Harpswell Yesterdays and Its Amazing Photos

(Photo-Courrier-McEwen-family)-E.-Farrington-Abbott-family-in-its-chauffeur-driven-car-in-1916

by Gerry York

“Harpswell Yesterdays” is run by the “Cousins Lunch” group which has morphed into “The Harpswell Islands Genealogy and History Center” which is a long winded name for a non profit history collection on the Islands… NO we are not in competition with Harpswell Historical Society but, we do feel that there needs to be something on the Islands for those folks that do not make it over to the Neck. That includes Cundy’s Harbor if they will have us… We are not in competition with HHS but are “in addition to”.

The purpose of starting Harpswell Yesterdays is to encourage people to dig out their pictures and history in regard to Harpswell and show it to the rest of us. The photos that have been posted come from many sources. Some were collected by my mother during 89 years of Harpswell residency. Her three sisters also contributed their photo albums to the cause. Many are posted by others from all over the country from their own collections.

Many of the photos come from the Harpswell Historical Society collection which have been donated to them over the past 40 years. They have allowed “Cousins Lunch” to copy many of the photos in their collection. The Orr’s Island Library has made their collection available. Many of the photos are old Postcards from many many different collections. Some come from the Maine State Archives.

Then there are the folks that have either donated to us or allowed us to digitally copy their own collections. I will certainly leave off some people so I apologize in advance. Jay McGowan and Jackie Merrill have been generous. Chip and Steve Black, Allison Prince, Betsey Judkins Leland, Jane Allyson Smith, Jack Sylvester, many of the interrelated summer residents on Sea Banks and Washington Avenue and Barkers Point and Summer Hill. Joe Harris, Carl Black, Rob Bernet, Bev Hahn, Alfred and Leona Harris. The Stilphen and Doughty and Stevens families. The Hillman family. All have either given or loaned their photos to us. Connie and Ed Johnson, Ann Alexander, Moodys and Bibbers and Johnsons and many many others have added to our collection.

So the answer to the question of where do I find these pictures is…I find them from YOU. Don’t stop… Post them… or send them to me and I will post them… but don’t let them sit in a box and never be seen by those who would enjoy them. That’s unkind to the photo and the people and places in them.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/919474142575822
https://www.harpswellislands.org/
gdyork@comcast.net

Saturday, August 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Neck, Islands and Cundy’s Harbor. See the graves of Harpswell’s Revolutionary War soldiers, ship captains and local characters. Slate, sandstone and granite markers with designs from skulls to anchors and flowers span colonial Harpswell until today. Meet at Town Hall from 11 a.m. until 12 noon for tour booklet and map or pick up at flagged Burying Grounds.