the bookshelf

A Partnered Project by leigh macmillen hayes

“When the work fell into the hands of us boys we hired a husky man to push the work, paid him $3.00 a day while others paid $2.00. He would hustle us out about three A.M. and rushed that way until we got through. The result was that we beat everyone in the neighborhood and made money by it . . . We worked at least sixteen hours every day during haying season. It was pretty tough to get up so early, but Old Bill said, ‘Come on, boys’, and we came. This will give you an idea of what we could do when pressed to it.” ~Edwin Peabody Fitch, 1840-1931, Ninety Years of Living

A few years after the Town of Bridgton incorporated, William Peabody of Andover, Massachusetts, built a house for his bride, Sally Stevens. The large, two and a half story house with a center chimney, was surrounded by over 200 acres of fields and forest upon which they grew crops, raised livestock, and created maple syrup, butter, and cheese.

In 1823, William and Sally’s fourth daughter, Mary, married George Fitch of Sebago and about 1828 the Fitches took over the workings of the hilltop farm, said to be the highest cultivated land in Cumberland County. Thus, within the home lived Mary’s parents, three of her younger siblings, plus the Fitches and their growing family. To accommodate all, George added an ell with a new kitchen, larder, pantry, and two bedrooms. He also built an attached shed and carriage house.

After George Fitch died in 1856, the property stayed in the family but over time declined significantly in value. By the mid1930s, the farm had fallen into disrepair and the Town of Bridgton put a lien on it for back taxes.

A friend who owned property nearby informed the recently widowed Margaret M. Monroe of Providence, Rhode Island, about the South Bridgton property. Margaret saw through its deficiencies and fell in love with the entryway and carriage house. Really, she fell in love with the entire place and purchased it not only to preserve its original elements, but also to serve as a summer and holiday retreat for her family.

In 1987, upon Margaret’s death, the property she’d long ago named Narramissic, meaning “Hard to Find,” because she and her late husband had long searched for a Maine property to purchase, was bequeathed to the Bridgton Historical Society. Over the years, through staff and volunteer hours, donations, and grant monies, BHS has worked to restore the farmhouse and out buildings and host various events. In the 1990s, for his Eagle Project, Boy Scout Adam Jones created a blue-blazed trail to a quarry on land beyond the upper field that remained in possession of Peg Monroe Normann, Margaret’s daughter. Still, the property seemed “Hard to Find.”

All of that is in the midst of changing, however, as Loon Echo Land Trust recently purchased and conserved the 250-acre Normann property that surrounds Bridgton Historical Society’s Narramissic farmstead on three sides. LELT appropriately named it Peabody-Fitch Woods.

Loon Echo’s Stewardship Manager and BHS Vice President Jon Evans was the impetus behind the collaborative effort of the two non-profit organizations though he is quick to turn the credit highlights to others. “I actually spoke with Carrie Walia (former LELT Executive Director) in 2010 about conserving the lands around Narramissic or conserving the farmstead’s grounds. It didn’t have a lot of ecological values so it never gained much traction the first time. And even the second time, it didn’t appeal to typical funders.” What people didn’t realize was the connectivity value in relation to other conserved lands.

When Jon approached the next executive director, Thom Perkins, about the project, he said, “Thom saw it from 30,000 feet and knew that it did connect a lot of conserved land, plus he appreciated that by conserving the land and stewarding it, Loon Echo’s presence might benefit another local non-profit.”

After Matt Markot took the helm as LELT’s Executive Director, he made the dream a reality because he was able to acquire the funds through grants and individual donations that made it happen. “Actually though,” said Jon, “a lot of folks made it happen.”

Ned Allen, executive director of Bridgton Historical Society recently said, “For decades we were worried about the 250 acres surrounding the farm.” Thus, with the LELT purchase, he feels like BHS is starting a new era.

And indeed it is. Though the two local non-profits had worked on a few projects in prior years, their relationship has grown significantly as they work to protect the natural and cultural history of the abutting properties. Their most recent joint effort includes a graded gravel walking trail with manageable slopes built to universal standards that winds past the house and barn and through the woods. A large parking area to access both properties has also been constructed at the top of the former strawberry field behind the Temperance Barn.

