MECHANIC FALLS — “Life in a Small Town” will be the focus of an open house sponsored by the Mechanic Falls Historical Society from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the society hall, 64 Elm St.

Former Mechanic Falls resident and novelist, Robert Chapman, will be the featured speaker.

According to Chapman, “My books focus somewhat on small town life, as well as the lives of children and youth growing up in towns rich with characters.”

Chapman’s books include “A Certain Fall,” “Spider Lake,” and the recently published “Mother, Night, and Water.”

“I think small town life, like everything, has changed with time,” Chapman said. “I also believe that some things don’t change, for instance the relationships people, especially children, develop in small towns. So … I will talk about my books in this context. How Mechanic Falls in the ’50s and ’60s shaped my life and the kids that I grew up with.”

Chapman added, “I am curious if there could be a small forum of folks who grew up in McFalls, perhaps from different periods, past and present. This might be too big an idea to manage but has potential as a closing to the event?”

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Chapman thinks of his formative years in Mechanic Falls “as my Norman Rockwell life.”

“I joined the US Army after graduation. Married my high school sweetheart in 1966 on leave from the service. We remain married today.”

Chapman attended USM and worked as a social worker in public and private child welfare for over 30 years. He also owned and ran a business, Best Interests, Inc., that did court studies for divorcing parents.

Chapman retired in 2004 and worked as supervisor of security at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art for three years. He is currently working on a fourth book, “something like a sequel to ‘A Certain Fall.'”

Chapman is scheduled to talk at 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Eriks Petersons at 345-3134 or e-mail nepesons@myfairpoint.net.


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