Childhood memories stirred by volume of ‘Images of America’

In the late 1950s, it was the best fun to visit Abbie Fowler’s house, across the street from my school in Sangerville. Come February, she’d have all the penny valentines laid out in rows on display shelves in her kitchen, which held part of her delightful gift shop.

“Miss Fowler” had taught my mother during her 30-plus years at the school I later attended, but which in her day held kindergarten to grade 12.

And there she is, second from the left in the front row, in a beautiful picture taken in 1947 in front of the Universalist Church, which later merged with the Methodist Church. The photo is reproduced on page 116 of “Images of America: Guilford and Sangerville,” by Sieferd C. Schultz.

It’s one of many photograph books issued by Arcadia Publishing on Maine towns, cities and regions, and how pleased I was to find it in a local bookstore.

I don’t recognize everyone in the picture, but I see Billie Humphrey and Charlene Edes and June Dexter, the town librarian of my childhood. And of course, Alice Jackson, who used to play Scrabble with me and my childhood pal Diana (Rees) Bowley.

Another great photo is a 1935 picture of the Sangerville town baseball team, which had several connections to my Steeves relatives.

There’s Arthur; his brother-in-law, Guy Clukey, who married sister, Amalia; Garfield Stone, whose mother was related to their mother, Tressa (Given) Steeves; Ralph Baker, who was raised by my great-grandparents; and a couple of cousins.

You may recognize Linwood Carleton, Kenneth Coburn, Earl Humphrey, Dub Gray, Aubrey Wilson, Tom Patterson, Winton Cobb, Maurice Pullyard, Frank Dawes, George Pullyard, James Jackson and youngsters Earl Humphrey Jr. and Kenneth Clukey.

Guilford, of course, had the Advertisers, but I didn’t realize the town had a baseball team in 1895. A photo at Mount Kineo shows Plummer Chadbourne, Frank Martin, Alton Chadbourne, Carlyle Hussey, Leland Ross, Forest Rowell, James Hudson, Arthur Witham and Harry Katen; plus Charles Turner and manager Charles Little.

And how about the picture of the grandstand and ball field in Guilford on page 96? I remember the grandstand well, and the fairs that were held on the field every year.

Roads and streets – buildings that are still there, and some long gone, what a treasure-trove. The photos show many different angles so that even a youngster such as myself can peruse them and say, “So that’s what it used to look like.”

A 1915 view of North Main Street seems very familiar, though the automobiles are far different from what I’ve driven there. But the 1923 aerial view of downtown Guilford is beyond my imagination – except of course, for the “woolen mill” that employed my grandfather, Stanley Steeves, for many years.

It was Grampy who often took me to Smart’s IGA Store in Sangerville, which later became Starbird’s. I remember just where the meat case was, and the display of fish. Fine with me if he bought hot dogs, but couldn’t a little girl wrinkle up her nose when he ordered tripe!

The flood pictures of the Piscataquis River are remarkable – of course the 1987 flood, which took out Low’s Bridge. But there are photos, too, from floods in 1923 and 1934 and 1936.

This is a neat book – do look for Images of America volumes on your neck of the woods.

3425. KIMBALL-DILL-CHURCH-BUKER. Looking for anything on Lillar F. Kimball, born April 9, 1878, in Chelsea or Gardiner, to Charles M. and Flora L. (Dill) Kimball. Charles M. born May 16, 1844, to David Kimball, born Aug. 3, 1800, and wife, Elizabeth (Kennedy) Dill, born Aug. 25, 1800. Flora was born March 13, 1860, to William Church Dill and wife, Mary (Buker) Dill. Have searched high and low and cannot find where Lillar went, or if she married or when she died. Any help greatly appreciated. Maggie Spofford, 392 South Deer Isle Road, Deer Isle, ME 04627; maggie37@verizon.net.

3426. MANN-MESERVEY. Looking for information on the Mann-Meservey family. My father was Walter F. Mann. He was married to Sarah Twitchell in 1943, divorced in 1946. They resided in Portland. Walter was born July 6, 1920, to Guy Mann and Beatrice (Meservey) Mann. I know very little of my father and would like information on any family members. In my search, I found the name of Norman Moody Jr., asking for contact, but no e-mail or address. Hope he will see this and respond, too. Carla Willey, 8633 Bacons Road, Laurel, DE 19956; willeyc1@netzero.net

3427. SEARLES-McGLAUFLIN. Looking for Searles cousins. Have written a book about my great-grandmother, who had a daughter, Florence McGlauflin, who married Alfred Searles of Brownville. Aunt Flo published a novel, wrote for local papers and submitted stories for Sunday School publications. Have written letters to possible relatives in area, with no response. My parents took frequent trips to Brownville area, as my mother had cousins in Milo, Brownville and Dover-Foxcroft. Some of these also had a Foss connection. My hope is to hear from distant cousins as I am sure they would be interested in Searles-McGlauflin connections, and I’d like to give someone a book. Rachel Burden, 40 Allen St., Presque Isle, ME 04769.

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