Through a public process as deemed necessary by the State of Maine’s Recreational Trail Program, a significant funder for the project, Warren Excavation of Bridgton produced the most competitive bid. “We were delighted because we thought that the

Warrens also had the right experience and the right equipment to build the trail in the way we imagined,” said Matt.

Ned added, “We’d worked with them on the barn restoration and couldn’t have asked for better people to do it.”

Both organizations felt that the Warrens were sensitive to the whole property and weren’t thinking just about building the trial but were considering the potential impacts to the existing structures and land.

After 40+ years in the business, Bruce Warren is quick to credit the late Alan Ordway of Winona Camps on the shores of Moose Pond for initially teaching him how to look at the land and create the atmosphere in the woods that he desired.

Though Jon had previously flagged a trail that looped around a large field above the farmstead, he was open to interpretation. And that’s just the formula Bruce works with best. “I have a sense of what to look for and try to create a peaceful experience for others,” said Bruce. “We take enough brush out of the way to see the forest. It’s as if we look at ourselves as we walk these paths and we can see there’s more there. We’re taking the brush away from our own lives.”

Kyle said his father would move along in his skid steer, cutting trees as he went, then stop and determine a curve. “Dad’s always had an eye for different things, seeing through obstacles and taking in the big picture. It can be challenging at times because it’s not always about taking the path of least resistance. We’d weigh the pros and cons of the situation: water run-off; vantage points; character along the trail. You go from mature forest and wet area to gray birch grove and old field feel. We wanted folks to see through to all of that.”

To create the gravel trail that anyone might experience, they built a five- to sixfoot-wide surface that provides plenty of room for people to physically distance yet still walk near each other. In some places the gravel is over six inches deep in an attempt to keep the trail as smooth and easily walkable as possible.

One of the most exciting aspects of this collaborative effort is the fact that it’s a unique offering in the lakes region. As Matt stated, “We live in an area with abundant recreational opportunities, but not many are available to everyone. People of all abilities can enjoy the new loop. We wanted to be able to highlight some of the best cultural and natural features of the property so that people who are on the trail can see the farm and the fields and look into the woods.” Beyond the gravel trail, ATV and snowmobile trails are also part of the mixed use of the land.

Because the new walking trail traverses in front of the barn and farmhouse on the historical society’s property, the two groups again worked together with BHS granting LELT a trail easement, thus adding another layer of permanent protection to the infrastructure so that no matter what happens down the road, public access will always be available.

When you visit the trail, you’ll be wowed. But also know that for both organizations, this is a work in progress. And to that end, your continued financial support is needed. Among other projects to maintain the farmstead, Bridgton Historical Society hopes to build a bathroom facility so they can host events such as weddings. Likewise, Loon Echo Land Trust would like to add an information kiosk by the parking lot, rest areas along the walking trail, and interpretive signs on the hiking trail along the quarry loop. Between the two organizations, thanks to contributors, grantors and other partners, they’ve already invested over $750,000 thus far in the buildings and trails.

The overlap between the cultural and natural history brought these two organizations together in a partnered project and the end result is something everyone can benefit from, whether young or old, agile or frail. That’s hard to find elsewhere. R FMI: Bridgton Historical Society: bridgtonhistory.org Loon Echo Land Trust: lelt.org

Ready for Business by leigh macmillen hayes

“In the spring we plowed and worked the ground with both horse and oxen. Riding plows were not known. We wanted to work the horses as well as the oxen and they were too lively to hitch directly to the plow so we took the forward pair of wagon wheels, fixed a seat on top, hitched the plow to the axle; now, with a boy in the seat, we were fixed ready for business.” ~Edwin Peabody Fitch

Just as the Peabody-Fitches operated a family business upon the Narramissic/ Peabody-Fitch Woods land, so have others to make this project possible.

Due to the current pandemic, three days a week Kyle Warren’s young family, Tillie, age six, Hazel, age four, and Archer, age 2, were on the job site. And that doesn’t mean just hanging out while their father and grandfather worked. “When we found we were awarded this job,” said Kyle, “we met here and talked about the basics of the project and I expressed to Ned, Matt, and Jon, that my kids come to work with me and I was fully transparent. They were very supportive, which is great because that’s the kind of people you want to work for, those who have a sense of family and a sense of importance.”

