Update on projects at the Grand Trunk Cemetery

     Thought I would share these photos of the cemetery in June.  School is out, and the cemetery is a quiet , peaceful place for relection.  Many of you who follow this blog have expressed your concern over the years for this ancient burial ground.  Since beginning this project in 2010, I'm pleased that the general condition has been improved and people now seem to respect it for what it is;  the final resting place of some of Portland's first citizens, who resided on Back Cove, and later, East Deering, having come here in the mid-seventeen hundreds, during the era of re-settlement of Falmouth, a colony of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Recently mowed by the City of Portland's Cemeteries Crews

The Cemetery is well cared for.

Looking out toward the Grand Trunk Veterans Memorial

On the right is the memorial stone dedicated to the early settlers.

The large perennial garden; peonies just opening.

The poppies were particularily lovel this year.

PROJECTS

•      For several years we have hoped to have a directional sign placed on Presumpscot Street, at the front of the school so that those folks looking for the cemetery could more easily find it.  As you may remember, the young Girl Scouts who recently earned their Girl Scout Bronze Award raised funds toward the cost of a sign.  The funds were donated to the City of Portland Cemeteries Division.

•      I met with Joseph Dumais at the Cemeteries Office and we agreed, after a site visit, to the location for this sign.  I am also pleased to report that an interactive sign for the cemetery is also in the works. This will include some history of the cemetery with some names and dates.  In may replace the presemt kiosk which is wearing and the plexi-glass scratched., having been damged two years ago by vandals.

• To preserve the ancient trees in the cemetery and to improve the general environment,  the large, rotted oak tree will be cut down, along with other dead branches.  This should open up the canopy over the right side of the cemetery, hopefully improving the soil in that area as well.

• Sometime soon, the old chainlink fence will be removed, and a rail fence, in keeping with the design of the cemetery, will be installed.  This will also allow us to cut away invasive plants and dead wood while improving the general appearance and visibilty into the cemetery.  The better the upkeep, the better people respect the sacred space.

     All of these projects are exciting and very welcomed!

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      Although I haven't written a new post in a month or so,  I have accumulated a lot of research material on Old Isaac Sawyer, and I intend to post an article soon. Please check out posts on our   Friends of Grand Trunk Cemetery facebook page; leave comments, suggestions, questions.  They are always appreciated and welcomed!

     Finally, for those of you visiting Maine this summer, I hope you will feel so inclined to visit the Grand Trunk Cemetery.  If you visit early in the morning, or late in the day, you may see our resident hen turkey.  Sorry, I wasn't close enough to get a photo, the day she visited.  You never know what spirits lurk!

     

Memorial Day 2018

Thanks to Cheryl Willis Patten for posting this photograph.  Although neither of us know the origin of the photo, it  appropriately speaks to the true meaning and significance  of Memorial Day as a day of rememberance of all those, who, from the beginning of our history as a nation, served to preserve and defend our liberty.  
All gave, some gave all!

      I read with interest several articles about the origin of our Memorial Day and will include links for those of you who may wish to read them yourselves:

http.//content.time.com/time/nation.article/0,8599,1900454,00.htm,

http.//www.usmemorialday.org/?page_id=2,
https:www.readthespirit.com/explore/the-first-memorial-day-may-1-1865-reported-in-the-charleston

     No matter, what the town of origin for the first celebration, or the actual date, or whether we think of Memorial Day as the unofficial start of the summer season. observing it with picnics or barbecues, family outings or, simply a three day holiday from work and relaxation, the true meaning of the day is sacred.  It is meant to be a day of rememberance and an opportunity to honor those who served in our miltary, and especially those who paid the ultimate price for the liberties we enjoy today.  For many families across the nation, it has also become a day for decorating the graves of loved ones who have passed on.

     At the East Deering/Grand Trunk Cemetery, on Wednesday of this week, a small group gathered to decorate the graves of our interred Veterans and to repeat their names.  I have heard that by saying the names of the dead out loud, they will be remembered always.  I hope so.

PVT. SAMUEL BLAKE:  WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1794, DIED:  1846

PVT. WILLIAM BLAKE:  WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1774, DIED:  1853

PVT. SIMON DAVIS:  REVOLUTIONARY WAR

BORN:  1766, DIED:  1810

PVT. ANDREW GRAVES:  WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1774, DIED:  1860

LEUT. CRISPUS GRAVES, REVOLUTIONARY WAR

BORN:  1742, DIED:  1818

PVT. JOSEPH LUNT, REVOLUTIONARY WAR

BORN:  1757, DIED:  1804

PVT. JOSEPH MERRILL, WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1754, DIED:  1823

PVT. JAMES MOSELEY, US CIVIL WAR

BORN:  1836, DIED:  1892

PVT. JOHN SAWYER, JR., REVOLUTIONARY WAR

WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1760, DIED:  1842

PVT. JOSEPH M. SAWYER, WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1797, DIED:  1876

PVT. WILLIAM SAWYER, WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1763, DIED:  1825

PVT. FRANCIS SMITH, WAR OF 1812

BORN:  1791, DIED:  1840

    
     Although none of these men died in battle, we remember them for their service and contribution to the history of the city of Portland, the state of Maine and to the Nation.  The names were read aloud, flags placed and wreaths presented and finally, all recited the verses of 'Taps'. 

