DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Hartford Heritage Society is hosting its Fall Craft Fair on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Town Hall on Main Street, which is Route 140. There will be 18-plus vendors and lunches for sale. Start your Christmas shopping early; stop by to see what all the crafters have for sale along with lots of food items. — Doreen, Hartford

DEAR SUN SPOTS: There will be a public supper at the West Auburn Congregational Church on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Come join us for dinner or take yours to go. The menu includes ham or turkey, mashed potatoes, carrots, macaroni and cheese, rolls, coffee and dessert for $10. — Donna, no town

ANSWER: Fairs and suppers are such good old-fashion fun!

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The Minot Historical Society has recently installed a bronze plaque in memory of Mesannie Wilkins on the Jackass Annie Road just off Woodman Hill Road and near the top of the hill where Mesannie’s cabin was located.

At age 63 in 1954, Mesannie, after being told she only had two years to live, went about achieving a lifelong goal of seeing the Pacific Ocean. With her dog, packhorse and riding horse, she traveled 4,000 miles and achieved national attention.

As a member of the Minot Historical Society, Donna Berry started an after-school program for students grades three through six to share local and Maine history with all those interested. The Mesannie plaque originated as a Junior Historical project.

Donna is a retired museum educator with the Suffolk County Historical Society in Riverhead, New York. Other society members involved in the youth programs were volunteers Hester Gilpatric, Beverly Spofford, Marie Ouellette and Jessica Rodrique.

The funds for the plaque were raised through bottle drives over the past few years. We wish to take this opportunity to thank the local community and beyond for their generous donations. We also want to give special thanks to Scott Parker and the Minot Highway crew for installing the heavy post and plaque, Marquis Signs of Lewiston for their professional help, and Northwood Steel for making the steel post and attaching the brackets. We very much appreciate their help. Job well done! A very special thank you also goes to Donna Berry who made this plaque honoring Mesannie possible. — Sylvia, Norway

ANSWER: What a fabulous story! After her epic 7,000-mile journey from Minot to California, Mesannie returned to Maine and lived 24 years beyond her prognosis. She lived with a friend in Whitefield and passed away at the age of 88. Her grave is in the Libby family plot at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Minot.

Jackass Annie Road is named for her and the donkey she rode to her job at a Lewiston shoe shop. There are more details at “Miss Annie Wilkins from Maine” by Laura Fraser (http://www.thelongridersguild.com/wilkins.htm); “Messanie Wilkins” (https://minotmainehistoricalsociety.wordpress.com/); and “Mesannie Wilkins, the Last of the Saddle Tramps” (https://ozwisdomsandlessons.com/messanie-wilkins-the-last-of-the-saddle-tramps/)

This intrepid traveler also wrote a book about her adventure: “Last of the Saddle Tramps.” I hope the local libraries have it! Another book about this incredible woman is “The Ride of Her Life” by Elizabeth Letts.

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 emailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

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