Maine and New Brunswick
July 2016
LAUNCHED: 24 July 2016. LAST UPDATED: 25 July 2016
Accessed at least 
times since 27 May 2016.
OVERVIEW: This was a week-long trip to Maine and New Brunswick, combining an Antarctic gathering, some meetinghouse inspections and genealogical sleuthing.
Friday 15 July 2016. Off early to Maine. My first stop was in Standish where I wanted to see and photograph the new wood roof on the barn of Marrett House. Then on to the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine where I dropped off a box of maps and guides. I then managed to visit and photograph three meetinghouses—in Alna, Harpswell and South Bristol. Then to Port Clyde for yet another Antarctic gathering at Paul Dalyrymple's. Stayed that night and the next at the Mill Pond House where I've stayed before. Dinner at the Dip Net in Port Clyde.
The barn of Marrett House in Standish, Maine.
The Alna Meetinghouse (1789), north of Wiscasset.
The Harpswell Meetinghouse (1757). Note the pulpit window.
A lovely gravestone behind the Harpswell Meetinghouse.
The Elijah Kellogg Church (1843) across from the Harpswell Meetinghouse.
The Walpole Meetinghouse (1772) in South Bristol.
Saturday 16 July 2016. All day at Paul's. A lot of old friends attending. Managed to sell a few book duplicates. Lobster rolls and brats for lunch. Dinner again at the Dip Net.
Paul Dalyrymple's house in Port ClydeÑsite of the Antarctic gathering.
Jammed into Paul's garage to see the presentations.
I sold a few duplicates at the gathering.
Mill Pond House three or so miles north of Port Clyde.
Sunday 17 July 2016. A little gray and rainy on Sunday. Nothing on the schedule for the morning so I decided to head for Canada, missing the lobster feast at noon. Arrived in Houlton and went to Ivey's Motor Lodge where I had a booking. Went to the Tourist Office where one of the volunteers, Leigh Cummings, is also president of the historical society and a genealogist. So he gave me some useful information. Drove down to Hodgdon and stopped at the cemetery where my great grandfather, Reuben, is buried. Also stopped at the London's who live in the Haven house which was the family home of Reuben's second wife, Frances. (I had met him before back in 1989.) Had a hard time finding anything resembling a good restaurant so had pot roast at the truck stop up the road from the motel.
Ivey's Motor Lodge, where I stayed in Houlton.
Once the Haven farm, now Mike and Norma London's.
How the place looked in 1908.
Monday 18 July 2016. Drove out to Ludlow to check on a Stephenson property (may or may not be related) and the nearby cemetery which had one Stephenson gravestone. Stopped in at Aroostook Monuments to see about repairs to the gravestones in Hodgdon. Spent some time in the genealogical room at the Cary Library. After lunch went to Hodgdon and stopped in at the town offices to ask some questions, then to the cemetery where I cleaned some of the Stephenson-Haven gravestones. In mid-afternoon I headed for Fredericton, stopping in Nackawic to see the World's Largest Axe. Why wouldn't one? Found St Thomas University in Fredericton where I stayed in the "summer hotel" for two nights—a great bargain. Skipped dinner that night.
The East Hodgdon Bible Church. Stephensons and Havens are buried in the adjoining cemetery.
Reuben Stephenson's (great grandfather) gravestone before and after cleaning.
The World's Largest Axe in Nackawic. I just had to stop.
Tuesday 19 July 2016. Up early and drove around looking for a place for breakfast. Found a McDonalds. Spent much of day at the Provincial Archives on the University of New Brunswick campus. Very helpful archivists. Went downtown in the early evening and enjoyed a very good pipeband. From there I had dinner at Vault 29. Pretty good fish and chips but not a soul in the place.
The New Brunswick Provincial Archives where I spent most of the day.
Here I am as a Piper and a Soldier.
The pipeband performing.
Vault 29, in an old Fredericton bank. I had a good meal but in a mostly empty restaurant.
Wednesday 20 July 2016. Had breakfast on the other side of the Saint John River, then headed to Maugerville (pronounced Majorville) where I found almost nothing at all—just a few houses here and there. Then to Oromocto, where my grandfather (Milton Elmer Stephenson 1861-1929), was born. Almost nothing old remains because of fires and who knows what else. Now mostly a military base. Then on to Springfield. Very little remains here, too. Although in the latter there is a church and a cemetery and I managed to find a Cromwell headstone. (Great grandfather Reuben married Phebe Jane Cromwell who was from Springfield so perhaps a relative.)
I eventually arrived in Saint John and found the University of New Brunswick where I would be staying that night in a dormitory "summer hotel." Early evening I drove into the old part of Saint John and walked down to the waterfront. Quite a lot of activity: restaurants and bars, even beach volleyball. Walked to the Saint John City Market where I had dinner in Billy's Seafood. Following that I went to my car…could not find it! Walked around for an hour and a half and finally gave up. Asked a police officer what I should do. Very nice young officer. We drove around the area, every street, and couldn't find it either. Finally got a call from another squad car saying it had been found. (It was on a one way street heading in the opposite direction from the way I was convinced I parked it. So the one-way streets going in that direction I did not check. There's probably an app I could download if this happens again.
Elm trees across from the City Hall. There are many in Fredericton (elm trees, that is).
Birthplace of Milton Stephenson in Oromocto.
House is long gone, as is just about everything in the town (now mostly a military base).
A dorm at the University of New Brunswick where I stayed for my one night in Saint John.
Public art in Saint John.
The Old City Market in Saint John.
Thursday 21 July 2016. A long day ahead: driving back to Jaffrey 434 miles. Started off at 6am and stopped for breakfast in Saint Andrews, then for lunch and some shopping at L.L. Bean in Freeport. Was home by the end of the day.
Saint Andrews along the coast. I stopped here for breakfast at Lumberjacks.
Along Rt. 9 in Maine; possibly the world's only tractor seat collection.
Detail.