Down East archives group busy preserving local history

The archives committee established a couple of years ago by the Washington County commissioners has been some old busy, as Tim Sample might put it.

The committee went to work on getting the Machias Republican put on microfilm for 1858 through 1920. In addition, the committee has purchased reels of other newspapers in the county collection, so the total available to the public is 93 reels.

Moreover, there is now a microfilm reader-printer in the probate office at the courthouse in Machias.

Current and former members of the committee are Valdine Atwood of Machias, Dr. Ruth Ahrens of Lubec, Judge Lyman Holmes of Machias, Terry Hussey of Milbridge, Dr. Kathryn Kimball of the University of Maine at Machias, Dr. Robert Sloane of Roque Bluffs, Jennifer Peters of East Machias and Frances Raye of Perry. Carlene Holmes, head of the probate office, also has assisted the group.

What a great accomplishment this work is. By the way, the Machias Republican microfilm reels also are available for purchase at $40 each from the county.

Microfilming the Machias Union collection will be next, and donations toward this project would be appreciated. To help, contact Valdine Atwood at 255-4432.

This exciting information comes to you from Weirs and Woods, a wonderful newsletter put out by the Washington County Genealogical Society and edited by Ruth Ahrens. The spring issue is chock full of great information.

Membership in WCGS, including the newsletter, is $10, sent in care of Gwen Lujan, 1 Spear Ave., Eastport 04631.

If you already get Weirs and Woods, do let the group know if your address has changed because of E-911. Notify Valdine Atwood at 2 Free St., Machias 04654 or e-mail valdine@juno.com.

Keep these dates in mind:

. May 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., genealogy fair at Fredericton High School cafeteria, Fredericton, New Brunswick.

. July 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Alexander-Crawford Historical Society genealogy fair, Alexander Elementary School.

. July 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Charlotte Historical Society genealogy fair, Charlotte Elementary School.

It is so exciting to see new historical societies start up. The Wellington Historical Society has been meeting since November, and Dolores Pomerleau sent along its newsletter, the Wellington Crier.

It includes a nice little piece on Franklin T. Frye, a Civil War soldier in the 20th Maine. He was from the Vassalboro Fryes, and is buried in Taylor Yard Cemetery in Wellington, which is in Piscataquis County. Frye was a Free Baptist preacher.

This issue also includes the entire 1857 voting list for Wellington, from George Allen to William D. York.

The society is looking for copies of old pictures of buildings such as the Huff Hotel, old schoolhouses, churches or the pavilion that was located below Levi Cowette’s home.

For information on the society, write Dolores Pomerleau at 10 Huff Corner Road, Wellington 04942-8713.

The Mid-Coast Genealogy Group will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the LDS Church on Old County Road in Rockport.

Theo Walker of Farmington, lineage research chairman for the Maine State Organization, Daughters of the American Revolution, will talk about applying to lineage groups such as the DAR, including requirements and documents needed.

For information, contact Marlene A. Groves at 594-4293.

3225. NICHOLSON-WOOD. William and Hannah Nicholson are in the 1881 Census of Dunkinfield, Cheshire, England. Children: Sarah A., Joe and John. Need maiden name of Hannah, and-or how William was uncle to Minerva and James Wood, living in same household. Minerva was my grandmother. Esther Hardwick, P.O. Box 254, Limestone, ME 04750.

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