Up and down the Kennebec Valley: Newspapers of Central Maine – Conclusion

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Reproduction of The Orb from 1836.

by Mary Grow

Several of the small towns in the central Kennebec Valley have had local newspapers, and one – China – still does as of 2020. This writer has found no record of a newspaper published in Sidney, Winslow, Benton, Palermo or Windsor.

Vassalboro’s first local paper was The Clarion, which Dean Marriner calls “one of the most unusual newspapers ever printed in Maine or anywhere else.” The first edition was published in March 1886 by S. A. and N. C. Burleigh. S. A. was 15-year-old Samuel A. Burleigh, later owner and editor of the Sentinel in Waterville; N. C. was his eleven-year-old sister Nettie.

The first issue, Marriner wrote, was only four small (six inches by five-and-a-half inches) pages. It contained the publishers’ statement of purpose (“dissemination of truth and temperance” and “advancement of scientific and practical knowledge”) and advertisements from a dressmaker in North Fairfield (Hall Burleigh, Samuel and Nettie’s father, was a Fairfield native), a farm in Vassalboro and a Vassalboro woman selling a Davis Machine (Davis was a leading brand of sewing machine in the 1880s). Marriner added that ads cost 10 cents an inch, 45 cents a column or 85 cents for a whole page. An annual subscription was 20 cents.

By 1888, Marriner continued, the Burleighs’ monthly paper had four eight-by-10-inch pages, a circulation of more than 1,000 and ads from as far away as Belgrade. The annual subscription price was 30 cents, and the publishers were seeking local correspondents in Vassalboro, China, Winslow and Sidney. Recompense would be a free subscription, and the publishers would supply writing materials and pay postage.

When Samuel Burleigh entered Colby in the fall of 1881, the Clarion went out of business. Marriner wrote that Burleigh replaced it in September 1881 with a four-page non-partisan weekly named the Valley News, published by the Kennebec Valley News Company. The publisher was also the editor. Subscriptions were 50 cents a year. Numerous advertisers from Waterville helped support the paper, whose closing date is not listed in any source this writer found.

The Library of Congress (LOC) on-line newspaper directory lists a weekly Kennebec Valley News with the same Vassalboro-based publisher. It appears to be yet another paper, because the LOC has a copy of Vol. 1, No. 32, that is dated April 5, 1892.

The LOC also lists a monthly publication from Vassalboro named The Young America that first appeared in 1877. This writer failed to find any additional information.

Whittemore wrote in his history of Waterville that in 1898 the W. M. Ladd Company, whose owners bought the Waterville Sentinel’s printing equipment, began printing three weeklies from surrounding towns, the Vassalboro Times, the Clinton Herald and the China Tribune. This writer has found no other reference to any of those newspapers.

Fairfield has had two local weeklies, according to the bicentennial history, and Howard Owen, author of the newspaper chapter in Kingsbury’s Kennebec County history, added a third. According to Owen, before Benjamin Bunker started the Kennebec Democrat, in Waterville, in February 1887, he published the Pine Tree State in Fairfield for two years starting in 1880, and owned the Fairfield Journal (see below) until 1886.

The Fairfield history says the Fairfield Chronicle began publication March 1, 1872, in the village then called Kendall’s Mills (now downtown Fairfield). It continued until 1878, according to LOC’s summary. The LOC lists George H. Colby as editor and the publishers as Fairfield Chronicle Association, 1873-1875; George H. Colby in 1876, 1877 and 1878; and Colby & Small in 1878.

Joseph Griffin’s 1872 publication, The Press of Maine, found online, has a paragraph about the Chronicle, which he called the Fairfield Weekly Chronicle. Griffin dated the first issue May 1, 1872. The four-page, eight-column paper was what the trade called a “patent outside”; Griffin explained that the outside pages, one and four, came preprinted from Boston or New York and editor Colby composed and printed the local news and ads that filled pages two and three. An annual subscription was $2.50, Griffin wrote.

The Chronicle was succeeded by the Fairfield Journal, beginning July 2, 1879, and ending, according to the LOC listing, with Volume 52, No. 28, July 9, 1925. The LOC gives the publisher as Augustine Simmons. The Fairfield history includes an excerpt from the Dec. 17, 1901, issue describing the flood the day before.

Judge Augustine Simmons rates three pages in Sprague’s Maine history journal (found online), with his Fairfield newspaper experience covered in a single sentence. Elmer Sawyer wrote that Simmons was born Feb. 20, 1849, in Topsham; the family moved to Brunswick when he was three and he always called Brunswick home, though he lived elsewhere.

Simmons entered Bowdoin in 1867, but withdrew for lack of money after two years; he graduated in 1881, counted as a member of the Class of 1871. During his enforced break he taught, mostly at Anson Academy in North Anson. He also studied law with E. W. and F. E. McFadden in Fairfield and became a member of the Kennebec bar on Aug. 7, 1877. After that he edited the “Fairfield Journal “for less than a year (perhaps its first editor?) before going back to teaching and then practicing law in North New Portland over the 1880-81 winter and in North Anson from May 1881 to Oct. 24, 1917.

Simmons has the title “Judge” because he was Somerset County Judge of Probate from 1904 to 1912.

The LOC lists one 20th century Fairfield weekly newspaper, the Fairfield Free Press. The first issue appeared Nov.3, 1938; Ivers L. Greenleaf is named as publisher. This writer has found no other information.

