March 18, 2012 Just found a day book that my grandmother Ronie gave to her future husband my grandfather Ralph Eben Worcester. On the first page it is written Oct 29, 1896 Ronie D. Leighton, Epping Maine, U.S.A. On the opposite page says Property of R. E. Worcester Columbia, Me. U.S.A. They married three years later on February 1, 1899 and he worked the logging camps a couple of years after they were married than returned to Columbia and had eight children. Ralph died 1924 from Malaria that he had contracted in Nicaragua. My grandfather kept a record when he worked in Bluefields, Nicaragua at several of the logging camps. I found that he worked in these camps No. 9, No 10. In 1894 he was at camp No. 13 which was on the Wa-Wa River then in camp No. 5 of October of 1898, and Camp No. 14 on Feb 18, 1901. The information looks like he traveled from his home in Columbia, to Ellsworth, then to Boston where he then went by steamer to New Orleans. I suppose he than got onto another steamer to get to Nicaragua. I see that in 1901 he was still in Nicaragua as he sent $50.00 home to his mother via the Chelsea Office of Geo. D. Emery. Also in this same book in the back I found a pocket with a lock of hair tied with a ribbon. I believe this was my grandmothers’ hair that she had given him along with the day book to carry with him while he was away. I do have a copy of a letter that she received from him while he was away saying he missed her very much. How sweet. I never knew them as they both passed away before I was even a twinkle in my Dad’s eyes. On another note I have a new picture that was found at the Transfer station just tossed aside of an older lady. It is so sad that folks toss out their families like this. If anyone can identify her please let me know, it has to be someone’s grandmother, aunt or sister and I would love to find out who she is. I am posting this photo onto the genealogy groups that I belong too in hopes that she will be identified. Get well wishes to Peter Sawyer of Milbridge and Corey Worcester of Columbia Falls. Happy birthday to the following folks that will be celebrating a birthday this week: March 19 -Lorraine Whary Thompson, Hulda Peterson; March 22 – Wayne Merritt, Linda Alley; March 23-- Clara Driscoll; March 25 –Paula Scott, Richard Farnsworth Jr. and Charlene Gray. March 25, 2012 On Thursday evening fifteen members attended the Jonesport Historical Society first meeting for the season at the Peabody Memorial Library. President Don Woodward spoke on the ongoing restoration of the Sawyer Building that will house the artifacts that they have collected. Almost 100 photos were shown on the before and after work on what has already been done to restore this building. When all is said and done this building will have an artifact room, a meeting room to hold our meetings and a computer room where the society has three data bases: one data base each for genealogy, cemeteries, and artifacts for all to use in any type of research. John Vassar Sawyer, II donated to the Jonesport Historical Society many items that have been in the building since the 1800’s. As soon as the renovations are completed and given the time of their volunteers everything will be inventoried, scanned and documented and put into their archives data base. Many, many volunteer man hours have already gone into this building to ready it for the open house in late June. The dedication of Barbara & Bill Plaskon, Andy & Arlene Hutnik, Steven Perry and Don Woodward will be definitely seen along with others that have help in one way or another to make it all possible. These folks that are working their hearts off to save this history for us are really special folks and we all should let them know that we appreciate their time and energy. Stop by and lend a hand or encouragement to them the next time you happen by the Sawyer Building. If you have not been to one of their meetings you have missed out on a lot of our history of the area. This is not just Jonesport history it is all of ours as we all have ancestors that come from Beals Island, Jonesport, Head Harbor Island and the surrounding areas that were in the sea faring. All meetings are held on the fourth Thursdays of the month from March to October starting at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments are served after the meeting. The April meeting will be on the Three Churches Celebrating Anniversaries in Jonesport by church officials. On Saturday evening I spent the evening with friends in Bangor enjoying dinner out and then we all attended, the 7th Annual Performance at Peakes Auditorium at the Bangor High School, Music Off Broadway Music from the Movies presented by Rotary Club of Bangor, Maine. I was pleased to find that I actually knew someone in this. Ben Layman formerly of Columbia Falls sang two numbers. A great evening out on the town followed by attending the Maple Syrup Sunday gathering at the Trott’s camp in Exeter, Maine. On March 25 over 60 friends gathered at the Trott’s Camp in Exeter for their annual Maple Syrup Sunday spring gathering with a pot luck lunch consisted of bake beans, yeast rolls, cole slaw, Caesar salad, dump can turkey, spare ribs, French fries, maple candy, homemade chocolate & maple ice-cream, blueberry pie, mincemeat squares & pumpkin bars. Attending from Washington County were Zachary, Tiffany & Konner Strout of Harrington, Ronie & Carroll Strout of Addison & Jonathan & Daniele Plummer of East Machias.. We all enjoyed the food, company and conversations and best of all brought home freshly made Maple Syrup.