Founded in 1888 at Brunswick, Spring/Summer 2010

Diving into Local History at the Pejepscot Museum Visitors to the Pejepscot Museum and offices are greeted in the front hall by a deep-sea diving outfit, a 2009 addition to the museum’s collection of local history artifacts. The gear was formerly used by Laurier A. Pinette who ran a diving business with offices at 64 Water Street in Brunswick. Mr. Pinette began diving in 1936 and continued into the 1950s. According to his business card, he provided “diving service, pipe laying and repairing, pile driving, salvage and ferry service.” Newspapers reported on several Pinette diving projects, including the laying of pipe through a marsh for the Brewer water supply, dredging under the draw span of the Portland Bridge, replacing 100 feet of 42-inch steel pipe under a river for a Farmingdale steam plant, and cutting a tow line from the propeller shaft of a coast guard cutter at the State Pier. The suit is made of heavy canvas with leather patches over the knees. It also features lead-weighted shoes, a weight belt, a copper and brass helmet with glass “windows,” and assorted hoses and fittings. Altogether, it stands about six feet tall weighs an estimated 260 pounds. The helmet is inscribed, “U.S. Navy Diving Helmet, Mark V, A. J. Morse & Son, Inc., , Mass., Number 2748.

The two photos above show Laurier Pinette diving in 1950.

To the right, Executive Director Brian Collins and a volunteer unload the diving gear at the Pejepscot Museum. The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 2

Coming Soon: New Exhibit on “Old” Brunswick High School

The Brunswick High School building on Spring After its tenure as a Street was demolished in school, the Spring Street July 2009, but its story building served as a polling will live on in a special place, a storage facility, a exhibit at the Pejepscot municipal meeting place, a Museum that will open site for sports programs, and April 29th at 7 pm. All are the Brunswick cable televi- welcome to attend the sion station. opening. The building is gone What most of us call now, and in November 2009 the “old high school” was Brunswick’s fourth, and there was a groundbreaking ceremony for a new it was the “new high school” in 1938. The town’s elementary school for grades three through five to first three high schools all occupied the same lot on be built at the same location. the corner of Federal and Green Streets. The first The Pejepscot Museum’s high school exhibit was built in 1851. Its larger successor opened in will include architectural salvage, furnishings, and 1893 and burned down in 1915. The third building memorabilia, including a complete set of Bruns- served as a high school from 1915 to 1938 and was wick High School yearbooks from the classes of renamed the Hawthorne elementary school when 1938 through 1995, many individual photographs the high school building opened on Spring Street. of members of the classes of 1950 and 1951, desks, The Spring Street building was expanded the gym’s basketball scoreboard, lighting controls, several times through the years, and served as the a locker, signs, cafeteria menus, the door to the high school until classes ended in June 1995. teacher’s room, a wooden stair railing complete Brunswick High moved to a large, modern complex with graffiti, and many other items sure to surprise on Maquoit Road in September 1995. and delight.

Free Ad Space? We’re All Over It!

The windows of the former Grand City store on Brunswick’s Maine Street showcase a “Then and Now” display by the Pejepscot Historical Society. The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 3

