Newsletter Spring 09 - Boothbay Region Historical Society

Chip Griffin, June 17
Boothbay Region Historical Society
Volume 22, Issue 1 Spring 2009
Summer Speaker Series
Our popular speaker series continues
this summer. The first talk, to be held at
4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, will be
given by Chip Griffin, Boothbay region
attorney and author of two books on
local history: Coming of Age on Damariscove
Island, Maine and I’m Different:
A Biography of Ethelyn Pinkham Giles.
Griffin will speak on “How Our Scots-
Irish Heritage Affects Us All Today in
Midcoast Maine.” He’ll trace the roots
and routes of the Scots-Irish settlers and
give his views on their positive and
negative influences.
In response to public demand, Bill
Wilson, U.S. Coast Guard Commander
(Ret.), will once again conduct a knottying
class for youth and adults. You
may wish to sign up early for this popular
event, scheduled for Wednesday,
July 22, at 2 p.m. Like last summer, the
event will be accompanied by a special
bake sale featuring elegant and everyday
treats prepared by the society’s highly
acclaimed cooks.
Several additional speakers have
agreed to talk at the museum this summer
or early fall, although specific dates
are not yet firm. Among them are: Colin
Woodard, author of The Lobster Coast
and The Republic of Pirates; and Alan
and Carol Fisher, who will speak in August
about the history of summer art
schools in the region. The Fishers also
would like to lead a field trip to view the
Portland Art Museum’s exhibit on the
same topic. Additional speakers, including
a prehistoric archaeologist, will be
announced as plans become firm.
Local Third Graders Visit
Emily Harrison’s third graders
Searching for Clues to Area History
Three groups of third graders from
Boothbay Region Elementary School
visited the museum in March to learn
about what a historical society is and
what kinds of materials they can expect
to find there. Students were asked
to think of the museum as a very special
library filled with interesting clues
to our region’s history.
As a group they examined a box of
clippings, pamphlets, photographs, and
artifacts, examples of donations that
the historical society receives on a
regular basis. They then evaluated
each item to determine if it should be
kept for the museum’s displays or archives or passed on to someone else. This helped
the students to see that even though something
was very “cool,” it may not suit our specific
subject requirements.
After this opening activity, students were
encouraged to tour the museum and look for
clues to our area’s history, and in many cases,
their own family history. Students were very
excited to see names they recognized. They
were especially intrigued by the towering
stacks of bound Boothbay Registers, the
smells of the fishing room, Robert Rice’s magnifying
tool, and the weaponry and military
artifacts on display.
The lesson ended with a closer examination
of materials from the research room: photographs,
account book boxes, newspapers, town
Kayla Lewis, Elizabeth Ham, Victoria Morin
reports, document boxes, and history files. Students were given a glimpse of the kinds
of skills a historian needs when using primary documents to learn about history.
Future collaborations between the third graders and the historical society are in the
works, says BRHS’s Deanne Tibbetts, who organized and led the project.
BRHS Annual Meeting
May 19 at 4 p.m.
Roger Duncan, a member of the BRHS board of trustees for more than 20 years, will
be the speaker at the society’s annual meeting, Tuesday, May 19, at 4 p.m. His topic
will likely be drawn from his many years of experience sailing along Maine’s coast
with his wife, Mary.
A brief business meeting, which will include a summary of society activities over
the past year and the election of officers and trustees for 2009-2010, will precede Duncan’s
talk. John McKown has been nominated for president. Nominated for re-election
are Steve Alley, vice president; Sally Bullard, secretary; and Sarah Giles, treasurer.
Richard Hodgdon, a member of the board of trustees since 2003, and Duncan, who
joined the board in 1988, are resigning their positions. Nominated to join the board are
Judy Eastwood and Jan Reit.
