DEAR SUN SPOTS: Many years ago Holy Family church put together a recipe book with many recipes from people in the church. My mother lost her copy of the book in a house fire, and I would really like to get her another copy.

If there is anyone who may have a copy that I could purchase for her, I would greatly appreciate it, and so would my mom. There were recipes from some of my great aunts in the recipe book.

Thank you for everything that you do. — Venise Monto, pamandmimo@yahoo.com, 577-2879

ANSWER: Sun Spots hopes a reader will come through with a cookbook for you.

Meanwhile, other readers may be interested in a cookbook that the Sun Journal has compiled: “Stirring It Up in Maine.” Copies are $10.49 for subscribers or $12.59 for nonsubscribers (including tax).

The cookbooks may be purchased at any of the newspaper offices, including 104 Park St. in Lewiston, 1 Pikes Hill in Norway, 69 Congress St. in Rumford and 187 Wilton Road in Farmington.

Copies are also available in numerous stores throughout the Sun Journal’s readership area, but the subscriber discount is available only at the newspaper’s offices.

For more information, call Kellie at 689-2865.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: While shopping at Hannaford on Sunday, Dec. 18, I left my purse in a cart in the parking lot. I checked with service department, but no one turned it in. During this holiday season this comes as a hardship for our family. If anyone has any information, please call 784-7257. — Rita Ashton, dashton@bates.edu

DEAR SUN SPOTS: In response to the Dec. 3 request about the Hillcrest Hospital, the old hospital is on the corner of South Main and Flanders streets on Prospect Hill. I spoke with my older siblings, and they recall that it was indeed a hospital, and they had ramps to go up the next floor level. In the garage were a number of old wheelchairs.

Of course, it wasn’t a hospital when we were growing up. They did have a cistern right behind our house, at the other end of Flanders Street. This is where they got their water from. It was quite a distance away from the hospital. The cistern was still there in the 1950s; however, it was empty.

Mr. Ouellette bought the hospital and it was used as their home, and then his daughter continued to live there after she married. There were long corridors with rooms off on both sides, I think. The Roy family (Ouellette) may have a lot more information and maybe some pictures. Hope this helps. — The Dupuis Family, prdubay@roadrunner.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am in the process of writing a history of early local alternative medicine and itinerant “doctors.” Here’s a bit more information about Hillcrest Hospital (Dec. 3 letter).

It opened in November 1910 as a private maternity hospital for women and children. Its services expanded, including general surgery, as well as offering emergency child care for a day or a week. Numerous influenza patients filled Hillcrest during the 1918 epidemic. — Annette Dorey, Lewiston, dorey@gwi.net

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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