Pejepscot Gift Catalogs Are Online Family Ties at Bowdoin

You may now shop in PHS museum stores In 1925, Bowdoin College awarded honorary from your own home computer. Check it out to- Master’s degrees to Rose Hawthorne Lathrop and day. We may have just the gift for those hard-to- Alice Mary Longfellow, one hundred years after please friends and relatives, or the perfect book for their fathers, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry your own reading list. Begin on our home page: Wadsworth Longfellow, graduated with Bowdoin’s www.community.curtislibary.com/pejepscot.htm. class of 1825. Then click on the “Gift Catalog” button in the left- Rose (1851-1926) was also known as Mrs. hand menu. A new page will open, giving you the George Parsons Lathrop and as Mother Alphonsa, choice of either the Pejepscot or the Chamberlain a Dominican nun. She was Founder of Homes for museum shop. Each catalog offers a number of Incurable Cancer. Alice (1850-1928) was Founder product categories. and Member of the Board of Associates, Radcliffe Among the offerings in the Pejepscot museum’s College. “Souvenirs,” list you will see: Authors Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864) and Brass Ship Bells Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882), and These cast brass heav- Henry’s brother Stephen (1805-1850), attorney yweight bells, a perfect and fellow 1825 graduate, received Bowdoin A.M.s addition to any home, in 1828. Henry, who was a professor and librarian are polished and feature a beautifully knotted at Bowdoin, 1829-35, received its honorary LL.D. in rope lanyard. Each bell 1874. His brother Alexander (1814-1901), a civil has a swan-necked engineer, received an A.M. in1839. Younger mounting bracket for brother Samuel (1819-1892), a minister, entered fastening to the desired Bowdoin then transferred, receiving his A.B. from surface. Harvard in 1839. These gorgeous bells come in two sizes, small - approximately 4” tall and 4” wide (at its widest The Longfellow brothers’ father, Stephen (1776 point) and large - approximately 6” tall and 5.5” -1849), an attorney, was a Bowdoin Overseer, wide (at its widest point). 1811-1817 and Trustee,1817-1836. He received an When ordering please be sure to specify size, honorary LL.D. in 1828, sharing the graduation cer- small or large. emony with two sons. Paternal grandfather, Ste- Small, $24.99 each; Large, $69.99 each phen (1750-1824), a legislator and judge, served as (plus shipping charges). Bowdoin Overseer , 1794-1810. Maternal grandfa- All sales support the work of the Society. ther, (1748-1829), a Brigadeer Members receive a 10% discount. General in the Revolution, legislator, and mer-

We Need You . . . The Pejepscot Historical Society is looking for volunteers for various projects, both long and short-term. Please contact Executive Director Brian Collins at 207-729-6606 or e-mail: [email protected]. . . . And Your Books We need books for our fourth annual book sale on Friday, July 30. An easy way to support the Society and gain needed space at home is by donating books. You may bring them to our offices at 159 Park Row, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday until late May, and Monday through Saturday in June and July. If you cannot deliver your books, call us at (207) 729-6606. We may be able to pick them up. The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 4

Scenes of PHS Activities during the Fall and Winter Seasons

Halloween at the Chamberlain House

Volunteers offered treats to revelers stopping at the Chamberlain House door.

A visitor rode his bike over to check out the treats at the Chamberlain house.

Wish List

Your Society would greatly appreciate donations of the following equipment for the Chamberlain House: Wooton Desk Coat Rack Brass Fireplace Equipment Are these duelers the ghosts of pirates past? Items need not be new, but should be working. Call 270-6606 to discuss possible donations.

The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 5

Scenes of PHS Activities during the Fall and Winter Seasons

Christmas at the Skolfield-Whittier House

The Skolfield-Whittier House was decorated for the season, even though the snow was missing.

The Pejepscot Museum’s research room offered refreshments and a lighted Christmas tree. Even the Grandfather’s clock was decorated.

Above: A small visitor to the Skolfield-Whittier house seemed more interested in the Victorian furnishings than in Santa.

Right: Santa caught his attention by opening up his sack full of goodies.

The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 6

Spring/Summer Calendar Ray Hammond Is Identified Thursday, April 29, 7:00 pm Opening of Brunswick High School Exhibit at Pejepscot Historical Society. Free Event. Saturday, June 12, 4:00-7:00 pm Preservation Party at Brunswick Inn, 165 Park Row $50.00 single $75.00 couple. Friday, July 30, 10:00 am-4:00 pm Used Book Sale and Community Appreciation Day