The Clinton Advertiser was the first – and only? Owen says so, but see the Clinton Herald reference above – Clinton local paper. According to the LOC, from Oct. 14, 1886, to sometime around 1894 it was a weekly; it was published until at least July 29, 1909 (when the volume was number 32). The University of Maine’s Fogler Library index, however, says the Advertiser began publication in 1879 and closed in 1907.

Owen wrote that as of 1892, the paper was the smallest in Kennebec County. It was founded in June 1886, edited and published by B. T. Foster & Company. An annual subscription cost 50 cents. A Clinton history web site says Clinton’s Brown Memorial Library has bound copies of the Advertiser.

In Albion, Ruby Crosby Wiggin found a copy of the Albion Courier dated Oct. 7, 1878. The front page said the paper was a semi-monthly published by Bert Foster. The subscription fee was listed as 50 cents (annually?) or for six months 25 cents, payable in advance. Foster declared the paper was apolitical, non-sectarian and interested in local news, including accounts from neighboring towns.

Wiggin’s history has no other information about the Albion Courier. This writer found no other references.

China’s 19th-century newspaper was The Orb, published every Saturday by “an association of gentlemen” (quoted by Marriner from its initial issue) headed by China Village resident Japheth C. Washburn. The first two volumes of The Orb started with the issues of Dec. 5, 1833, and Dec. 6, 1834, respectively. The China bicentennial history says in the fall of 1835 Washburn organized a meeting to consider whether to discontinue publication and got enough local support to continue the paper until November 1836.

The paper’s goal was to be “interesting, useful and pleasing.” It covered agricultural and other local occupations; temperance; and religious, literary and political news.

A lengthy description in the China history says the paper had four pages, each with four or five columns of small type. The only illustrations were in ads. Readers found a mix of fiction and non-fiction: Washburn’s editorials were on page two, news (from the town, the state, the nation and the world) usually on pages two and three, ads mostly on pages three and four, frequently a poem and a moral or religious essay on page four, jokes throughout as fillers.

The Orb supported President Andrew Jackson and his party; the Dec. 13, 1834, issue contained the text of Jackson’s December 1 address to Congress. Washburn had no use for the opposing Whig party and frequently referred to them as Wigs, Marriner wrote. In 1836, the China history says, The Orb reported on the state and national Democratic conventions. The paper presented selective detailed information on state legislative sessions and Congressional activities, sometimes even quoting or summarizing debates.

Local items included births and deaths, meeting notices, and reports on fires, crimes and similar events. The China history comments that one unusual item, appearing intermittently, was “the list of addressees of unclaimed letters at the China post office.”

An annual subscription to The Orb was $2 discounted if paid during the first three months. Washburn reported 300 unpaid subscriptions at the beginning of the second year,perhaps one reason the paper had a short life. Owen adds another explanation: the lack of advertisers and of other jobs for Washburn’s printing press in an agricultural town. [Editor’s note: Reproductions of The Orb, Vol. 3, No. 37, dated September 10, 1836, are available at The Town Line’ s office.]

Main sources

Fairfield Historical Society, Fairfield, Maine 1788-1988 (1988).
Grow, Mary M., China Maine Bicentennial History including 1984 revisions (1984).
Kingsbury, Henry D., ed., Illustrated History of Kennebec County Maine 1625-1892 (1892).
Marriner, Ernest, Kennebec Yesterdays (1954)
Wiggin, Ruby Crosby, Albion on the Narrow Gauge (1964).

The Town Line only weekly newspaper in central Maine

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The Town Line Board of Directors, from left to right, Joann Austin, president, Dan L’Heureux, Neil Farrington, Eric Austin, and Emily Cates, treasurer. (Absent from photo, Steve Ball.)

Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee, editor

The first issue of The Town Line was published on March 15, 1989.

The brain child of Gary and Trish Newcomb, of China, the newspaper’s goal was to bring neighbors and their respective towns closer together through better communications.

Area towns and their residents had gone through some turbulent times during the mid-’80s when much animosity had grown to epidemic proportions. Gary and Trish fig- ured that if people really knew what their neighbors were doing, they would better understand each other.

Although the original mission statement for The Town Line can’t be found, its general meaning is how the newspaper got its name. Gary and Trish believed that if every- one was more open in their communications, they could all become better neighbors, and asked people to take their discussions, differences and ideas, and meet at “the town line.”

Preparing that first issue was a monumental task. First there was equipment to purchase, acqaint themselves with computers and their programs, find a printer, and then arrange a distribution system.

Once the first issue hit the streets, Gary said, “How will be ever put out another issue?” He thought he had used up all possible material in that first issue. Well, miracles happen, and now, 32 years later, The Town Line newspaper has published 1,587 issues.

Gary and Trish nurtured the newspaper for the first nine years, until, thinking they had taken the paper as far as they could, put it up for sale in 1997. The final issue under the guidance of the Newcombs came on December 20, 1997.

The original staff consisted of three people. The first issue denotes the Newcombs as both publishers and editors. Trish was advertising director and Gary took care of the graphic designs. Julie Dermott was administrative assistant.

As time passed, and the newspaper grew, additional staff members were needed to accomplish the work. On May 16, 1990, Susan Cottle became the first editor other than the Newcombs. She would continue in that capacity until the end of 1991. Joe Lupsha and Fred Davis each served as assistant editor during this period.

On January 6, 1992, Lea Davis was named the second editor in the paper’s history. Lea would continue as editor and eventually as managing editor until May 14, 2004, the longest tenured editor in the history of the paper at the time.