Kyle was quick to add, “I will say, none of this was forced upon the kids. We had purchased a truck and adjusted the foot pedals for them and they were excited to drive it around the yard. And then when we ended up being awarded this job, we purchased the second one. For the girls, it was a sense of pride. They would drive the trucks around the yard and then they insisted I fill continued on page 23

BOOK REVIEWS FROM THE OWNERS & STAFF OF BRIDGTON BOOKS

JUSTIN’S LIST With so much turmoil and uncertainty in the air, it is comforting to be writing another book review for our favorite magazine. This Tender Land, a novel by William Kent Krueger, was one of our best selling books of the summer and takes place during another trying time in American history. Set in the midwest during the Great Depression, it follows Irish American orphaned brothers, Odie and Albert, who are the only white boys in a school where Native American children are sent to be “reeducated” from their ways and culture. Odie is regularly targeted for punishment by an evil superintendent they refer to as the “Black Witch.” The brothers are suddenly forced to flee for their lives, and along with their friends Mose and Emmy, head out on the Mississippi River in search of a new home. Krueger is a decent writer, but a superb storyteller, and I enjoyed his homage to Homer’s Odyssey. If you haven’t read Ordinary Grace, also by him, I’d highly recommend that as well.

I was too young to understand much of the movie, Lawrence of Arabia, when it came out, however, the fight scenes on camels fascinated me. The non-fiction book Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson enlightened me with an in-depth portrayal of Lawrence and the World War I Middle Eastern Theater. As the Ottoman empire floundered, Lawrence, an Englishman, was a prime instigator in getting the Arabs to revolt against the Turks. His study and embodiment of Arab Culture and politics, along with his knowledge of desert travel and warfare, was instrumental in the war. Scott gives a great geo-political overview of the period not just through Lawrence’s eyes. The author also details Aaron Aaronsohn, a Jewish Zionist, who set up a spy network for Britain; William Yale, an American working for Standard Oil; and Curt Prufer, a German spy from the other side.

Occasionally a publisher will change the title of a book (much to my irritation) in the hopes of bringing it new success. Richard Roper’s novel How Not To Die Alone was changed within a year between hardcover and paperback editions to Something To Live For—a smart move considering our current healthcare crisis. Actually a witty, romantic comedy, Andrew tells a lie in his job interview, which comes back to haunt him when he gets the job. In a large city, there are always people who pass away with no known friends or family nearby. Andrew’s job entails going through their belongings to ascertain whether they have relatives or not, and to determine if the deceased has enough assets to pay for burial. He lives a very mundane life with colleagues so abhorrent they are comical, until Peggy joins the ranks and turns everything upside down.

Books about rock bands are usually not my thing, but when it came to David Mitchell’s new novel Utopia Avenue, I made an exception. Utopia Avenue is the name of his fictitious British Rock band from the ‘60s, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters are rich and well developed, the music scene rings true, and the band’s rise from obscurity is delightful with many side tracks. This novel is more accessible than some of his masterworks such as Cloud Atlas and The Bone Clocks, and Mitchell just spins a really good yarn, while including references from his previous novels into his new one, as is his style. While I’m on the subject, Daisy Jones and the Six, by Taylor Jenkins, is an American ‘70s rock story written in documentary form that is also lots of fun.

Mikel Jollett had an interesting childhood to say the least, and his new memoir Hollywood Park is spectacular. A fantastic writer, Jollett has a simple, honest style which effectively bares his soul to the reader with empathy. As a child, he was raised by Synanon, a cult with no family structure. Eventually, his mother steals him back from the cult and they go on the run. She has her own issues, and it is a wonder Mikel grows

up to become a functional human being and successful musician. There are plenty of autobiographies full of family strife and addiction, but Jollett’s unique perspective makes his work stand above. It is hard to describe in words. Just pick up the book and read the first chapter, and you will see what I mean.

The Warehouse by Rob Hart is a compelling work of speculative fiction taking place in the near future. The Cloud is America’s largest employer by far, selling almost everything to almost everybody after having wiped out all its competitors. Each Cloud warehouse is its own virtual City State, and since people don’t have many other options, the company always has plenty of disposable workers to choose from waiting at the doorstep. Paxton was looking for a new start after his own business went under due to the Cloud undercutting his prices. Zinnia joins the workforce at the same time, but she is a corporate spy working for an unknown entity. There is intrigue and suspense, but the surreal setting of this book alone makes it a tour de force.

