Horace Carver was born around 1865 at Ducktrap. As an old man in the 1940s, he wrote extensively about his life, including his childhood at Ducktrap.

Every year in the winter time the harbor, the Trap as we always called it, froze over and did not thaw out until about the first of April. When a warm spell came on most everyone near the Trap went down [on] the ice to help loosen it as it was full of cracks from resting on the bottom of the harbor when the tide was out and we would [find] openings at these cracks and start prying it apart so it would float out of the harbor. With the rest I was praying at a crack in the ice and all at once I went down under the water, came up and then down again in the same opening I went through. Others pulled me from the water and I saw I had gone through an opening just large enough for me to go through. I had been standing on a point of ice where two cakes formed a V and I had been prying down on this V point not noticing it.

Two years later near this same place I nearly lost my life in getting a drink from the running water which was fresh at low tide. Another neighbor boy a little older than myself was sliding down the hills and wanted a drink and went down under the first span of the bridge as there was an opening through the ice about three feet square and my companion laid down on his stomach and got a drink.

As soon as he got up and started to go up to the road I did the same. After I got my drink and started to get on my feet I stepped on a small loose piece of shale ice and went right into this hole in the ice feet first. I managed to throw out both arms over the edge of the ice as I went in and the strong current from the running water kept me from pulling myself out. I yelled and hollered for my companion and finally he heard me and came back and got a grip on both my shoulders and dragged me out. Wet and cold I went home and got a scolding of course. Got on dry clothing and went back Sliding down the hills. Skating and sliding down the steep hills was our greatest and best sports in the winter time.

Albert Young lived in the Youngtown Road farm that is today Cellardoor Winery. He carried a small diary during his time as a soldier in the Civil War; the year is 1863 somewhere near New Orleans:

March 17 Don’t hear much today they say the army is advancing. quite a lot of the cotton come in tonight they say they Brought in one million and a half dollars worth art and we took quite a lot of mules and horses some of our Regt was put in prison last (lost?) 16 of them  our Co, they will get out soon. art

March 18 They are still maneuvering but have not made an attack yet I believe Our troops are scouring the country they are taking cotton to any amount horses and mules and everything that is worth taking.

March 19 Not much news today as I hear our boys are cuting trees today they are going to march up seven or eight miles tonight they did not march they got orders to stop where they are

March 20 the whole brigade came back and encamped on the old ground as before

March 21 Everything goes along about the Same as usual.   the boys are most all getting better and the rumors are quite plenty nothing that we can rely upon for certainty they think we are to leave here soon, but don’t know where we are going Some say to Washington and some to texas, but no one knows but I hope it will be towards home at any rate

March 26 Nothing of much importance this week so far the 22d Regt are going down to New Orleans to day. dont know where from there dont hear much about our Regt,, Only that they are under marching orders expect that we will go some where soon.

March 27 Orders to leave tomorrow going down river   expect I don’t know as I shall go yet   I am not strong enough now it is reported that they are going to Berwick bay down below New Orleans   One brigade started yesterday and one to day

March 28 We strike tents and pack up to be ready to start. expect to go on board of the transport and go down river they say they are going down to donaldsville and some to Berwicks bay. Hant certain where we are going they go on board this evening and shall start about midnight

March 30 Don’t get much news lately, can’t get any mail our mail has gone to the Regt., so we have got to wait aspell. they say the Regt. is down to donaldsville but don’t know as tis so

April 1 Hear today that the Regt has left Donaldsville but don’t know as tis so can’t get our mail it went to the Regt and they did not send ours to us. Hear some queer stories about going home and staying here and everything else

April 2 Four of the boys we left at Fort Monroe arrived here to day. They say they are going to the Rgmt to morrow

April 3 Plenty of rumors one is that we are going to start for home by the middle of this month, but I doubt it myself and hope it will be so at any rate don’t feel much like going anywhere today

April 6 Lient Fletcher is going downriver tonight he will go to the Rgmt if it is convenient. The troops that are here are ordered to rest on their arms and be ready to any moment to form aline of battle They expect an attack here every night the rebels are quite near us, they have seen anumber of them. we have brought our pickets very near in to keep them from being shot.

