STRONG — The town Historical Society, elementary school, High Peaks Alliance and Maine Historical Society will launch their community history project and website Sunday.
In 1889, Strong had a large community band, and many of those musicians’ descendants live in Franklin County.
The Maine Memory Team will host an afternoon of local lore, genealogy, maps and intriguing images from 1 to 2:30 p. m. Sunday, June 3, at the Strong Elementary School. The event marks the launch of the Strong website, www.strong.mainememory.net, which covers the years from Civil War Reconstruction to the present. The team uploaded dozens of photos, stories and maps to Maine Memory Network, which serves as the Maine Historical Society's online museum.
Strong native Carl Stinchfield scanned thousands of photos, documents and glass plate negatives to contribute to the project.
He hopes community connections can resolve some of the gaps in the historical narrative. “We’re hoping that residents might come forward with old photos or letters or other artifacts that we can add to our website,” he said. “We’ll continue with this project for many years to come.”
His project documents the history of residents who chose to secede and join New Vineyard rather than spend tax dollars to build a bridge they would never use.
High Peaks Alliance Development Director Ben Godsoe, teacher Crystal Polk and her seventh- and eighth-grade students will offer a Google Earth tour of historic locations.
The event also will show:
* Family names, including Brackleys, Lamberts, Worthleys, Starbirds, Stubbs, Dyars, Huffs, Allens, Pratts, Luces, Durrells, Richards, Pinkhams, Chandlers, Stinchfields and Ladds, predate the Civil War.
* The town once was known as “The Toothpick Capital of the World.”
* The Village Cemetery is the final resting place for Cornelia Thurza “Fly Rod” Crosby, the first registered Maine Guide.
The Maine Community Heritage Project grants have added more than 20,000 historical items contributed by historical organizations. The projects offer a very distinctive and personalized view of local Maine history. The site also offers lesson plans for teachers, examples of student history projects and online tools for creating and sharing albums.
Groups have done slide shows, told stories and shared their resources.
Strong was one of three Maine towns to receive funding through the National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Stinchfield will assist the Maine Historical Society as a guide for the next group of grant recipients, sharing his expertise and experiences.
For more information, call 684-3613 or email tata_strong@hotmail.com.
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