Readfield History Walk #29 ~ Case Cemetery, Tour of North Manchester Meeting House, Hike into Shedd Pond ~ Friday October 2, 2015

This is a repeat of history walk #10 - new information has been discovered

since then that will be of interest!

We will begin at Case Cemetery, Route 17, East Readfield where Rev. Isaac Case built the East Readfield Baptist Church in 1793. The church was moved to North Manchester in 1839. When Rev. Case died in 1852 he was buried on the spot where his pulpit once was. His wife Joanna and son Elisha are on the same plot. In 1905 the Baptist Conference of Maine had a tablet memorial erected on that same spot, and it is still there. We will also see the entrance to Case Road which was long ago discontinued. 

Most of the Colonial features inside of
North Manchester Meeting House are intact.
The numbered pews have "gates" on every one.

Case built his log cabin on Case Road in 1795 and though it was located near the East Winthrop line he built it so he could see his church from his home. From there we will go to the North Manchester Meeting House for a tour. The church is still active though non-denominational now rather than Baptist. Then on to hike into nearby Shedd Pond. A monograph researched and written by Dale Potter Clark will be available to walkers on the day of this event for a donation.  Donations will be applied to the Readfield Museum in the Streets project. Follow this link to read more about the monograph, titled Rev. Isaac Case, a biography. 

If you wish to be placed on the History Walks email  list to receive all of our updates please send your request to crossings4u@gmail.com.
UPDATES: 
1) Some members of Manchester Historical Society will be joining us and have invited walkers to the Manchester Grange Hall after the walk where we can eat our sandwiches and also view the temporary historical display put up specially for the Manchester Autumn Apple Festival. The display includes 19th century Manchester farm artifacts, Civil War memorabilia and much more.
2) A special invitation to this history walk has been extended to the East Winthrop Baptist Church since that church is an 1823 "spin-off" of Rev. Isaac Case's church.
3) Also joining us will be ancestors of John Day. They are coming in from Minnesota and Delaware for a family heritage tour and this walk was planned to coincide with their visit. FYI - John Day and his wife are also buried in Case Cemetery. 

DATES FOR FALL 2015 HISTORY WALKS ANNOUNCED!!

Walks will be held on Fridays again this fall - save the dates below. All walks are 10am-12noon. Bring a sandwich if you wish to share lunch with other walkers afterwards. Wear sturdy shoes and a walking stick is recommended.
SAVE THESE FOUR DATES:


#29 October 2nd: Case Cemetery and North Manchester Meeting House; followed by a hike into Shedd Pond. This is a repeat of history walk #10 with some added info. Some members of Manchester Historical Society will be joining us and have invited us to the Manchester Grange Hall after the walk where we can eat our sandwiches and also view the temporary historical display put up specially for the Manchester Apple Festival. The display includes 19th century Manchester farm artifacts, Civil War memorabilia and much more. East Winthrop Baptist Church has received a special invitation as well since that church is an 1823 "spin-off" of Rev. Isaac Case's church. Also joining us will be ancestors of John Day who are coming in from Minnesota and Delaware and will join us. John Day and his wife a buried in Case Cemetery and lived in the part of Readfield that later became Manchester. A monograph researched and written by Dale Potter Clark will be available on the day of this event for a donation, which will be applied to the Readfield “Museum in the Streets” fund managed by Readfield Historical Society. Follow this link to read more about the monograph, titled Rev. Isaac Case, a biography. 
#30 October 16th: Fogg and Ladd Homesteads. Dudley Fogg and Simeon Ladd, Jr. settled in Readfield about the same time - circa 1805 - on adjacent farms. In 1917 the two families also "joined" when Sam Fogg married Inez Turner daughter of Fred & Lydia (Ladd) Turner. The Ladd farmhouse no longer stands but the Fogg one does. We will enjoy the splendor of autumn colors from the Fogg Homestead, and a hike through the Fogg Farm Conservation Area and on to where the Ladd homestead once sat. Meet no later than 10am at Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road, and we will caravan from there. Of note - Simeon Ladd's 2nd wife was Lydia Whittier, whose family homestead we will visit next time (see #31 below).
#31 October 30th: Whittier homesteads and Quimby Bog on North Road. In Readfield's earliest days the North Road was called "Whitcher Road" - the early spelling and pronunciation for Whittier. Moses Whittier and his sons Moses, Jr. Josiah and Beniah settled a significant piece of land in that area of town and two original "Whitcher" homesteads are still standing and very much lived in. Of note - Moses, Sr's daughter Lydia's second marriage was to Simeon Ladd, Jr. in 1821 (see #30 above). Plans are still evolving for this History Walk so stay tuned.
#32 November 13th: Readfield Corner to include tours of Dr. Samuel Currier house (Community Library); Lafayette Masonic Lodge; and the old Readfield Grange Hall, where we will eat lunch. Details will be announced about where we will park and begin.
We will be announcing locations / subjects for all the fall 2015 Readfield History Walks soon. Check back here FMI as plans evolve. You can also request email reminders be sent directly to you by sending your name and email address to crossings4u@gmail.com.
We also entertain suggestions for locations / subjects - although there is no guarantee that we can satisfy all requests we will try.

