Leeds Historical Society: Projects

Projects

Old Houses Project | Veteran's | Cemeteries |

2008 Update
Like everyone over the past year we’ve looked for cost cutting measures. Though we had our largest expenditure in reroofing the History Center this year, we’ve also managed to keep our other costs to a minimum and still keep the level of programming and activities high. Thanks for the continued support.

Additions to our Collection:
Faith Burnham compiled and donated her labor of love scrapbook on the old Brick Schoolhouse during the time Irene Alden taught there, 1931-1945. It is filled with thoughtfully arranged photographs and memorabilia. Faith also organized a reunion with Irene and some of her students before donating it.

William Gould of Plymouth, MA added a 1817 Leeds Quaker-related letter fragment that mentions some Deane and possibly Whitney ancestors.

Pat and Bill Flewelling donated three items of Dr. Russell memorabilia.

Eileen Coyne added a recording of Guy Buckley, among others, speaking about farming
during the 1940’s.

Books added: (contact me if interesting in seeing any of these)
Ruth Thompson gave our collection three Civil War related books in memory of her husband, Gerald Thompson – The Civil War Recollections of General Ellis Spear, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg by General Abner Doubleday, and the Life of Wm. Tecumseh Sherman
Pam Bell donated a book of Alden Grant’s paintings and we purchased a copy of
A Happy Abundance: Tales, Memoirs and More – Past and Present in Wayne, Maine

Highlights of our activities:
Our greatest expense this year, and hopefully for a very long time, was the Reroofing project for the History Center. A necessity to house our growing collection, Richard Ryan of R.P.C. Construction came in with the lowest bid and did a super job. It was our pleasure to resurrect the practice of honoring the eldest in our community with the presentation of a replica of the original Boston Cane and that distinction fell to Evelyn Coolidge on her 100th birthday this past May. Look for the framed photograph of the jubilant Evelyn receiving the cane from Charlie Barker as well as the mounted original cane next time you’re in the Town Office - just to the right of the door as you leave.

Besides finishing the transcription of all eleven diaries of John Young Merrill and producing a CD of them this past year, we presented a well-attended program in October titled Leeds in the Mid-1800’s as seen through the 1855-1865 diaries. Thanks to the many of you who came and contributed to a most enjoyable evening. Look for more upcoming programs from us based on these rich historical records.

In the continuing effort to preserve and add to the Peace Monument, we’ve been fundraising for a flagpole. Our kickoff Flag Day event was made special with the participation of Walter Howard and his family from North Berwick and their gift of a flag which will be the first to fly up on Monument Hill. We are endebted to the Masonic Charity Foundation and the local Asylum Lodge for their very generous support. Thanks to Charlie Barker for advocating on our behalf.

We even have 5th and 6th grade students at LCS initiating fundraising for the flagpole at the most recent Family Dance. They were inspired to join the effort after a walk up Monument Hill and a talk to them about the Howard Brothers and Leed’s participation in the Civil War given by Richard Fochtmann this past fall. These contributions plus money we’ve raised from the Westerwald pottery orders and small donations puts us within striking distance of our goal.

Thanks to those who attended and contributed to the Veteran’s Day program this year, especially Pat Flewelling who honored Tyler Smith, a native son killed in Iraq, with heartfelt words and a stone plaque at the Memorial.

In the ongoing work of creating a database of information on all Leeds citizen through time, we wish to thank Faith Burnham for all her work in the process of digitizing former Postmaster Albert S. Bryant's massive typewritten files of Leeds' cemeteries, veterans, and genealogy of Leeds' first century citizens We also want to thank Thelma Waite & Alice Murphy for their update of the Leeds Center Cemetery, and Marilyn Burgess for the update of the West Leeds Cemetery.

Thelma Waite is putting the final touches on a chronology of firefighting in Leeds compiled from Town reports and help with details from the current crew of firefighters. Look for it on our web site by late May – http://www.avcnet.org/lhs

-- Laura Juraska, president of Leeds Historical Society