By Bonnie Washuk,Staff Writer
Flag will be unveiled today for Flag Day

LEWISTON – An American flag that flew over Lewiston High School in 1863 has been restored and will be unveiled this afternoon during a Flag Day ceremony.

The flag is large, measuring 12 by 6 feet. It features the 13 red and white stripes, and only 13 stars. One of the stars is larger than the others.

The hand-made, cotton flag is mounted in a case on a wall of the downtown Dingley Building, which houses the city’s School Department offices. Information on the flag’s history is sketchy, said Thomas E. Jarvis, leader of the flag project.

“We do know for a fact it flew over Lewiston High School during the Civil War,” he said.

In 1908 the flag was given to the Lewiston School Department by several members of the Class of 1863. Between 1863 and 1908 the flag was in the custody of the “first graduate” of that class, Jarvis said.

He did not know who that was, but records show six members of the Class of 1863 were recognized in 1908. They were Frank E. Sleeper, Lottie C. Thompson, Almeda F. Gile, Sibye A. Chase, Abbie E. Dickey and Fannie H. Dickey.

During the Civil War, “There was tremendous patriotism in Lewiston,” said retired Bates professor and historian Douglas Hodgkin. “Anyone who showed any doubts about the cause was kind of squelched.”

In 1863, high school students organized the Lewiston High School Cadets. Like today’s Junior ROTC cadets, they performed honor guard details in the city. An annual report from 1863 says that high school Principal A.E. Buck, along with many students, enlisted to serve in the Northern Army.

For years the old flag was furled up on a pole in the lobby of the Dingley Building. “You could see some of the stars and stripes, but couldn’t get a real appreciation for the size and condition,” Jarvis said. “The flag was deteriorating.”

As the Dingley Building was renovated, it made sense to restore the flag, Jarvis said. After checking with state officials who oversee care of historic flags at the State House, Jarvis contacted a New York company that specializes in flag restoration. In October the flag was taken to New York to be cleaned and mounted. It was returned in May, in time to arrange a Flag Day ceremony.

“We thought it was appropriate to have an unveiling and ceremony of the flag,” Jarvis said. It represents significant local history and presents a patriotic opportunity to celebrate Flag Day, he said.

Jarvis said he’d welcome more historic information about the flag.

School and city officials, as well as veterans organizations, have been invited to the 2:45 p.m. ceremony. Interested members of the public are welcome, Jarvis said.

Copy the Story Link