History Walk #28 at Readfield Corner ~ SATURDAY, August 8, 2015

A special Readfield History Walk will be held on SATURDAY morning August 8^th from 10am to 12noon during Readfield Heritage Days. Walk leaders will be Dale Potter-Clark, Readfield History Walks Coordinator; Milt Wright, Readfield Trails Committee; and William Adams, Readfield Corner Historian. Adams and Potter-Clark are researching for a future publication about all the old houses in Readfield and the people who lived in them. Thus far they have researched more than one-hundred fifty buildings throughout town.

Included on this History Walk will be the new pathway that leads from the Community Library to Union Meeting House, and parts of the Old Fairgrounds Trail. Also, lower Church Road and Main Street from Gile Hall to the Old Fairgrounds trailhead on route 17. Walkers will make some brief stops to learn about some of the oldest and more intriguing homes. Bill Adams will be stationed at Readfield Corner center, where a major fire occurred in 1921, and where many businesses have come and gone since the late 1700s. The Judge Emery O. Beane house circa1850 will be open for tours along the way.

Meet at Gile Hall, 8 Old Kents Hill Road by 10am. There is no fee for the walk although some of Potter-Clark and Adam’s research will be available in a specially produced booklet for a minimum donation of $20. The 40+ page booklet includes three (of the nine) maps Adams has created that portray the evolution of Readfield Corner since pre-1799. Also included are dozens of pictures and information about the old homes and buildings at Readfield Corner; excerpts from Ernest “Tink” Rolfe’s oral history done by Potter-Clark in 1987 – including his memories of Readfield Fire Department and another big fire that occurred at Readfield Corner in 1934; and information about the Old Fairgrounds and development at the north end of Lake Maranacook. Booklet profits will benefit a project to purchase and install historical site markers throughout Readfield.*** If you are unable to attend and wish to purchase a booklet you can do so online and have it mailed to you or email crossings4u@gmail.com to make arrangements.

*** After expenses the income from this booklet will be applied to the "Readfield Historical Site Markers" fund. Your tax-deductible donation towards the Readfield Historical Site Markers fund are welcome at any time. Checks should be made out to Readfield Historical Society with a notation it is designated for the historical site markers. Mail to: Readfield Historical Society PO Box 354 Readfield, ME 04355 attn: Mary Jernigan, Treasurer

Readfield Heritage Days ~ August 7-8, 2015

Activities for those with historical interest are listed below. For info about all the activities scheduled for that weekend follow this link.