 A.I. Young lived near the outlet of Andrews (Coleman) Pond on Slab City Road; he kept this journal in 1872.

January 1 – Monday fair weather george gerry and myself chopping mill logs in the woods  we cut twelve pine logs

January 2 – Tuesday fair weather today chopping logs and stave timber and went down home present jack knife

January 3 – Wednesday fair weather cloudy halling hay off from the meadow we went four loads good slaying

January 4 – Thursday snow and rain work in the blacksmith shop for R.D. McCobb fixing sled

January 5 – Friday fair but cloudy chopping stave stuff and cord wood verry wet and sloshy under foot

January 6 – Saturday fair and cold work in the woods and in the mill evening at home

January 7 – Sunday fair and cold windy at home etta and ida and myself went to see mary spend our evening at home

January 8 – Monday fair weather sawing in the mill and chopping stave stuff and broke my ax in pine

January 9 – Tuesday fair weather sawing in the mill and chopping in woods i got my watch today

January 10 – Wednesday fair work in the woods this evening at home repairing a clock for R Young school master

Edith Philbrook was 21 years old in 1880 when she kept this journal. She lived at 2537 Atlantic Highway, just north of today’s Whales Tooth Pub.

April 12 Very cold. Gram and I put in a comfortable [?]. I went up to the Trap this afternoon, got some lime. Edie French went with me. I called at Mrs. French’s tonight.

April 14 Pleasant. I commenced to clean house. Had a letter from Dora. Whitewashed and cleaned the front chamber. Set the bed up in the front chamber. I served this eve. Mr. Carver called.

April 15 Pleasant. I cleaned my room and washed both entries upstairs and down, whitewashed and cleaned the little bedroom. Mr. Chandler went up country. Had a letter from Add.

April 16 Pleasant. I whitewashed and cleaned the front room, put the carpet down, put up the curtains and put the carpet down in the little bedroom. Mr. Prock called and also Mrs. Mathews, Jennie, and Amanda.

April 17 A snowstorm. I cooked some and then washed the larger bedroom. Had a letter from Harner. Called at Mrs. French’s this afternoon.

Sunday, April 18 Cold. Gram called at Mrs. Chandler’s. Mary came down. Mrs. Chandler and Mrs. Bullock called.

April 19 Quite pleasant. Mrs. Rhodes called. I cleaned the large bedroom this afternoon. Mattie Mathews called. I called at Mrs. Chandler’s tonight.

April 20 Stormy. I cleaned the large pantry and porch entry. Whitewashed for Mrs. French. We called at Mrs. French’s tonight.

April 21 Pleasant. Aunt L. came over. I cleaned the porch and we moved the stove. Maurice was over. We called at Mrs. Chandler’s tonight.

April 22 Cloudy. I cleaned the front entry and whitewashed the sitting room. Aunt L. and I went downstreet. Went to Mrs. French’s tonight.

Ralph Richards delivered the mail six days a week, driving a 25-mile route from the Beach Post Office over Cobbtown Road to VanCycle Road to Belmont’s Halls Corner to Searsmont and back down Route 173 to the Beach. “Sambo Jonsin”, “Sammy”, “Snowball” are his nicknames for Vesta McKinney, the young woman he pursued for some five years, finally marrying her in 1912.

03/15/1910 Tuesday Fair and very warm, froze hard last night but thawed up early and it has been quite muddy this afternoon. Seen a chipmunk (striped squarrell) today. The boys at the cor-ner bridge are seeing some fine trout.

03/16/1910 Wednesday Fair and very warm and dum hard traveling. Wrote to Sambo Jonsin. Emry went up to Metcalf Brook and he got 8 fine large trout. What do you know about that. Born to Eddie Marriner and his wife, and now they have six.

