Society’s newsletter informative

The Washington County Genealogical Society holds its meetings around the county so that lots of people have an opportunity to attend. Participants include researchers from neighboring Charlotte County, New Brunswick, as well.

But even if a trip Down East is too much of a hike, you can keep up with the group’s doings – and programs – by joining the society and receiving its nice newsletter, Weirs and Woods. The spring issue featured information shared during a recent program by Sally J. Moir, library assistant for local history, genealogy and special collections at Calais Free Library.

Its holdings include town histories, vertical files, Sharon Howland’s “Vital Statistics of Calais, Maine Prior to 1892,” and many other resources, including Scholl, McDonald and Irving’s funeral home records for 1907-1981, indexed by Thelma Eye Brooks.

The issue also offers brief notes on DNA from Dr. Tom Roderick’s program this spring, and good information on the Maine State Archives and its resources from an article by the New England Historic Genealogical Society.

There are queries, as well as a “Relationship Chart,” which could help you figure out what sort of cousin you might be to someone else who shares a common ancestor.

Membership is $10 a year, sent to WCGS, care of Christine Small, P.O. Box 28, East Machias, ME 04630.

The group does not meet during the summer, but fall meetings are planned for Sept. 16, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18.

WCGS President Frances Raye is working on an interesting project, compiling lists of veterans buried in Washington County cemeteries.

She’s been working on Eastport and Perry, and is hoping to receive names of veterans buried in every nook and cranny of Washington County.

In particular, she’s hoping that veterans groups and other folks who place flags on veterans’ graves for Memorial Day will share their lists with her to help the project move along.

If you have information to share, send it along to Frances Raye, 410 Shore Road, Perry, ME 04667. Gathering and sharing this information is certainly a worthy tribute to those who served our country.

Summer is such a nice time to get out to a genealogy fair. Do check out the Alexander-Crawford Genealogical Fair, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at the Alexander Elementary School.

From the Bangor area, you could just head up Route 9.

Carl McKusick reports that the McKusick Family State of Maine Reunion will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the McKusick Farm in Parkman, about three miles south of Guilford on the road to Skowhegan.

The reunion will be held, rain or shine, under a big tent. A grill will be available for cooking. Bring your picnic lunch and lawn chair.

For information, contact Mark Storms at 846-9422, or Carl McKusick at 876-2252.

The annual picnic and social gathering of Families of Swedish Heritage will be held on Sunday, July 16, at the home of Bill and Jane Macomber in Abbot.

Bring a picnic lunch for your family; punch and coffee will be furnished. The noon lunch will be followed by a brief business meeting and social time.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the scenery of Whetstone Pond while

visiting with friends, sharing information and renewing our Swedish heritage,” said Estella Kronholm Bennett.

For directions or more information, contact her at 876-3073.

Monson and surrounding communities, as you may know, were home to many Swedish and Finnish families, some of whom worked in the slate quarries.

3369. REED-STACEY. I would like to connect with the families of Annie Reed and Annie Stacey. My grandfather, David Hart, is buried in the Annie Reed lot in Pine Grove Cemetery in Bangor, and Annie Stacey was the informant when he died in 1932. Would very much like to have info into the life and ancestry of my grandfather, the son of Cyrus Hart, who owned land in Addison. Maxine Hart Bass, 501 Union St. Lot 16, Bangor 04401; mackie1944@al.com

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