This column comes out on August 27^th, which would have been my mother, Millie McLain’s birthday. She was almost 95 years old when she passed in June 2004 on the day of Gilead’s Bicentennial Celebration. She would be deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Randy Bennett, a cousin from the Heath and Bennett families. My mother and cousin Emeline Heath got together many times with Randy to sort out the family histories that connected them. Randy will be missed by the many people he connected with throughout his life.

On Monday morning, a couple of bucket trucks arrived to work on the weather station that was recently installed at the intersection of Route 2 and Bridge Street.

Gilead Historical Society

I already mentioned Randy on a personal note, but as a Life Member of the GHS, I have to add that he will be missed. His knowledge of the area and the genealogy of many families was unreal. All one had to say was “Randy, who was [such a person] related to that connects him to the [family of ]?” There was no hesitation with the answer to the question. If there was a question about it, he had notebooks full of family information.

We have lost a very good friend and all the knowledge he possessed.

This past weekend, there was a “shady” crew working at the schoolhouse. Pete Risbara, Hugh Chapman and Jimmy Lumbard installed the new room darkening shades that Claudia Risbara had ordered. These shades will eliminate having to cover up some of the items in the room when we close up on Saturday. They are opaque but will keep out the sun.

Aunt May’s Letters Continued

Letter #5

Deutsches Heim

Piazza San Marco Venice

July 11, 1905

My dear Family,

My last letter was sent from Florence in the hottest weather I have ever known. “They said” it was the most intense heat they have had for seventy years. I certainly know that it has required all my strength to keep up sightseeing and at the same time take care of myself. The shops in Florence are fascinating. We spent two afternoons wandering around and buying some things. Instead of the $10. Aunt Hattie sent me I have a very pretty gold chain for my watch. Did I tell you that I used Aunt Emma’s $2. toward some coral beads which I bought in Capri? Our last day in Florence was the sort personally conducted parties have all or at least much

of the time. First a carriage to the Church of the Carmines to see some very fine pictures by Masaccio. There are frescoes, many of them, one in each little cell, and in the large refectory a large painting (The Last Supper). To finish up our morning we spent an hour at the Bargello, a grand old palace, now a museum.

Thursday we were in Pisa for some hours. You all know the picture of the Cathedral and Baptistry with the Leaning Tower close by. That tower leans even more than it shows in most of the photographs. Of course we were sorry to leave Florence in spite of the pleasant experiences ahead of us. It really does seem as though we had been particularly fortunate in our trip so far. The voyage was

delightful; we have been able to carry out all the plans we had made and have seen even more than we expected; the weather has been good (not a single rainy day yet) hardly a shower; all the hotels and pensions have been excellent (good beds and good food); and we have all kept well.

Have I written since receiving Ada’s letter, also Mamma’s from Belmont and number 3 from Lily? It did seem so good to hear from you all. I am anxious to hear again from Akron and think it is about time for another letter from Lily. By this time Ada, Arthur and Mamma must be in Gilead. I wonder how you found the house. The supper bell has rung (7.30 p.m.) and as we are going out in a gondola at 8.30, I must close.

Much love to you all.

May

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

Condolences go out to the family and friends of Selectman Jon Howe.

The workers are very busy at the Town Hall. The granite slabs are now back in place in the concrete base, with the building now resting on them. It will be nice to see it when all the work has finished. It will be ready to either repair or replace the windows.

Work has begun at the corner of Route 2 and Bridge Street. There were two poles installed a while back and now the reason has been revealed. There is going to be a weather station installed there. Not too much more information was found out other than it will help report winter weather conditions in the area.

Gilead Historical Society

Last weekend the corner was busy with quite a few visitors. Alison Aloisio stopped by to see what the GHS has been busy with recently. She was thinking of doing an article with the latest updates.