03/17/1910 Thursday Fair and a bit colder. Awfull rough traveling. Seen two robins today. Renis Mathews and his foster sister Bessie Fernald were in tonight. Been having what old Clam Jensen would call a musieal.

03/18/1910 Friday Fair and damed cold. Roads are awfull rough. Tonight I burned a picture frame for Mother. Next Monday is her birthday. Made the frame myself. Got a good letter from little Sambo Jonsin. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Melbry Hunt, girl.

03/19/1910 Saturday Another nice day, the wind has just howled all day long and tonight it’s still whopping. Very much warmer and nice traveling. Came up and got Sammy. She went over home with me. Plenty of robins now.

03/20/1910 Sunday Warm and a darn fine kind of day. Southerly wind still howling. Did some grafting this afternoon. Finished retopping a tree. Sammy’s not feeling very well.

03/21/1910 Monday Another fine warm day. Sammy dropped over home today helping Abbie make a waist so I come up from the beach and carried her over home this evening and this is my Mother’s birthday. 59 years old today.

03/22/1910 Tuesday Overcast this morning, raw and cold. Rained about four hours in the middle of the day but has all cleared away, fine tonight. See many bluebirds today. Died Gideon Young, an old, old citizen age 91 years Wednesday.

03/23/1910 Wednesday Butifull day, warm, just great. Quite muddy so it is rather hard traveling. I wrote Sammy also. Sent money order to S.R. and Co. $2.25. Silver Spavin Renidy. Got to use it on Tim. Signed 3 months for National Sportsman $.25. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Elisen Morse, son, 10 and a quarter pounds.

03/24/1910 Thursday A fine warm day, roads are getting pretty bad. Frost coming out all the way. Fred Hardy and Jonny Young are here at Em’rys sawing fire wood. Had my shaft ends put in new $.60. Got a letter from Sammy.

03/25/1910 Friday Fair and hot. The hottest day ever was this time of year. It’s been 72 degrees of heat in the shade all day. Frost almost all out and terriable traveling. One foot of mud every wair.

03/26/10 Saturday Warm, worse traveling I have ever seen. Was 6 hours and 30 minutes. Went out to my Sammy’s tonight. Walked. One and a half hours going out. Stopped tonight at Snow-ball’s.

03/27/1910 Sunday Butifull day, warm and plesant. Sammy and I went up on Harvill’s Hill. I walked down to the Beach tonight. Ice went out of the Andrew’s Pond today. Road awfull, frost all out.

03/28/10 Monday This has been a rather bum old day. Raw and cold. Heavy thunder squalls and hail showers. Cussed traveling. Stephen Young was planting peas this morning. Wrote a letter to Sammy.

03/29/1910 Tuesday Another nice day, fair and warm. Mud is drying up, just a very little. Went fishing, 9 nice trout, Metcalf Brook. Got a good letter from Sammy Jonsin. See a Yellow Hammer today.

03/30/1910 Wednesday Ice went out ‘Seller Pond today. Fair, nice day but still awfull hard traveling. Wrote letter to Snowball. Everybody in town sick with the Gripp. I’m just coming down with it, have had a terriable head ack all day.

03/31/1910 Thursday Raw, cold, overcast, showery, traveling improving very little bit but still very hard. Was sick last night but feeling okay today. Just finished counting up my mail, had 4812 pieces this March.

Mabel Wentworth Athearn kept a journal during the 1940s on Townhouse Road where she and her husband Martin farmed.

1941: Fair, quite cold. I washed kitchen floor, canned 4 qts pumpkin. Hazel came over at noon rode up with Mr. Amborn. Marion & Walter & Ava went to the Centre before supper.

1942: 16 below. Cold. No school. Martin & Mac cut pulp. Clyde & Dick came up. Clyde here to dinner. C & D to supper & spent evening. Below Zero all day. Ronald & Ava slid in P.M.

