The town of Hampden once was known as 1R1 NWP, not to mention Souadabscook and Wheelersborough. It says so in Stanley Bearce Attwood’s “The Length and Breadth of Maine,” a priceless resource long out of print.

It’s important for genealogists to know not only the various names a town has had and when it was incorporated, but which towns and cities are along its boundaries – in Hampden’s case, Hermon, Bangor, Brewer, Orrington, Winterport and Newburgh. If you don’t find an ancestor in a town’s vital records or census, you may want to check next door.

So it is that we should be very excited that the University of Maine Press and the Maine Genealogical Society are joining efforts to reprint “Attwood,” as the book is fondly known.

It will be a paperback reprint on acid-free paper – sewn, not glued.

You can reserve a copy by e-mailing Cheryl Patten at cpatten@tdstelme.net. Be sure to put “L&B of Maine” in the subject line, and specify how many copies you’ll want. We expect it will be available in September. It’s imperative that you let her know by August if you want to reserve a copy, so that enough books will be printed.

Better yet, prepay your order by sending a check made out to Taconnett Genealogical Library, c/o Cheryl Patten, 1161 East Pond Road, Smithfield 04978.

The cost for one book is $25, shipping and handling included. Two books would be $47.50; three books $70; or four books for $92.50.

However, if you are a member of the Maine Genealogical Society, you may include your MGS number with your order and take off $2 for each book. That would leave you paying $23 for one book, $43.50 for two books, $64 for three books, or $84.50 for four books.

Don’t forget to include your full name and address with your order.

I consider this book to be one of the three most important volumes for Maine genealogists to own – the other two being the 1790 Maine Census and “Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire.”

Two Husson College professors, Drs. Terry Tang and Kenneth Lane, are interested in compiling information on one-room schools in Maine.

They are hoping to hear from one-room schoolteachers, their descendants, and students who attended one-room schools to lend their old negatives, slides, photographs of the interior and exterior of such schools, group pictures, school activities, school records, certificates and other related materials.

The materials will be digitized to preserve the heritage of our educational past.

“We will organize these materials in such a way that our Maine school history could be viewed and studied by those interested,” Tang and Lane wrote.

Items should be identified with location, year, name of teacher, name of school, names of children if known.

“Your willingness to share these precious resources with the future generations of Mainers will be very much appreciated,” they said.

Those who are interested may bring materials in person to the Hillman House (Farmhouse) at Husson College, or send them to Terry Tang, Farmhouse, School of Education, Husson College, One College Circle, Bangor 04401; telephone 973-1014.

Materials will be returned by registered mail.

When materials are one of a kind, it’s always good to make copies or to deliver the items in person so as not to worry about losing them in the mail.

John Hoctor’s enthusiasm was infectious, whether he was talking about the sailors he led during World War II or the athletes he coached at Maine Maritime Academy.

It was a privilege to have interviewed him on both topics, especially since his LCI 365 was the same kind of ship my dad had served on in the Pacific.

Captain Hoctor died April 21, and I’ll miss him. He was one of those people who made history come alive.

3262. PELLETIER-THIBEAULT. Looking for family of Priscilla Thibeault and Leon Pelletier, md. May 27, 1944. Priscilla b. Nov. 5, 1927, Daigle; d. March 15, 1991, Bangor. Leon b. Feb. 5, 1899; d. Feb. 26, 1965. Their children: Joseph Robert, Joseph, Estelle, Rachel, Reginald, Jerry, Alden, Rosaire, Marie Louise, Rena, Nora and half-sister, Dorothy Bates. Am currently compiling information about the Pelletier-Thibeault family. Also interested in getting photos of family. Lisa Michaud, 17 Luckey Landing, Glenburn 04401; 942-8521.

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