During her time, the paper went through a series of setbacks due to changes in ownership. After the Newcombs closed the paper at the end of 1997 for a lack of a buyer, Dennis Keller came on the scene and purchased the assets. The paper reopened its doors on January 31, 1998.

The paper would continue on its normal path until July 3, 1998, when it became a bi-weekly (once every two weeks) due to economic hardships. Keller would eventually close the doors on October 10, 1998.

That’s when the paper’s future took an unexpected turn for the better. A small group of former staff and some interested community members worked through the winter of 1999, formed a new plan and incorporated the publication as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Spearheaded by Joann Austin, Faith Ames, the late John Robie, staff members Lea Davis, Sandy Keller and Roland Hallee, all of whom donated their time, the groundwork was ready to continue towards re-opening the paper.

On March 6, 1999, The Town Line re-emerged as the voice of these small central Maine towns. Through great community support, both from businesses and small grants from the towns, The Town Line firmly planted itself back on the path to recovery. The Town Line is now a nonprofit private foundation with a board of directors as overseers. The current members of the board of directors are Joann Austin, Eric Austin, Neil Farrington, Emily Cates, Dan L’Heureux, Jeanne Marquis and Steve Ball.

Others to have served on the board in the past have included Gladys Hewett, Phyllis Thorne, Sam Birch, Margie Roy, the late Joe Pinette, Walter Wilson, Mike Mara, Faith Ames, Dick Kelley and Joe Suga, among others.

On June 1, 2004, Susan Varney became the third editor in the newspaper’s history. She would continue in that position until February 2005, when upon her departure, Roland Hallee became the fourth editor and second managing editor of The Town Line. He continues today as the managing editor and is now the longest tenured staff member of The Town Line, having begun his tenure in May 1993 – a span of 27 years. With 56 years of newspaper work, and editor of two other newspapers, in Pittsfield and Skowhegan, he has used his experience to guide The Town Line through some dark days.

Over the 32 years, The Town Line has occupied five different locations. The original site was at the old fire station, next to the old post office off Rte. 3, recently occupied by Whitt’s Garments.

From that location, they moved in January 1994 to a building on Rte. 3, across from the new South China Post Office, now occupied by Legacy Home Improvement. They would remain there only a short period of time before relocating in June 1995, to the 202 Plaza, on Rte. 202.

Upon its reopening as a nonprofit in 1999, they were located in the lower level at Jonesbrook Crossing, in South China. They would remain at that site until November 2008, when they moved upstairs in the same building in the space formerly occupied by Fernald Family Chiropractic. In October 2017, the move was made to its present location, the lower level of the old China Town Hall, in China, near the town office. All of the locations were in South China.

Through the years, others were instrumental in the success of the paper. Susan Boody, Adam Hansen, Troy Henderson, Carl Mercier, Paul Basham and Diane Bickford have all served as advertising directors. Kathy Duhnoski is the present ad director. Advertising salesmen over the years have included Ken Nawfel, Betsy Murphy, Martha Holzwarth, Aileen Wescott, Marlene Myers and Bill Zinck, among others. Office managers have included Heide Hotham, Sandy Keller, Sylvia Martin, Marilyn Boyle and Angela Brunette. Claire Breton has been business manager since 2000. Prior to that, business managers have included Ed Heath, Natalie Lyon and Adam Hansen. Others to contribute as graphic artists have been Fran Vitolo, Susan Walter, Dirk Rose, Roland Hallee and Kareno Stansbury. Lyn Rowden served as senior staff writer from 2006-2013, a position now held by Eric Austin.

Intertwined with all of these people is an endless list of regular contributors and volunteers.

Support local journalism! Donate to The Town Line here.

Legion auxiliary pie sale a great success, raises over $1,000

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Madison American Legion Auxiliary members, left to right, Sharon Mellows, Pat Santoni and Lisa Turner prepare pies. (photo courtesy of Madison American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39)

From left to right Diane Pinkham, Ann Cody and Tammy Giguere having a good time preparing pie fillings. (photo courtesy of Madison American Legion Auxiliary
Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39)

Members of the American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, Madison, traditionally holds a turkey supper every November which they serve anywhere to 150 to 175 people with the proceeds to benefit local food cupboards. Because of Covid-19 restrictions, they decided to have a Turkey Pie Sale in which Hannaford, of Madison, donated some turkeys, Reny’s, of Madison, donated some pie plates, Apple Tree Bakery gave them a discount price for pie boxes and members also donated some of the items needed and their time making pies. Twenty-five turkeys later, 118 pies were made and were all sold a week before the scheduled date of pick up on November 7. The were able to donate $1,050 among five local food cupboards – Madison, Anson, Starks, Norridge­wock and Solon. This is another way the American Legion Auxiliary supports the community.

From left to right Diane Pinkham, Ann Cody and Tammy Giguere having a good time preparing pie fillings. (photo courtesy of Madison American Legion Auxiliary
Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39)

American Legion Auxiliary members have dedicated themselves for over a century to meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military, and their families both here and abroad. They volunteer millions of hours yearly, with a value of nearly $2 billion. As part of the world’s largest patriotic service organization, Auxiliary volunteers across the country also step up to honor veterans and military through annual scholarships and with ALA Girls State programs, teaching high school juniors to be leaders grounded in patriotism and Americanism. To learn more about the Auxiliary’s mission or to volunteer, donate or join, visit www.ALAforVeterans.org or http://www.mainelegionpost39.org/. Or contact: Robin Turek, President – American Legion Auxiliary Tardiff-Belanger Unit #39, PO Box 325, Madison, ME – robinturek@gmail.com – 696-8289.

