Benedicta celebrates 175-year mark

Benedicta, Maine is celebrating! The town has a rich 175-year history built on hard work, faith and fun and on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and 2, festivities are planned to mark this important milestone.
    In 1834, Benedict Fenwick, Catholic bishop of Boston, first sent Irish settlers to the area that is now Benedicta. They created a farming community and established St. Benedict’s parish, incorporating the town in 1873. Although Benedicta deorganized in 1987 and its school closed last year, the townspeople remain very much connected and proud of their pioneer heritage.
Reid Stanley, one of the event organizers, hopes the 175-year celebration will give visitors a glimpse of the spirit that thrives in this village of about 225 souls and remind residents why they love their hometown.
“I moved to Benedicta 30 years ago to raise a family. I discovered that to find a community with the depth of spirit and strength of character of the people here would be challenging at best.” With all his connections through the “Coffee News”, Stanley has been key to advertising and getting the word out on the 175th celebration.
Gerald McAvoy and his daughters have been working hard on the parade preparations, as well as the antique tractor and farm implement show. The McAvoys are a family steeped in the traditions of the past and they have brought a lot of this dedication to the planning and organizing of the parade for the celebration in Benedicta. They are also one of the few families in the area that still carry on the potato-farming legacy.
Buck McAvoy’s family wanted to do something special for this 175th celebration, so they decided as a family to provide hamburgers, hot dogs, and homemade fries, fresh apple pie and ice cream. Previously at the 150th, they had done a chicken barbecue.
“The parish we went to as a family was St. Joseph’s Parish in Stacyville. It has been closed, so our father, John “Buck” McAvoy, removed the bell from St. Joseph’s Church, and wanted it to be dedicated to St. Benedict’s Parish. As a family, we decided the dedication of the bell will take place after Mass on Sunday, Aug. 2, weather permitting,” said a family member.
Gloria McAvoy and Shelia Huntley have been busy organizing the baked bean supper for Saturday, Aug. 1: “You must come and try the moistest homemade brownies you have ever eaten, with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, topped with a chocolate peanut butter sauce. This is sure to tempt any chocolate lover’s taste buds,” said Huntley.
Jane Cummings is organizing the Quilt Show. “Our small Quilt Guild is excited about having a show. Our featured quilter will be Rita Qualey. She has done many quilts and always ‘hand quilted’ them. Rita was also a 4-H leader and played a key role in teaching many young girls to sew. We will also have ‘Ray, the Scissor Man’ on site available to sharpen scissors for a small fee,” she said.
“Please plan to join us as we gather around St. Benedict’s Church and Parish Center to renew old friendships, make new friends, visit with relatives and reminisce about the good ol’ days. We are hoping to see aunts, uncles, cousins and friends whose ‘roots’ are in Benedicta,” Stanley said.
For more information, go to www.gatheringinbenedicta.com