The meeting is open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

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Boothbay Region
President
Doreen Dun
Vice President
Stephen Alley
Secretary
Sally Bullard
Treasurer
Sarah Giles
Trustees
Roger Duncan
Dorothy Gregory
Philip Haselton
John Heyl
Dick Hodgdon
John McKown
Faith Meyer
Cathy Sherrill
Don Soler
Ronald Spofford
Margaret Voight
Trustees Emeriti
Alden Stickney
Bea Walker
Director
Barbara Rumsey
Administrative Assistant
Deanne Tibbetts
Newsletter Committee
Doreen Dun
Judy Eastwood
Jan Reit
Barbara Rumsey
Deanne Tibbetts
Margaret Voight
Hours of Operation:
Wed. through Sat.
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
72 Oak Street,
P.O. Box 272
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
04538
Phone:207-633-0820
Email: brhs@gwi.net
Web:boothbayhistorical.org
The BRHS is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit organization.
GWI KEEPS US
ONLINE
Great Works Internet
(GWI) generously
provides BRHS with
free online access, an
email account and
hosting of our website.
Thank you GWI!
Also, many thanks, as
always, to Bruce
Wood of Southport
and Maryland who
maintains and updates
our website.
Boothbay Region Historical Society
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
John McKown will step up to the presidency of the historical society in May. I think he will find that the
society is in pretty good shape. We have a record number of members, a history of solid financial support
from the membership and other generous donors, a loyal band of committed volunteers helping Barbara in
the “back room” and Deanne in the “office,” a valued group of trustees, and two new trustees whose willingness
to help and good advice already are much appreciated. Two long-wished-for innovations have
come to fruition in the past few months: (1) the acquisition of a good-sized shed, (see photo page 5) to
hold our supply of books for sale and other items, freeing up space in the museum for archival storage; (2)
the incorporation into our computer system of GiftWorks, a user-friendly database that will allow us to
more efficiently track membership, donations and mailing lists.
This summer we hope you will join us at two small-scale fundraisers: a special gourmet bake sale by
the renowned historical society cooking squadron, to be held on July 22 as an adjunct to Bill Wilson’s
popular knot-tying class, and at the sale of superb Vermont cheddar cheese to be held for the 37th year at
the Fall Foliage Festival in October. Also, our books are a major fundraiser; in addition to being available
at the museum, we sell them at fairs such as the Boothbay Region Land Trust’s Boat Builder’s Festival in
August, and the Fall Foliage Festival.
I hope you will show your ongoing appreciation and good will for the unique place that the historical
society occupies in the Boothbay region by supporting the above events and by attending, when you can,
the speaker series cum refreshments scheduled for the upcoming summer months.
As I step down from my two-year stint as president of the society, I want to express my heartfelt
thanks to everyone who helped make my job pleasant and worthwhile, especially to Deanne Tibbetts,
whose competence and commitment are inspiring; to Eleanor Alley, whose cheerful willingness to garner
great food offerings to accompany so many society events is immensely helpful; to Philip Haselton,
whose generosity has greatly aided the society, and to Barbara Rumsey, whose friendship and sound advice
have helped me avoid numerous pitfalls along the way.
Finally, a word or two about Dick Hodgdon and Roger Duncan, who are retiring from the board of
trustees, Dickie after six and Roger after 21 years: on behalf of Barbara and the board, I thank them both
for their constancy, their wise advice, and their loyalty to our society. We will miss them very much.
Publishing at the Society
The society's 25-year publishing history has been a fine fundraising source. In 1984, Bea Walker was instrumental
in the first reprinting of Greene's 1906 History of Boothbay, Southport, and Boothbay Harbor;
which had been out of print for many decades. Greene's was reprinted twice more, in 1986 and 1999. Also
in 1986, Rice's 1938 Shipping Days of Old Boothbay was reprinted.
Late board member Cecil Pierce suggested we reprint Goin' Fishin' by Wes Pierce, but the board felt
the probable expense was excessive. Fellow board member Roger Duncan was able to prevail on Tab
Books to reprint it at their expense in 1990, and we benefited from that printing; that book is now out of
print. Roger Duncan then suggested we print some of shipbuilder Jim Stevens's symposium talks he'd
given over the years. The board went for that great idea, and Barbara Rumsey gathered the necessary elements,
while Duncan wrote a glossary for the 1993 book, Reminiscences of a Boothbay Shipbuilder. It
was reprinted in 1999.