$2 a bag book sale in Vassalboro

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photo: vassalboro.net

The Vassalboro Public Library will hold a $2 Holiday Book Sale for the entire month of December.

There will be a great selection of books, media, and puzzles: fiction, non-fiction, and children’s books.

Social distancing, hand sanitizer, and facial coverings are required. Space is limited to one family or individual at a time in the book sale room. the library is located at 930 Bog Road, East Vassalboro, 04989.

Fill a bag for $2!

Bookgiving drive held at China library

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Albert Church Brown Memorial Library in China Village.

The Albert Church Brown Library, in China Village, is asking residents to participate in Bookgiving! They are collecting new books to be given at Christmas to needy families in town, through the China Food Pantry in cooperation with Toys for Tots. Or, you can make a monetary book-sized donation ($5 – $15) and the library staff will select the books.

Books may be dropped off at the library until December 5. You may bring them inside or place them in the book drop (inside a plastic grocery bag with a note specifying Booksgiving).

Interactive nativity scene at St. Bridget

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Due to COVID-19, it is realized that many holiday festivities have been modified, canceled, etc. The St. Bridget Community Center, in North Vassalboro, has created an outdoor display of which people can become a part. The faces of the shepherds, angel and kings have been cut out so that individuals can take their picture(s).

Contributed photo

Contributed photo

CRITTER CHATTER – Fishers: important predators of the wildlife community

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by Jayne Winters

Typically, one or two fishers are brought to the Wildlife Center each year for rehabilitation. I’ve only seen photos of them, so was interested in learning more after discovering one was in residence with Don Cote this past summer. And when I say “in residence,” I mean it literally as it was kept in a carrier in the living room for several weeks because there was no outside pen available. Discovered in the Bangor area without siblings or mother, the fisher wasn’t old enough to survive on its own. Don arranged transfer with the woman who found it and assumed its care on May 29.

Don Cote, of Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center, holding a baby fisher. (photo courtesy of Don Cote)

A member of the weasel family, fishers are comparable in size to house cats. They are native to North America, primarily in Canada’s boreal forests and the northern United States, although fossil evidence indicates their range used to extend farther south. Often referred to as a “fisher cat,” it’s not a cat at all, and despite its name, rarely eats fish. An agile climber and solitary hunter, it forages around fallen trees feeding on a variety of small animals (primarily snowshoe hares and porcupines), supplementing its diet with birds, insects, nuts, berries, mushrooms and road kill or carrion. I found it interesting that a Maine wildlife study documented 14 fisher-caused mortalities of Canada lynx from 1999-2011.

Fishers are active year around, most often at dawn and at night. They can become pests to farmers when they raid chicken coops and, although stories of them preying on cats and small dogs have been reported, a 1979 New Hampshire study revealed cat hairs in only one of over 1,000 stomach samples. Studies in New York and Massachusetts found no cat remains in 24 and 226 scat or stomach samples, respectively.

Adult males are usually 35-47 inches long and weigh 8-13 lbs.; adult females are 30-37 inches long and weigh 4-6 lbs. Their bodies are long, thin and low to the ground. Five toes on each foot, with unsheathed retractable claws, make it easy for them to move on top of snow. Coarse hairs between the pads of the hind paws give them traction for walking on slippery surfaces. In addition, they have highly mobile ankle joints that can rotate almost 180° allowing them to maneuver well in trees; they’re one of few mammals with the ability to descend head-first!

The reproductive cycle lasts about a year, with mating in late March/early April, but full development of the embryo is delayed 10 months before active pregnancy begins. Dens are typically in hollow trees and after about 50 days, females give birth to a litter of three or four kits. They can crawl after three weeks, but don’t open their eyes until seven weeks and are dependent on mother’s milk for two to three months. At five months, mom pushes them out of the den and within a year, they establish their own range of 3-5 square miles.

Fishers have few predators besides humans. They’ve been trapped since the 18th century and with pelts in big demand, were eradicated from several parts of the U.S. by the early 1900s. The fur varies, being denser and glossier in the winter after a summer molt, and males’ coats are coarser than females. Color ranges from deep brown to black, with patches of white or cream on the underside. Prices for pelts ranged from a high in the 1920s and 1930s of $450-$750 to a low of $27 in 1999. Habitat and species conservation measures allowed the species to rebound, but their range has been significantly reduced. Fur farmers weren’t very successful with breeding due to the long reproduction cycle and, when prices fell in the late 1940s, most farming ended.

Sadly, the young fisher in Don’s care didn’t survive. He stopped eating, likely due to blockage caused by chewing on the towel kept in the carrier as bedding. After conferring with the vet, Don administered a mineral gel used to eliminate cat hairballs, but the fisher passed only liquids. X-rays didn’t reveal any towel material, so surgery was performed. Unfortunately, strands of thread from the towel had worked their way throughout the fisher’s liver to the point it “looked like Swiss cheese.” Infection had begun and the humane decision was made to euthanize him in early August. Another example of how best efforts can sometimes be to no avail.

Donald Cote operates the Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit federal and state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. EMAIL: thewildlifecarecenter@gmail.com.

SOLON & BEYOND: Growing up working in the woods with dad

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Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percyby Marilyn Rogers-Bull & Percy
grams29@tds.net
Solon, Maine 04979

Can’t say good morning because it is Sunday evening as I sit here to start writing this column, but I do wish all of you the best!

