The Maine Old Cemetery Association had a productive meeting in Castine on July 28, and the next gathering will be Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Bethel Historical Society, 10-14 Broad St., Bethel.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. – the cost is $2, and at 10:15 a.m. Barbara Desmarais of the Open Space Task Force in Brunswick will talk about how towns should approach their responsibilities concerning cemeteries. Lunch is available for $5, and at 1 p.m. Stan Howe, executive director of the Bethel Historical Society, will give a tour of Woodland Cemetery. A project is under way to bring it back to a garden cemetery.

Membership to MOCA is $5; send to MOCA at P.O. Box 641, Augusta, ME 04332-0641.

Many small towns are bigger than they look – take Veazie, for example. If all you ever see of the town is Route 2 (State Street), you have no idea how many people live there – 1,744 according to the 2000 census.

I learned a lot about the town in Jean Hamilton’s “History of Veazie,” first published more than 20 years ago and reprinted periodically by the town. One of the many things I never knew was that in 1869, there was a proposal to combine Bangor, Brewer and Veazie into one municipality. Bangor set up a committee to study the issue, but Veazie would not, and that’s where it ended.

It was fun to read about the trolley, the railroad, the cemetery, townspeople, and of course the school, especially since the site of the old John R. Graham School is due to become affordable housing.

When I checked with the town office, copies of the history were sold out, but they’re going to get some more made up. If you’re interested, give them a call at 947-2781.

Recent speaking engagements have taken me to Camden for the Kalloch family reunion, and to Abbot for a workshop with the Abbot Historical Society. Had a grand time at both. This weekend, I’ll be speaking to the Stockton Springs Historical Society at 2 p.m. Sunday at the new Town Hall on Main Street. Topics will include genealogy at historical societies, and I will display the 108-year-old quilt made by my great-great-great-grandmother Lovina (Leighton) Moore of Mount Vernon and Parkman.

Ken Kalloch of Concord, N.H., has started a home page for the Kalloch family. Check it out at http://kalloch.accessgenealogy.com.

Back to Stockton Springs for a moment. The historical society has several publications for sale: “The Story of Stockton Springs,” by Alice V. Ellis, originally printed 1955, $20; “Every Name Index” for the above, by John Chandler Clement, $4; “Letters of a New England Coaster,” by Ralph Griffin, $20; “Historical Sketch of Stockton Springs,” by Faustina Hichborn, paperback reprint of 1908 edition, not indexed, $10; “Private Yankee Doodle,” by Joseph Plumb Martin, about life during the Civil War, $5; “Stockton Springs Vital Records: 1857-1891,” compiled by Nancy S. Parsons, $11; “The Journal of Alexander Staples, 1854-1857,” published by H.O.M.E. Learning Center, $10; 1887 Town of Stockton map, $2; 1800 map, $2; historical pictorial calendars, $6, current year and back issues priced lower after July.

3142. PETERSON-JONES. Parents sought for Peter Peterson of Penobscot, seaman, d. September 1840 at New Orleans. Also parents of his wife, Emmaline Hardy Jones (of the Fox Islands?), who survived him and married 2) George P. Hill; 3) John Weed. Peter and Emmaline were parents of Capt. John Foster Peterson, 1839-1907, fishing schooner captain. Al Myers, P.O. Box 101, Castine, ME 04421-0101; or e-mail aem@ezonline.com.

3143. WADE-YOUNG-KALLOCH. Phillip Wade, son of Jacob Wade of Waldoboro, md. June 8, 1808, Mary (Young) Simmons, daughter of Francis and Maragaret (Kalloch) Young of Warren and widow of Barnabas Simmons. Phillip and Mary lived in Friendship, Montville and Hope before moving to Willimantic in late 1840s. Census records indicate 12 children. I know of only four: Elizabeth, Cyrus, James and Melinda. Who were the others? Barbara Brown, P.O. Box 94, Kenduskeag, ME 04450.

3144. BOWLER. Seeking info on Herbert W. and Grace B. Bowler, lived in Limerick, November 1918. Also their daughter, Janet Gertrude Bowler. Any help appreciated. Betty Richards, P.O. Box 950, Union, ME 04862-0950; or e-mail BLRTABBY@ aol.com.