Event to include tours of Civil War graves

Wouldn’t it be fun to take a tour of Civil War graves in the Dover cemetery?

Historian Lou Stevens will give tours at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 2, as part of Civil War Day in Dover-Foxcroft. You can meet him in the old part of the “big cemetery” on Vaughn Road, or take a wagon ride from the Observer Building Museum on Main Street.

There will be all kinds of activities, starting with the 11 a.m. dedication of the Civil War monument next to the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church, where Main Street turns into the Guilford road.

The Community Band will present a concert at approximately 11:20 a.m., and a beanhole bean lunch will be held at 11:45 a.m. in the church chapel. Proceeds will benefit three local charities.

The Observer Building Museum, operated by the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, will open at 12:30 p.m. (The museum also will be open 1-4 p.m. Fridays and Sundays through August.)

Special presentations at the museum on Saturday include:

. 1 p.m. Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, portrayed by Richard Newcomb of Hampden.

. 2 p.m. Maj. and Mrs. William Cook, Civil War surgeon and the Sanitary Committee. Cook is local history librarian at Bangor Public Library.

. 2:45 p.m. Musket drill with the 20th Maine, Company B re-enactors.

. 3 p.m. The 20th Maine and the Battle for Little Round Top, with John Battick, retired history professor.

. 4 p.m. The Grand Army of the Republic, with Eric Boothroyd.

. 4:30 p.m. Dover’s Civil War Nurse, Sarah Elizabeth Palmer, portrayed by Leilani Stites.

Wagon rides to the cemetery and back will be offered 1-4 p.m.

A chicken barbecue will be held 5-7 p.m. on the lawn of the Verizon Building, across from the museum. Proceeds benefit Dover-Foxcroft Youth Hockey.

Civil War folk artist Joe Bennett and bluegrass band Midnight Flyer will give a concert at 7 p.m. at the Buie School of Music near the museum. Donations will benefit the historical society.

Sponsors of Civil War Day are the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society; Daniel Chaplin Camp No. 3, Sons of Union Veterans; Sarah Elizabeth Palmer Tent No. 23, Daughters of Union Veterans; and the Maine Humanities Council.

Looking for information on researching your Civil War ancestors? This is the group.

Speaking of groups, the Maine Daughters of the American Revolution and the Penobscot Historical Society showed everyone a good time on William Hutchings Day, with activities honoring the man from Penobscot who was the last living Revolutionary War veteran in 1866. The DAR dedicated a new monument to Hutchings and his wife, Mercy Wardwell.

The couple had 16 children, and their Hutchings-Wardwell descendants are still turning up – there must be hundreds if not thousands. The children married into the Wardwell, Stover, Palmer, Snowman, Grindle, McCaslin, Darby, McDonald, Veazie and Miller families.

DAR State Regent Donna Hoffmann printed up a little booklet and program with the Hutchings and Wardwell family information. She still has a few left, and they are available for $17, postage included, from Donna Hoffmann, P.O. Box 92, Bucksport, 04416.

In addition, the Maine DAR made up some First Day Cancellation postcards. One four-postcard set, of William Hutchings and of his stone, is $6.25, postage included. Another set includes the new monument and is on glossy paper, for $11.25. You may send checks to DAR, in care of Hoffmann at the address above. She also will be getting sheets that include the Hutchings coat of arms and the monument.

If you have questions about what is available, call Donna Hoffmann at 469-2916.

3331. RING. Looking for information on family of William Ring in Ellsworth and surrounding areas, especially 1820-1840. Searching for info on Abigail Ring, who married Jonathan F. Maddocks; Sarah Ring, who married Thomas Pratt; Elisabeth Ring, who married Benjamin Milliken; Jane or Janey Ring, died unmarried; Hannah Winship Ring, died young in Hancock County; Rachel Wing, info unknown; Hannah Ring, b. 1810, died young. William Ring went with his son, Thomas Warren Ring, north into Canada, where we assumed he died. K.N. Williams, P.O. Box 3697, Torrance, CA 90510-3697; e-mail knwill@juno.com.

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