Previous Entries
October 1, 2002 - November 30, 2002
Date: November 30, 2002 Name: Alice Belgard Location: Email: Comment: About Kenwood Inn, Manzer Turner and his wife ran it at some time, in the late 40's the Jocelyns ran it. Their daughter Joan went to CUA with us. Was in your parents class and in 52 stayed with us a couple days before she and Gerald Brown were married. When she stayed with us in 52 her parents had moved to Kittery Me. not sure who had Inn after that but believe by maybe only a few years Striar bought it and remolded it. Think Virginia Dow and her mother would have been early tenants as well as Martha Dow.
Really enjoy this site and for some reason can not change Screen covers so still enjoying last years snowstorm.
Date: November 30, 2002 Name: Brian Knowles Location: Penfield, NY Email: bpknowles@aol.com Comment: Carl Smith recently mentioned a history of Corinna and that he thought it referenced the "Gold" strike in Corinna. What book is this and where might someone view a copy? I located the title of a book, "A Brief History of Corinna from It's Purchase 1804-1916" by Lilla E. Wood. Is this the same book?
For June Jawarski: Is the above mentioned book or other histories of Corinna available at the library?
Ken, thanks for the site
Date: November 29, 2002 Name: Alden Schmitz Location: Email: Comment: My family moved back to Maine in 1945(?) from Massachusetts and prior to my Father bringing my Mother, my sister and I to Corinna, he lived at the Kenwood Inn for a while. At that time, it rented rooms and served meals in a community dining room.
I also recall the beautiful big lawn that we, as children, played touch football and other games on. There was a large apple tree between the building and the railroad tracks that we used to snitch apples from. I used to carry the drinking water for our family from the Inn. I remember that Lewis Howes carried water for Porter's Rexall Store from the Inn also. The Inn was a memorable part of my childhood.Alden- Thanks for this entry. I'm sure there are many stories about the Inn. Does anyone remember when it became an apartment house, an Inn no longer? -Ken
Date: November 29, 2002 Name: Location: Email: Comment: Hello it is Jason. My friend Jon and I went on a trip over the summer to the "big falls" as we call them and you were very wrong not to bring the twinkies and some soda. Jason- You are right. It would have been a great place for a little snack. -Ken
Date: November 28, 2002 Name: Dick Barbieri Location: Southington CT Email: Comment: Dear Guestbook,
You certainly do a wonderful job with the Cattail Express. I envy your expertise with the computer and look forward to the daily photos.
As a long time summer visitor to St. Albans, we always looked forward to lunch and browsing the shops in downtown Corinna. We hope we will be able to do so again soon.
Keep up the good work.Dick- Thanks for the kind words. We all hope you will find more shops and other things to visit in Corinna soon. -Ken
Date: November 27, 2002 Name: Perry Brown Location: New Brunswick, Canada Email: Comment: "Razor" Crosman was without a doubt the most flamboyant auctioneer in the State of Maine during the 1960's and 70's. Though his specialty was that of farm auctions he was also involved in many other high profile auctions such as the annual Maine D.O.T. equipment and State Police vehicle sales held in Augusta. He was, literally, known to thousands of people from Kittery to Ft. Kent.
When the Maine Sugar Beet Refinery facility in Easton was sold at auction in the late 60's/early 70's Razor was selected to be the auctioneer. At that time this auction was one of the largest to have ever been held in Maine. Some years later I recall Razor telling my father and myself that his percentage from the total sale proceeds of that auction amounted to a 5 figure amount that would have been a year's pay (or two!) for most of Corinna's residents. Even taking into account Razor's penchant for stretching facts this sale was undoubtedly one of the high points of his career. Of course, his weekly sales that he held at his facility on "Christian Hill" (as he called his homestead) were known far and wide as well. But I believe his penultimate achievement was the sale he made to my city slicker cousin from Massachusetts: that of a genuine certified "bull heifer" calf. To the end of his days my father always would enjoy a hearty laugh when relating this story (much to cousin Bernie's chagrin).
Date: November 27, 2002 Name: Jane Quimby Biscoe Location: Waldoboro, Maine Email: mb81036@midcoast.com Comment: I believe I am correct in saying that the Kenwood Inn in its heyday was a nice place for travelers. It was similar to the bed-and-breakfasts that exist today. It was originally affiliated with the Moosehead Woolen Mill and served as a lodging place for salesmen who came through Corinna on mill business. The late Dick Chase was manager there during the mid-40's. He and his wife Inga lived on Pleasant Street in what is now the Thompson Funeral Home. The Chases eventually left Corinna and moved to Lincolnville Beach, where they owned and operated the Lobster Pound Restaurant, so Dick stayed in the hospitality business until his death.