at Pejepscot Historical Society. Free Event. Thursday, September 23, 7:00-9:00 pm Old Timers’ Night at Curtis Memorial Library. Free. Thursday, October 7, 5:30-9:00 pm Many thanks to PHS Board member Michael J. Annual Meeting of the Pejepscot Historical Fiori for identifying Ray Hammond, above, whose Society, Daggett Lounge, Bowdoin College. photograph appeared among the “unknowns” in the Sunday, October 17, 12:00-4:00 pm last Cupola. Ray, the brother of Michael’s Aunt Antiques Appraisal Fair at Curtis Memorial Margaret Hammond Fiori, is shown in the garden of his home on Brunswick’s Bath Road, circa 1982. Library. $3.00 at door. Sunday, October 31, 4:00-9:00 pm Ray was a bachelor who was born in Lewiston in 1911 and died in Brunswick in 1985, having Halloween at the Chamberlain House. Free Event. spent his working years “away,” and moving back Thursday, November 18, 7:00 pm home to Maine in retirement. After service in Photo Preservation Presentation at Thornton Oaks World War II, he moved to southern California,

by Christine Olmsted. where he worked for many years as a janitor at Saturday, December 4, 10:00 am-noon. Long Beach State College. An optimist and an avid Santa Claus Visits Children at the Skolfield- collector of stamps and antiques, he loved gardening Whittier House. and good conversation Telephone and Lamps are Installed in Chamberlain House

The Curvy room of the Joshua L. Chamberlain house once again has a telephone similar to one that was used by the Chamberlains. The original was visible in the background of a photograph of the room that accompa- nied an article published in the Lewiston Journal in 1907. The double box model telephone was in use from around 1900 to 1910. The Society’s acquisition was made possible through donated funds. Trivia fans will note that the Chamberlain’s telephone number was 14. Also donated and now installed in the house are two glass oil lamps supported on black iron wall sconces. The one shown to the right is now hanging in the Longfellow room. The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 7

Membership Matters! Individuals with a basic membership in the Pejepscot Historical Society receive free admission to both the Skolfield-Whittier house and the Joshua L. Chamberlain house, a free subscription to the semiannual newsletter, invitations to PHS events and programs, a 10% discount in the museum stores, and one hour of research assistance each month. Family memberships cover all members of one immediate household. In addition to the benefits of a basic membership:  Fort George Defenders receive two guest passes.  Furbish Fellows receive two guest passes and an associate membership in the Joshua Chamberlain Civil War Round Table.  1888 PHS Founders receive four guest passes and an associate membership in the Round Table.  Pejepscot Proprietors receive eight guest passes and two associate memberships in the Round Table. Memberships are valid for 12 months and may be renewed annually. To join, or to renew a membership, please complete and return the following form with your payment to Pejepscot Historical Society, 159 Park Row, Brunswick, ME 04011. Credit card payments may be called in to (207) 729-6606.

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Basic Memberships Membership Status  Individual ...... $35.00  I am a NEW member.  Family ...... $50.00  I am renewing a membership.

Contributing Memberships  Fort George Defender ...... $75.00  1888 PHS Founder ...... $250.00  Furbish Fellow ...... $125.00  Pejepscot Proprietor...... $500.00 and up

______Name (as you wish it to appear in our records) ______Mailing Address ______City State Zip Code ______Telephone Email

Payment Type:  Check enclosed  Master Card Credit Card #______ Visa Expiry Date______Signature______The Cupola • Spring/Summer 2010 • Page 8

Pejepscot Historical Society Museums Spring/Summer Hours of Operation

Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum: 226 Maine Street. Reopens May 25, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Admission: Adults, $5.00; Children (age 6-16), $2.50. No charge for members of the Pejepscot Historical Society.

Pejepscot Museum and Offices: 159 Park Row. Open year-round. Summer hours: Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Winter hours: Monday-Friday, 10:00 am-4:00 pm. Admission: FREE

Skolfield-Whittier House Museum: 161 Park Row. Closed for Repairs in 2010.

Non-Profit Org. P E J E P S C O T H I S T O R I C A L S OCIET Y US Postage 159 Park Row PAID Brunswick, Maine 04011 Brunswick, ME www.community.curtislibrary.com/pejepscot.htm Permit #31

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