Video offers history, scenes of ironworks

If you’ve been thinking about visiting Katahdin Ironworks for lo, these many moons, a new video published by Flying Fish Video Productions may be the last little nudge you need.

KI, as it’s known, is a Piscataquis County “museum” with a restored stone blast furnace and charcoal kiln from the 19th century.

The place where it’s located is actually called Katahdin Ironworks Township, just north of Barnard and Williamsburg townships. You also might think of it as “on the way to Gulf Hagas,” one of the most beautiful hiking spots in the state.

Oh yes, the video.

Narrator Troy Ames starts out by talking about Moses Greenleaf, the Williamsburg cartographer whose maps and research into Maine’s assets and resources were vital in making the case that Massachusetts’ District of Maine was worthy of becoming the State of Maine.

Ames’ program includes lots of wonderful old pictures of KI and the Silver Lake Hotel. Crystal Cartwright reads “Vacation Days,” a piece written by Audrey Green about Silver Lake, and published in the 1926 Brownville High School Reflector.

One of my favorite parts shows prolific author William Sawtell, whose writings are the basis for the video, giving fifth-graders from LaGrange a tour of Katahdin Ironworks.

Also included are Norman Ames singing the Katahdin Ironworks song, and oodles of scenic footage shot during foliage season. Yes, there are a couple of moose.

Audrey Green, we find out, was the daughter of Burt Green, who died in 1929, and Sara Green, an amazing woman who was known as “the mayor of Katahdin Ironworks.” Sara died Feb. 12, 1969, in Bangor.

Fewer than a handful of gravestones are left at KI. One marks the grave of Mary H. Mahoney, daughter of George and L.C. Mahoney, who died Aug. 11, 1852, at 2 years 5 months. Another marker mentioned on the video, and in a 1987 Bangor Daily News story, was for Zachariah H. Judkins, who died Aug. 25, 1851, at 82.

The credits on the video include this phrase: “We thank the ancestors for their stories.”

Amen to that.

The video is available for $20, tax included, plus $2 shipping, from Flying Fish Video Productions Inc. Milo, ME 04463; telephone 943-2803.

The Mid-Coast Genealogy Group will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at the LDS Church on Old County Road in Rockport. Jack Williams of Camden will present a documentary program of historical events about Camden between 1900 and 1950. All are welcome. For information, contact Marlene A. Groves at 594-4293.

3196. KIDDER-WILKINS-GREENLAW-McLAUGHLIN-McLELLAN. Looking for historical societies in Princeton, Woodland (Baileyville), Waite, Topsfield, Danforth, Indian Township. Is there a plan to form a regional historical society? Have received assistance on Kidders from St. Croix Historical Society in Calais. Many descendants in Princeton area have line from Calvin Kidder, arrived 1783 or 1784 in New Brunswick, and son J. Calvin Kidder, b. 1799, moved to Calais and married in Amity in 1834. Have contacted distant cousin in NH, we have info to share with historical society in Washington County. Searching for relative to correspond with in Princeton or Woodland. Would like to hear from anyone who could contribute to a family tree. Searching for 1) parents of Samuel Wilkins, b. 1770-1775, Maine; 2) parents of Mercy Greenlaw, b. 1765-1775, Maine; 3) complete list of 13 children of Calvin and Miranda Kidder, including birth parents of their grandson, James C. McLellan. Betty Fredericks, 4 Mt. Pleasant St., No. 308, North Billerica, MA 01862; or e-mail bbffrrpp@attbi.com.

3197. GRANT. Looking for info on where the Grant family went, having disappeared from Bangor records in 1873. In 1872, Reuben S. Grant, an iron foundry pattern filer, lived on Cumberland Street, near Harlow Street, with wife Angeline, b. about 1825; son William H., b. 1847; daughter Leonora, b. 1857. Jack Lotz, 3917 Buena Vista Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32210; or e-mail jandelotz@cs.com.

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