A PERSONAL REFLECTION
While I would never claim to be either a historian nor a genealogist like others with the credentials and expertise, over the last nearly ten years of involvement in the project to recover what remains of the ancient Presumpscot, now called the Grand Trunk Cemetery, I have benefited greatly, an I dare say, so have others. I have learned more about the early history of Portland, and in particular, the Back Cove and East Deering communities. I have come to value the importance of preserving the memory of the people who contributed to that history by recounting, whenever possible their stories.
I was reminded of this, when Stephen (Steve) Sawyer, a direct descendant of the first of the Sawyer family, Isaac Sawyer, Sr. who settled in the area, remarked: (I'm paraphraising), "It's not the name that matters; it's the stories that are important."
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| Steve Sawyer, descendant of Isaac Sawyer, and son of Theodore L. Sawyer, author of 'Back Cove to Quaker Lane' |
Thanks to Nancy Montgomery and her husband Jack Vreeland who spent time and research at the cemetery to create and design a sign that tells a story of its history, and preserves, at least, a partial list of the extant names of those who lived and died here when the site was used for burials from the 1740's to the final burial of Isaiah L. Frank in 1894. Only 47 names remain of the 197 marked burials.
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| Nancy Montgomery Speaks about the process of designing the sign |
Jack and Nancy included the 1936 map, part of the survey completed through the WPA (Works Progress Administration) which shows how the graves were laid out. Unforunately, all but eight partial markers remian.
I thought about how much time has passed since two teenage, Juniors in High School, former Girl Scouts, now adults with their own families, set out to recover and restore to memory what for all intents, was an orphan child, abandoned, desecrated by years of neglect and vandalism. The Girl Scout Gold Award project, "Unearthing the Roots of the Back Cove and East Deering Communities" has had a lasting impact by raising the consciousness of the Portland community to value and care for our inactive, ancient cemeteries which are, in many cases, our glimpse into the past.
Samantha Allshouse Lopez and Kayla Theriault can be proud that they began a movement which has continued through the Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery, and through the continued involvement of Portland Girl Scouts, when every spring and fall families come to rake, cleanup and plant as a way to honor the dead and keep the stories alive.
On this day, the legacy continued when eight Portland Girl Scouts symbolically honored those interred here by sprinkling rose petals over the graves.
I am grateful to to all those who graciously contributed to the success of the celebration which marked an important milestone for the preservation of the Grand Trunk Cemetery: especially the talented and accomplished musician, Michael Albert who greeted arrivals with beautiful period music, Steve Sawyer,descendant, Matthew Jude Barker, genealogist, historian and author, who shared his reflection about Irish School Master, Timothy Galvin, Nancy Montgomery,designer, and Deputy Director of Portland Parks and Recreation, Ethan Hipple.
All in all, the first day of summer was a good day and one to be cherished and remembered. Here is the story in pictures.
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| Matt Jude Barker |
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| Miss Anya Ouellet recites the poem: Ancestors |
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| Deputy Director of Portland Parks and Recreation: Ethan Hipple |
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| Mr. Michael Albert |
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| Our Flower Girls |
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| Enlargement of the sign |
Here is the program booklet for your interest.
