Category Archives: history

They Say You Can’t Go Home Again

Posted on July 1, 2012 | Comments Off

A version of this article ran in the Kennebec Journal on June 7, 2012 as part of their series, ” HALLOWELL: The way it was”under the title HALLOWELL 250th: Going home again

BY AL AND DAWNA TREGEMBO

Returning to Hallowell after many years away is a strange but wonderful experience. Some things remain the same, others change dramatically. Strolling the streets bring back many memories and emotions. Although things look about the same, you know they have changed.

One of the most dramatic changes is a private residence where Hallowell High School had once stood. The school opened in 1920 and graduated it’s last class in 1962. A much treasured landmark gone, but never forgotten.

Walking up Central Street brings back untold memories of the carefree and wonderful days of our teen years. From the fears we felt upon entering those “hallowed halls” to the exhilaration of graduating four years later (for most at least) had been a wonderful and fun filled journey.

Probably everyone remembers the “heh, heh, heh” that Mr. Roy snidely uttered during science and biology classes; and Mrs. Daker with her stern scoldings when we did not meet her expectations in English classes. Mr. Daker always managed to bend the rules a bit for our athletes, and we all remember how he never tired of telling us how he slept on boards and ate black bread. Did anyone ever figure out what he was trying to tell us? Surely there was a coded message in there somewhere.

Mrs. Clark was noted for her insistence that we roll our r’s in French class. She also made sure we dressed in costume for the Latin Club’s Saturnalia celebration. We were quite a sight dancing and cavorting around in our togas (bed sheets) and our tunics (bath towels). It really was a lot of fun in spite of our initial dread. Even way back in the 50′s teenagers still hated to admit something that adults created was fun.

Does “A S D F G ; L K J H” sound familiar? That would be Mrs. Asher in first year typing class with her glasses perched on the edge of her nose, as she called out in staccato and watched over us like a hawk watching it’s prey.

Everyone must remember Carl Nickerson. He was the custodian, aka janitor back then. Carl was a friend to all and knew everyone by name including our parents. He took great pride in our school and was our number one sports fan. Everyone had a friend in Carl.

The fear of a “2:30” (detention) prompted most of us to do our homework and keep out mouths shut during class. No one wanted to go back to school and sit in a study hall from 2:30 to 4:30. Plus, we got in trouble with our parents when we got home late! We didn’t have the luxury of cell phones and text messages.

Remember Freshman Initiation? For a whole day we had to be subservient to a senior to whom we were assigned and dress in a fashion meant to humiliate us. We had to meet the assigned senior at his/her home, carry their books in a pail, and whenever told, kneel down and recite the “Freshman Prayer” which we had committed to memory. If we made a mistake or complained, a consequence was at the ready. We were paraded down Water Street for all to see. Oh, yes, it was quite a day! It all culminated that evening at City Hall where further humiliation ensued as a few chosen Freshmen performed consequences to the amusement of parents and friends(?). It was all done in the spirit of fun and the evening concluded with a dance. Everything returned to normal.

Although our school was small, we were big in school spirit. Home baseball and football games were played at Vaughan Field. Although the boys’ basketball games were held at the Augusta State Armory, we did have a small sunken gym. Rumor has it that it was originally built as a swimming pool, but that is a myth. The original plans for the building show it as a sunken gymnasium. In fact, our parents played their games there and the girls’ basketball games were still being played there in the 1950′s. Spring training for baseball pitchers and catchers was held there as well.

It is a popular belief that you cannot go home again. These recollections seem to prove otherwise. You definitely can go home again.

 

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History of the Gaslight Theater in Hallowell

Posted on June 30, 2012 | Comments Off

A version of this article ran in the Kennebec Journal on June 30, 2012 as part of their series, ” HALLOWELL: The way it was”under the title “Augusta Players continue as Gaslight Theater“

BY RICHARD BOSTWICK

The Gaslight Theater is a continuation of the Augusta Players, a Little theater the group with a long and respectable history in the in the Augusta area. Community Theater, involving residents of the capitol area has been around since 1937. The Augusta Players was formed in Augusta, Maine the fall of 1937 as an outgrowth of a women’s theater class held at the YMCA. Maybelle Tarr, the founder, directed the first show, “Arms and the Man” by George Bernard Shaw in the spring of 1938 and began a theatrical tradition in the Maine Capitol region.  Performances were held at Cony High School in Augusta, and the Senior High School in Waterville, ME and later on in the Capitol Theater in downtown Augusta.