May Peabody letters Continued

Letter #4

Pension Benoit

13-15 Lung Arno Serrestori Florence, Italy

[no date, must have been started on 29 June or later]

My dear Family,

My last letter was such a miserable hodge podge that I have little courage to attempt another. Yet I suppose you will want to hear

from me so will take new courage and try again. We reached here last Thursday at nine o’clock in the evening and were met by the

concierge of the Pension Benoit. We had engaged our rooms before leaving Rome and had asked to be met. This pension is

delightful. Miss Hyde and I are roommates this time and our window looks out upon a pretty square and the Arno just beyond. Across the river we can see Santa Croce (the most interesting church perhaps in all Florence), Giotto’s Tower (the bell tower of the Cathedral) and the queer old tower on the Palazzo Vecchio. This is the pension where Kathleen staid and recommended so highly. We pay only $1.20 a day which includes even wine. Our general method of procedure when we arrive in a new place is first to go to Cook’s, then visit places in the city we most wish to see. We followed that program here. I was delighted to find Frank’s letter

announcing the safe arrival of John Wright Peabody. I think I am very glad that it is a boy and I am particularly pleased with the name. I do hope Ethel will get well quickly.

I wish you could all see Giotto’s Tower. It is impossible to give you any idea of its beauty. How I wish you could all see this

Beautiful group of buildings! It impressed me quite as much as the fine old ruins in Rome. We staid at Hotel Subasio,

close to the church. The view of the luxuriant valley below is magnificent. Vineyards and large wheat fields everywhere to be seen and all so peaceful and restful. Again we were favored with balcony rooms. I don’t know how I shall ever be able to live in New York if this sort of thing continues. The view of a plain brick wall will seem worse than ever. We walked about the town a little; the streets are narrow + steep + picturesque. We saw women going to the wells carrying waterjugs on their heads. The costumes were very picturesque and fitted in with quaint old streets.

By this time you must have received my first letter. I’m wondering if the Gilead home is open today. I do not know the date of Colby’s commencement but have a vague idea that it comes this week. I shall try to send a letter every week and postals in

between. Am hoping for a letter from you, Ada, sometime soon.

With very much love to you all.

May

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com.

Route 113 through Evans Notch has not been kind to motorcycles this year. There was one involving a motorcycle a while back and then another this past Friday. There was also a two vehicle accident last…

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Our granddaughter, Sidney Chapman, came to visit before she left for New York to get ready for college this upcoming year. She will be working on her Masters.

Gilead Historical Society

This is the second letter that May wrote and sent home to her family. A continuation of last week’s Letter #1

Letter #2

June 15, 1905

My dearest Family,

I can hardly realize that we have been in sunny Italy only five days, so much has been crowded into the time since we left the Prinz Adalbert Tuesday morning. Our rooms are delightful, large, cool, with elegant mahogany furniture, two single beds in each, a tiled floor, and best of all each has a balcony. The view is grand! a good bit of the city just below us, bay of Naples in the middle distance, and the lovely island of Capri in the background; just a little to our left but plainly visible from our balconies is Vesuvius. Just think of it! The wonderful burning mountain in sight from my window. Last night “our view” was wonderfully beautiful because of the moonlight; little sail boats moved slowly across the moonlight path on the bay, and Vesuvius showed a jagged line of fire on its slope. Today the mountain looked as we so often see it pictured; a column of smoke seeming to rise from its summit, but last night it seemed like a long line of fires on the slope. I think we may have had the best part of our trip. I feel certain we can have nothing we shall enjoy more.

The first thing we had to do on Tuesday was to get some Italian money and make arrangements for our trip to Capri etc.

Consequently, we went to the Cook office and the whole thing was arranged in a very short time. First the guide came to the hotel, put us in carriages and we drove to the pier; small row boats to a little steamer which took us down the bay to near Capri, then row boats again to go into the Blue Grotto. The water there is a most beautiful lapis lazuli; I’ve heard of its wonderful blue but never dreamed how beautiful it was. Next the little steamer took us to the port of Capri, and again we had to land in row boats. The boatmen are picturesque like everything and everybody here; they stand to row, wear neither shoes nor stockings and always have some bright color, either a handkerchief tied around their heads or a band on their hats.

Again we boarded the small steamer and this time Sorrento was our goal. We had fine large rooms at the Hotel Syrene, connecting, each had a balcony and we could hear the waves lap the shore at the foot of the staircase which we climbed.