By 1994, the society's Out of Our Past column was six years old and 100 articles had appeared in it.
Constant suggestions for the society to compile articles into a book led to the publishing of 36 articles in
the first Boothbay Region Historical Sketches in 1995. That was followed in 1999 with the second volume
of Sketches. It drew 56 articles from the more than 200 articles that had appeared.
In 2004 the Arcadia Company approached us to do a photo book to their specs. Barbara supervised a
group of volunteers to help put Boothbay Region Revisited together. Finally, in 2006 a third volume of
Sketches was printed with 57 more articles of the 300 that had appeared by then. Rumsey was editor of all
three of the Sketches volumes.
We also sell a variety of books produced by others. We're eager to sell all we offer to interested readers,
so drop in and take your pick!

Boothbay Region Historical Society
A Word About Volunteering by Jan Reit
My decision to shift from dues paying member to active volunteer was inspired by the
people I met last fall on Volunteer Appreciation Day. The chatty conversations I had
with those who attended, not to mention the groaning board of delicious foods, drew
me in. Before I left, I added my name to the New Volunteers List and within a few
days Barbara invited me to join the group that works in the museum on Wednesday
afternoons. Since then I've taken on a variety of odd jobs to help maintain and preserve
the museum's collections. These include updating the Rice Brothers record, the
weekly filing of photos and documents and arranging and annotating a collection of
handwritten double-entry ledgers donated by one of the local shipyards. On occasion I
write thank you notes to groups, families, or individuals who have donated artifacts to
the museum, and I'm always happy to bake something for the next event that features
refreshments. I might even volunteer to sit at another book sale table if I can partner up
again with Marcia Soler, who jumped in more than once to count out change during
last year's busy Harbor Lights Festival Open House. In the meantime, I'm happy to
work behind the scenes a few hours each week in support of the BRHS as one of its
new volunteers.
Volunteers in Action
Marcia Soler decorated the museum and organized gift sales at this year’s Harbor
Lights. Assisting her were Jan Reit, Debbie Mullen and Doreen Dun. Museum greeters
were Jane Cowley, Faith Meyer,
Judy Burgess, Bill Wilson, Anne
Butler and Debbie Mullen. Office
assistance was provided by Judy
Burgess, Lucy Marlowe, Paul
Adams, Eleanor Alley, Judy
Eastwood, Sally Bullard and Jane
Cowley. Special thanks to Judy
Eastwood for assisting with the
third grade students. Thanks to
our volunteers and trustees for
assisting with the speaker series
and providing the refreshments.
Administrative volunteers
Volunteer Eleanor Alley actively helps out with mailings and
coordinates refreshments for numerous society events. Thanks,
Eleanor!
provide crucial services for the
museum and historical society
and help us to keep our operating
expenses down. You can help us
out with any of the following tasks: filing and office assistance, mailing parties, greeting
visitors, manning booths, calling & scheduling volunteers. Please call or email us
today if you are available and would like to help. We need assistance year round!
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Membership Matters
We have a total of 680 members. Membership
dues account for approximately
a third of our income and are necessary
for the society’s day-to-day operation.
As an expression of thanks we offer
members a 10% discount on museum
sales items and send a newsletter in the
spring and fall. Thank you for your continued
generosity and support.
~
We're very sorry to learn of the death of
Claude Brinegar in mid-March. He was
one of our most committed and
generous members for many years, and
he will be missed.
New Members
Jane and Maurice Hyson, Edgecomb
Rollins and Cindy Hale, Boothbay Harbor
Leslie Bird, Boothbay Harbor
Stephanie Blecharczyk, East Boothbay
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Aho, Newcastle
Sgt. James and Connie O’Connell, St. Louis, MO
Raymond and Marguerite Nault, BBHarbor
John, Genie and Maeve O’Connell, E. Boothbay
Mary, Ed, and Jean Tibbetts, South Gardiner
New Database
We are in the process of changing to a
new donor database called GiftWorks.