The Augusta Players have had many long term connections to Hallowell. The group was more of a social club, and the doings of the group and members had many column inches in the Kennebec Journal. The meetings were social events, with speakers, readings, and discussions of things dramatic. The meetings were held in a club house, originally on Church Hill Road in Augusta and later in the Bodwell Carriage House on Middle Street. From this base, the group performed in Augusta at the Capitol Theater in Augusta, The Little Theater in The Gardiner Area High School, and At Reed Auditorium in Hallowell. At Reed, The Augusta Players Performed “The Music Man” , “ Mrs. McThing” and “Our Town” These were the groups 105th, 106th and 107th performances. The troupe remained at the Bodwell Club House there until May of 1977 when financial problems and a $3000 oil bill cause them to give the club house up and store properties in many other places. Shortly after that, after having no set home, took up. In 1979, The Augusta Players took up residence in the Hallowell City Hall auditorium and started producing plays as the Gaslight Theater or, more legally, The Augusta Players Inc. D/B/A The Gaslight Theater.

The group holds the distinction of having the longest continuously performing theater group in Maine. Since the first show in 1938, the group has held performances every year, although records for the 1959 and 1979 seasons are missing. The group is still researching those years. The group has also performed fundraising shows such as a Dinner Murder Mystery at The Cohen Center and a musical revue, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime” at Slates Restaurant in Hallowell.

The productions have been held in the Hallowell City Hall Auditorium, with a few in the past at Reed Auditorium, Hall Dale High School Auditorium, the old Cony Auditorium, and Johnson Hall in Gardiner.. The group performs current dramas and old favorites. The group performed the Maine Premiere of McNally’s “Lips Together, Teeth Apart “ and A, R, Gurney’s “A Cheever Evening”. The first performance after 9/ 11/01 was Wilder’s “Our Town”. Even though it had been planned a year earlier, this play, our 190th, was a fitting play to re-affirm the spirit of what being American is about. . Since it’s founding, the Augusta Players/Gaslight Theater have presented over 230 productions. In the spirit of “The Show Must Go On”, The group has cancelled very few performances. During World War II, founder Maybelle Tarr had to take over the male lead role when the actor enlisted in the military. The Gaslight Theater has cancelled some performances of “Vanities” in 1987 due to a flood. While the group has cancelled a few performances due to blizzards, they also have performed in a driving show storm to an audience of 4 patrons who arrived on skis.

Like the Augusta Players before them, The Gaslight Theater has been active in statewide community theater groups beginning with the Organization of Performing Arts in Maine (OPAM) and currently as a founding member of the Maine Association of Community Theaters (MEACT), where they have performed in all but one of the 15 One Act Festivals.

The focus of the group has changed over the years from a social club with a short run of 3 shows a year to a season of 4 to 5 shows with 6 to 8 performances each. The goal is to have a balanced season with a comedy, musical, a drama and a mystery or classic. Since 2001 the group have looked back at classics done by the Augusta Players, we did “Don’t Drink the Water” , “Bell Book and Candle”, “ My Three Angel s” , “Born Yesterday” and “The Mousetrap “ for a second time and “Arsenic and Old Lace” for a third.

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Granite Quarries Tour

Posted on June 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

August 5th tour cancelled due to high water in the quarry — no plans to reschedule at this time

 

with Leonard Nason, owner of Granite Works LLC

Meet at 414 Winthrop Street, just west of the quarry site, toward Manchester, at the home of Lenny Nason. Wear walking shoes.

Sunday, August 5 at 1 pm – CANCELLED

Here’s your chance! One of the quarries has been drained, allowing us to see carvings in the remaining stone as well as equipment used in harvesting the granite. Stone produced from the quarry was used in the Manhattan Bridge Archway; the Maine State House; the Pilgrim Monument in Plymouth, Mass.; and the New York State Capitol plaza in Albany.

Tours are weather permitting and last about one hour.

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Bill Vaughan Pilot, Family Lore

Posted on June 16, 2012 | Comments Off

A version of this story was published in the Kennebec Journal on June 16, 2012

by TED VAUGHAN

Now here’s the family lore on Bill Vaughan the pilot!

