When you see the phrase “New Century,” what follows tends to be good news. The state-funded New Century Community Program has enabled the Maine Humanities Council to sponsor many projects through local libraries.

Our thanks to Thompson Free Library and the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society for letting us know about a New Century grant providing for the microfilming of the Piscataquis Observer for 1986 through 1999.

That project has been ongoing for nine months, with the 1989-1994 films already available for use at the library. The other years are being prepared for filming.

Much of the Observer, of course, already has been put on microfilm. Both Thompson Library and the University of Maine’s Fogler Library in Orono have 1847-1889, 1891-1944, and 1946-1986 – more than 50 rolls of microfilm.

When a grant is received, the momentum it creates can be as important as the money itself, pointed out Helen Austin, librarian in Dover-Foxcroft.

“It sort of spurs you on to do some of these things,” she said.

Once the filming is finished, a copy of 1986-1999 will be presented to Fogler. That was good news to Frank Wihbey, who as director of government documents and microforms is head of the department that includes treasures such

as census records and a significant collection of newspapers on film.

Genealogists also will be interested in another project at Thompson Memorial Library – the indexing of marriage and death records in the Observer for 1859-1875.

This adds to work begun by volunteer Madalyn Betts, who did the index for the first 37 years of the Observer. Keep in mind that the weekly newspaper covers some communities beyond the county boundaries, such as Dexter.

Thompson Free Library, located on East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft, is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Fogler Library is open seven days a week when school is in session, and microfilm is available during that time. To listen to a recording outlining library hours for particular times, call 581-1664.

Do you have ancestors from Sedgwick? Barbara M. Grindle has published “Sedgwick, Maine’s Resting Places,” a catalog listing of Sedgwick’s cemeteries and burying grounds from 1789 to 1999.

The price is $12.99 plus $4.95 postage and handling, from Barbara Grindle, RR1 Box 1540, Sedgwick, ME 04676-9713; or check the Web at www.wickedgoodcandles.com.

Today is Lundi, and the month is Fevrier, according to the Ste. Agathe Historical Society Calendar for 2001. Each page offers pictures and text in honor of an individual or group connected with the Aroostook County town of St. Agatha, on the banks of Long Lake:

Alvine (Bosse) Sinclair and family; the 60th anniversary of four sisters in the Daughters of Wisdom; Mathilda (Chamberland) Ouellette; the Class of 1926; Sister Annette Picard; the Class of 1951; the Class of 1976; Cecile (Ruest) Caron; Richard and Therese Ringuette; students of Notre Dame de la Sagesse (Our Lady of Wisdom) Convent about 1908; Antoinette (Morneault) Bosse; and Rose Ann (Ringuette) Ouellette.

The project is a fund-raiser, with calendars available for $5 plus $1 postage from the Ste. Agathe Historical Society, P.O. Box 237, St. Agatha, ME 04772.

3071. OAKES-JORDAN. Searching for my great-great grandparents Estelle Oakes and a Mr. Jordan, a mariner. Estelle, who also could have been named Deborah, was b. 1859-1860 Sangerville, daughter of Gardiner and Sarah (Buker) Oakes. Estelle md. a Jordan 1878 or so, had son John Gardner Jordan, b. April 4, 1878-1879, Foxcroft, no birth record there. The 1880 census for Sangerville lists Estelle and 1-year-old John living with her parents in Sangerville. I presume her husband had died, maybe at sea, by the time she md. Goodwin or Gooding Lougee of Sangerville, about 1882. Their son Frank Robie Lougee was b. Dec. 25, 1882, Sangerville. Tina Banks, 734 Coy Road, Ripples, New Brunswick E4B-1T3; telephone (508) 385-1803.

3072. COX-MATTHEWS. Seeking info on grandmother Louise (Cox) Matthews, b. 1895-1898, Perry, daughter of John and Abbie (Dean) Cox. Louise’s siblings, b. 1878-1900: Edward, Roy, Silas, Gertrude, John, Elizabeth, William, Merton. Louise md. David Oscar Matthews in 1912 in Baileyville. David was b. 1891 in Saint George, New Brunswick. They had four children b. 1912-1917 in Baileyville area: Thelma, Alice, Pearl, Harry. They divorced 1920, with Pearl and Alice living with Harris M. Choate family in Alexander; Thelma with Alden C. Perkins family; and Harry, my father, with Lewis Frye. Louise was put on trial in Saint Stephen, found not guilty. Evelyn Roman, P.O. Box 604, Searsport, ME 04974; or e-mail msbruno@acadia.net.

3072. MCGOWAN-WHITE. Seeking information on Laura Odylie McGowan/McGown of Carmel area, md. Lloyd H. White of Hulls Cove on Oct. 19, 1907. Two children: Leslie, md. Mildred Elder of East Machias and d. 1940; and Leon. Seek info on children of Leon’s daughter Carolyn and of one brother. Also info on Lloyd, a carpenter. Jack A. White, 14 Robert Drive, Albany, NY 12205; or e-mail jazzpops@aol.com.

Send queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or e-mail familyti@bangordailynews.net. Full name and address of sender required even if e-mail is used.