Wednesday [May must mean Thursday] morning we started on our 45 mile drive for Cava. The road is a fine one, built some ten years ago. It winds up and down between vineyards, olive orchards, poppies growing everywhere, poppies growing everywhere among the vines, out of the crannies in the walls and besides the road. Time and again we would see some distant point only to lose it again at the next turn in the road. The road is walled on the side next to the sea. I’ll tell you more about it when I show you my picture postals.

Saturday we went to Pompeii. We had to start very early because there are so few trains. I will not attempt to describe what I saw there, I could not do it. I thought I knew something about Pompeii before but I realize now that I did not. It is wonderful that these excavations can be made and everything shown in such perfect condition.

June 19.

We rested Sunday and I began this letter. That evening Mr. Stark, our St. Louis acquaintance, who seems much interested in Miss Lester, called and took us all for a drive. Think of seeing Naples by moonlight! And so our visit in Naples ends. We have not been on Vesuvius and have seen only one of the 420 churches, but we feel that we have got many lasting impressions of life here, now and what it used to be. Have received letters from Mother, Lily, Frank and Ethel. It did seem so good to hear from you.

Tomorrow night we shall be in Rome.

Much love to you all

May

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

The Fire Department/Town Garage has gotten a face lift. Ivan, who does mowing and odd jobs for the Town, has painted the whole building. They decided to give it …

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Pete and Claudia Risbara entertained some company last week. Their granddaughter, Campbell Perrine, from South Carolina spent some time with them here in Gilead and traveling around the Portland area.

Gilead Historical Society

Last week I posted photos of the new lights in the schoolhouse and station. I thought I included a thank you to Derek and his crew from Simpson Electric 207 LLC for a job well done. We appreciate the quick response from them. They are located in Dixfield, Maine. (207) 491-6373.

This week’s history is from some letters that were written in 1905. They were received by the GHS in 2006. The letters were transcribed by Cindy Bennett, who is a direct descendent of the Gilead Peabody family. There were thirteen letters in all that the sister of her great-grandfather had written on her trip through Europe in 1905. Some letters are quite long, so we will start with the introduction by Cindy Bennett and then include Letter #1. These letters are very well written and quite interesting with an insight into what was happening in 1905, so we hope they are to the readers of this column. (Letters were published in the GHS newsletter-Fall ‘06 & Spring ‘07)

Introduction by Cindy Bennett

“On May 30, 1905 May Peabody and her three friends left New York City on the German ship “Prinz Adelbert,” bound for Naples. In the course of the trip through Europe, which lasted until early September, May wrote 13 letters home to her family describing her experiences.

About the author of the letters: At the time she set out, May Peabody was 41. Unmarried, she was a teacher at the Horace Mann School in New York City. The school was an experimental school closely associated with the Teachers’ College of Columbia University, teaching boys and girls. In the letters, she occasionally refers to “Whittier Hall,” which houses the Teachers’ College. We know nothing of May’s companions on the trip to Europe, not even their first names.

Besides the trip described in these letters, there is another story available in which Aunt May took part. Around 1884, she and some friends had an outing to the top of Mt. Washington in a carriage. A description can be found here: http://www.bethelhistorical.org/Mountain_Days.html

On the recipients and the house in Gilead: The recipients were:

“Mamma” - her mother, Mary E. Peabody, born in 1841

Her sister Ada and brother-in-law Arthur Roberts living at Waterville Maine, where Arthur was on the faculty of Colby College. He served as President of the college from 1908 to 1927.

Her brother Will and sister-in-law Lily Peabody (CB’s great-grandparents) and their son Walter (then age 8), living in White Plains, New York, at the time. Will was a civil engineer. His most “visible” project was Quabbin Reservoir in Massachusetts (1920s), Boston’s water supply.

Her brother Frank and sister-in-law Ethel Peabody, living in Akron, Ohio.

The Peabody family was from Gilead, Maine (originally called “Peabody’s Patent”) and was descended from some of the first settlers of Gilead, Thomas and Mary Peabody. One of the main businesses in the area was logging and lumber.