Happy Thanksgiving to all the Cattail Press gang!
Date: November 26, 2002 Name: Peter Smith Location: Email: Comment: Ken,
I am wondering about the Kenwood Inn? When I was a kid in Corinna it seems like it was apartment houses? Was this the same building or another place built later?Peter- Yes, it was an apartment house as far back as I can remember (the mid-50s). It was still called "the Inn". I don't know much more about it's history. -Ken
Date: November 25, 2002 Name: BUD HILLIKER Location: Email: Comment: TO JAY HANSON RE: RAZOR CROSMAN
I'M SURE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW MUCH MORE ABOUT RAZOR BUT I DO KNOW HE WAS ONE OF A KIND.
WHEN I RETURNED HOME AFTER 35 YEARS ABSENCE, AND LOCATED ON TOP OF THE HILL, RAZOR TALKED ME INTO RUNNING FOR A SEAT IN THE MAINE HOUSE IN 1984 AS A DEMOCRAT.
WE HAD MANY CONVERSATIONS ABOUT MY CAMPAIGN. i REALLY LIKED RAZOR AS A GOOD FRIEND BUT HIS POLITICAL INFORMATION LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED.
THE YEAR REAGAN WAS RE-ELECTED BY A LANDSLIDE I LOST TO A DEXTER FARMER WHO WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE HEALTHY ENOUGH TO RUN AGAIN. I LOST CORINNA BY 1 VOTE AND MANY MORE IN DEXTER AND ST. ALBANS.
RAZOR LAUGHED AND SAID THE NEXT TIME I COULD MAKE IT BUT MY WIFE SAID ANOTHER CAMPAIGN ONLY IF I RAN AS A SINGLE MAN AND I WASN'T ABOUT TO DISSOLVE A GREAT MARRIAGE.
RAZOR AND HIS WIFE ATTENDED A LOT OF FAIRS WHERE HE JUDGED ANIMALS AND CONDUCTED AUCTIONS. HIS AUCTION AT HIS PLACE ON THE HILL ALWAYS INTERESTED ME.
IF DICK DUNNING IS STILL AROUND, HE CAN TELL YOU MUCH MORE ABOUT RAZOR AND SO CAN MANY OTHER CORINNA PEOPLE.
HOPE THIS IS A LITTLE HELP.
Date: November 25, 2002 Name: Jason Location: Email: Comment: Hi Mr. Dow. It's Jason. I saw your "article" Kenwood Inn Stood Here. I liked it a lot. Why did people tear it down? I just read your "article" the exeter road water falls. I have gone there many times with my friend Jon. There is a lot of crawfish around there in the summer. Did you know that there is a larger water fall about a mile upriver? I have been there also.
Jason- Thanks, I'm glad you like the articles. I think the Inn was torn down because it was too old and out of repair to fix up. I have another article about the larger falls up stream from the Exeter Road. It's called Seeking the Falls.
Date: November 25, 2002 Name: Dalton Mullis Location: Corinna Email: Comment: Mrs. Bowden's observation regarding a need for a streetlight at the 43 and 7 intersection has been noticed by many. The new bridge contains conduit for the installation of lighting. The park committee is working on this issue to decide on lighting styles and searching for funding sources. This committee is chaired by Linda Smith.
Date: November 25, 2002 Name: Carl Smith Location: Email: Comment: Ken, I join cousin Jane in thanks for the Uncle Levi portrait, but I think she missed one "uncle" in there. No one responded to my relationship request re the Burrill and Clark photo. So I started investigating on my own. I find that Samuel Burrill and his family occupied the immediate farm where we live, later selling to Lyman Ireland. In further viewing of old maps, deeds, and genealogies of residents on our road, I find them not only interrelated but a good number of them with portraits on the SLB walls. I will share on the Cattail Forum some of what I have learned, and hope that others will join in with observations or questions. Carl- Thanks. We would be pleased to hear any information you've found about these folks. -Ken
Date: November 25, 2002 Name: Brian Knowles Location: Email: Comment: Ken,
I assume the pictures displayed on the website are ones you have photographed in the library and reprinted on the web. I tried a few years ago to photograph Robert Knowles' picture. The results were much less then desired and certainly no where near as good as what you have posted lately. I was wondering if you could photograph Robert's picture for me? Robert was my great great great uncle. His nephew, my great great grandfather, Horatio, is said to be an exact look alike. I have no pictures of Horatio. Robert would also be a great (or several greats) uncle of several other regular readers. Robert's picture used to be about the first picture on the left in the main corridor after crossing the hallway intersection going towards the library.