Hope you enjoyed reading all about the five Generations Of Woodsmen, I did, and it was so different than it is today! The following is also from that same old 1974 paper:

“In That First Year I realized I liked horses very much. Father loved horses also. He was a very good horseman.

The next summer when I went back to work with father in the woods I was set to twitching with a horse. This was an important job and I could do near as well as a man.

I worked two summers with a little black horse named Roy. He was 28 years old, a family heirloom, but he was real willing and liked to work.

The fellows working on the job was good woodsmen, good choppers. They was highly skilled men. All could file their own saws, hang their own axes properly.

It was a disgrace to be working with dull tools or to hang a tree so it did not come to the ground, got caught in another tree. A tree was to be properly felled without damaging a lot of other trees. This was the most important of many high standards those woodsmen lived up to. They protected the young growth.

I often wondered where father got his ideas about conservation. He never talked about it, in fact he is a rough man. Didn’t go very far in school. But father had a real desire not to cut any small trees when he was working in the woods. He saw to it the men with him understood that, but they had the same desire themselves.

After I worked with horses a couple of summers I became a chopper in my own right.

There were two mistakes which could get you into a real problem with my old man; one was to abuse a horse by putting it into a place too rough of ground.

The other mistake was cutting a lot of small trees that weren’t merchantable. If there was a small spruce, say three inches diameter, close to a big tree you was cutting and that small spruce was in your way, say you cut that spruce to make room, when the old man come around you was in bad trouble.

Dad would say, “What did you cut that tree for!?” Then you’d have to explain the tree was in the way. And he’d explain to you that it couldn’t have been that much in the way.

We had some farmland on islands in the Kennebec River and we’d have to go out there in boats and canoes to do the farming. I spent a lot of time on the river, like all the boys around Bingham, and I did a lot of hunting.

There were a few more deer around Bingham than there are now although it’s still pretty good hunting country. Father remembered when there were many more moose around Flagstaff than there were deer. He was 15 years old before he saw the first deer in the woods around Flagstaff, but he saw plenty of moose.

If horses liked to work with you, they would do more and this was a source of pride to me. I learned to care for and manage horses just by watching Dad, learning what he looked out for. Never was any formal training, but here’s an example. He’d see me hook up a team and I might make a mistake. Dad would say, “No, son, wait a minute. This isn’t right. You never hook a trace chain like this. It”s going to twist the lug. You’ve got to hook it like this. The grab has always got to be straight up. If it isn’t, when your horse pulls it’s going to twist the lug.

Then when I was harnessing the team he’d talk to me about the proper fitting of the collar. The horse has got to have room enough so that collar is bearing properly on his chest. Dad would say, ‘You’ve got to be able to put your hand between the collar and the bottom of his neck.’ You want there to be enough room when he expands and pulls against it, doesn’t choke when he’s pulling hard.”

And now for Percy’s memoir: A dream is a wish your heart makes when you ‘re fast asleep. In dreams you lose your heartaches… Whatever you wish for, you keep. Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.

OBITUARIES for Thursday, December 3, 2020

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CHARLES FALES

FAIRFIELD – Charles Fales, 88, passed away on Monday, November 9, 2020. He was born on January 31, 1932, in Farmington, and resided with his parents, Charles and Ethel, and his four siblings in Dryden.

His family moved to Fairfield when he was a young boy, and he spent much of his time playing baseball, football, and basketball with his sisters Joanne and Betsy. He attended Lawrence High School, where he excelled in varsity sports and was the New England Foul Shooting Champion in his Senior year. He graduated as a member of the Lawrence class of 1950.

He then went on to attend Maine Maritime Academy, in Castine, graduating in 1954. While in attendance, he played on the Maine Maritime “Middies” baseball team, traveling to the southeastern United States and Cuba to play semi-professional baseball.

While in college, he met the love of his life, Ima June Wood, at a community dance at the Fairfield Center Grange Hall, and he would share many adventures with her over the next 61 years of his life. They married in 1953, and went on to have six children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and countless happy moments together.

Following his graduation from Maine Maritime Academy, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy, where he was stationed in San Diego, California. After serving in the Navy, he began his career with Babcock and Wilcox, and spent several years traveling the Eastern United States with his family.

In the 1970s, after years of travel, they decided to return to their hometown of Fairfield, where they resided in his childhood home. He began his career at Keyes Fibre Company, in Waterville, where he worked until his “first retirement” in 1995. He was always an industrious and diligent worker, and returned to work after retirement, supporting the maintenance departments at Colby College and MaineGeneral Medical Center, both in Waterville, as a boiler operator. He officially retired for the second time in 2012, at the age of 80. While residing in Fairfield, he supported his community in a variety of ways, serving on the MSAD #49 school board, as a coach for PAL youth baseball, and as a member of the American Legion.

In his later years, Charles enjoyed “ramming the roads” with his sweetheart, and taking trips to Hollywood Slots, in Bangor, and Foxwoods Resorts, in Connecticut. Mom enjoyed the slot machines, while he preferred harness racing – although they most preferred any adventure that involved each other. Over the years, he also enjoyed planning trips with his boys, especially to professional golf tournaments (hoping to catch a glimpse of “Tiger”) and horse races in California.