Their house had originally been built as a tavern in 1799 and is on historic registers as the “Peabody Tavern,” but was no longer in use as such. It is still standing and has recently been renovated. It is now situated between the railroad line and US Route #2. In 1905 the house was only used by the family in summer. (It was considerably cooler than New York or Boston.) The summer get-togethers in Gilead continued into the 1940s: my mother remembers plagues of mosquitoes in summers at the “red house”.

Letter #1

Prinz Adelbert [a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean]

Sunday, June 4, 1905

My dear Family,

There are so many things I want to tell you that I hardly know where to begin. We have been out almost a week and a more restful and delightful seven days I have never known. We have had all kinds of weather, cold and warm, windy and calm, sunshine and rain and the sea has changed accordingly. Sometimes as calm as a mill pond and sometimes like the sea as I have seen it at Cape

Elizabeth after a storm.

Since Saturday we have had ideal days, warm enough to sit on deck without jackets or gloves. No, I’ve had not the slightest touch of seasickness. I’ve enjoyed every minute since we came on board. I sleep like a top and eat every time anything is offered. In fact I’ve never felt better. This is an ideal morning and we are all on deck. The sea is blue as sapphires, not a white cap to be seen. The boat moves along so steadily that I hardly know we are on the water. Nothing to be seen but the beautiful blue sky and the sea almost as blue. This afternoon we have seen a great many porpoise and this evening the phosphorescent lights in the water have been

beautiful. It has been an ideal day, never to be forgotten.

Wednesday, June 7, 1905.

We passed the Azores yesterday. The only island we were near was Flores. We were about an hour passing it and it was a beautiful changing picture to be long remembered; the color of houses, soil, grass and rocks, the mist, and the sea on every side were

indescribably beautiful. The ship is becoming a very familiar place but I am not one bit tired of it. Naturally the passengers are

becoming very friendly. We have found some very pleasant Cleveland people, Dr. and Mrs. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. Austin. They are to take much the same trip that we do so we are hoping to meet them again.

Such good meals we have had and so many courses! At luncheon we generally have soup, fish, and two meat courses beside desserts. For dinner soup, fish, three or more meat courses, dessert (usually ice cream) fruits, nuts, cheese, coffee. I’ve had a ravenous appetite all the time and now feel thoroughly rested.

Thurs. June 8.

I have not told you how much I enjoyed my steamer letters. When I first got on board I found fourteen but none from any of my

family. After we started I found letters from Mamma, Will, Lily, Walter, Ada, and Arthur. Thank you all for giving me so much pleasure. Lily, your letter was particularly clever, my friends thought. I had a letter from Aunt Hattie enclosing [a] check for $10. and Jessie Guernsey sent me $2. to buy something I wanted in Florence. So you see my friends and relatives have supplied me with means to purchase souvenirs, for Ada gave me $1. and Kathleen sent the same amount. I suspect Mamma of some such thing too for I found a nice little package in the pocket of my skirt marked for my birthday.

Monday June 12.

The end of our voyage seems very near for tomorrow we reach Naples. These last days have had more variety. On Friday afternoon we passed Cape St. Vincent, and all the evening we could faintly discern the lights of the Spanish shore. We were all up early

Saturday for we were to pass Gibraltar. Gibraltar itself was grand, a huge mass of rock towering up into the sky. Apparently entirely separated from the mainland until we were close by. The finest view of the rock itself is after we have passed it and are in the blue Mediterranean. Then it rises to an immense height and its sides are almost perpendicular. This is the view we most often see. Saturday was a gala day on the ship too. The captain celebrated his twenty fifth anniversary of his life on the sea.

Today we expect to see Sardinia and between ten and twelve tomorrow reach Naples. I am anxious to hear from you all, but hope all is well. Shall be especially glad to hear how Ethel is getting on.

Tuesday a.m.

Our bags are packed and we are all ready to leave the steamer. I want to mail this at Naples as soon as we land so shall add only a word. Last night was the Captain’s dinner. About the same things to eat except for an extra meat course, but the dining room was decorated and everybody dressed in his or her best.

Goodbye for this time. Everybody is astir and I cannot write. Much love to you all.

