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In the past year Nestlé, known locally as Poland Spring Water, has gifted the Denmark Historical Society with used office equipment. We are now able to store items in our collection in file cabinets, shelves, desk and chair. And a safe to protect valuables.

We are now in the process of reorganizing the archives with the file cabinets. We have a desk for our new computer system. With the safe the historical society is able to store its film, portable drives holding thousands of images and other fragile items. With the file cabinets allows the archive to expand its storage capabilities and to have safer storage solution.

Many thanks to Nestlé Waters North America for the continued support to the historical society.

The board of directors of Denmark Historical Society are pleased to announce that the historical society has been awarded a grant from the Highland Street Foundation and David McGrath to further its goals of data collection, digitization and outreach.

Board members are excited to be able to continue its work to collect, protect and share the history of Denmark with the community.

Television in its new location in the meeting room of Denmark Public Library

With the funds the historical society purchased a computer, printer, scanner, a 50” television, a laptop computer, and a sound system. The equipment is set up in the archives and meeting room of Denmark Public Library.

Charles Linden set up the hardware. Many thanks for the hours spent to set up the equipment!

Sound system

The first event for the public using the television, laptop and sound system is the book club movie and book discussion with The Color Purple by Alice Hoffman, a Denmark Public Library event.

Book Club Members Watching The Color Purple

2015
Name DOB DOD AGE
Maureen Gregston *** *** **
Jens R. Hansen Sr. *** 1/7/2015 **
Joseph Guidi Sr. 6/2/1935 1/8/2015 **
Beverly H. Ramsden *** 1/12/2015 81
Roger Eastman *** 1/13/2015 **
Doris M. Osgood 8/28/1928 1/15/2015 **
Margaret A. Pelton 1/10/2018 2/1/2015 97
Trafton ‘Skip’ Westleigh 9/14/1945 2/7/2015 **
Virginia M. Webber *** 2/9/2015 91
Jeannette E. Tardiff 4/3/1922 2/13/2015 **
Marion Jean Fissel 11/8/1932 3/19/2015 82
Marie E. Donato 2/18/1921 3/22/2015 **
Phyllis R. Forman 1/31/1926 4/7/2015 **
Marvis Grace Batchelder 2/20/1924 4/7/2015 91
Sylvia A. Eaton 10/3/1947 5/1/2015 67
Nancy Masterton 11/28/1930 5/17/2015 **
Pamela J. Allen *** 5/18/2015 65
Augustus ‘Gus’ T. Espeaignette 9/3/1954 5/26/2015 **
Mary Kathy Sanborn *** 6/2/2015 79
Stasia Renski Stearns 7/14/1910 6/14/2015 **
Bradford Lanoue *** 6/30/2015 **
Elizabeth ‘Betsy’ McDermith 9/19/1934 8/6/2015 **
Arleene M. Keresztessy *** 8/18/2015 77
Elsie M. Mowatt 11/18/1922 9/15/2015 **
Mary Ray *** 9/24/2015 **
Robert Waldo Linnell 7/31/1925 10/8/2015 **
Ida M. McLeod 9/7/1925 10/10/2015 90
Percy W. Lord 7/7/1927 11/21/2015 88
Ruth Norma P. Linnell 11/11/1928 11/29/2015 **
Florence K. Doe 9/23/1922 12/1/2015 **
Eleanor A. Young 4/15/1929 12/7/2015 **
Basil C. Tasker Jr. 11/22/1930 12/7/2015 **
Robert P. Doyle *** 12/10/2015 73
2016
Name DOB DOD AGE
Richard Thomas 1934 1/9/2016 81
Amy Smith Roesch *** 1/13/2016 **
Ellen Greene Pecoraro 9/1/1938 1/19/2016 77
Roland F. Brine *** 2/7/2016 90
June Morton Bryant Ficker 6/9/1924 2/5/2016 91
Elna E. McAlister Hale 6/7/1938 2/17/2016 77
Helen Kimball Ward 12/4/1928 2/28/2016 87
Christopher Gregston *** *** **