To start, it’s January 1940, and I don’t have much from his days at Colby where he was no star student, but he sure spent a lot of time at the Waterville Airport learning how to fly at Airways Inc.  His early student pilot log had quite a few pages with instructor Harry Thyng commenting “Bill, got to work on your landings! You’re walking the controls!” He had real trouble fitting into the cockpit of the ‘cubs because at 6 foot 1 inch and 220 pounds and had big feet too, Dad was like a linebacker in a phone booth.  He must have gotten both the instruction and the “message” because each of his succeeding log entries had him steadily advancing from student pilot to commercial pilot’s license, then on to pilot instructor himself, all in less than 2 years.

The earliest story I recollect was from a cousin, Little Bill, several generations older than me.  He was 14 and would go flying with my father while he was grinding out hours in the air towards his commercial pilot license.

“We’d just go up and fly around in his Piper Cub; occasionally he’d let me take the controls and teach me the rudiments of how to fly. At one point your father said, “Want to do a loop?”

Sure! Only this was no conventional up and over loop but a forward loop.. I had to think for a minute to visualize the maneuver.  “Forward loop”? This was DOWN –UNDER – BACK UP! in a stick, cloth & glue Cub with just a 65 horse Lycoming engine and a wooden  prop.  It was like diving over the dashboard ‘til your back on the strait and level.

My aunt said my father casually flipped the cub upside-down like a corkscrew somewhere over the Isle of Shoals on a flight from Beverly, Mass. to Mount Desert just to see what she’d say.

Another time my mother said he flew her upside – down for 20 minutes-like a test- before they were married. They flew from their wedding in Vermont to Rockwood, Maine with pontoons on the Cub landing on Moose River.

“He left me on a wilderness fishing pond at dusk while he flew his friend and guide Martin Munster back to Rockwood, leaving me alone in the REAL wilderness for the first time in my life; he did come back for me close to dark.”

He would tie the tail of the Cub to a tree and get his friend Martin Munster to cut the rope with an ax when the motor was a full revs so he could get out of the pasture he’d landed in and clear the river and telephone lines at the other end of the make-shift runway.

The story goes that one day he tipped his Cub up on its nose breaking the tip of the prop off on landing in a rough pasture while looking for directions to my mother’s house; he borrowed a hand saw so he could cut the other end off so he could balance the wooden prop; he then took off and went on his way

According to family lore, he once flew under the Bath bridge on the Kennebec, drank most of his morning coffee upside down while teaching aerobatics to cadet fighter pilots  in Camden, Arkansas and landed his Cub in the back field at “Elm Hill” when showing my mother the farm for the first time.

He landed a C-46 on its belly when the wheels wouldn’t go down, a mechanical malfunction and not pilot error. He did a true dead stick landing in Great Falls, Montana with a full load of cement in a C-46 while training to fly the “Hump” (20,000 foot passes in the Himalayas) into China. The instructor gave the order to do a dead-stick landing. Bill took him literally and shut the plane down – COLD! The instructor yelled, “I only wanted you to feather the props!” – Bill landed engine-less like the book said.

He flew every single and twin engine plane in the Army Airforce inventory including a jet fighter before 1950. He flew over the farm in a C-47 (Military DC-3) so low that my mother almost “dropped the baby”! He quit the Maine Air National Guard in the summer of 1950 on the advice of Harry Thyng (a true fighter pilot hero, my father’s first flight instructor and later, four star general). Four kids and a farm were too much to risk military flying anymore. He served, he flew and he had fun, and made a Dad- Hero for his children, even if he did raise the hair on more that a few necks with his flying.

Author’s Note: Bill and Margaret Vaughan moved to Elm Hill Farm in 1941.  In addition to being a dairy farmer, Bill served as a Hallowell city councilor, and later represented Hallowell for three terms in the state legislature.

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Paul Plumer, an amazing artist

Posted on June 9, 2012 | Comments Off

Originally published in the Kennebec Journal on June 9, 2012

by KATY PERRY

I don’t believe any artist has ever captured the scenic beauty of Hallowell and its neighbor, the Kennebec River, as impressively as the late Paul Plumer.  Standing atop Lowden Hill and viewing the panoramic view towards Augusta, Paul caught, not only the scene but to the observer, the historic and timelines of long past eras.  Looking at art work created dozens of years ago assures that many aspects of the River will remain for future generations to savor.

For many years he and his equally talented wife Mary, contributed many paintings and stories in issues of Dirigo, an annual publication produced by the talented pair.  Mary wrote for some time for the local Kennebec Journal and her stories in these magazines are another proof of her ability with the pen and pencil.  Paul’s art work enhances the stories she wrote as well as those of many Maine writers.  Truly, a generous slice of Maine history and happenings of the 1960 and 70 years are captured in those magazines.  If you came across an issue today, and it would be your good fortune if you did, there would be both stories and illustration to delight you.