May

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

Not a lot going on. There are a few of the usual birds that come for breakfast every day. The little chipmunks keep busy cleaning up leftovers and storing them for next winter. I have not seen any skunks for a long time, but there was…

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Our son, Chris Chapman, who works for Wreaths Across America, travels for all sorts of events. He lives in Virginia so a lot of them happen in Washington, DC. This past weekend, Wreaths Across America and Wreaths Across America Radio had the chance to set up at the Great American State Fair at the National Mall in DC and represent the great State of Maine. He met people from about every state and several countries that were in DC for the 4^th. There were thousands of people who braved the heat to attend. He said that he had a blast promoting what the Pine Tree State has to offer.

Gilead Historical Society

On the 4^th, the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society hosted a 250^th anniversary celebration, which included a concert by the Portland Brass Quintet, a parade and a few booths. Pete and Claudia Risbara and Hugh Chapman represented the Gilead Historical Society, and of course, Pierre, went with them.

A bit of history from a GHS publication: “School Days, A Brief History of the Many School Houses of Gilead, Maine~ One Room, a Wood Stove and Two Privies ~” Howard Reiche, Jr., Hugh Chapman

Emeline Heath, whose father kept a farm on the North Rd., wrote these memories below of attending school during World War One. (1914-1918):

There were six schools in Gilead to which the students walked. They had no grades and no required course of study. In summer, attendance was chiefly girls and little boys, for the big boys were needed on the farms. Those who wanted more education and had the means often attended Gould Academy, in Bethel, either boarding in private homes or renting rooms and “boarding themselves” with the help of food from home. My Aunt Ida attended Gould Academy and taught school a little while before her marriage and my father and some other young men from Gilead attended one or more winters about which I always like to hear the stories.

When I first began attending school during World War One, we had a shorter school year with a long winter vacation. After the community Christmas program, things were pretty quiet until about the last week of March. The children who lived in the village had a more exciting life, sliding on the hill, skating on the frog pond, building ski jumps, and so on. I never thought the winter would come to an end.

My Aunt Alma, who lived with us, did much to make my life happy. She would read to me and tell me about her own childhood. We would play games like “Flinch,” dominoes, and tiddley-winks and I would cut pictures out of old copies of a magazine called “Delineator.” She let me write with her fountain pen in a copybook until I did well enough to write a letter to another aunt. Also, I learned to knit.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

We have been quite busy this past weekend. Chris and Kym Chapman, along with our granddog Moxee arrived Friday night, in the Wreaths Across America vehicle that he drives, after a long road trip from Edinburg,…

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Our son and family, Tim, Michele and Sidney Chapman and our Granddog Charlie from Gorham, NH, attended the Community Friends and Family Day on Saturday, June 20^th. Our grandson, Ajay Landry and Jenna Edwards from Shelburne, NH, along with our Granddog Ollie, were there also.

My brother, Steve McLain, will be celebrating a birthday this weekend on June 27^th. Happy Birthday! Pete and Claudia Risbara celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary last Sunday, June 21^st. Happy Anniversary! They are only 5 years behind us.

Gilead Historical Society

There were approximately 40 people who attended the Community Friends and Family Day on June 20^th. There were even some Daniels relatives that came from Connecticut. Most of the rest were Maine and New Hampshire. We would have loved to see more Gilead people stop by for a free lunch and meet some of their neighbors. Maybe next time.

There were two new members who signed up. Cynthia Ouillette from South Paris, Maine, and Kerrie Daniels from Gorham, NH. Welcome to GHS.

Everyone had a great time. The celebration is much smaller than years past. We never did have a big celebration like the Gilead Centennial in 1904. We came close at the Bicentennial in 2004. We try to celebrate with the Community Friends and Family Day as close to June 26^th as possible.

From Gilead’s Past:

Gilead was incorporated on June 26, 1804. There were noted speakers and a big parade. The following except is from information from newspapers and some McLain writings. Dad is referring to my father, Stephen McLain.

