IF WALLS COULD TALK, Week of October 6, 2016

by Katie Ouilette

WALLS and faithful readers, are you ready for what has been going on again with a historical society?  Wow, busy folks and this time, WALLS, you have Madison to brag about.  What’s more, for sure you are going to hear some very surprising information about Norridgewock.

Lew had gone to the races at the last day of Farmington Fair and, since word had been out that an author of the book In the Shadow of the Steel Cross would be at the Madison Historic Museum, at one time, had been Old Point Avenue School.  What a great historical display the members of the Madison Museum’ Historical Society have done to bring history of Madison and vicinity alive for anyone visiting the Museum.

First, WALLS, tell about what awaits folks at the museum.  No, no, no….those cookies and other goodies on the table are not available for every visitor’s enjoyment, but these wonderful refreshments were available for everyone who came to hear author Louise Ketchum Hunt tell of Father Sebastian Rasle, S.J., Mission in Norridgewock, after immigrating to our United States from France 250 years ago.  Folks from Madison know that our Catholic Church is named Sebastian Rasle Church and the, once, church school was named Father Rasle School.  But, do you Madisonites know how the village of Norridgewock, the British, the French all figured prominently in our history with the Wabanaki and Abenaki Indian tribes.

This is a fascinating book and Louise Ketchum Hunt, of Indian heritage, so graciously tells the story of Father Rasle and the frightening story of how her heritage was affected……….all the way to Father Rasle’s being murdered with Indian chies huddled next to him to protect him.  Yes, the famous Father Rasle, while WALLS is not trying to convert believers to Catholicism, WALLS do know that Father Rasle’s history in our area is something we of every age must be aware.

A few weeks ago, we drove to Eustis, when we heard that the historical society there would be featuring the Brittish’ going to Canada.  We certainly were impressed with the displays of history there, but when we saw the name of our one-and-only Andrew Redmond so prominently displayed, we thought of his son’s story about the house he and his wife own on the Norridgewock Road, in Skowhegan.  True, that location is not mentioned in the book by Ms. Hunt, but somehow, WALLS, do you think the famous spring of which he has spoken figured into the Norridgewock attacks?  Yes, there was an attack several times on Norridgewock Village.

In closing, WALLS, why don’t you tell about the name of the book by Mrs. Hunt?  The name:  In the Shadow of the Steel Cross. Father Rasle Road is off the Norridgewock-Madison Road and you faithful readers may wish to visit the Father Rasle Cemetery.