Miracle Creek by debut author Angie Kim is a clever courtroom drama with a good mystery woven into the plot. Newly immigrated from South Korea, Pak and Young Yoo pour their dreams and savings into a hyperbaric oxygen treatment business; essentially an immersion tank where people breathe in pure oxygen in the hopes of treating and improving whatever malady afflicts them. When an explosion kills two people including an autistic boy, the boy’s mother is charged with murder, but it is much more complicated than that.

PERRI’S PREFERENCES Wow, what a year! Everything has turned around, leaving us to deal with a “new normal.” Perhaps as a coping mechanism, I have been drawn to books that involve great change.

First was A Square Meal: A Culinary History of the Great Depression by Jane Ziegelman and Andrew Cole, a fascinating study of how the American diet evolved from World War I through the economic and environmental upheavals of the 1930s. Tremendous changes took place, including the discovery of vitamins, the beginnings of school lunch and other government food programs, and the rise of processed foods, all of which continue to impact our lives. I was reminded of other favorite books set during this time: The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan, This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, and, of course, Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

I just started The Warmth of Other Suns:

The Epic Story of America’s Great Migra-

tion by Isabel Wilkerson and I can’t put it down. This is the way history should be presented. Ms. Wilkerson interviewed more than 1,200 people over many years, listening to the stories of challenges they and nearly six million other black citizens faced as they moved from the South to the North and West between 1915 and 1970. She focuses on three individuals at different times during the migration, but their stories are linked with others to form a compelling, enlightening and long overdue record of one of the “great untold stories of American history.”

Once again, I’m plugging Jacqueline Woodson because her writing is just so darn good and her story is also part of the Great Migration, albeit on a rather zigzag path. Read about her journey in her memoir, brown girl dreaming, which I reviewed for the summer issue of Lake Living. Her first adult book, Another Brooklyn, is about human relationships, specifically between four young girls becoming women in 1970s New York City. Woodson’s lyricism and impeccably chosen words make this exploration of memory, loss, and home a moving and memorable read. I’m also looking forward to reading her newest book, Before the Ever After.

In Sigh, Gone: A Misfit’s Memoir of

Great Books, Punk Rock, and the Fight to

Fit In, self-proclaimed “total geek” Phuc Tran narrates his own migration story from Viet Nam to America, beginning in 1975. Caught in the cultural and expectation gap between traditional parents and his new world, Phuc struggles with fitting in and finding his way. He discovers punk rock and skateboarding, as well as art and classic Western literature, which ultimately open the door to his future. Phuc now lives in Portland, Maine, where he teaches Latin and runs a tattoo parlor. His clever, funny, and inspirational TEDxDirigo talk “Grammar, Identity, and the Dark Side of the Subjunctive” is wonderful—listen to it! Two novels set in the not too distant future—When the English Fall by David Williams and Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy—offer unsettling versions of what may lie ahead. Williams tells how members of an Amish community handle their relationship with “the English” (non-Amish) as the trappings of modern civilization begin to collapse in the aftermath of a cataclysmic solar storm. In Migrations, climate change has decimated most animal populations on Earth and wanderer Franny Stone hopes to follow the migration of the last Arctic terns from Greenland to Antarctica across oceans virtually devoid of fish. Her troubled past is gradually revealed as she tracks the birds to their final destination. Both books serve as a warning for us to pay attention and protect

what is precious and essential.

For a complete change of pace, try Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a deliciously creepy story true to the classic gothic genre, including a spirited heroine, an alarming letter, disturbing dreams, and a seriously spooky house. Young, vibrant socialite Noemi Taboada arrives at High Place in the Mexican countryside to find out why her newlywed cousin has sent a letter of distress. Noemi gradually falls under the house’s spell, discovers horrible secrets, and tries to plot an escape. A worthy successor to the great masters of gothic, supernatural, and horror such as Poe, Lovecraft, Blackwood, and M.R. James, it would also make a great movie with many opportunities for spectacular special effects.

I end by suggesting Geography of Home by Akiko Busch because most of us have been spending a lot more time there recently. These charming, witty, and philosophical essays take the reader room by room through a house, explaining the history and evolution of each one. It is a gentle and amusing entertainment offering a few intriguing surprises—my favorite chapter is Laundry.

I wish you all a happy season of reading at home!