Tour of Bangor Public Library draws 60 to genealogy meeting

The editor of a genealogy magazine has a theory that people aren’t getting out to meetings and conventions the way they used to because so much genealogy can be done over the Internet.

That may be so in some locales, but attendance at the Penobscot County Genealogical Society went from 30 at the first meeting in October to 60 for the Nov. 20 meeting. Bill Cook, Shawn Weisser and Phil Getchell split the group into three sections for a wonderful tour of the Bangor Public Library.

Shawn oriented my group to the Bangor Room – town histories on one side, family histories on the other. She showed us the new case in the back, used to store rare Bangor materials and items on Maine industry, Bangor High School, Girls High School, Bangor Theological Seminary, the Temperance movement, military history and oversized books.

She pointed out the Bangor Daily News Index, a card catalog for the NEWS and the old Bangor Commercial in the 1900s, though she has found items dating to the late 1800s.

A file cabinet in the Bangor Room holds information on the men included in the Book of Honor, commemorating Bangoreans who died in the service during World War II.

Shawn also took us to “the cage,” the conservation area which actually used to have a cage to safeguard rare materials. Library holdings range from six boxes of manuscripts which belonged to the late historian James Vickery to a collection of Jewish materials donated by a rabbi. Both collections are being organized.

Bill Cook and-or Shawn Weisser are at the library several days a week in the Bangor Room, and Phil Getchell is there regularly as well. They are most knowledgeable about resources and about doing genealogy, so do ask for advice.

You’ll also be interested in the handout sheets available on a table in the Bangor Room. And if you have access to the Internet, do check out the library’s Web site at www.bpl.lib.me.us. If you click on Departments, then on Bangor Room-Special Collections, you’ll find helpful information, including a lengthy listing of the Manuscript Collection.

Other specific topics include Military History, Canadian Genealogy and Other Web Sites for Research in Maine. In addition, there are e-mail links enabling you to contact Bill, Shawn and Phil. It goes without saying that since the renovated, expanded Bangor Public Library reopened nearly two years ago, its offerings to genealogists and historians have grown tremendously.

The next PCGS meeting, by the way, will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 18 in the Lecture Hall on the library’s third floor. The topic will be the 1930 census. The society’s Web site is www.rootsweb.com/~mepcgs.

How about a parade on Saturday, July 19? That’s right, next July. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m., and Bradford Heritage: Museum and Historical Society is encouraging World War II veterans to march or ride in the parade as a way to help youngsters have a sense of history and an appreciation of those who have served to preserve our freedom.

And did you know that Bradford was originally Blakesburg? Or that the Rev. Moses Ames was born in Sullivan?

I found out those interesting bits of information from the society’s newsletter, available with membership for $2 a year. Send dues to Bradford Heritage in care of Rodric Johnson, treasurer, P.O. Box 11, Bradford, ME 04410.

Plans are under way for a Saucier Family Reunion next summer. If you’re interested in receiving the details when they’re available, send along your name, phone number and address to Rachel Breton, P.O. Box 412, Monmouth, ME 04259. I’d also suggest including a self-addressed stamped envelope.

I couldn’t believe my ears when Lois Reed called to tell me the genealogy Web site for the Mormon Church didn’t work. It would have worked, if I’d listed it correctly. Here it is: www.familysearch.org.

3207. EATON-SWIFT-PAUL. Researching George Washington Eaton, b. Feb. 22, 1800, especially parents. His youngest son was Solon Eaton, may have come from that area. Oldest daughter wrote he was born in Hermon, but it wasn’t Hermon back then. I have his wife’s family back to 1762, the Swift-Paul line, but cannot find George. Nancy Fricke, 123 Brent Road, Arnold, MD 21012; Woodfrus@aol.com.

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