Veterans, Model T’s highlight Abbot’s 175th birthday

ABBOT – Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate the town of Abbot’s 175th anniversary, kicking off Saturday with a parade of more than 100 units that entertained crowds lining the route through the village.

Restored antique cars were a hit, from Model T’s and Model A’s to a 1942 state police vehicle to every kind of old Chevy imaginable, including one touting Lover’s Lane – an off-road location known to couples of a half-century ago. Two automobiles carried seven members from the Pythian Sisters organization.

“I liked that convertible,” Abbot native Hattie Mitchell commented after an hour of riding in the parade.

There were other kinds of transportation, too – firetrucks from miles around, colorful floats, trucks for logging and construction, draft horses, and a horse and buggy that stopped short when confronted by a wisecracking Anah Temple Shrine clown.

“How many horsepower is that?” the clown asked loudly.

Certainly it was less horsepower than a certain behemoth that did long-ago duty in Piscataquis County: Engine No. 3 was brought to Abbot for the occasion by the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad in Portland.

Military color guards joined the procession, along with a few dozen World War II veterans marching behind a jeep from the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor. Sons of Union Veterans Wayne Bennett and Eric Boothroyd walked in Civil War-style uniforms.

Many more veterans of several eras enjoyed the parade from spectators’ row, among them World War II sailor Erland Herring, who has marched in numerous Memorial Day parades in Abbot, Sangerville and Guilford over the years.

Four generations of his family watched the parade from in front of Abbot Evangelical Free Church, which opened its doors not only to share its own exhibits, but also to make space for a salute to veterans by the Abbot Historical Society. Church members also directed parking and ran a shuttle van to help people move between the celebration sites.

“The church stepped forward and offered their help. It’s wonderful,” said Janice McAllister, who served the town as selectman for 18 years.

Inside the church, visitors of all ages paused to view the pictures, the military uniforms and the artifacts, such as a Civil War rifle. They peered at photographs of the Carr brothers, a certificate honoring the World War I service of Leon Shattuck, and the Purple Heart of native son E. Lewis Page, killed during World War II.

Down at the historical society, “the museum is rocking,” exclaimed Carolyn Amos, beaming as visitors streamed in. Upstairs, Melanie Bridge pointed out facets of the elegant Knights of Pythias room, finished off in 1898 with the only known existing rug from an old mill in town.

By the town hall, demonstrations ranged from basket weaving and spinning wool to the Guilford Fire Department demolishing a car to demonstrate a victim extraction process. The Bangor Band and the Sebasticook Valley Community Band played old favorites, such as “Getting to Know You.”

The Army was there, too. Chris Taylor, 11, of Parkman took his turn scrambling up the climbing wall and easily rappelling down under the watchful eye of personnel from 309th Combat Support, U.S. Army Reserves in Bangor, and the U.S. Army Recruiting Center in Dover-Foxcroft.

Completing a two-week stint as a hometown recruiter was Pvt. Luke Hussey of Milo, a 1999 graduate of Penquis Valley High School in Milo, soon headed for Fort Hood, Texas.

The celebration continued Sunday with a special church service, the annual Olde Home Dinner and the males-only Miss Abbot Contest.