Help sought to complete Bangor Book of Honor

Dennis T. Cullinan Jr. was shot down over France during World War II. His name, like those of other Bangor natives killed during the war, is inscribed in the Bangor Book of Honor, preserved in a glass case at the Bangor Public Library.

For the past half-century, he has been one of five honorees for whom the library did not have a picture.

That will change, thanks to the unknown relative who dropped off a picture last year of Cullinan in uniform.

Bill Cook, the local history librarian for BPL, is compiling information on Cullinan so that his page can be prepared.

Cook would like to hear from people who knew the Cullinan family and might have information to share – or, better yet, the address of any living relatives.

An exhibit in May will honor Cullinan’s memory, and a ceremony will be scheduled for placing his picture in the Bangor Book of Honor.

There are still four men for whom the library needs pictures: William H. Ivey, Harvey B. Lovett, Bernard Striar and Aubrey Francis Withee.

Cook is pleased to be able to prepare Cullinan’s information for inclusion in the book.

“Being a military historian, this is of particular interest to me,” he explained. Cook came to BPL in October as the facility’s first local history librarian after working in special collections at the University of Maine’s Fogler Library.

Cook’s first task at BPL was to evaluate the library’s collection and identify special items.

“The library has both local history and special collections,” he pointed out. “It’s more than just Bangor.”

Some especially rare books are due to be placed in a locked case or other secure location, Cook said. The items will still be accessible, but less likely to suffer damage if they’re kept off the regular shelves.

“I’ve also been evaluating material for preservation projects,” he said, work that will range from putting items in acid-free boxes or folders to doing repairs.

Cook also is trained in photographic preservation, having studied at Eastman House in New York. Years ago, he organized a library for the Madison County Historical Society in Oneida, N.Y. Later, at the Onandaga County Public Library, he worked in the history and genealogy department under Gerald Parsons, author and a Fellow of the American Society of Genealogists.

As some items are processed in Bangor, users can expect the library catalog to actually “grow” as things are sorted and organized. We’ll keep you posted.

You’ll likely meet Bill Cook in the Bangor Room at the Bangor Public Library.

By the way, Cook added that volunteer work is being done to organize the photographs left to the library by the late historian Jim Vickery.

Cook’s first acquisition for the library was the two-volume Maine 1870 Census Index. If you have genealogical or historical books you’d like to donate to the library, information on Dennis Cullinan or pictures of the other four soldiers, contact Bill Cook at 947-8336, Ext. 103.

3090. PEASLEY-BROOKINGS. Seeking parentage and ancestors for both Alex or Alexander Peasley, who md. by 1825, Harriett Brookings or Brookins of Gardiner, Kennebec County. Their daughter Mary Ann Peasley was born about that date. Am guessing Alex was born 1785-1790. He was from Whitefield, Lincoln County. The 1790 Census for Maine lists heads of household Daniel, Jonathan and Nathan Peasley, and Olover and Ezekiel Pesley, all of Balltown, which became Whitefield and Jefferson; and Enoch Peasley of Wells. The census also lists a Hannah Brookin of Pownalborough, later Wiscasset, but no children in household at that time. Am wondering if Harriett was daughter of John and Harriett (maiden name?) Brookings of Randolph or Gardiner. Danny W. Howard, DECF Box 428, Machiasport, ME 04655.

3091. STEVENS-TRACY. Seeking lineage and birthplace for Jonathan Stevens, colonel and deacon, possibly Jonathan Pillsbury Stevens. He was b. Sept. 1741, d. Jan. 9, 1822, Steuben, buried Godfrey Cemetery in Steuben. He md. Mary Tracy, b. May 17, 1752, in Falmouth; d. Aug. 21, 1833, Steuben. Samuel, Lydia, Rhoda, Jonathan Jr., Abigail, Lovisa, Bethia and Nancy were their eight children. B. Richards, P.O. Box 950, Union, ME 04862; or e-mail BLRTABBY@aol.com.

3092. DINSMORE-WHITNEY-FICKETT. Seeking death and burial place of Cymbeline (Dinsmore) Whitney, b. Jan. 23, 1815, at Harrington, daughter of Israel and Abigail (Fickett) Dinsmore. She md. May 8, 1842, at Machias, Ephraim Crocker Whitney, b. March 4, 1823, at Machias; d. Jan. 25, 1902, Westbrook. He was son of Ephraim and Mary or Polly (Crocker) Whitney. Valdine C. Atwood, 2 Free St., Machias, ME 04654; or e-mail valdine@juno.com.

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