Thanks for any help and thanks for all the work on the site. It is almost always my first stop in the morning.
BrianBrian- I have photographed each of the portraits hanging in the Stewart Library Building. I will look through the group for Robert. -Ken
Date: November 23, 2002 Name: Jay Hanson Location: Winslow, ME Email: Comment: I do keep checking the nice work you have been doing on your page. I am looking for some information on R I Crosman. I am the president of the Maine Auctioneers Assoc and we have started a Hall of Fame for auctioneers in the state of Maine. Razor has been nominated for this honor and I would like to get some information that may help us tell people about Razor. Any information you could get to me would be very helpful. Jay- Razor was well known. There must be many who can tell us more about him. Those of you who have stories and information about Razor, send it to the Cattail Press. I will see that is is posted and/or relayed to Jay. -Ken
Date: November 23, 2002 Name: Mary Bowden Location: Corinna Email: Comment: Good Morning , Speaking of signs, there needs to be a street light at the corner where you turn on to St
Albans road at the new bridge! It is very hard to see to turn there!
Everything else looks GREAT!Mary- You are absolutely right. It is extremely dark there and difficult to see the corner. A street light is definitely needed. -Ken
Date: November 21, 2002 Name: Jason Location: Corinna Email: Comment: Hey Mr. Dow it's Jason. I gave you your fathers check from the mill. I looked at a map with Carl Smith and it said that C. Proctor lived in my house on the Stetson road. Who was he? What was his job? Did he have a family? Jason- It was very interesting to see the pay check you found that was issued to my father in the 1950s from the Eastland Woolen Mill. I would have been younger than you are then. Hard to believe we lived fairly well on about $50 a week.
I wonder if there is anyone out there who knows about a C. Proctor who once lived in a house on the Stetson Road near the present phone company office. Maybe someone reading this will write in. -Ken
Date: November 21, 2002 Name: Jane Quimby Biscoe Location: Email: Comment: Thanks for posting the great picture of my great-great uncle Levi Stewart! I think that the old boy would be very pleased to see how carefully and thoughtfully his building has been maintained and used. By all accounts, he was an eccentric but interesting gentleman who did a great deal to help people - but he never wanted any credit for it. His gift of the library building to Corinna was his one public gesture.
I am happy that one of our sons, Andrew Stewart Biscoe, and his son, Matthew Stewart Biscoe are carrying on the Stewart name.Jane- Thank you. We like to think that Levi would approve of the community theater group named after him. -Ken
Date: November 14, 2002 Name: Harold Location: Email: scdearborn@adelphia.net Comment: Ken, Has the CUA building been repaired. Harold- There is very good news to report. The building has been repaired. I haven't been inside yet but can say that the structural damage from the fire was fixed. New roofing was applied and the outside of the building was painted. Work continues inside. -Ken
Date: November 13, 2002 Name: Laura Location: Newport Email: arrow@prexar.com Comment: Hi Buffy! Glad to hear your back online!
Date: November 12, 2002 Name: Buffy Location: Email: Comment: Hello Ken,
My computer has been down for sometime now. What happened about the rotary question? What are the plans for the highway by way there????
Everyone have a safe Happy Holiday coming up!
P.S. Will there be a Father turkey sitting in the Mother nature weather chair this year ?? :) !! May God Bless You for your sincere, faithful, hometown love that is there and shown through you and your effort and kindness for sharing abroad this site to all !
Hi to my friends I have meet and known and gave me much happiness etc. over the years........Rita, Kay, Pastor J. and Mrs. J. Laura(-gh), Kelly, and many others.....
Laurahhhhhh -- if your there email a reply, when my computer crashed so did your email---arrow--prexar?? Hello ??
Best to you all .... Buffy!!Buffy- Thanks for your comments. After proposing the roundabout in an earlier meeting, the DOT came back to town later saying they would not build it. They decided the best thing to do at the intersection was...nothing. So today it remains as it was, plaza-like, a big confusing open space. They did put down some white lines for traffic to follow. That helped, but it's still pretty weird. -Ken
Date: November 1, 2002 Name: Norman Clarke Location: Pittsfield, Me Email: Comment: Ken, Today's photo of the "corner" brought back a few memories. The first "girlfriend" I had after moving to Maine lived just beyond the current location of the Odd Fellows Hall. She was a kind, sweet and wonderful lady who remains so today.
The tan building across the street, Barry Holt's Penobscot Tel. & Tel., held many, many old wall ring telephones. When we were kids visiting Grammie Hartley, I was fascinated by the telephone that she would go to and call the operator. I can vaguely remember her asking for central, ring seven or something like that. I can also remember her standing there carrying on what usually was a one sided conversation, punctuated occasionally with "Ayuh, ayuh". Wish I had that phone today.