Geraldine ‘Geri’ Ingalls True Halkett 11/26/1928 3/12/2016 87
Shirley J. Downing 6/9/1933 3/26/2016 82
Edwin Smith 9/12/1958 3/31/2016 57
John ‘Jack’ Bempkins 8/5/1924 3/31/2016 91
Thomas Pingree 4/20/1950 4/1/2016 65
Raymond Francis Dunn 6/14/1927 4/20/2016 88
Glen True Eldridge 3/25/1927 7/14/2016 83
William L. ‘Billy’ Libby 1/24/1959 7/30/2016 56
Charles L. ‘Charlie’ McLeod 3/11/1924 8/24/2016 92
Keith R. Broad 3/1/1966 9/5/2016 50
Sandra ‘Sandi’ Halkett 12/22/1953 9/12/2016 62
Bruno R. Bertelli *** 10/1/2016 98
Curtis Lane 10/1/1963 10/3/2016 53
Ora Keller Brine 8/20/1926 10/10/2016 90
Donald Monson 2/3/1928 10/15/2016 88
John W. McConkey 11/18/1947 10/15/2016 68
Derrick A. Riley *** 11/4/2016 **
Clifford W. Libby, Sr. *** 11/29/2016 **
Mary Trumbull Harmon 8/21/1921 12/10/2016 95
Gerald E. ‘Jerry’ Burnell, Jr. 8/30/1937 12/17/2016 79
W. P. Lance Luedeke 7/28/1934 12/24/2016 82
Rodney A. MacDonald *** 12/30/2016 **
2017
Name DOB DOD AGE
Michael B. ‘Cobby’ Cobb 12/10/1956 2/1/2017 60
Gaynor D. ‘Webby’ Webb 7/28/1934 2/19/2017 82
Laurie J. McInnis 2/5/1953 2/21/2017 64
Bonnie C. Axtman 10/13/1942 3/9/2017 74
Alice A. Leavitt *** 3/9/2017 **
Edvieanna Bartlett 8/23/1950 3/14/2017 66
Sandra Gail True 5/30/1935 3/14/2017 81
Glenna Billings Adams 11/10/1927 3/18/2017 89
Joanne R. Sargent 12/8/1927 3/18/2017 89
Lenorma B. Mitchell Shorette 2/20/1931 3/20/2017 86
Faye L. Smith Jaeger 12/11/1944 3/27/2017 72
Richard M. Alves *** 5/4/2017 **
Leah Woodman Larochelle *** 5/22/2017 93
Charles L. LeBaron ** 5/22/2017 **
Catherine Donoghue 11/3/1935 6/7/2017 81
Robert D. Weishapl 10/21/1957 6/8/2017 59
Ronald L. Meeker *** 6/22/2017 **
Mark W. Allen 12/23/2017 6/23/2017 57
Richard Francis Williams 11/19/1932 8/18/2017 84
Melissa Louise Altvater *** 9/14/2017 **
Richard Allen Norden 1/2/1942 9/15/2017 68
Dale John McBurnie *** 9/17/2017 **
Elaine Morton Davison 4/27/1921 9/19/2017 96
Joanna Betsey Bullard Hills 4/27/1921 10/4/2017 84
Irvin Cohen, Jr. *** 10/31/2017 87
Frederick John Laracy *** 11/4/2017 57
Lilliam B. Lee Morse *** 11/5/2017 89
William ‘Bill’ Boyd 11/22/1937 11/10/2017 79
Richard Eugene Clemons 1930 11/11/2017 87
Conrad ‘Sonny’ George Primus III 10/6/1942 11/15/2017 75
Charles ‘Chuck’ Joseph Harding 6/21/1946 12/28/2017 71
2018
Name DOB DOD GE
John C. Hurley 11/20/1932 1/12/2018 85
Carol O’Brien *** 1/16/2018 **
Paula Smith 11/9/1952 2/7/2018 65
Margaret A. Edwards 12/16/1923 3/5/2018 94
Robert Lloyd Hunt 8/11/1930 3/7/2018 87
Carol Anne Harding Coffin 4/21/1949 3/21/2018 68
Madeline Parker-Russo *** 4/13/2018 **
Flora Mae Bronn Richardson 11/1/1938 4/26/2018 80
June A. Bachelder Blais 6/13/1937 6/4/2018 80
Michael Ryan Vigeant 2/17/1994 9/19/2018 24
John A. ‘Jack’ Schrader 11/28/1930 9/21/2018 88
Wanda Jo Baumer 6/4/1937 10/2/2018 81
Dorothy Brooks Clark 2/21/1928 10/7/2018 90
William ‘Bill’ True 5/13/1934 10/24/2018 ***
Sharon A. (Berry) Beaulieu 5/29/1953 11/2/2018 65
Nelson Gouterman *** 11/5/2018 ***

Have you been a member of a committee or board of the town over the years? You have finished your term of service.

What do you do with all the documents?

Well, if you have not disposed of them, please consider donating documents, manuals, etc. to the Historical Society.


Selectman, planning board, board of appeals, comprehensive plan committee, budget committee, are some examples of committees.

Please email [email protected], if you’d like to donate to the historical society.