In 1904, the Town of Gilead celebrated its hundredth year as a town. Everybody came out to celebrate. Grandfather took the whole family, and Dad participated in the foot races that were held. Early in the morning the guests began to arrive. The train brought people from both directions into town. Many people came by team from the surrounding towns. The reception committee was kept busy seeing to it that everyone felt that they were among friends.

The exercises in the morning began with the formation of a parade after the arrival of the Portland train at 11 o’clock. President R. D. Hastings was master of ceremonies and acted as Marshal of the Day. He was in uniform and mounted and did honors with military precision. On account of the sparsely settled community, no attempt was made to form a big parade. First in the parade came the Gilead Cornet Band, which was led by Milan Bennett. They were followed by all of the school children of the town. There were some 70-75 in line dressed up in white. The invited guests were next in line, and these were quite numerous. Old residents of the town were there in numbers and marched as proudly as their sons and grandchildren did.

The Indian rangers and cowboys who were led by Possum Jack made up one of the big features of the day. They were all mounted and armed. The march led to Hastings’ Store. A platform was set up there and tables were arranged. After everyone was settled, Chairman Hastings called for order, and a blessing was given by Rev. Mr. Bosworth. Dinner followed this. The large crowd was fed baked beans, cold meats, and many other home-cooked foods. During the meal, the crowd began to reminisce. Old time stories and anecdotes were brought out. It was a full hour before the banquet was over and then another hour of social chat and games followed. The band played fine music and all were merry. In the afternoon a speech was given by President Hastings. Field sports, ball games, wheelbarrow and leg races were numerous and interesting. Many of the people visited the home of Mr. J. W. Bennett. There were 3,000 acres on the Mr. Bennett place. The greater part of the land was wooded. His house was like a museum. There were some old rare linens that were woven by his mother on a hand loam. There was old china, pewter ware and many other objects of interest to be seen there at his house.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

Sorry. Not much news this week, so I thought I would include a couple of pictures of the flowers in our front yard. The an…

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Not much to report on the bird population around here. The Catbirds are still around. We know where the nest is but do not know if they have any family yet because we do not want to disturb them. We have been noticing quite a few Swallowtail Butterflies. Claudia Risbara took a picture of a swarm of them when she was taking a walk. The shadows on the ground make it a little hard to see some of them, but thought it was interesting.

Hugh and I took a ride last Tuesday on Rt. 113 up to Hastings Campground. Besides the host, there were only a couple of campsites that were occupied but several had reserved signs on them for the weekend.

There are a couple of trees beside Route 2 across from the town buildings. The Town mows this area to keep things looking nice between Route 2 and the railroad tracks. A branch from one of the trees broke off over the weekend, so Ivan Tilton, who does mowing and repair jobs for the Town, tackled the downed limb and got most of it picked up. Next comes the big branch that broke off.

Town of Gilead

Today is Election Day. It looks like the Town Hall has been fairly busy with several voters coming in to cast their ballot. It is a long day to have to show up early to be there when the polls open at 10:00 AM until they close at 8:00 PM. Then there is still more paperwork after that before they are sealed up and locked in a safe place. Of course, if there is a recount, the ballots will have to be picked up by a secure messenger and taken to the Secretary of State in Augusta. Whenever this has happened in the past, Gilead has always come out with the same number of cast ballots as was originally reported.

Gilead Historical Society

The GHS is getting ready for the annual Community Friends and Family Day. This will be held on June 20^th at the Gilead Town Hall. People can start gathering around 11:00 AM and lunch will be at noon. We hope to have a good turnout again this year. Everyone is welcome. Lunch is free, so stop by for a hamburger or hot dog. The desserts and other items will be in the Town Hall. There will be a couple of people who can take your order and bring lunch into the hall if walking back and forth is a problem.

Pete and Claudia Risbara have been busy moving the plants from Diane ‘Dupont’ Bean’s Memorial Garden from the location behind the school to in front of the school between the steps by the flagpole.

After a while the plants will spread and fill in the area. The garden will be more noticeable as a focal point in the new location. The plaque is attached to the school.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

I want to be sur…

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Not much to write about this week. Evidently, the neighbors are just enjoying some of the beautiful days or they are just keeping to themselves.