Although Paul spent hours in his studio next to the Plumer home,  he always welcomed a visitor.  I called almost weekly when I knew he was creating a beautiful mural featuring a local family tour through the USA along Route 66.  Even the most insignificant sign photographed along the route, is caught by Paul’s pen and boldly accents the highway.  The artwork, however, is far more captivating than a photograph could ever be.  As with all his undertakings, Paul Plumer never missed a thing such as the location if the owner agreed, etc.

In 2007 , Paul was invited to submit a painting that might be included in a nation-wide publication entitled “Strokes of Genius-The Best of Drawings”, a project undertaken by North Lights Books in Ohio.  Paul and Mary were delighted when a copy of his work was included in such a prestigious book that would be sold throughout the United States.

Paul Plumer was born in Augusta.  Early in his youth he knew art would be his life’s work.  He studied with art teachers in France, at a noted art center in Los Angeles and gained enough experience to live his dream.  When he came home to Maine and lived in Hallowell that talent was his life-work as he had suspected.  He expressed many other aspects of his talent with sculpturing and wood carvings displayed in his Warren Street Studio and in many private art galleries.

Historians write words that capture events of their era.  Artists do the same with paint, watercolors and oils.  Beyond painting the natural beauty of the area, Paul painted scenes depicting daily life of the 1990’s.  These paintings preserve a slice of life for today’s citizens and future generations, and all will be long treasured.

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How Hallowell got its park

Posted on June 3, 2012 | Comments Off

A shortened version of this article was published in the Kennebec Journal on June 2, 2012.  This is the whole story.

 By STEVE VELLANI

Hallowell has a long and colorful history and part of that history is of an active and involved citizenry. Two recent events come to mind: the march on the Capital in 1975 when the State DOT had plans to demolish the east side of Hallowell to make way for a four lane highway, and the grassroots mobilization of citizens to restore Vaughan Field as Hallowell’s park.

This is the story of Vaughan Field, but first a little history.

In the last half of the 1800′s the property was the site of the Sampson Oil Cloth Factory. The factory burned after the turn of the century and Sampson created a real estate company. He attempted to put a right of way to extend Sampson’s Row to Page Street. This was unsuccessful and at this point Sampson decided to sell the property. Bertha Vaughan purchased the property as a memorial to her parents and deeded the 9 acres to the City of Hallowell, stipulating that it be maintained as “a park and playground, to which all the children and citizens of Hallowell may have access…” For several decades the community of Hallowell enjoyed using Vaughan Field, which became known as “The Ball Field”, and where generations played football and baseball. The field was also the site of Easter egg hunts, parade staging, firemen’s musters and many other activities. Indeed, it was Hallowell’s park. A picture of Bertha’s vision for the park is hanging in Hallowell City Hall. In 1952 the voters narrowly decided to approve the use of Vaughan Field as the site for a new elementary school. The Vaughan heirs, at the request of the city, released to the city any ownership claims they might have had to the property. The City then entered into a lease contract with the Maine State School Building Authority and school officials to erect the new school.

When the State approved a new elementary school for Hall-Dale in 2004 the school board decided to build it at a new location leaving the city and school officials to make plans for the disposition of the land. Initially, the City wanted to sell the property to a developer and use the revenue to offset the cost of expansions to the school’s gym and library that the state wouldn’t cover. Once these plans became public a group of citizens organized to honor Bertha Vaughan’s gift and restore the property to its original intent as a park and playground for all Hallowell citizens. That group became the Friends of Vaughan Field.

A grassroots movement is the epitome of citizens involvement, this one truly spread like wildfire throughout Hallowell and gathered support from folks in other towns and cities. It began with a few neighbors to the parcel of land that were keenly interested with what would become of the eight acre mix of open space and woods. Some folks in the neighborhood were in touch with city officials to stay abreast of any plans that may have been brewing and, as it turned out, there were some plans. The plan to sell the land to a developer to build condos and use the money towards the new school was not a desirable outcome for the neighbors and they decided to get organized, better informed and active.

