Center: Homestead Trust Trustee Marilyn Hatch presented the Homestead Property Deed to Vice President Roy Clark at the April 21 meeting of Scribner’s Mill Preservation, Inc. Other members of the Executive Board from left to right are: Penny Bean, Matthew Charlebois, Cheryl Callahan, Peter Hammond, and Barry Sturdivant.

 

HARRISON — Purchased by John and Marilyn Hatch in 1983 at the time that Mr. Edward Scribner had required nursing home care, the Hatches started to carefully restore the Homestead to its 1924 period of significance.  The 1924 date was selected, because Jesse Scribner had updated the house with an addition to allow a modern bathroom.

In 1993, Scribner’s Mill Preservation held its first “Back to the Past” celebration at which time the homestead opened to the public.  In 2001 the Homestead was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was at this time that the Hatches started the planning to create a Homestead Trust including life tenancy with the intention of transferring the Homestead property to Scribner’s Mill Preservation, Inc.

In December 2020, Mrs. Hatch suggested to the Homestead Trust that it was time for this transfer to take place.  With a unanimous decision and legal advice, the process was started.  On March 10th the deed of transfer was recorded in the Cumberland County Department of Records and presented to Scribner’s Mill Preservation at its meeting on April 21.

“This generous gift of the Homestead property that John and Marilyn Hatch carefully restored, ensures that Scribner’s sawmill and homestead will be linked back together as a complete package” said Vice President, Roy Clark. “Their legacy will live on in this historic treasure.”

Scribner’s Mill will be open this summer starting Memorial Day, then on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays throughout the summer.  The Covid guidelines will be followed with masks and safe distancing.  If the Covid restrictions are lifted, it is hoped that we will be able to celebrate Maine’s 200th birthday with a “Back to the Past” event on August 14th.

The Maine 17th Civil War reenactors will be on hand for this event.  It is fitting that they will be on hand to recognize 18 year old Bourdon Scribner who was killed in 1863 during a skirmish with a Southern Confederate contingent.  Bourdon had survived Gettysburg to be killed at Mine Run while on a march through a wooded area on their way into Virginia.  His date of death was Thursday November 26, our first official National Thanksgiving Day declared by President Abraham Lincoln.

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