Memories of Blanchard compiled in history

Blanchard is just up Pond Road from where I lived in Abbot in my teen years. My sister and I sometimes used to get on Zelda Richards’ bus when she went up through to pick up the Blanchard kids, rather than wait for her to come back down at 7:25 a.m. or so.

Riding into Blanchard, with Russell Mountain coming into view on the left, was just beautiful. It still is.

How pleased I was to receive a copy of the “History of Blanchard, Maine, 1831-2006,” marking the township’s 175th anniversary. This wonderful book was compiled for the Blanchard Preservation Society by Dorothy Folsom Weymouth.

I opened the history to Page 168, and there was a picture of my dad’s dear friend, Harold Hayden of Abbot, standing next to the legendary “Big Pine” near the foot of the mountain in Blanchard.

Now, Harold was one big guy, so that was some huge pine tree. There are many other great photographs, as well.

But rather than browse the pictures, maybe you’d want to start on Page 97 to study the records of “Early Blanchard Families” – 44 pages’ worth, no less, from the Ames families to the Worsters.

There is also a splendid chapter on “My Memories of Blanchard” by Charles Manley Mitchell Jr.

These are Bud’s memories based on his recollections of the town during his high school years, 1935-1938. They were recorded on tape, then transcribed by Dorothy Mitchell Simmons.

“I’ll start in the center of town and go down each road,” the chapter begins. “Perhaps that way I can remember where I’ve been. It might be a little better for you, knowing exactly where we are to begin with.”

Then Mitchell starts right out with the owner of the Blanchard General Store, Edward P. Blanchard, who “was about as close to a mayor as Blanchard ever had.” Isn’t that a great quote?

The book includes maps, a list of veterans and a photocopy of “Events in the History of Blanchard,” from records in the files of the Abbot Historical Society.

The events begin in 1811: “Abraham Moore fell a half-acre of trees on the big intervale.” (Moore was the first settler of Abbot.) The list continues to 1903.

Cost of the history is $15, plus $2.50 for mailing. Send check to Blanchard Preservation Society, c/o Jim Fuller, 829 Blanchard Road, Blanchard Township 04406.

The book also is available at Mr. Paperback in Dover-Foxcroft and at the Monson Museum and Scandinavian Gift Shop in Monson.

The annual meeting of the Brooklin Keeping Society will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thurday, Sept. 28, at the society building, 23 Bay Road, Brooklin.

There will be a brief meeting with election of officers. Featured speakers will be Nancy Whitman and Ralph Stanley, discussing family histories and genealogies of Blue Hill Bay and Frenchman Bay. All are welcome.

3378. PERRY. Seeking descendants of Asa Perry Sr., Asa Perry Jr. or Isaac Perry, all known to have been in Milo, Piscataquis County, in 1823. Rhonda Little, 14 Lincoln St., Millinocket 04462; e-mail

rhontom@gwi.net

Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402; or familyti@bangor

dailynews.net.