The Gilead Fire Department has been called out this past week with a couple of accidents on Rt. 113. Bethel Rescue responded to both scenes. They transported a couple of patients to the hospital from one of them.

Gilead Historical Society

The GHS opened up the buildings last Saturday, May 23^rd, for the summer. They will be open on Saturdays from noon to 3pm. There were nine people (from Maine—Rumford Point and Bethel, from NH—Nashua and Shelburne), who stopped by to check out the buildings. There is coffee available and usually a snack, such as brownies.

Christopher Stewart, a Peabody descendent, stopped by a couple of weeks ago and dropped off some items for the GHS collections. He had a couple of school desks and some chairs. The chairs, which were made in the early 1800s, have been handed down through the Peabody family through the years. He said that they were made at the Peabody Tavern in the wintertime when the people had more time on their hands and could be more creative. During the summer, they were much busier with farming and maintaining the homestead.

On one wall of the schoolhouse, there is a Peabody Family display with photos of the family and the “Old Red House” throughout the years. There used to be a big barn and some other outbuildings.

There is also an original painting by John Francis Richardson, a member of the Peabody family who resided in Gilead from 1838-1849. John was the eldest son of Henry and Eunice “Thurston” Richardson. Henry was the Congregational minister for both Gilead and Shelburne, NH. It was donated to the GHS in 2007 from Robert and Joanne “Peabody” Stewart.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

The summer birds are showing up. They may just be passing through but some of them do stay…

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We were saddened to hear of the passing of our neighbor, Alfred Leighton. He worked as a foreman for the St. Lawrence & Atlantic Railroad for many years. After retiring, he served on the Board of Selectmen for the Town of Gilead and when his term was up this year and he decided not to run again, his wife, Sharon, stepped in and filled the position. Condolences to the whole family.

One day last week, it was windy and rainy. It was so loud, we could hear the wind and downpour coming down our street. The wind made a left turn between the Town Hall and our house and into our backyard. Which would have been no problem if it had not lifted up our metal storage shed and put it on its roof. Luckily, there was nothing of great value in there.

Hugh and I went to Tim and Michele’s to celebrate both Mother’s Day and Sidney’s graduation from Franklin Pierce University the day before. Sidney graduated with high honors in the health science degree. Of course, proud parents, Tim and Michele, attended graduation along with William Chapman and Ajay Landry and Jenna Edwards.

The hummingbirds came to our feeder on Mother’s Day like they have for the past few years. There were at least two of them fighting over the feeder. There was a hummingbird at Pete and Claudia Risbara’s a few days earlier and Tedd Brown spotted one about the same time as they did.

There are not too many different birds at the feeder, but there was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak out looking for some sunflower seeds the other day. The lone turkey has come back, too.

Gilead Historical Society

While some of the stages and then the railroad went through Gilead, the only large facility in Gilead with 50-60 rooms for visitors was the Bennett Tavern on Route 2, not far from the railroad depot. The Tavern at the head of the Androscoggin Bridge Road was built in 1898 and burned in 1909 with complete loss of the tavern, livery stable, and “tenement.” The Peabody Tavern predated Bennett’s by almost 100 years and was a major stopping place for the stage travelers for many years. It is still standing and is being used as an antique shop.

Quite a few of the Gilead farmers rented rooms to hunters and fishermen. Many of them returned and built their own small camps. An 1880 map shows camps on almost every one of the brooks in Gilead.

Early on, these people arrived by train and were driven to their camp or room by a farmer and his team. One camp built in 1901 had fish and game tallies written on its doors and inside walls. Regardless of the season of the year, many weeks they totaled 70-80 trout, a moose, usually a bear and a number of deer, partridge, and other small game!

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

Our granddaughter, Sidney Chapman, who is currently a student at Franklin Pierce University, attended the Track and Field Northeast-10 conference (which is a collegiate athletic conference affil…

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Not too much happening to write about. It seems nice to look out and not see any snow. People have gotten out and started their spring cleanup. Got to rake up all those leaves and dead grass.