Pearson's Store, on the corner, was where I bought my first hunting rifle. Some hunter. Only time it was fired was when I sighted it in. I thought dressing a deer was to put a coat and scarf on it. The sharpest thing I carried was fingernail clippers. Don Seavey and I spent a lot of time "hunting" around with a Hunters Bible between us. The friendship and scenery was nice but we never killed a deer. Thank heavens. Soon after that, Mahlon Worster and I were hunting and were shot at, or at least, a deer was shot at in front of us. We stood between some hunter and his deer. He missed us and the deer. I sold the rifle shortly after that.
The Grammar School down the road and yet another girlfriend's house beyond that will not be commented upon due to the increasing drowsiness of the readers.
norm
Date: October 24, 2002 Name: Bill Parker Location: Southern Mississippi Email: Comment: I was eating my lunch and looking thru the archives. I came across the 10SEP02 entry and noticed the picture on the bottom right. It is dark but from what I could make out it is a picture of the Minister's chairs from behind the pulpit in the Pleasant Street Christian Church, dated from when I can first remember in the early to mid '60's up to when I left to go to the Navy in '75.
Maybe someone could help me out. Also the pictures of the stage in the upper deck of the Library Building shows a big change. I hope the town and the people that live there see through on the plans for it.
Bill P.Bill- The picture you refer to was taken in the Meeting Room of the Odd Fellows Hall. That furniture has probably been there for a hundred years. -Ken
Date: October 21, 2002 Name: Jeff Jacob Location: Corinna, ME Email: jjacob@tdstelme.net Comment:
Ken,
After so many years of distinguished community reporting, why would you throw it all away with that phony snapshot of "deer in your backyard"? As anyone can clearly see, it was only a blurry picture of a German Shepard chasing a Border Collie.
BTW: Have you heard about that giant bird with a fourteen-foot wingspan recently spotted in Alaska? I think we would all like a snapshot of that one too. (Maybe you could blow up a picture of a crow or Blue Jay?) Just be careful to crop out any of the UFO's that you happen to photograph by accident.
Jeff is such skeptic. I fact, just after I took the picture of the deer. The big bird he heard about stepped out of the woods behind my house. Luckily, I was ready with my camera and got this picture. I know it's blurry, but good wildlife photography is very difficult. -Ken
Date: October 21, 2002 Name: Carl Smith Location: Hometown, USA Email: Comment: Ken, I was wondering if anyone could identify the Clarks and Burrills in the 1916 photo displayed 10/17. Furthermore, what are their relationships to the forebears portrayed in the Stewart Library corridors and to current residents? It has always been an interest of mine to learn more about the history of Corinna by knowing about the people whose portraits hang in the Library and their role in the life of Corinna. Frankly, I don't even know how and when the selection of portraits was done. I think these would be interesting Forum subjects for this winter. Carl- I agree. I've wondered when those portraits were first made and what the circumstances were. -Ken
Date: October 19, 2002 Name: June Jaworski Location: Corinna Email: Comment: The library has been wanting to use the building for more activities such as plays, musical performances, etc. We had hoped to have a Christmas concert and children's program. We are going ahead with those plans, but will not be able to have them in the library building. We are definitely planning a children's program called "Holiday Skies" put on by Northern Sky Planetarium programs of Fairfield. There will be an actual dome and a simulated sky and stars. This will be Fri. Dec. 27th at 1pm at the Corinna School. We are working on a concert for some Sat. nite in Dec. at the school-Just can't say the date for sure until we get all our connections straight. I will post it when I get final confirmation. We are already making plans for summer concerts on the lawn and racking our brain on how to have the quality programs that we had for the children last year at the library where they will have access to our books. If all else fails, we will have to go to the school for the performances.
June Jaworski, LibrarianJune- You have some wonderful plans. We are all hoping to see more use of the Stewart Library Building and other locations in town. -Ken
Date: October 18, 2002 Name: Alice Belgard Location: Sandston Va Email: alicebel@msn.com Comment: Ken as always this way to keep up with Corinna is most welcomed and the time spent by you to avail this
to us on line is soooo much appreciated. That was not a typo. Thanks again.
I have wondered if there was anybody locally that might be interested in local crafts. I would think that
there must be a lot of older residents that knit, crotchet and do other craft such as wood, clay, painting that would really benefit from the tourists passing thru the area. Am young enough to remember that in the 40s and early 50s that these things were called Hobbies and lots had different types they did. I recognize that Corinna Needs money making areas Tax wise. But it seems like shops like this would help a lot. Would even send some of my crafts to be sold for a benefit to CUA Alumni or historical society. Not enough to raise lots of money but a drop in bucket to help talented local people Spot light Corinna. Knowing the Corinna mindset am SURE that Corinna will soon really benefit from their talents.