The tipping point was the discovery of a file at city hall that contained a deed gifting the land to the city in 1923, stating it would be maintained as a park and playground for Hallowell citizens, in perpetuity. These words were to become the foundational debate between some city officials and what were now the Friends of Vaughan Field. It quickly became apparent the city didn’t share that view of the deed language and we needed to change that view. We began by talking to other folks and asking if they thought Hallowell should have an in town park and the response was a resounding yes. A petition signed by hundreds confirmed it was not just a neighborhood group but a growing majority that wanted to move in that direction. The City continued to resist the pressure. In an unusual move, legislation was introduced to allow the school district to deed the land to the city for disposition. I say unusual because the state wants a new school to be occupied before the old one is disposed of. We knew if that bill passed our options would be reduced so we successfully lobbied our representative and had that bill pulled. One obstacle down, many to go.

In April of 2005,the Friends went to the city council to discuss our findings, such as the deed, and to ask the city to keep the land and use it as a park. A lively debate ensued and it was decided a public hearing was called for. Now we knew we had public support but imagine our surprise when the hearing that was held turned out to be the highest attend in Hallowell’s history. Over one hundred and sixty people attended and of those only four people spoke against having a park. A truly overwhelming turnout but it still wasn’t enough to completely sway the opposing point of view but a few councilors had joined with the Friends.

As the group grew in size so did its approach to swaying public opinion. If knowledge is power then more information is what we needed. Fundraisers were held which allowed us to finance a study by a noted land use consultant, lawyers were consulted to confirm the deed was valid and more and more meetings were attended by more and more people. The train was rolling and it would not be stopped!

With massive growing movement for the park continuing, we realized it was time to focus on running a candidate for the council. Our motto was, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em and then beat ‘em’! That fall more candidates ran for office, eight, than had run in decades. Indeed this park was a hot button issue that brought out the voters and culminated with our candidate winning a seat.

Now the Friends could work from inside and outside the government. This was key. At last, the Friends had the fourth vote needed to create the park. This could have been sufficient but we wanted an unanimous vote. We were, if nothing else relentless ,in pursuit of our goal. Other changes happened in the city government, such as a new mayor, city manager and another councilor and this resulted in a sea change in the local governments opinion. The mayor appointed the Vaughan Field committee to study the various uses for the land. It recommended the land be used as a park. After one more packed public hearing in 2007, the council voted unanimously to tear down the old school and restore Vaughan Field as Hallowell’s park.

This little tale exemplifies how an active and engaged citizenry can work through processes to effect real change where they live. People of all ages are using the park on a daily basis, from the playground to the open field and walking trail, it’s easy to now see, it was the right thing to do. Hallowell has always had many involved folks doing much good throughout the city and we are proud to call it home.

A dedication ceremony is in the planning stages and will be held at Vaughan Field soon.

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Commemorating Rev. Melville Cox

Posted on June 2, 2012 | Comments Off

Can you name the educational institution, located across the globe, that was modeled on Kents Hill School? You’ll know the answer after reading this new marker, commemorating Rev. Melville Cox. Dedication ceremony on Saturday, June 2nd is part of the Hallowell 250th celebration!

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Goodrich-Caldwell Post 6 American Legion

Posted on May 26, 2012 | Comments Off

Originally published in the Kennebec Journal on May 26, 2012: HALLOWELL 250TH: Legion post has long history

By MIKE MADDEN

In June of 1919, a group of veterans met on the corner of Winthrop and Water Streets in front of a bank building to discuss forming an American Legion post in Hallowell. On June 24th, 19 members met at the Bombahook Club and applied for a charter. American Legion Post No. 6 received its charter for formation on June 28th and a permanent charter on November 11, 1919.

The post was named after Captain Frank E. Goodrich, a Hallowell man who enlisted in the Canadian Army’s 48th Highland Regiment. He was shipped to France where he was wounded in action. After recovering from his wounds, he attended a private flying school and became a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps. Captain Goodrich was killed in aerial combat in France on September 12, 1916. His body was not returned to Hallowell and his grave is in Aubigney-en-Artois, France.

The first meeting place was located at Society Hall. Subsequently, Post meetings were held in the smoking room of the Worster House and later at City Hall. In 1935 meetings were held in the vestry building of the Universalist Church. In 1938, the current building which was the church vestry, was sold to the Post for $1.00 by the Universalist Church. Major renovations to the building began in 1991 and were completed several years ago.