I talked to Judy Bishop from Yarmouth the other day. We were discussing the upcoming GHS planning meeting. She said that she had recently seen Phil House. I would like to send out a big Howdy to Phil.

Town of Gilead

Work in the cemeteries has begun. Ivan Tilton, the town’s buildings and grounds man, has started getting the four cemeteries ready for Memorial Day at the end of May. Once he finishes with them, he turns to other areas in town, such as between the railroad and Route 2. Keeping this area mowed makes the town look so much better during the summer. He also keeps the National Forest Picnic Area cleaned up and mowed, too. He does an excellent job getting things all cleaned up for summer. Ivan also does other projects for the town like doing minor repairs and building maintenance.

Gilead Historical Society

Reminder: The GHS will meet Saturday, May 2, at the Gilead Town Office at 1:00 p.m. to make plans for the summer events and projects.

Since the 1883 Gilead Town Hall is getting some much needed work done, we thought it would be nice to include some photos of the building through the years. First of all, the foundation needs to be fixed and then the windows can be replaced.

The hall was used a lot for social events. There were weekly dances that several people from Hastings came down to attend. At one point, it was rented out to be used as a roller skating rink. Now there are a few people in town that use the Hall but it is mostly used for voting and town meetings. The GHS uses it for events held during the year.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com

There have been a few different birds at the feeder this past week. There were some Purple Finches and some Northern Flickers. the Flickers were having a great time searching through the leaves in the backyard. Mary Tyler reports that the Phoebe family appears to be thinking about nesting under her porch roof again this year.

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There are a few Happy Birthday wishes to go out this week. My husband, Hugh Chapman and our daughter-in-law, Kym Chapman (Chris’ wife) share a birthday on April 22^nd, and Jason Steigerwald, our granddaughter Mariyah’s husband, has one on April 20^th. Also, anniversary wishes to our son and wife, Tim and Michele Chapman. on April 18^th.

Judy Bishop, from Yarmouth, ME, stopped by last Saturday for a visit. She was in West Bethel to attend the funeral service for Maureen Swain and decided to stop by here to say hello. She had a chance to visit after the service with a few relatives that were in attendance.

Hugh stopped by Pete and Claudia Risbara’s the other day. He was gifted some of Pete’s maple syrup that he has been making. Claudia also sent home some delicious cookies that she had just baked.

Again, not too much to report on the bird feeder. The hawk is still visiting and bothering the other birds. There were several Red-winged Blackbirds and Grackles out there over the weekend.

I found this newspaper clipping that my mother, Millie McLain, had saved along with a few others. This is just a little excerpt from it-

“When the first three months of a year have plodded through their days, and a man tears the third sheet from the big Feed Store calendar on the kitchen wall, he knows that true spring is still some distance away. April is a heady filly, not broken to the harness. There are periods when the Weather Man cannot make up his mind, and blue skies and dark clouds take turns as the hours pass. But each day means one day nearer to the time when true spring will come. You can feel, smell and hear the voice of change, and the heart responds when eyes and ears see and hear the SIGNS. The banks of the creeks begin to show green and the red maples’ blossoms are bright pennants in the woods.

Then comes the morning when a man is certain. On the way to the barn to do the chores, he stops in the yard and savors the day. The sun is a golden platter in a blue sky; mountains are blue-green against the horizon; the bluebirds and robins are giving their morning concert. The air is soft against one’s face and the smell of warming earth is heady in the nostrils. A man breathes deeply and inhales the fragrance of a new season. Suddenly, he knows. This is the day he has waited for. Spring has arrived.”

Gilead Historical Society

Historical Note: Excerpt from GHS publication, {Hastings, The History of a Maine Lumbering Town that Emerged, Flourished and Vanished within 25 Years - - - (1892-1917) by Howard Reiche and Hugh Chapman, 2006}-

The winter was challenging for the people in Hastings, but the spring brought a whole new set of problems. The maintenance of the railroad and bridges was a constant challenge. The water coming from the melting snow and spring storms rushed down the mountain side and washed out the railroad and bridges causing a lot of damage. Bridges over the river had to be rebuilt after each storm or replaced completely.

Got any news? Email chapmal@hotmail.com