1943: Lovely day. Cold in morning. Just zero. We churned 18 ¼ lbs. Martin went up in woods above Everett Morse’s in P.M. Hauled down some wood. I finished quilt.

1944: Fair. Washed kitchen floor. We are drifted in. I baked beans, cooked a smoked shoulder. Made doughnuts. Letter from Marian. Left our mail at Dick Callahans. I took my bath.

1941: Martin plowed for Will Thayer. Overcast. I dug dandelion greens. Am half sick with a cold & tired. Had a nap in P.M. Churned in Eve. Had 12 lbs. Made a chocolate cake. Emma & Ralph over.

1942: Overcast. M & M fixed pasture fence. I made doughnuts in A.M. Washed in P.M. Walter & Marian came up for Kenneth. Walter has the measles.

1943: Showery. Martin plowed for Parker. I papered kitchen, tried out lard. Painted pump. Ava went for mayflowers.

1944: Rained hard last night. Cleared today. We did a large washing. We churned in P.M. 8 lbs. Washing pantry & kitchen floors.

1941: Hot. Picked beans all day. Had 6 bags. Haydens called, going home tomorrow. Hazel, Clair, twins & I went over in West Lincolnville getting signers for Mr. Amborn’s petition in evening.

1942: Nice day. Martin hayed. Ava & I canned 13 qts beans. Harold came home for good. Bought his groceries & furniture yesterday.

1943: Showery all day. Martin hayed. We churned 16 ½ lbs. Ina and I went blueberrying up to Nettie’s. Rained so much we came home.

1944: Fair. I cleaned up dining room, pantry, kitchen & shed. Made 2 blueberry pies, baked beans. M & W up to supper, then went to Rockland. I dressed two hens, washed rugs and made donuts.

1941: Janet Morse passed away, eleven years old. Over cast raining in A.M. and all night. I washed Mrs. Bs floor & painted round for border. Made two mince pies. Ava & I went to Hall with Hazel & Claire. Supper & dance.

1942: Lovely day. Winnowed beans & baked them, made scalloped potatoes, chocolate pudding, sugar cakes, biscuit.

1943: Overcast, cold. Horace M. brought me a bushel of shell beans. Canned 10 qts. Willis brought his cream over & churned it. Had 15 lbs. Martin finished digging his potatoes.

1944: Fair cold. Froze my flowers last night. Louise & boys came up and picked up cider apples. Found 5 kittens in barn.

On first reading, these passages from the journals and memoirs of people long gone seem inscrutable.

Who are all those callers that Edith Philbrook tells us about? How did she get all her spring cleaning done with that endless stream of visitors?

How on earth did Mabel Athearn churn 15 pounds of butter the same day she canned a bushel of shell beans and presumably shelled them first?

How about all that visiting back and forth between Ralph Richards and his girl friend, Vesta McKinney? What took them so long to actually tie the knot?

What was Albert Young really feeling camped somewhere along the Mississippi while the war rumors flew?

Were A.I. Young’s days just endless wood-chopping in freezing conditions?

And then there’s Horace Carver’s world, where his mother must have turned him out in the morning and hoped he made it home for supper, probably drenched from yet another plunge into the icy Trap?

These words from the past, written by people who lived in the very neighborhoods we live in, have so much to tell us but only if we’re willing to dig a little. How about this line from Ralph’s diary: “Sent money order to S.R. and Co. $2.25. Silver Spavin Renidy. Got to use it on Tim.” Or Edith Philbrook’s relentless whitewashing of every room in her house, her spring cleaning ritual? Notice how she walked up to Ducktrap for “some lime” a few days earlier. And why would the walls and ceilings of her house need a spring whitewashing?

