Hampden Academy book goes way back

You say you just can’t remember when Addie Bunker graduated from Hampden Academy? Well, I should think not, because the year was 1889.

On the other hand, maybe you remember well that Martha MacCrae – now fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Stepp at Weatherbee School – graduated in 1962.

I know these years of graduation because I’m looking at a copy of “Hampden Academy Bicentennial Alumni & History,” prepared by Richard M. Newcomb, Class of 1962, and daughter Suzanne C. Cole, Class of 1991.

From Anthony Abbondondola to Karista Zwicker, 80 pages of alphabetical listings tell us who attended Hampden Academy and when, from 1951 to the present.

That is some kind of genealogical resource.

The 146-page book also includes history of the school, listings of courses offered in different eras, and pictures of the school over the years. There’s also a list of principals – Phineas Johnson was the first, 1807-1811, and Miss J. L. Elder 1874-1877 was the first woman principal.

It’s interesting to note that the academy was started even before Maine became a state, and that future Vice President Hannibal Hamlin was at one time a trustee.

The book is a project of Friends of Hamlin Inc., which will use profits to complete a documentary on the life of Hamlin, “Our Maine Man.” Newcomb portrays Hamlin at events throughout Maine to promote education about our native son, and to help raise funds for the video.

The book is available for $20 at the Hampden town office, Newburgh town office, Village Miniatures in Hampden, or the office at Hampden Academy. For a mailed copy, send $25 to Friends of Hamlin, 205 Western Ave., Hampden 04444, or call 862-3633.

Many cemeteries make an effort to keep their records on veterans buried there up-to-date. Mount Pleasant Catholic Cemetery in Bangor is in the process of doing this.

If you know of a veteran buried there, officials would be pleased to have you notify them in writing – either in person or by mail. Include branch of service, years of service, and whether the veteran served in a war. The address is Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 449 Ohio St., Bangor 04401.

You may know that Bill Cook, the local history librarian in the Bangor Room at the Bangor Public Library, has a particular interest in military history.

He has put together a nice exhibit on Bangor women in World War I and World War II in the stairwell of the original part of the library.

In addition to looking over the exhibit and the lists of women in the service, you might find that you have information to share on one or more of these women with the library.

For instance, I remembered that I had interviewed Wynona (Boober) Aldrich when she was 97 and then living in Lincoln. I’m sending Cook a copy of that story.

Even if you live too far from Bangor to go see the display case, I’m sure Cook would appreciate having a copy of information on Bangor servicewomen during these wars.

You can write Bill Cook at Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St., Bangor 04401.

3219. SMITH-LANE. Seeking ancestors of my great-great-great-grandmother, Mercy Smith, who md. Webster Lane. He was b. April 8, 1766. Mercy Lane d. March 24, 1844, Dexter; Webster Lane d. March 1, 1846, Dexter. Wayne Bennett, P.O. Box 173, Guilford 04443. E-mail emb@midmaine.com.

3220. HOWES-HAMILTON. Looking for parents and siblings of Edwin Augustus Howes, b. about 1840. He md. Elizabeth Ann Hamilton, May 15, 1859, in Richmond. They were parents of Albra Howes, b. 1861, Liberty. Margaret Millay, 627 Fishtown Road, Liberty 04949.

3221. JORDAN-OAKES. Looking for date and place of death, burial for John Gardner Jordan, b. Sangerville about 1848, to Estelle Oakes Jordan and Ivory Hovey Jordan. Dorothy Cummings, 27 Snow Road, Scarborough 04074-9237; dfac@msn.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.