Meeting Dates
March 23 '06
Minutes for March 23, 2006
The minutes of November 17 were approved with corrections. On the EHS homepage on the Edgecomb town website, the errors will appear in strike-out font with the corrections following, underlined. 1. Madine Nichols lives in the Stephen Parsons House, which on the National Register of Historic Houses. 2. They are Pine post beetles chewing on Fort Edgecomb. The Treasurer's report was received, $2,689.11, with $1.69 in interest(a total of $6.69 for the first four months of 2006); $25.00 in dues, with a $5.00 donation.
Wendy Unda was introduced, who lives on Mount Hunger Road East on property containing White's Cabin and other early foundations. Later, Cathy Orne was introduced, who lives on McKay Road and has a strong interest in genealogy.
President Sue Carlson showed us two scanned versions of the 1857 Edgecomb map, the smaller 14 x 17 inches, the larger 21½ x 27 inches. It was recommended that the larger be a sale item for the Society. It was agreed that the price should be $15.00, and to include an explanatory label on the back side. The Society proposes to sell these maps at the coming Edgecomb Town Meeting, May 20. Several sales were made on the spot.
The Maine Historical Society has issued an invitation to participate in the first Maine National History Day. It was voted unanimously to donate $20.00 toward unrestricted uses for this event.
Jo Cameron presented an accession: "Was the Medium Right? The John Brier Mystery," an unpublished article by the late Nick Dean. It was suggested this might be a good exercise for older schoolchildren, to explore the premises, or work out a possible solution to the mystery.
Jo also reminded us that there remains in the balcony area of the Town Hall a large "dark lantern," apparently a gift from the late Neal Creamer. It is probably best to leave it there.
Sue presented another accession: A painting of the Edgecomb Congregational Church from a donor in Parsonsfield, Oxford County. The artist was Beverly Norton Newton of Burnham ME, apparently working from newspaper photographs dated August 12, 1973.
It was voted unanimously to accept this gift. Sue moved that we donate it in turn to the Edgecomb Congregational Church. This suggestion was also voted unanimously in favor. Ruth Bryant will be the EHS agent to present the painting to the ECC congregation.
Web report: Aside from an inquiry from a realtor about Sunset Vista cottages, referred on to Lee Smith, Tax Collector, Sue reported an inquiry for an early Trask family member (1840s) by Elaine Moore. She repeated the inquiry about an Edgecomb minister and wife in the 1940s who were the foster family of the inquirer. Madine Nichols suggested that Rufus Caswell might know, and will ask him. Jo will ask Dot Brown. Sue will see if the several churches kept records of their successions of ministers.
Sue reported that Joe McSwain assures her that the bell tower she has designed to house the original Eddy School bell at the new school will, indeed, be built this coming summer.
A rough draft of Rose Marie Ballard Boak's historic architectural survey has been received. Ms. Ballard Boak herself will shortly become an Edgecomb resident, moving into an apartment at the Camerons, on the River Road. Zibette Dean and Sue Carlson are both on the Task Force to revise the Comprehensive Plan, and foresee valuable uses for this survey. Sue said it was the Town's intention "to hang in and be a rural Maine town as long as we possibly can." She showed a rough map of historic sites and scenic landscapes within the Town, an EHS work in progress. An historic time line for Edgecomb would be a good project, to accompany such a map. Or a brochure for a self-guided tour. Su Ripley suggested a cookbook of very old recipes, possibly illustrated with pictures of our historic structures.
Those who attended the Lincoln County Historical Association's lecture by Bud Warren on Tide Mills reported a great talk. Among Edgecomb's tide mills are one at the Steven Parsons house (Madine Nichols, who says it is down in front of the house), and another on Zibette Dean's shorefront on Salt Marsh Cove.
Other industrial sites were discussed: two mica mines; granite quarries. Cathy Orne said that an early Sarah Orne married Benjamin Brown who was the quarrier who provided the stone for the Old Jail now owned by LCHA. He billed the County $900; was paid only $300.
It was suggested that although Edgecomb has no coherent town center, Clifford Road, according to Rose Marie, presents a cluster of chronological styles. Should the residents of this area be encouraged to make preservation deed restrictions? Offering easements of 25 years duration? Find a source of incentive grants to bring certain dwellings back at least close to their original states?
Fort Edgecomb: The triumvirate of Jo Cameron (Town Committee), Sue Carlson (EHS) and Joe McSwain (FOFE) has recommended a sum of $30,000 be raised, $10,000 to be dedicated to reshingling the blockhouse, based on current prices of fire-proofed western red cedar shingles with wood spreaders to prevent warping from damp. The State Bureau of Parks and Lands will spray to eliminate the pine post beetles which are present in the blockhouse's under-pinnings.
Su Ripley recommended that a "Help the Fort" flyer/poster be designed and circulated. Jo plans a mass mailing to Edgecomb residents, to use the Town's 2005-6-budgeted $150.00.
The meeting was adjourned at 3:25 p.m. The next meeting will be Thursday, April 27
Respectfully submitted,
Joanna M. Cameron
Secretary