Date: October 11, 2002 Name: Susan Shields Location: Ledyard, CT Email: sueshe09@snet.net Comment: Just read the caption for today and I was wondering if some businesses have already shown an interest in developing there. I think it would make a really classy looking main street with some nice little shops and such. Okay so I am a female and think of shopping a lot or maybe it's just because I live too close to Mystic. Susan- I think you are right. There is lots of potential for a classy little village area and more. There is also an area suitable for office space and light industry. I believe the 21 acres of land is all owned by the Town of Corinna (a willing seller). Any potential developer could contact the Selectmen's Office to talk about the area and possible development. I understand that after the cleanup, the EPA will provide legal assurances to the suitability of the land for use. It's all located 10 minutes from Interstate 95 and 40 minutes from Bangor International Airport. -Ken
Date: October 10, 2002 Name: Alice Russell Belgard CUA"50 Location: Email: alicebel@msn.com Comment: Ken have noticed that the pages date are one day behind. Is this a problem with my Appliance {Compaq
Companion} or a web site prob? just finished watching a program on the Weather Channel re Maine that
was GREAT and I got Homesick. Hope others saw the program. All is nice here Am seeing birds again and
the squirrels are back. Think the 60 weather makes a difference/I was taught better spelling at schools in
Corinna, in fact was on the spelling team that went to other schools in Elem and I think At CUA. Still feel
Mrs Pinkham looking over my shoulder looking for mistakes every time I'm ON Line.Alice- The trouble in not in your set. I forgot to change the date correctly. -Ken
Date: October 9, 2002 Name: Peg and Mike Location: Albany, New York Email: Comment: We recently visited Corinna and were very impressed with the friendliness of the people there and in the surrounding towns. The area is very pretty and the lakes are so clean. My daughter just recently moved there and we were there to visit her and her husband and our grandkids. What a wonderful area for children to grow up in. My apologies, Peg and Mike, you sent this message in on September 28. I lost track of it until today. We welcome your daughter and family and hope they find central Maine a wonderful place to live. -Ken
Date: October 4, 2002 Name: norm clarke Location: Email: Comment: Ken,
I was talking with Bruce about the Levi Stewart Players re-forming (yes, a lot of them really need reforming) and he was mentioning something about a lot of money being needed to bring the Library Building up to code. I would surmise that this includes handicapped accessibility to the upper floor as well as other improvements.
I would sincerely hope that handicapped accessibility could be on the list. Having a handicapped son has opened our eyes to the many, many places that are inaccessible to him, and us, due to lack of proper entrances, aisles big enough for a wheel chair, theaters with wheel chair spaces and simply room to maneuver once inside the establishment. Going to restaurants with a wheel chair, and Darren's is bigger than most, is a frustrating process to say the least.
There are so many places that are posted "handicapped accessible" but really are still very difficult to enter and exit. We have found that a lot of these accessible entrances are designed by people who are not handicapped and it appears that handicapped people, and/or organizations dedicated to this purpose, were not consulted in the design process. What we take for granted and think nothing about can be severely frustrating to people in wheel chairs and other devices. Until faced with the dilemma, we too didn't understand the barriers to people with disabilities. Don't make the "new" Library Building another one of those.
The LSP were and will be again, an excellent group of folks who put on great shows. I hope we, and my son can one day enjoy some of them.
norm clarkeNorm- I believe that accessibility is an major issue in the Stewart Library Building. Thanks for providing a point of view that many of us do not fully appreciate. -Ken
Date: October 1, 2002 Name: Bill Parker Location: Southern Mississippi Email: Comment: Glad to hear that ya'll got some of that ol' southern hospitality in the form of Isadore. We here on the south coast of Mississippi got a little bit more of a visit than anyone deserved. TO MUCH FUN!!!! Although in the big picture of Hurricanes that was just a little blow. We still have a few low roads and homes near the rivers that are flooded. Fortunately most folks here have their houses on stilts (read as pilings).
My vote for the best season in Maine is your summers. You don't know hot summer until you lived here in late July or August. The 3 H's come to mind---Hazy, Hot, and Humid. So I love your summers.
One last comment if you would ask some people here in the south it was called the Civil War. They jokingly, I think, call it The War of Northern Aggression.
Excellent job. Keep it up.
Bill ParkerBill- We certainly needed the rain. -Ken
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