(GW) This software is a powerful data
management tool that will allow us to
better track our membership and donation
information, as well as information
about volunteers and trustees. We’re
grateful to Cathy Sherrill, Kevin Bowler,
Carolyn Shubert and Andy Matthews for
their advice in the process. We will begin
using GW with this mailing to generate
address labels. If you have issues
with your address, be sure to let us
know.
Membership Information Current information from members, especially seasonal residents, will insure that your newsletters
are mailed to the correct address and that you are kept informed about speakers and events at the museum. Take a moment to update
the following information by emailing us, calling the historical society or returning the form below.
NAME:_______________________________________________________________________________________________
FALL NEWSLETTER ADDRESS: (late October)_____________________________________________________________
SPRING NEWSLETTER ADDRESS: (early May)_____________________________________________________________
 EMAIL ME ABOUT PROGRAMS -EMAIL ADDRESS_____________________________________________________
Please mail to Boothbay Region Historical Society, P.O. Box 272, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 or email to brhs@gwi.net.
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Collections by Barbara Rumsey
Since November we've had a small
group working behind the scenes to catalog
collections. Kay Wilder continues to
refine the organization of the Hodgdon
Brothers collection. Robert Rice has
been cataloging the hundreds of photos
and negatives that Bob Barter gave us
from his years as a local photographer.
New collections volunteer Judy Eastwood
has been entering information into
databases and checking the order of
files. And our other new collections volunteer,
Jan Reit, has been writing thank
you notes for acquisitions, checking file
order, and filing images and documents.
Jan is a reminder that when I started here
23 years ago, her mother, Marcia Wilson,
was the first volunteer I worked
with, cataloging the documents. Ken
Hanson has been going over the
Boothbay Register collection and segregating
duplicates and multiple duplicates
available for clipping, as well as accessioning
the newly-acquired items listed
below.
Recent Acquisitions
Artifacts
Marilyn Tibbetts: a mallet head that her
husband Leon Tibbetts pulled up in a
fishing net off Negro Island in the
1960s.
Johanna Hanselmann: her mother
Marge's collection of pipe stems, a coin,
and Indian stone tools, flakes, and arrowheads
that she collected on her Sawyers
Island property.
Patti Jo Barter: a Sawyers Island sign,
"Pinewald Lodge."
Bea Walker: an ashtray advertisement
for Lewis Gulf Service, now the Mobil
station.
Janna Day: some cardboard ice cream
cartons from the former Chapman store,
now her East Boothbay home and a plate
from the Bayville Inn.
Norman Rau: very old wide boards, one
beaded, from the Kellogg-Matthews
place on Back River Road.
The Christian Science Church: an inkwell
and a 1925 pin, "Save Old Ironsiders."
The church was the Harbor's west
side school.
Jean Chenoweth: period Christmas decorations.
Published Material
Ed Sprague: a 1934-1936 Boothbay Directory
and Jean Blakemore's book,
Gems of Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Squir-
Boothbay Region Historical Society
rel Island, and Other Points of Interest.
Alden Stickney: a copy of his Maine
Coastal Vessels of the Steamboat Era.
Andrew Twaddle: a copy of Ruth Gardner's
Boothbay Region Sketchbook.
Avis Carter Gebert: her book, The Carters
of Woolwich, Maine, which includes
a fine profile of well-known Mace
Carter.
Manuscripts
Anne Butler: her thorough collection of
material on the history of the St. Andrews
Auxiliary.
Marilyn Brewer: comical Doc Rockwell
calendars from 1919 and 1932.
Bill Welsh: a 1919 Bay View Lodge
Mason certificate of Benjamin Welsh.
Evie Stevens: material on Goudy & Stevens.
Robin Beck: copies of her manuscript,
"The History of the Boothbay Baptist
Church, 1809-2009.”
Bea Walker: a 1939 Boothbay Harbor
graduation program and a circa 1900
envelope from the Pierce Marble &
Granite Company near the footbridge.
