My Great Great Grandparent’s Gravestone Was Cleaned and Repaired by the Lubec Historical Society.

When I first visited this gravesite five years ago, I could read some of the engraving on the stone, but not all of it. It is the gravestone of Ingraham and Mary Rier who immigrated to Lubec from Nova Scotia in the late 1860s or early 1870s. To my knowledge, they are the first Rier ancestors to arrive in the area. The gravestone was encrusted with moss and lichen, after a century of being exposed to the elements. The Lubec Historical Society (LHS) has had a wonderful project, to clean and repair headstones in the Bayview Cemetery. See more about the project and the stunning before and after photos here. According to their website:”Thus far over 350 tombstones, bearing the names of 416 souls, have been cleaned, 54 have been reset. Of the 54, 31 required some type of repair prior to resetting. We’ve added 122 names to the Findagrave.com website for Find A Grave.”

So impressive!

After the gravestone was cleaned, a limb fell from the tree above it during a storm and knocked off the pedestal. Last weekend, LHS repaired it. The photo above shows the restoration. Below is the before photo.

To read about my first visit to this gravestone, see:

1963 Bicentennial Celebration in Machias, Maine

There were so many activities that year! Men grew beards. Men, women and children dressed in colonial attire. I’m sitting in the front row with a wide grin, second from the right. There are so many familiar faces!

Machias High School Class of 1936

I see so many names I recognize. My Mom is in the second row, third from left. She doesn’t look very pleased to be posing!

Does anyone know where this is? I assume it’s a sardine factory in Lubec, Maine.

This photo was in my grandmother’s photos. Her name was Lizzie Keegan Rier. She was born in 1892 in Trescott and died in 1985 in Lubec at age 92. She worked in the sardine industry in Lubec from the 1920s to 1980s. Perhaps this photo was taken in the early 1900s judging by the clothing? I can’t see anyone who resembles her. Does anyone know what factory this is or anyone in the photo?

In my grandmother’s younger years, I was told by my Uncle Barney that she worked at the Union Sardine company owned by the McCurdys and her Uncle Thomas Keegan.

Do You Enjoy Reading Poetry About Downeast Maine?

My friend Andrea has a new book out The Making of Budworm Farm featuring her poetry about living on her farm in Jonesboro. Read about it here:

Hill flyer

 

 

 

Did you grow up in Machias, Maine in the 50s and 60s?

Do you have any photos of the games we played in the neighborhood with lots of kids of all ages?  Winter or summer. Playing ball at the Dodge field, gatherings at the field behind the Mace’s house running all the way to Emma Means’ backyard. The pond we skated on in the field in back of Cooper Street Extension. Sliding at St Regis or on the hill in Whitneyville at the top of the Crosscut road. Yard games. Our annual Memorial Day bike trip to six mile lake.

I’m writing a story about growing up in Machias in the 50s and 60s and all the adventures we had playing outside. I find that I have photos of kids, one or two at a time, groups of kids at birthday parties, but can’t find any of our outside activities together. I guess we were too busy to bring our cameras!

 

 

150th Anniversary Booklet for Machias

Pageant of the Machias Valley.

It was quite a celebration in 1913 in the town of Machias at the Sylvan Park! 

There were plays, music, and dancing over three days. Many of the townpeople participated in the festival including some of my ancestors: my great grandfather, William G Means (Transportation), my grandmother’s sister, Miss Elsie Means (Information), my great grandmother’s future sister-in-law, Miss Emma Perry (Information), who later married Billy Means. 

See the booklet here:

My son posted a photograph of 1913 festival participants here. Quite the colorful costumes!

My Great Grandparents 25th Wedding Anniversary.

William and Nellie Means celebrated with family and friends on July 1st, 1905 at their home at 24 Broadway. The event was reported in the Bangor Daily News July 5th.

The bride and groom wore their wedding attire. Their wedding clothes are on display at the Gates House in Machiasport.

The Means home circa 1896. 1896. L to R. William Jr., Elsie, Otis, William and Nellie, Harriet. Descendants of William and Nellie Means lived in this home for 120 years.

Merry Christmas 2020! Me and My brothers

L to R. Sherry, David and Jim Rier. Christmas circa 1955 at 24 Broadway, Machias, Maine.

Jim is smiling. It seems that David and I are surprised by the camera!

Today is the Three Year Anniversary of my blog, Voices of Ancestors!

The first post on December 8, 2016 was entitled: This Old House: Secrets in the Attic. Since then, the blog has had 32,309 views from 18,163 visitors from more than 60 countries. 

Family stories truly are universal!