Fair features Maine genealogists

If you could go to a genealogy fair and meet Sharon Howland, Valdine Atwood and Frances Raye, that would be a pretty good lineup.

You’re in luck, because these three women, who are very knowledgeable about genealogy Down East and in other locales, will attend the annual event sponsored by the Alexander-Crawford Historical Society, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Alexander Elementary School on the Airline, Route 9.

In addition, come meet Walter Staples, the author of “Blueberryland: Taming the Maine Wild Lowbush Blueberry,” a book covering the blueberry industry from the 1860s to the present. Staples, who was born in Berwick, has been coming to Wesley since 1937, and has an interest in the blueberry growers in that town.

You’re encouraged to bring along records and other genealogy items to share with those attending. Members of the Alexander Grange will provide snacks and lunch. There also will be an exhibit on barns.

By the way, Staples’ book will be available for reading at the Maine State Library in Augusta.

If you ask me about an old jail museum, I’d probably think of York, with its “Old Gaol.”

Come to find out, there’s a Jail House Museum in Island Falls, a stone building put up in 1911. It has had many uses, and was the first site for the Island Falls Historical Society.

The jail museum is open 1-4 p.m. Thursday and Sunday. Other landmarks the society would like you to know about include the Tingley House, a colonial revival-style home given to the society. It is undergoing a period renovation, and is available for tours.

The Beverly P. Rand Potato House, in use into the 1990s, is gathering equipment and artifacts relating to the culture and harvesting of potatoes.

The Emerson Store, with Maine-made crafts, is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. The Tingley House and the potato house may be toured when the store is open, or you may make an appointment. For information, call 463-2264. The e-mail address is emersonstore@ainop.com.

The only common ancestor I’ve found so far for my parents, Joyce (Steeves) Moore and the late Gayland Moore Jr., is Robert Dunbar, who came to Hingham, Mass., from Scotland in the 1650s. Lots of Mainers with New England heritage have lines to Robert and his wife, Rose.

The Dunbar Family Reunion, sponsored by the Robert Dunbar Family Association, will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, at Stony Brook State Park in Dansville, N.Y.

The business meeting begins at noon, and a potluck dinner at 1 p.m. Bring place settings and a dish to share. For information, write Rick Duthe, 283 Prospect St., Franklin, Mass. 02038.

The Williams Family Reunion, for descendants of Joshua Williams of Great Pond, will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. July 26 at the lodge, formally Dow Pines, on Great Pond – north of Aurora in Hancock County.

Bring a chair, lunch, small gift for auction, and pictures of early settlers. For information and directions, contact Betsy Esancy at 445-2927, or e-mail besancy@pivot.net.

Diana Saucier will have her booklet, “History of Stevensville,” available at the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. July 19 in Fort Fairfield.

At Eastbrook Days, to be held July 12 on Route 200 in Eastbrook, check out the more than 100 old photographs of people, places and events Diane Collar has collected. Information about them will be available afterward at the town’s community center.

The photos will be displayed near Patsy Jordan’s “genealogy trailer,” who has more than 40 family books.

If you have photos to share for another year, contact Diane Collar at RR1 Box 563 Eastbrook, ME 04634; or 565-3646.

3239. SLEEPER-CONANT. My great-grandfather was E. [Enoch] Howard Conant, born in Orono or Old Town. His parents were Emeline (Sleeper) and Enoch H. Conant. The 1850 census for Orono lists household of Emeline Conant, 31; Franklin Conant, 8; Enoch H. Conant, 4; Elisha Sleeper, 50; and Jane Sleeper, 18. Presume that Enoch H. Conant, the father, was from N.H., but worked and died in Orono. Would like information about Conant and Sleeper families. Sarah B. Bridges, HC 31 Box 660, Ellsworth, ME 04605; srabridg@panax.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.