Charles, or “Bampie”, as he was lovingly called, was a dedicated and loving grandfather, and graciously shared his time, wisdom, advice, endless love, and loose change with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his soulmate, Ima; by his parents Charles Lyman Fales and Ethel Betsy Gilman Fales; as well as his siblings Emery, Robert, and Joanne.

He is survived by his children Jeanne and husband Eric, of Rockland, Charles Lyman Fales III and wife Terry, of Nantucket, Steven, of Fairfield, Jennifer and husband Steve Welch, of Farmingdale, Ted and wife Maria, of Nantucket, and Thad and partner Kathy, of Fairfield; his grandchildren Sara and husband Justin, Cory and wife Kelli, Jessica and husband Tyson, Brooks, Cassandra, Teddy, Seth, Monica, Isabelle, Olivia, Megan, MaKayla and Hunter; his great-grandchildren Emma, Kayla, Mila, Henry Charles, and Hazel; his sister Betsy Eaton, of Millinocket; his sister-in-law Pat Fales, of Damariscotta; as well as many nieces and nephews.

JASON J. GOGUEN

WATERVILLE – Jason J. Goguen, 42, passed peacefully in his sleep on Monday, November 9, 2020, following a courageous battle with colon cancer. He was born March 7, 1978, the son of Sally (Hewes) and Alan Goguen.

He attended Madison and Farmington school districts. He worked for MaineGeneral Medical Center, in mechanical services as a boiler technician. He loved his job and his work family. Jason enjoyed hunting, fishing and being out his boat for hours looking for the big ones.

Football was his greatest passion. After high school he continued to play for another 20 years, even starting his own team the Central Maine Warriors. An (Oakland/LasVegas) Raiders fan that bleed the silver and black, he was able to sit in the black hole at the Coliseum, one of the many items on his bucket list. He will still tell you “it was a Fumble.” Jason lived his life to the fullest and is a true Warrior. #Warrior42.

He loved everything about football that included being a coach for his son Jayson’s PAL team. He loved his adventures with his daughter Payton around New England, especially getting lobster rolls. His daughter Dakota would say he was her biggest cheerleader, cheering her on in all the sports she has played and wearing the number 42.

He is survived by his wife Crystal Goguen; his children Dakota, Jayson and Payton; his father Alan Goguen and mother Sally Lawrence; also stepmother Wendy Goguen and his second dad Mike Lawrence, many aunts and uncles and cousins.

At Jason’s request a funeral service will not be held. A life celebration will be held next spring.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Herphaven Reptile Rescue and Sanctuary, 41 Hennessey Ave., Brunswick, ME 04011, herphaven@yahoo.com.

MARLENE A. PRYOR

BENTON – Marlene Ann Pryor (Paulette), 88, passed away on Saturday, November 14, 2020, at her home, in Benton.

She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and the cornerstone of our family.

Marlene burned bright for 88 years, building and running both a family and a photography business (Pryor Studio) with her husband, Don. She put countless smiles on countless faces, and will continue to do so as she remains in our hearts and minds.

She was a voracious reader, loved watching classic movies, and had an uncanny ability to nearly always pull the card she needed when dominating her family at card games. She often repeated the phrase, “It’s not that I’m always right, I’m just never wrong.”

Marlene was predeceased by two of her daughters, Debra Haske and Kathy Pryor, her sister, Joan Alexander, brother Robert Paulette as well as one of her grandsons, Michael Poulin.

She is survived by her husband, Donald Pryor; son James Pryor; daughter Donna Wilson; son-in-law Greg Wilson; grandsons Luc Poulin, Daniel Wilson, Justin Pryor and spouse Abbie Moore; granddaughters Juli Bearce and spouse Jayson Bearce, Amanda Poulin, Danielle Poulin; great-grandchildren Olivia Skye and Phoenix, and many other extended friends and family.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, November 21, 2020, at the Lutheran Church of the Resurrection, 36 Cool St., Waterville, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 114 Perimeter Road, Nashua, NH 03063, are greatly appreciated.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan & Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 455 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

HOLLY L. MARGOLIS

WATERVILLE – Holly Louise Margolis (Thede), 73, of Waterville, died peacefully in her home, on Monday, November 16, 2020. Holly was born October 24, 1947, in Kansas City, Missouri, to the late Carl and Doris (Premer) Thede.

Holly and her family lived in many states during her childhood including Kansas, Colorado, Alabama and New Jersey. She graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, in 1965. Holly attended the University of Maine at Orono and graduated in 1969 with a B.A. in sociology. Her college years introduced her to the great state of Maine and she carried her love and fondness of the state through the end of her life.

While Holly held a variety of jobs following her graduation from college, her most important career choice was raising and caring for her three daughters. The love of Holly’s life was her family.

In addition to Holly’s deep affection for her family, she had many loyal and supportive friends near and far; including close friends who she walked with daily, her neighborhood book club, a gym family and many relationships from her extensive community involvement.

As a resident of Waterville for the past 32 years, Holly was a dedicated volunteer for many local organizations and schools. She was a fixture in the George J. Mitchell School library where she volunteered reading to students every week, with the hope of increasing their love of reading and learning. Holly was a volunteer for the Waterville Public School Adult Education ESL class. She was also part of the Waterville Women’s Association, where she served as treasurer and helped to provide scholarships to women in financial need.

Holly was an avid reader, and she loved travel, nature and bird watching. Her daily rituals of feeding her backyard squirrels and chipmunks brought her many smiles. She found great joy in the annual family beach vacation at Goose Rocks Beach, particularly the daily family gatherings.