Robert Rice: material on Rice Brothers
shipyard.
Jean Durfee left us her diaries and those
of her grandmother.
John Gordon: boxes of material concerning
the Frank Rice boatyard.
Images
Jim Wilmot: a photo showing the audience-packed
interior of the Boothbay
Playhouse.
The land trust: a DVD about Damariscove.
Catherine Collins: a CD and a DVD
featuring the schooner Adventuress, built
by Rice Brothers in 1913 and still afloat
on the West Coast.
Bea Walker: images of Carbone's Market,
the First National in East Boothbay,
the restaurant Blue Ship, Juniper Point, a
parade, the Red Dragon shop on the Byway,
the Merry Barn, and a 1933 view
of the Harbor.
Gail Marzluff: photos of the Linekin
school and scholars.
Alan Campbell: glass plates of local
views.
Jean and Neil Cunningham: images of
Back Narrows.
Bette Ann Berg: views of "Snughaven"
at Juniper Point.
Jean Howe: a shot of Bickford Giles.
Sally Chandler: 1940s views of the Harbor.
American Legion Post #36: a photo
and clipping on World War II soldier
Leslie Swett.
Cheseboro’s Dairy
Out of Our Past
Articles by Barbara Rumsey and one
guest writer that have appeared in the
column Out of Our Past in the Boothbay
Register since the last newsletter :
Twenty Years of Out of Our Past Articles
Christmas 1904 by Evelyn Hodgdon
Chesebro's Dairy, Parts I and II
Housemoving at Back River (MacNab's)
Hodgdon Brothers 1917 Subchasers
Sherman’s Livery Stable
Photos
Photos and short captions that have appeared
in the Register since last fall:
The Funeral Service of Isaac Giles
Hardhat Diver in Boothbay Harbor
Linekin Bay Yacht Club
Back Narrows Village
Elizabeth W. Nunan Launching
Fairview Farm Dairy Milkman
Copies of these photographs and many
others are available from the historical
society. Call or stop by.

Local Author and Artist Publishes New Book
The historical society is very pleased to offer for sale Southport artist Alden P. Stickney's new book,
Maine Coastal Vessels of the Steamboat Era. Alden's specialties are ship portraits and maritime scenes,
and this book combines color photographs of 28 of his vessel portraits in oil with accompanying historical
notes. The introduction contains a four-page capsule history of the steamer age through the 1800s to
World War II. Twelve of the paintings portray vessels that frequented local waters, while eight of them
show scenes of vessels at Boothbay region localities, such as the Enterprise off East Boothbay's steamer
wharf, the Southport in Townsend Gut near Landing Road, and the Virginia leaving Sawyers Island. His
paintings are principally in the homes of individual collectors. Stickney's book, introduced in November,
is soft-bound in a 7" by 9" format, with a price tag of $25.20, tax
included. Alden Stickney, by profession a marine (fishery) biologist
who worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S.
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, the U.S. National Maine Fisheries
Service and the Maine Department of Marine Resources, took
up painting after his retirement at age 60 in 1982. He has always
Alden Stickney
had a strong interest in steam-powered vessels and a natural
drawing ability nurtured at Rhode Island State College where he
majored in science and minored in art, and at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at
Harvard University, where he obtained his masters degree in biology. Although he had to
retire from painting in 2007 for health reasons, he created about 140 paintings in his 25 years
of putting oil to canvas. As an active trustee of the historical society for 20 years, a past presi-
dent, and now trustee emeritus, Stickney has benefited the historical society in numerous ways, and continues to do so with his book.
Winter/Spring Speaker Series
Talks given at the museum warmed and
brightened two Sunday afternoons last
winter, one of the coldest and snowiest
endured in the region for many years.
The talks, together with a third in April,
comprised the society’s highly successful
winter/spring speaker series. Each
event was followed by refreshments and
opportunities to ask questions and talk
further with the speaker. Plans for a
Commander Bill Wilson
Boothbay Region Historical Society
summer/fall series of museum talks are
in the works. You can read about them
on page one of the newsletter.
