Meeting Dates
Oct 22 '09
Minutes for Oct 22, 2009
Present: Cathy Orne, Jo Cameron, Sue Carlson, Ros Strong, Ruth Bryant, Zibette Dean
The meeting was called to order by President Sue Carlson at 2:06 p.m.
The minutes of September 24 were approved as read.
The Treasurer reported a September balance of $1,757.76. 16 members have paid dues totaling $80.00; 4 donations have been received, totaling $75.00. Interest is in the amount $.72. $22.00 was paid to Sue Carlson for postage. The October balance is $1,891.48
Jo said she has heard nothing back from Alan Taylor of the Mt. Edgcumbe Estate in Devon concerning her proposal of a "sister town" project. Nor has she heard further from Philip Wenzel concerning the Rosicrucian Springs.
Edgecomb Industrial History Survey: Sue gave a progress report on this project. Jay Robbins has e-mailed a proposal which she distributed for review, with an overall estimate of $750.00 for his time. It was agreed that this would be a good use of the Hammond Trust funds. It was recommended that $150.00 more should be added to the EHS request for funds, to cover contingencies. Jo recommended that EHS approach the Selectmen for the full amount, as not enough use has been made of the Hammond Trust to date.
Jo moved to accept Jay's proposal, with an additional $150.00 for contingencies. The vote was unanimously in favor.
Ros moved to approach the Hammond Memorial Fund trustees (the Edgecomb Selectmen) for $900.00 to cover Jay Robbins' services in conducting the Industrial History survey, with contingencies. The vote was unanimously in favor.
A letter should be sent to the Selectmen requesting to be put on the agenda in order to make this request of the Hammond Trust.
This project should be tied to the coming 250th Anniversary of the founding of Lincoln County.
Katherine Chase Owens' History of Edgecomb: Ros said she thought the late Audrey Chase had possession of a good many extra copies of the KCO history, and asked, should EHS call Rev. Connie Wells or Alan Roth-Wells to inquire whether EHS might acquire them for sale. It is uncertain whether there are copies of all 3 volumes. Jo said she had done a pricing of reprinting the 3 volumes a few years ago, but prices have undoubtedly changed. Sue recommended the Copy Shop in Wiscasset. This might make another Hammond Trust project.
Jo added, at one time a reprint of John Chase's history of the Edgecomb Fire Department had been suggested by Alan Roth-Wells. EHS should try to obtain a copy of the original work. Funds could be donated or shared with the EFD.
Sue briefly stated that the Edgecomb revised Comprehensive Plan task force was proceeding with the needed improvements.
The meeting was then turned over to Ros Strong, who presented an enthusiastic report of the recent conference at the Osher Map Society, now in its new facility on the University of Southern Maine's campus. The theme of the conference was "What Do Maps Tell Us?" Ros unfurled a large poster publicizing the conference and the facility, a reproduction of a 1692 map of the New World by Frederick Van de Witt, Nova Totius Americae Tabula.
Another map she displayed was a 1770 map of the New England coast by De Barre, showing the navigational lines used in those times, just prior to the ability to measure longitude. Also on display were EHS' copy of the 1857 map of Edgecomb and a copy of an 1815 map of Bristol. Jo suggested that EHS copy an 1815 Edgecomb map, a negative print of which hangs in the office in the Town Hall. She thought the surveyors Leighton and Associates have a positive print which we might arrange to photocopy.
Discussion generalized to discuss the voyage of Jens Monk as far as the Churchill River in 1619, and whether it predates Henrik Hudson. Nova Dania was the term for this part of New England, and west beyond Hudson Bay. The thawing of ice shelves in Greenland are expected to reveal new resources of oil and minerals, easily exploited.
Sue said that of the 57,000 population of Greenland, 90% are Inuit, not Danish. There has been talk of starting a secessionist movement, since at present Greenland is a Danish province.
Our next meeting will be Thursday, November 19, at 2:00 p.m. Note that this is a week early, because of the Thanksgiving holiday.
This meeting was adjourned at 3:22 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanna M. Cameron
Secretary