On Oct. 31, 1864, Company D of the 16th Maine Infantry was at Fort Wadsworth, Va., and, according to a letter by soldier Marcus Kingsbury, the 1st Maine Cavalry was “about 2 miles from here.”

So wrote Marcus to his father back in Bradford, Thomas R. Kingsbury. He added that he hoped his family would send along some calfskin boots, a pair of woolen shirts, postage stamps and “a few steel pens and stock.”

These fascinating tidbits and more are in the current issue of Looking Back at Bradford, the newsletter of Bradford Heritage: Museum and Historical Society, thanks to the eagle eye of Muriel S. Parker.

Both society president and newsletter editor, Parker was surfing the Internet about Bradford, Maine, when she came upon an item stating that five pages of Marcus Kingsbury’s letters were owned by the Library of Virginia. She set about acquiring copies for the historical society, and so one of the letters is in the newsletter.

On another note is a story which appeared in at least four newspapers around the country in 1836 – the tale of 8-year-old George Parks and his escape from a cranky bear thanks to the cattle he was herding back to home. Goodness!

Now for some “new” news. The Quiet Quilters in Bradford, with the assistance of Bradford Heritage, have given the new community center-town office a 90-by-90-inch quilt made of traditional squares alternating with photographic images of old Bradford scenes.

Also, keep your eye out for the Sessions clock, which the society will be donating to the new building. The clock had hung in the old Grange hall since 1907.

The dedication, dinner and open house at the town office and community center is set for 5 p.m. Thursday, July 19.

Bradford Days celebration will kick off Friday, July 20, with the Bradford Volunteer Fire Department Auction at 6:30 p.m. at the new building.

Activities on Saturday, July 21, include the parade at 11 a.m. from the elementary school to the town hall; a book sale 9 a.m.-noon at the John B. Curtis Free Public Library; and museum hours 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the library. The archives will be open until 3 p.m. that day at the library.

This summer, the archives are open during library hours, 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. The museum is open by appointment. Call 327-1246.

To receive the Looking Back at Bradford newsletter, join the historical society for $4 a year, sent to Muriel Parker, 1163 Main Road, Bradford 04410-3308. Enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a membership card sent to you.

Use the same address if you’d like to send items to be considered for the newsletter. It is a nifty publication.

The Cherryfield-Narraguagus Historical Society will hold a ribbon-cutting at its new museum at 1 p.m. Friday, June 29, 88 River Road, Cherryfield.

The library at the museum will be dedicated in memory of Margery Brown.

The museum will be open to the public 1-4 p.m. Saturday, June 30. Regular hours are 1-4 p.m. Fridays during July and August and by appointment. For information, call 546-2076.

I will be on vacation June 26-July 4, but Family Ties will continue in this space. Part of my time away will include attending the Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress in Washington, D.C.

Polly Bartow of Fryeburg, honorary state regent, is a candidate for librarian general on the slate of the Calvin Associates.

Donna Hoffmann of Bucksport, honorary state regent, is a candidate for one of seven vice presidents general to be elected.

Installed for the Maine DAR will be Vrege Murray of Portland, state regent, and Virginia Spiller of York, state vice regent.

The eight finalists for National Outstanding Junior this year include Heidi Hoffman Coghill of Bucksport.

Who was the only Maine woman to serve as president general of the DAR? Doris Pike White of Bangor and Machias.

For information on DAR resources, including what they have at the library in Washington, visit www.dar.org

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