Retired Coast Guard Commander Bill Wilson, long-time
BRHS volunteer and keen student of the R.M.S. Titanic, spoke
on February 22 to a packed house about the intriguing and
tragic “History and Mysteries” associated with the doomed
ship. On March 1, Don Loprieno, a Bristol resident who is vice
president of Friends of Colonial Pemaquid, spoke about the
early history of the Pemaquid settlement, with particular emphasis
on the area’s three forts. Loprieno’s talk, entitled
“Bridge to the Past: Telling the Story of History,” featured
slides showing how Colonial Pemaquid’s programs and site
tours effectively bring the past to life for both young and older
visitors by featuring guides in period costumes recounting stories
of the daily lives of Pemaquid’s settlers and soldiers.
Vice Admiral James B. Perkins III, USN (Ret.), Boothbay
Harbor native whose distinguished career in the U.S. Navy
included service as commander of the Military Sealift Command
and deputy commander-in-chief of the U.S. Southern
Command, spoke to a crowd on April 19 about his handling in
1988 of the U.S. military action in retaliation for the Iranian
mining of the Persian Gulf. The battle was the largest for
American Naval forces since WWII.
Building and Grounds by Don Soler
Projects dealing with building and grounds have been light
during the winter months. There was a minor problem with the
storm door latching. A few adjustments were made on the
striker and that seemed to resolve the problem. In November,
Stevie Ham's men handled a leak over the bay window, and
they came back later in the winter to work on a little rot on the
east side.
I am happy to report that during one of our power outages
this winter, the remote generator hook-up that Phil Haselton
installed to power the boiler worked without any glitches.
Thanks, Phil.
Most recently, repairs were made to the back steps with the
help and guidance of Bill Wilson. One rotted tread was replaced
and two railings were installed. Tom Cornell lent a
hand, trimming the lower limbs of the horse chestnut tree with
the help of Tim Wilcox of Tim’s Tree Service and his truck.
Thanks so much, Tom and Tim.
The most visible project was
the acquisition and placement of
the new storage shed, bought from
Tony Barnes. We're grateful to the
shed donors, mostly Phil Haselton,
Ken Hanson, and Peggy Voight,
for helping make this possible.
This has been a long awaited treat
for Barbara so that she may clear
some of the much-needed storage
space in the building of items that don't need protection from
temperature extremes. I may be needing some able bodied
souls to assist in this moving project. Along the lines of volunteering,
if there are any members that feel that they would like
to help in any way with various projects throughout the year,
please feel free to call me at 633-6132 and I’ll add you to our
small list.
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Available at the Historical Society
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Don Soler, Barbara Rumsey & shed

BOOTHBAY REGION HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P.O. BOX 272
XMay 19, Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Annual Meeting
XJune 17, Wednesday 4 p.m.
Chip Griffin talk about Scots-Irish
Heritage
XJuly 22, Wednesday 2 p.m.
Knot Tying with Bill Wilson and Bake
Sale Extravaganza
XAugust, date TBA,
Carol and Alan Fisher talk about Summer
Art Schools
XDate TBA
Colin Woodard talk on his new book on
the early history of the North American
continent
XSeptember 16, Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Volunteer Appreciation Day
FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED
Give the Gift of Membership. A gift membership may lead someone
to discover their family history, learn about the house or street they live on, or
gain insight into times past. Your support helps us preserve local history for
generations to come.
Please send checks payable to:
Boothbay Region Historical Society
P.O. Box 272
Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0272
NONPROFIT
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BOOTHBAY HBR.,
ME
PERMIT NO. 1
Membership Form I would like to become a member of
the Boothbay Region Historical Society.
Name_______________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
Town__________________________ State______ Zip_______________
Telephone___________________ Email __________________________
__ Individual $ 10.00
__ Family $ 17.50
__ Contributing $ 35.00
__ Supporting $ 100.00
Members receive newsletters twice a year and a 10% discount on sales items.
The BRHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.