As a self-proclaimed “queen of moderation,” there was nothing moderate about the way Holly devoted herself to her family. She was never happier than when she was involved with her husband, daughters, grandchildren and other family members. Holly was unstinting in her concerns for all aspects of her family’s lives. She was the first to help in matters large and small. Holly will be truly missed and will remain in the hearts of so many.

Holly loved her cats, which she adopted from the Humane Society Waterville Area. Her cats were a constant source of companionship and entertainment.

She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Dr. John Margolis, of Waterville; her three daughters, Christi Nesbitt Marchette, of Norfolk, Massachusetts, Maggie Nesbitt Doby (Patrick), of State College, Pennsylvania, and Sarah Margolis McCracken (Michael), of Walpole, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Jake and Olivia Marchette, and Ryan and Ella Doby; her siblings Chris Thede Antonak (Richard) and Jefferson Thede; her sister-in-law Judy Katz (Herb); brother-in-law Doug Margolis; and nieces Becky Antonak Welch (Paul) and Marah Katz Herbach (Jonathan) and their children Connor Welch and Zachary and Matthew Herbach.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society Waterville Area (hswa.org).

Due to Covid-19 a public memorial will not take place at this time.

Arrangements under the direction and care of Dan &II Scott’s Cremation & Funeral Service, 445 Waterville Road, Skowhegan ME 04976.

MARGARET E. ROBBINS

WATERVILLE – Margaret Elizabeth (McLeod) Robbins, 90, wife of the late Hamlyn Robbins, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 16, 2020, at Northern Light-Lakewood Continuing Care Center, Waterville. She preferred to be called Liz. Liz was the first child of John and Margaret McLeod.

She helped in the care of her nine siblings. While living in Greenville, Liz married Charles Sawyer and at the age of 21 she gave birth to her daughter, Barbara Jean. Eighteen years later she married Hamlyn Robbins. She kept very busy operating the Weathervane Restaurant, that they had together in Readfield. After Ham’s passing Liz moved to the Waterville area to be closer to her daughter. It was during this time she finished her senior year of high school via adult education. She was very proud of this achievement.

Margaret is survived by her daughter, Barbara J. Sawyer; three sisters, Charlotte, Gail and Pricilla; three grandchildren, Darrin Lane, David Lane and Heidi Murphy; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; three stepchildren, Hamlyn III, Beth and Stacy.

A graveside service will be held at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Civic Center Drive, at 1 p.m., on Wednesday, November 25, 2020, and she will be buried next to her husband, “Ham”.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations of State of Maine and Maine CDC, masks must be worn and social distancing observed and no more then 50 may be in attendance.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm, Street, Waterville.

An online guestbook may be signed, condolences expressed and memories shared at http://www.gallantfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in her name to Lakewood Continuing Care Center Activities Fund, 220 Kennedy Memorial Dr., Waterville, ME 04901.

JANICE L. PARE

WATERVILLE – Janice Lynn Paré, 49, passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, due to complications of Covid-19. She was born on December 8, 1970, to parents George and Delia Harper.

Janice obtained an associates in graphic design and worked for NRF Distributors, in Augusta, for many years. She enjoyed connecting with friends through social media. She was also very artistic and loved spending a day doing crafts. She was known by her family and friends as a kind and caring individual with a compassionate heart. She was a loving and private person, who appreciated the little things in life like quiet nights at home with her husband and cats.

Janice is predeceased by her father, George Harper; her stepfather, William Bess Jr.; her grandparents, Kermit and Frances Estes; her aunt, Nancy Benn; and her fur-baby Boogirl Butterscotch.

Janice is survived by her husband of 21 years, Gerard Paré, of Waterville; her mother, Delia Bess, of Presque Isle; her uncle, Butch Benn, of Aroostook County; and

Visitation will be held at Veilleux and Redington Funeral home, 8 Elm Street, Waterville, on Saturday, December 5, 2020, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home.

Condolences and memories can be shared by visiting Janice’s guestbook at http://www.veilleuxfuneralhome.com

GALEN C. PERKINS SR.

WINDSOR – Galen C. Perkins Sr., 83, of Windsor, passed away on Saturday, on November 21, 2020. He was born on November 20, 1937, in Presque Isle, to Shirley and Lorraine Perkins.

After serving four years in the U.S. Navy, Galen worked as a mechanic and driver. His favorite activities included hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and spending time with his family.

Galen leaves behind his children Gale Mallozzi, Lisa Perkins (Gerri), Galen Perkins Jr. and Amy Perkins (T); his grandchildren Cheyenne Perkins (Adam), Jacob Perkins, Tyler Mallozzi, and Katie Atkinson; his great-grandchildren Nicholas Price and Aidan Bechard; his brother Paul Perkins (Terry) and his sister Loretta Lamphere.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020, at Staples Funeral and Cremation Service, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A brief internment service followed at the Maine Veterans Cemetery, on Civic Center Drive, in Augusta.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of the funeral home website familyfirstfuneralhomes.com

CAROL A. BOLES

OAKLAND – Carol Ann Boles of Oakland, 77, passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2020, at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Augusta. Carol was born in Augusta on April 9, 1943, the daughter of Fred W. Brewer and Ruth L. (Perkins) Brewer.

Carol was educated in Augusta schools, graduating from Cony High School in 1961. She later graduated from hair dressing school.