   Many thanks to the Girl Scouts of Troop 1547 and their Leaders Stacie Partin Hanscom and Mary Beth Lapin, along with our friend Lynda Allshouse for participating in this brief and meaningful ceremony.

Wreath at the graves of Francis Smith and Simon Davis

Wreath at the Grand Trunk Cemetery Veterans Memorial.

Going to a Party.....at the Cemetery

Reflecting.....

     Sunday, May 6th, 2018, was a day, not unlike today here in Portland, Maine.  It's over-cast with the possibility of showers.  Actually, when I left my house on Melbourne Street, van packed with three portable tables, a dozen rakes, rolls of garden bags, work gloves, water bottles and snacks for the workers, and sundrie other items, it was raining lightly.  I was hoping people would show up and not be discouraged by a few raindrops.  The nine young Junior Girl Scouts had spent many hours planning, preparing and encouraging people to participate in this annual Spring Cleanup at the Grand Trunk Cemetery.

     They would not be disappointed!  About twenty-five children, parents, grandparents, and old 'Friends of the Grand Trunk Cemetery' did come to work, share stories, re-unite, and play.  I borrowed the title of this post from a short article by Jennifer Fulwiler:

http://www.ncregister.com/blog/ennifer-fulwiler/going-to-a-party,,,,at-the-cmetery

I think one of the biggest benefits of these events,.....is the way they give you a sense of comfort about the cycle of life.  There's a palpable sense of connectedness among both the living and the dead.  Those of us still living are connected to one another, and we are connected to those who have passed, just as those who have passed were connected to one another, and to those who died before them.  We recognize names scrawled on name- tags, just as we recognize names carefully chisled on tombstones, and there is a feeling that we're surrounded by loved ones, both those alive on earth, and those alive on the other side.

     Since the very beginning of this project to recover, the remnant of this ancient brial ground, there has always been a sense of celebration; we refer to our fall Planting events as a parties  There has always been a joyous atmosphere and a sense of commaradery while working together for the common purpose of honoring the dead.  

     All of this was so evident this past Sunday with the activities, the hard work, the re-uniting of descendants of those interred here, and the educating of the young who will, hopefully continue to see the importance and value, of caring for our ancient cemeteries.  I'll let the pictures tell the story.

Ben and Norma Sawyer, descendants of Anthony Sawyer, grandson of the first Sawyer, Isaax Sawyer, Sr. who settled here in 1725

MaryAnne Wallace and Lynda Allshouse among the daffodils.

Kayla Theriault began this project in 2010, and continues to support the work at the cemetery

The tables set up in the field with crafts.

Mother and Daughter at the Bake Sale table to raise funds toward the new Cemetery sign.

The old Hoop and Stick game

You've got it, Grandfather!

Engaged in the Historical Scavenger Hunt

Janet Christopher, Machigonne Service Unit Manager has been a great supporter
 from the very start!

It takes team work!

Norma and Ben Sawyer have come out to support every event..

These two Brownie Girl Scouts learned a bit of cemetery history.

A supportive brother and a willing son:  thanks to young Mr. Hanscom!

The girls gather around to recive my thanks for a job well done!

Kayla shares her Girl Scout experiences.

The painted stones are a welcome addition.

Many 'Thanks" to Lilly Denis, Caitlin Rohde, Nora Hansom, Estelle Jones,Sophia Scola, Lindsey Bickford (not in pic),Ally Brady, JoJo Philbrook, Hadleigh McPartlan, and their Leaders:  Staci Hansom and Cheryl Denis.

     Many thanks to all who participated in the Annual Spring Cleanup Party.  This was a wonderful celebration of the living among the souls of those who died long ago in Portland and the East Deering Community.  For those of you who follow this blog, I hope when you are in Portland, you will take a little time to visit the cemetery behind the Presumppscot School.  Enjoy the gardens, sit for a moment and reflect in the quiet and peace of the burial 
site.

There was a bit of giggling from the girls when they read my shirt. 
They thought it read: "I see Dead People"

 An Addition

     I wanted to include the histrical scavenger hunt which the girl conducted for participants.  Thought it might be of interest to folks who might like to visit the cemetery this summer.  Although, for the time being, we've removed the small flags in favor of the traditional graveside flags for Memorial Day, a careful following of the hints, might be helpful and fun.