For me, journals and letters are the best of the Lincolnville Historical Society’s collection, better even than the photos, and they’re pretty spectacular. In the course of redesigning the LHS’ website this winter I’ve added a section called “In Their Own Words.” It includes these diaries along with a wonderful collection of 169 letters between a mother and a daughter in the 1870s. There also will be stories written by Lincolnville people, some fictionalized, others not.

The new Lincolnville Historical Society website should be up and running shortly. I’m hung up at the moment trying to figure out how to add PayPal buttons to our online Store. If anybody can help with this, let me know!

Taxes Due Wednesday!

The second half of Lincolnville’s property taxes are due Wednesday, April 3.

School

Last Friday and Saturday evenings Walsh Common was the place to be if you have a child or a grandchild or yes, a great-grandchild, niece or nephew in Lincolnville Central School as music teacher Emily Mathieu presented one more wonderfully entertaining play. With a cast and crew of dozens of kids in grades 3-8 Shrek the Musical Jr. was a hit. Funny dialogue, dancing, hilarious costumes including a troupe of dancing blondes – I had a hard time picking out my granddaughter – and Shrek, a green monster with a talking donkey sidekick and a bewitched princess … well, you had to be there.

As the daily grind of after school rehearsals was winding down, i.e. it was almost show-time, we learned that Ms. Mathieu, the spark behind all this activity, will be leaving LCS at the end of the school year. As the entire cast surrounded her on stage at the curtain calls, it was pretty clear what she means to her students. Here’s wishing Emily the best of luck and good things in the next phase of her career! We’re sorry to lose her…

Thanks to Carolyn Steeves and Eryn Thostenson for their help in facilitating the Waldo County YMCA’s swim program for first graders. The kids had two swim lessons and learned about water safety.

Mark your calendars: Eighth grade graduation will be held Tuesday, June 18 at 5:30 p.m. Last day of school and field day for everyone else will be Wednesday, June 19 with 11:30 a.m. dismissal.

Library

There are still a few openings in Kathryn Sietz’s April 27 Writers’ Workshop; thanks to a grant the workshop is free. Call, 706-3896 or email  if you’re interested.

Tuesday, April 2, the Knitting & Needlework Group will meet from 4 until 6 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3 is Watercolor Journaling, 4-6 p.m.   Spend a couple of relaxing hours painting in your journal and enjoying the company of other creative participants.  Newcomers are welcome—bring your supplies, take a seat and start painting!

Wednesday, April 3 at 7 p.m. Jesse Watson will present a free program on permaculture for the home gardener, giving an overview of permaculture and describing how this design system and set of techniques can be used to grow food crops and support healthy ecosystems. He operates Midcoast Permaculture Design in Rockland and has been doing landscape design, farm planning and installation work for residential and farm clients since 2009 and teaches permaculture design certification courses in partnership with the Resilience Hub at MOFGA.

Friday, April 5 Jessica Day will be back with Family Music at 11 a.m. as she is the first Friday of every month. Children (toddlers to 5 years old) and their families are invited to this lively and free program playing instruments, dancing and singing.  

Taize Service

This program at United Christian Church, 18 Searsmont Road, 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7 is part of the series "Music and Reflection for Lent" which will be led by Reverend Elizabeth Barnum and includes singing, meditation, seasonal readings and silent reflection. Peter Yanz will be the song leader/cantor and accompaniment will be provided by Peter Saladino on keyboard and Mary Schulien on flute. All are welcome. Free will donations benefit the UCC music ministry.

Making it up March Hill

This old phrase came back to me this morning, one I heard many years ago, as I realize that three of our fellow townsmen died in the past couple of weeks.

Lee Thomas passed away at home a week ago. Condolences to his wife, children, and grandchildren as well as his friends. I know he’ll be missed by many.

Lisle and Faye Secotte, married for nearly 60 years, passed away within two weeks of each other, he in early March, she on March 25. I enjoyed working with Faye on the story she wrote about her years working at the Camden Animal Shelter and the many cats she’d known. I’ll miss her.