After marrying her husband Richard, she became involved in Boles Market and Boles Real Estate, both in Waterville. Carol enjoyed many years of skiing at Sugarloaf, wintering in Gulfport, Florida, and enjoying her home on Messalonskee Lake (Snow Pond), in Oakland. Carol enjoyed gardening around her home.

Carol’s five grandchildren, Megan, Kaitlin, Connor, Lindsay and John were the love of her life.

Carol is survived by her husband of 55 years, Richard; her son, Elias J. Boles, daughter, Kimberly Devir; and her five grandchildren; her sister, Pauline B. Peters, her sister, Janet A. Sawyer and her husband Gaylen.

Carol was predeceased by her parents; her brother, Roger Brewer, her sister, Joyce E. Gray, and her brother, Warren H. Brewer.

There will be a private service at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Joseph Maronite Church, 3 Appleton St., Waterville, ME 04901 or to the Harold Alfond Cancer Center, 361 Old Belgrade Rd., Augusta, ME 04330.

PAULINE W. GLIDDEN

CHINA – Pauline W. Glidden, 92, a lifelong resident of China, passed away following a brief illness, Thursday, November 26, 2020, at her home. She was born February 27, 1928, in China, the daughter of Victor B. Stimpsom and Ethyl G. (Gerald) Stimpsom.

She attended China schools and was a graduate of Erskine Academy, in South China. In 1956 she started working as a postal clerk in South China, where she remained until she turned 65 when she transferred to Augusta and began working part time.

Pauline was a member of the Eastern Lodge, in Weeks Mills, and she was a charter member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by two sons, Fred Glidden and wife Bonnie, of China, and Nelson Glidden and wife Sue, of China; one daughter, Gayle Glidden, of China; 8 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a niece, Pamela Aveling.

She was predeceased by her parents, companion of 10 years, Richard Coultes, and a brother, Victor G. Stimpson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to: www.finleyfunerlhome.com.

A graveside service will be held in the spring at Chadwick Cemetery, Windsor Road, China.

Arrangements by Finley Funeral Home, 15 Church Street, Livermore Falls, Maine.

China Middle School honor roll

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photo source: JMG.org

GRADE 8

High honors: Ashlee Carrillo, KennanClark, Lauren Cowing, Lillian Crommett, Kali Duvall, Chloe French, Clara French, Serena Hotham, Abigail McDonough, Shannon McDonough, Colin Oliphant, Noah Pelletier, Justin Reed, Laney Robitaille, Avery Ross, Carlee Sanborn, Aislynn Savage and Parker Studholme. Honors: Haileigh Allen, Jayda Bickford, Carter Brockway, Dylan Cooley, Lucas Farrington, Parker Hunter, Walker Jean, Adrian Mayo, Emma Mills, Kaeleigh Morin, Sadie Pierce, Kyle Scott, Larissa Steeves, Myra Trott and Dalorice Vires.

GRADE 7

High honors: Cassandra Bessey, London Castle, Madeline Clement-Cargill, Claire Davis, Sylvia Davis, April Dutilly, Madison Gagnon, Willow Haschalk, Kasen Kelley, Bayley Nickles, Ruby Pearson, Elijah Pelkey, Desirae Proctor, Christian Salvadori, Jaelyn Seamon, Benjamin Severance, Nichala Small, Madelynn Spencer, Kayla Stred, Abigail Studholme and Kamryn Turner. Honors: Kylie Bellows, Lucas Berto, Brock Bowden, Logan Breton, Brittney Dunton, Faith Futrell, Brandon Haley, Colby Hardy, Easton Houghton, Laylah Leach, Nathaniel Levesque, Hayden Little, Aurora Litrell, Jeremy McKay, Jack Murray, Michael Richardson, Benjamin Severy, Phoebe Taylor, Alexander Walker and Ella Winn.

GRADE 6

High honors: Isaac Audette, Delia Bailey, Emma Casey, Connor Crommett, Isabella Farrington, Danica Ferris, Collin Fletcher, James Goodwin, Kaylee Grierson, Chase Hester, Johanna Jacobs, Peyton Kibbin, Kate McGlew, Wyatt Michaud, Molly Oxley, Bryson Pettengill, Caylee Putek, Jessika Shaw, Colby Spry and Sabrina Studholme. Honors: Mason Carillo, Khloe Clark, Landen DeCosta, Kelsie Dunn, Delaney Dupuis, Bella Dutilly, Connor Hardesty, Lilyanna Holmes, Cassidy Liberty, Gage Miller, Annie Miragliuolo, Hadleigh Morin, Madeline Oxley, Natalie Peaslee, Dylan Proctor, Mason ReedProsser, Emma Rodrigue, Dylan Saucier, Lucas Short, Blake Spry, Gabriel Studlholme, Olivia Vashon and Matthew Vernesoni.

GRADE 5

High honors: Mackenzie Bowden, Alexxander Catassi, Trevor French, Tyler Gagnon, Myla Gower, Landon Larochelle, Bella Lefferts, Madison Levesque, Lainey McFarland, Ava Miragliuolo, Reed Pilsbury, Liam Ross, Keegan Sears, Maxine Spencer, Amelia Spry, Ethan Studholme, Dalton Stufflebeam, Kallie Turner, Brian Walker and Leah Watson. Honors: Dawson Baker, Jackson Bryant, Kaylee Dunton, Dante Farrell, Taylor Gagnon, Marcus George, Mason Mattingly, Alexander Mayo, Clara Monroe, Nolan Pierce, Camryn Prosper and Braelyn Waters.