After World War II, the Post was renamed Goodrich-Caldwell Post No. 6 to include the three Caldwell brothers from Hallowell who were killed in action. Corporal Cecil Caldwell and his brother PFC Maurice were killed the same day in the South Pacific on Vangunu Island in the Solomons. Sergeant Frank Caldwell was killed in action in Germany, and, a fourth brother, George, was wounded in Germany.

In 1945, a wooden Honor Roll was placed on the Hallowell Post Office lawn to honor veterans from this city who served in the war. This was refurbished in 1993 but, in time, the memorial deteriorated further and was in need of constant repair.

Several years ago in 2008, Post Chaplain Ernest Johnson recommended that the wooden Honor Roll be refurbished. After considering this, members decided to replace it with a granite monument that would be located adjacent to war memorials at the north end of the Hallowell Cemetery in the area known as Legion Park. The new monument will also include the names of veterans who entered the service while living in Hallowell and who served during the Spanish-American War through the Iraq and Afghanistan conflict eras.

A Veterans Monument Committee was formed in November 30, 2010 and planning and fundraising began. A starting point for funding was a $10,000 donation left to the Legion by Comrade Gene Lockyer, USN, PO 2nd Class, Pharmacy Mate. The project has received broad-based community financial support and met its goals in November of 2011. Last fall, the base for the monument was put in place with the help of local contractors who were members of Post 6 and volunteered their time. Now completed, the monument will be dedicated during Memorial Day ceremonies on May 28, 2012.

Current Legion programs include: Volunteering at Togus VA and at the Maine Veterans Home in Augusta; purchase and placement of American Flags on Water Street in Hallowell and on veterans’ gravesites at the Hallowell Cemetery; volunteer assistance placing and removing wreaths at The Maine Veterans Cemetery in Augusta; creating and maintaining a computerized census of veterans who are buried in the Hallowell cemetery and providing an updated listing to the Hubbard Free Library and City Clerk’s office for genealogical research. Goodrich-Caldwell Post 6 also supports local scouting activities, Boys and Girls State, the Hubbard Free Library and their various events which require the use of the Legion Hall. The Post conducts a Blue Star Banner program to support and recognize families with sons or daughters serving during periods of conflict; a Gold Star program to honor widows and children of immediate family members killed in action; and it provides American Legion Distinguished Achievement Awards to deserving members of Hall-Dale Middle School and Hall-Dale High School.

Annual events include Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies; Lawn Sale; Flag Day Observance and disposal of unserviceable flags; Old Hallowell Day Parade and Strawberry Shortcake Luncheon; and, Veterans Day Ceremonies.

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Hallowell 250th: City Clerk Deanna Mosher Hallett

Posted on May 14, 2012 | Comments Off

This is the full version of an article published in the Kennebec Journal on May 12, 2012.

By DIANE POLKY

A good many people have passed through the corridors of the beautiful old yellow building on the north east corner of Second Street and Winthrop Hill in Hallowell. Mayors, city councilors, managers, residents and theater-goers, but perhaps no one in the city’s history has been there longer or acquired more knowledge of the city’s business than the current City Clerk, Deanna Mosher Hallett; born and raised in Hallowell, where she lives just down the street from her office. As a child, Deanna would stop by city hall on her way home from school to visit her mom, Margaret Mosher. While still in high school she worked as an election clerk. With just a sparkle of pride, Deanna says she was in the first class that graduated from Hall-Dale High School in 1963.

Deanna comes from a long tradition of public service. Her father Floyd Mosher owned Mosher’s Machine Shop in Hallowell and repaired city equipment. Her mother worked at City Hall for 40 years. She worked along side her mother and aunt, eventually filling the same positions as her mother – city clerk, deputy tax collector, assessor’s clerk, general assistance director and registrar of voters. Deanna even brought her child to work with her. “She was small and the front desk had a drawer that she fit into perfectly! Hardly anyone knew a baby was in attendance so it worked out fine.” Deanna and her late husband “Bud” Hallett are the parents of three children; and grandparents of ten, soon to be a great-grandmother.

In addition to her city clerk duties, Deanna has organized two continuing pet projects over the years. In these efforts, she enhances the lives of some of the youngest and oldest citizens of Hallowell. The Children’s Christmas party at City Hall has become a much anticipated part of the City’s annual Christmas in Hallowell festivities. With the help from a host of elves, she coordinates the event from start to finish. At the other end of the spectrum, are the senior citizen dinners, held at the Sacred Heart Parish hall. About 75 seniors attend these gatherings, though it is not uncommon for more than 100 meals to be prepared since some are delivered to those who cannot be there. All senior Hallowell citizens are invited. Good food, good company and lots of memories are bantered about. Deanna received the honor of 2000 Hallowell Citizen of the Year.

