where we will get started. We hope you will be understanding that the RHS is not officially open for the season yet so spring cleaning is not done. Nor is the water turned on nor is the bathroom "open for business". You will be welcome to look around nevertheless. There is no fee for Readfield History Walks but donations for the creation of Historical site markers, a "Museum in the Streets", in Readfield are gratefully received! FMI contact crossings4u@gmail.com.

Spring 2016 ~ READFIELD HISTORY ON THE MARCH…

Spring 2016 dates and subjects have been set for three Readfield History Walks and two Maranacook Adult and Community Education (MACE) classes. Read more about them below and mark your calendars.

To register for MACE classes call 207-685-4923 x 1065 or visit http://maranacook.maineadulted.org. There is no registration fee for Readfield History Walks, but donations to Readfield Historical Society for the Readfield “Museum in the Streets®” project are gratefully received. 

1. Friday, April 15, 10:00am-12:00noon History Walk at Readfield Depot

3. Wednesday, April 27, 6:30pm-8:30pm - MACE Rise & Decline of Readfield Depot

4. Friday, April 29, 10:00am-12:00noon History Walk at Kents Hill Village (Part I)

5. Friday, May 13, 10:00am-12:00noon History Walk at Kents Hill Village (Part II)

 

readfield depot: MORE BUILDINGS, Old Houses the People who lived there         

The rise and fall of Readfield Depot. When and why was it a buzzing community center?

By Dale Potter-Clark, Wednesday, April 27th (changed from March 30)

This class will include information about the old homes and buildings, past and present, in and around Readfield Depot; the evolution of Readfield Depot; some people who have lived there; and how the symbiotic relationship between Readfield Depot and summer residents helped boost Readfield’s economy and overall lakeside development. On the evening of the class booklets that contain house bios and photos from this section of town will be available for $5 each. Proceeds from registration fees will be applied towards creating a “Museum in the Streets® in Readfield. NOTE: All are welcome to attend a Readfield History Walk at Readfield Depot on Friday, April 15^th.

 

KENTS HILL: STILL MORE BUILDINGS, OLD HOUSES AND SOME PEOPLE WHO LIVED THERE  

When and how did Kents Hill village change from remote backcountry to a cultural and educational center?

By Dale Potter-Clark, PREVISOULY SCHEDULED FOR April 27 WILL BE DONE AT A LATER TIME

Before 1775 there were very few people living on “Kent’s Hill, so called, on the road from Hallowell” – the Packards, Foords and Kents were the first to stake their claims and buildings began to appear. The Packard men were housewrights so many were built by them. After the Revolutionary War others came. The most influential with a long lasting effect was Luther Sampson. From 1790 until 1824 a meeting house and parsonage, grammar school, store, cemetery and Methodist Seminary were established and the hilltop called Kents Hill evolved from a handful of family farms to a thriving cultural and educational center. In this class you will learn more about that evolution, hear more about those buildings and houses, and some of the people who lived there. On the evening of the class booklets that contain house bios and photos from this section of town will be available for $5 each. Proceeds from registration fees will be applied towards creating a “Museum in the Streets® in Readfield. NOTE: All are welcome to attend two Readfield History Walks at various parts of Kents Hill village on Friday, April 29^th and Friday, May 13^th.