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Strong’s history on display Sunday

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Do you remember any of these cheerful Strong Boy Scouts? The haircuts hint that they go all the way back to the late 1950s. (Photo provided by Strong Historical Society)

STRONG – Strong’s Historical Society, Elementary School, High Peaks Alliance and Maine Historical Society will host the launch of their community history project and website.

On Sunday, June 3, from 1 p. m. to 2:30 p. m., at the Strong Elementary School, the Maine Memory Team will host an afternoon of local lore, genealogy, maps, and intriguing images. The event marks the launch of the Strong website, www.strong.maimememory.net, which spans the Civil War Reconstruction years to the present. The team uploaded dozens of photos, stories, and maps to Maine Memory Network, which serves as the Maine Historical Society’s online museum.

Strong native Carl Stinchfield has scanned thousands of photos, documents and glass plate negatives to contribute to the project. He hopes some of the gaps in the historical narrative can be resolved through community connections.

“We’re hoping that residents might come forward with old photos or letters or other artifacts that we can add to our website,” he said. “We’ll continue with this project for many years to come.”

Stinchfield has been chosen by the Maine Historical Society to guide the next group of grant recipients by sharing his expertise and experiences. His project documents the history of residents who chose to secede and join New Vineyard, rather than spending tax dollars to build a bridge they would never use. High Peaks Alliance Development Director Ben Godsoe and teacher Crystal Polk and her seventh and eighth-grade students will have Google Earth tour of historic locations,. Family names, including Brackleys, Lamberts, Worthleys, Starbirds, Stubbs, Dyars, Huffs, Allens, Pratts, Luces, Durrells, Richards, Pinkhams, Chandlers, Stinchfields, and Ladds, pre-date the Civil War. The town once was known as “The Toothpick Capital of the World.” The Village Cemetery is the final resting place for Cornelia Thurza “Fly Rod” Crosby, Maine’s first registered Maine Guide.

The Maine Community Heritage Project grants have added more than 20,000 historical item contributed by historical organizations. Each offers viewers a very distinctive and personalized view of local Maine history. The site also offers lesson plans for teachers, examples of student history projects, and online tools for creating and sharing albums. Groups have done slide shows, told stories, shared their resources and made discoveries. Strong was selected in 2011 as one of three Maine towns to receive grant funding through the National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For more information, call 684-3613 or email tata_strong@hotmail.com.

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9 Comments

  1. i taught sixth an seventh grades in Strong elementary in 1957-58 and I’m sure I must have known some of the boys pictured. Wish I had their nmes, because I honestly don’t recognize any from the picture.

  2. My big brother Mike hasn’t changed much.Still handsome as ever. 1st one second row on right.

  3. Jeanne, Austin Marden.Greg Flagg,Donald Richards,Terry Doble,Clinton Brackley,Eddie Taylor,Paul Neil,John Shaw,Arthur Lambert,and my brother Mike Moffett, Leaders Probert,Cliff Tayor and the others I know but,can’t think of their names.

  4. Toothacre? Boyd? Spencer? Ross? Richards? Ellis?
    For once, I’m not quite old enough to remember……

  5. Could this have been taken in Freeman near Albert and Rowena’s farm (Now Delb and Nan’s)?If I remember correctly they had a camp and sometimes had a cookout in the field. Bus would remember more than I do but he is in the hospital so will try to print it and take it to him. Looks like a terrific project and hope that it is well received. Thanks, Carl.
    Barbara

  6. L-R FIRST ROW – ?, Eddie Taylor, Terrance Doble, Greg Flagg, Roger Lambert, John Shaw, Roger Pinkham.
    SECOND ROW – Kendall Burdin, Austin Marden, Clint Brackley, Paul Neil, Francis Brault, Arthur Allen, Donald Richards, Mike Moffett.
    THIRD ROW – ?, Gil Taylor, Cliff Taylor, Randall Probert

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