A recent query from researcher, Carla Ceglieski, asked when was Little Hancock Pond renamed to Walden Pond? If so, when did that happen? 

An interesting question!

In all of the older USGS maps Sand Pond is called Little Hancock Pond. When and where the name changed to Sand Pond I do not have a clear answer. 

When Blanche Hirsch and Clara Altschul purchased the property now known as Camp Walden from the Pingree family in 1916, the waterbody is called Sand Pond in the deed.
In communication with 2 state agencies and USGS I have found that:

1910, 1911, 1940, 1963 maps label the waterbody Sand Pond.

In 1919 Maine legislature voted to approve the change of the pond’s name to Walden Pond in Chapter 12 Special Laws of Maine.

1966 maps to the present day label the waterbody Walden Pond because in 1964 field surveyors note that Sand Pond’s name officially changed to Walden Pond in 1919.

Whomever was responsible in this time period, whether it was the State of Maine or the owners of Camp Walden did not let the federal government’s agency’s know of the name change.

Look for more details of naming a waterbody and the history of Sand Pond in a future post!

PASSAGES: We say goodby to Denmark family, friends and neighbors who passed away in 2018.

NameDOBDODAGE
John C. Hurley11/20/19321/12/201885
Paula Smith***2/7/201865
Margaret A. Edwards12/16/19233/5/201894
Robert Hunt8/11/19303/7/201887
Carol Anne Harding Coffin4/21/19493/21/201868
Flora Mae Bronn Richardson11/1/19384/26/201880
Michael Ryan Vigeant2/17/19949/19/201824
John A. ‘Jack’ Schrader11/28/19309/21/201888
Wanda Jo Baumer6/4/193710/2/201881
Dorothy Brooks Clark2/21/192810/7/201890
William ‘Bill’ True5/13/193410/24/2018***
Nelson Gouterman***11/5/2018***

Please message the historical society if a name has been missed. We try to keep a complete list, sometimes life happens and we unintentionally miss a person.

George Paul is researching Albert F. Trumbull (1870-1953), who is believed to have lived on a prosperous farm in the Denmark/Bridgton area.  He married Margaret Spottwood (1869-1944) and they had two children: Alberta (1894) and Charles F. (1897).

I would like to know Mr. Trumbull’s address in 1899/1900, and if the house is still standing.

The backstory is that this past winter I acquired an antique phonograph that was built in 1899.  This is a cylinder record machine, and at that time one of the selling points of cylinder players was that records could be made at home.  Among the 19 records that came with this machine was one announced as having been made by Albert Trumbull.  A search disclosed only one Albert Trumbull was living in Maine at the time (none in Vermont or New Hampshire – where this machine was found).  The machine I obtained was the most expensive phonograph of any type built at the time, and only a well-to-do person could have afforded it.  A phone call with Allen Trumbull in Fryeburg confirmed that this could be the man I’m looking for.

I’d very much appreciate any assistance in learning Mr. Trumbull’s address and whether or not the house still stands.

Denmark Historical Society responded:

 Albert F. Trumbull (1845-1912), son of Foster & Theodosia Trumbull lived in Denmark. If this is the person you are searching for I will be happy to provide further information. I believe the Albert Trumbull you are researching is from Bridgton, which is next door to Denmark. I do not have details about him. Will you please let us know the information you receive?
Bridgton Historical Society will assist you.
Trumbull family researcher Carol Morton discussed the Denmark Trumbull family further in this message:
Albert F. Trumbull 1845-1920 was a brother to Luther….I have a wonderful old photo of the Trumbulls in front of George and Minnie’s house, that was originally Foster and Theodotia Allen Trumbull’s home…..must have been a reunion, lots of Trumbulls in the picture, including Arlene my mother and Mary my aunt as little girls. He married Emma Witham had 5 children, I remember very well George and wife Minnie, whom we always called Aunt Minnie and Uncle George. Luther’s parents were born in New Hampshire.  I know there were Bridgton Trumbulls, have not explored them, but suspect a connection of course.
DSC_0115

,

Stephen Twining wrote:

….documenting the Civil War Veterans for the City of Fitchburg, MA. One of our soldiers moved to your town, and died there on January 7, 1914. Would you be able to confirm this and also tell me where he was buried.
If you have a picture of him, and or, his gravestone I would very much appreciate a copy. I could also use any information that you have that you could share with me.
Denmark Historical Society responded:
Yes, Alfred Wood Belcher is buried in L.A. Berry cemetery in Denmark village. His stone lists his birth/death as 1838-1914. He was the town clerk 1904-1906. In the town records his date of death is listed as 1/19/1914.
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