Friday, August 7th 5-7pm: Readfield Historical Society annual Wine & Cheese
At the Readfield Historical Society and Museum, Main Street, Readfield Depot
Wine & cheese ~ sausages ~ finger foods ~ non-alcoholic beverages ~ sweets  
Free to members. New members welcome at the door for a $10 annual dues fee 

Saturday, August 8th 10am-12noon: Readfield History Walk #28 of Readfield Corner
Meet at Gile Hall on Old Kents Hill Road by 10am. Included on this History Walk will be the new trail that leads from the Community Library to Union Meeting House, and part of the Old Fairgrounds Trail, Church Road and Main Street. Brief stops will be made along the way to learn about some of the oldest homes, and at Readfield Corner center where a major fire occurred in 1921 and many businesses have come and gone since the late 1700s. The historic Judge Emery O. Bean house circa1850 will also be included on the tour. There is no fee but participants are encouraged to get the 40 page booklet specially prepared for this history walk for a minimum $20 donation. Proceeds to benefit the Readfield Historical Markers fund. Booklets can also be purchased online.
Saturday, August 8th 8am-2pm: 6th annual Antique Car Show

Maranacook Community School hosted by Strictly Street Car Club 

Held annually to benefit the Ricky Gibson Football Scholarship fund. FMI contact

Saturday, August 8th 10am-2pm: Readfield Historical Society open to visitors
Summer hours are every Thursday and Saturday 10am-2:00pm and by appointment. Contact Flo Drake at (207) 685-4662 or email her at the address below to make special arrangements.
Saturday, August 8th 8am-2pm: Union Meeting House open for tours and a yard sale
Located on Church Road, this building is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and boasts beautiful trompe l'oeil art, windows with unique stenciled and stained glass as well as many original features.

Saturday, August 8th: Jesse Lee Methodist Meeting House

Open house from 1:00-2:00pm 

Located on Main St. East Readfield (corner of Plains Road and route 17)

Dedicated in 1795 Jesse Lee Meeting House in East Readfield is New England's oldest Methodist church to be in continuous use.   

Enjoy:
Free watermelon on the lawn;
archival documents & memorabilia on display;
items for sale. 

Christina Misner Rao at the piano 
"Rev. Jesse Lee" to help answer questions.
Dale Potter-Clark, Readfield Historical Consultant to answer questions about East Readfield village, "the Vanished Village" 

Readfield Heritage Days: Karen Dube, Chairperson ~ reportn14@aol.com
Readfield History Walks: Dale Potter-Clark, Coordinator ~ crossings4u@gmail.com
Readfield Historical Society: Flo Drake, President ~ readfieldhistorical@gmail.com
Union Meeting House: John Perry, Board of Directors ~ jmpgmp@myfairpoint.net
Jesse Lee Meeting House, Readfield United Methodist Church: office@readfieldumc.org 

The Evolution of Summer Resorts and Kids’ Camps in Readfield ~ June 17, 2015

By Dale Potter-Clark and Charlie Day
The railroad passed through Readfield in 1849 and summer visitors soon started to flock here, via the trains, to enjoy the peace and solitude of our lakes and woods.  Attendees will learn about the locations and evolvement of some summer resorts and kids’ camps in Readfield and the immediate area on Maranacook, Echo, Lovejoy and Torsey Lakes. Participants are encouraged to bring pictures and share memories. The class will be held at Maranacook Community School on Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm. Registration fee is $15.  To register contact Maranacook Adult and Community Education Phone: 207-685-4923 x 1065 or Register online using a debit or credit card. For details and to view all classes go to http://maranacook.maineadulted.org.

READFIELD HISTORY WALK #27 ~ Kamp Peacock (Dixon's Camps) ~ June 12, 2015

Located on the east shore of Lake Maranacook, Kamp Kiwanacook was founded by Readfield attorney Ellsworth E. Peacock in 1925 as a summer boys camp for children of Kiwanians. He later changed it to housekeeping cottages and called it Kamp Peacock. The last to operate this complex were the Dixons', who sold the buildings to individual parties. All buildings are privately owned today but many of the original cabins remain. This location is known today as Lazy Loon Shores.

As always, wear good walking shoes and bring a sandwich. MEET at the parking lot across the road from Readfield Historical Society NO later than 10:00am and we will car pool from there.

Hoping for great weather so we can enjoy eating our lunches near beautiful Lake Maranacook's shore. Much thanks to Rita Bouchard for hosting this History Walk.

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.