Dedham society plans anniversary

To me, she’s the countess of Salisbury Cove and Bar Harbor, an esteemed author, a talented painter and a relentless genealogist – and they’re the best kind.

If you’ve never met Connee Jellison, former Family Ties columnist and a dear friend of mine since March 1980, drop by Dedham School on Route 1A on Saturday, July 13.

No doubt Jellison will be a highlight of the 20th anniversary of the Dedham Historical Society, a community event that will include the Dedham-Lucerne Fire Department Auxiliary fair, held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The historical society also will have a display of many of its old pictures and artifacts. Old town reports back to the ’20s will be on sale for $1 each.

There also will be a display and sale of Jellison’s paintings and her book, “Along the Union River.”

Maybe you have some of her earlier books, such as “Amherst, Maine: Her Settlement and People, 1790-1975,” or “Hancock County, A Rock-Bound Paradise: A Bicentennial Pictorial.” Bring those along, and she’ll sign them, too.

In addition, the society will have information available on Dedham’s Confederate soldier.

Sounds like a good time.

Do you remember what Garland’s Main Street looked like in 1907? Nor do I.

If you’re interested, check http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~godwin/garland.

Marlene Libby wrote us about the site, which includes all kinds of good information.

How about census records for Garland in 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840 and even 1850, the first one to list every person by name.

And while the 1890 U.S. Census records were lost to fire, here you’ll find the special schedule of “Surviving Soldiers, Sailors and Marines, Widows, Etc.” The list includes the rank, company, name of regiment or vessel, and dates of enlistment and discharge. The information was transcribed for the USGenWeb project by Jennifer Godwin.

The many other items on this site include an 1875 map of Garland.

A steamboat on Long Lake in St. Agatha? It’s true, explains Philip Michaud, and furthermore, the rock pile where the boat “docked” all those decades ago is still there.

Michaud wrote this interesting piece in the April-May issue of Le Forum, publication of the Franco-American Center at the University of Maine.

From New England to Wisconsin, the issue has many wonderful articles on Franco-American history and culture, not to mention another installment on Robert Chenard’s genealogy information on the Bolduc family.

Subscribe for $15 in the United States, $20 elsewhere: Franco-American Center, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5719.

The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society is one busy organization, according to the summer issue of The Shiretown Conserver.

Check out Jack Battick’s story on aviator Stanley Tumosa’s part in World War II. Read up on collecting milk bottles and visiting a church belfry – unrelated items.

The organization has some interesting programs coming up, each held at 7 p.m. at Thayer Parkway: Sept. 4, Bill Cook on Civil War medicine; Oct. 2, Walter MacDougal, on writing a social history, focusing particularly on railroads.

Ever visit the society’s headquarters in The Observer Building, right in town? It’s open 1-4 p.m. Sundays through September, so do stop by. And ask about the Blacksmith Shop Museum, too.

Become a member of the society by sending $3 to the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, c/o Madelyn Betts, 11 Harrison Ave., Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or e-mail familyti@bangordailynews.net.