Not only does she serve her community, but other clerk associations as well. Deanna Mosher Hallett is the 2012 President of the Maine Town and City Clerks Association. She was especially pleased to be named Clerk of the Year 2004 – a tribute she feels honored to have received because winners are selected by their peers, who are dedicated professionals. She is a former secretary treasurer of the Androscoggin and Kennebec Counties Municipal Clerks Association and a member of the New England Municipal Clerks Association.

As former Mayor Bustin says, “Deanna Moser Hallett is an important part of the fabric of Hallowell. What sets Deanna apart is her genuine friendly approach to people and her eagerness to provide the best service.” Under Deanna’s leadership at City Hall, no person is ever turned away; no question or problem is ever unanswered. Time and time again people have called, written or come to the front counter saying “because of your kindness to me the last time I called, wrote or came in, now I am back for more help.” Hallowell is known as a giving, friendly place to live and visit because of our having City Clerk Deanna Mosher Hallett and her staff representing us on the front line.

 

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Hallowell 250th: Granite Hauler’s Whistle Sparks Memory

Posted on May 6, 2012 | Comments Off

as published in the Kennebec Journal on May 5, 2012

BY GERRY MAHONEY

The following piece was submitted to the Hallowell Register in September 1891 by Rufus R. Hains, of Los Angeles, California.

Hains was the son of Jonathan Hains, the operator of a quarry on Granite Hill in Hallowell, known in the early days as Hains Ledge: The quality of Hallowell granite became celebrated for its superiority at an early day, for I remember in the days of my earliest youth it was shipped to Philadelphia, Pa., and largely used in the construction of the U.S. Mint.

That so many granite deposits, hundreds of miles nearer the building, should have been passed over and preference given to the ‘Down East’ rock, must be admitted to be a compliment to it. Two, at lease, of the columns in the front of the State House at Augusta were from the Hains Ledge. The hauling of one I have in mind as one of my very earliest recollections.

I was very young, but the two heavy wagons, and two long strings of oxen, and many drivers, with a fifer and drummer mounted on the huge stone, are plainly before me now as if it were yesterday. I would say from infantile recollection, the stone was 18 or 20 feet in length, and about 4 feet square. The moving of such a huge monster attracted much attention.

Certainly anyone living who remembers the stone hauling in or about 1830 recollects the whistling ox driver Brown, whose music never ceased from morning to night. I must have had “music in my soul,” for whenever I heard the whistler I would manage to get into the road and follow him as far as I could. Brown was a big boy — awkward, lank, with sandy, unkempt hair. But, bless me, he could whistle!

Some 15 years must have passed; I had grown to big boyhood, half-learned a trade, caught the consumption, and was ordered to sea by Dr. Hubbard. Sailing from Boston, the first port we made was Valetta, on the island of Malta, where St. Paul was wrecked.

In port was the U.S. frigate Cumberland, well remembered as one of the vessels that went down so bravely at Fortress Monroe, in the rebellion days, from the guns of the ram Merrimack. Our ship’s crew was invited on board the Cumberland to spend the Sabbath. Much interest was manifested to know where we were from, and immediately I had announced my nativity I had several Maine boys about me. Among the number was a man approaching middle age, an awkward-looking fellow, with a rolling gait peculiar to sailors. When I informed him I was from Hallowell he became much interested and plied me with questions rapidly: “Where did you live? Your name? Are you one of the little boys who lived opposite Hains Ledge? Is it Rufe? Do you know me?”

“No, I can’t say I do.”

“Don’t you remember the boy that drove the oxen, and always whistled?”

It was, in fact, the musical teamster of my infancy! Well, we had a merry day of it, the poor fellow telling the story of his knowledge of me to his chummy shipmates.

The Cumberland sailed the next day, and I have never seen him or her since. When the wires brought to the Pacific coast the loss of the Cumberland, the episode I have narrated came vividly to my mind. And I wondered if my friend was one of the brave, granite-hearted men who plied the rebel ram with shot and shell, and went down with the flag flying!

He could not have done less, and could not have done better.

– R.R.H., Hallowell Register, 1891

A loaded galamander is seen at Granite Hill in Hallowell in this undated photo; courtesy of Hubbard Free Library

 

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