Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD – The Fort Fairfield community is invited to celebrate the release of its new book, “It’s Time to Tell Our Stories: Fort Fairfield 1858-2008,” Friday night at a potluck dinner. “The book ends a two-year project continually announced during the Fort Fairfield Sesquicentennial Celebrations in 2008,” said Rayle Reed Ainsworth, co-chair of the Fort Fairfield Sesquicentennial Committee. “We think it is unusual because it comes directly from the citizens (past and present) and portrays Fort Fairfield as ordinary people experienced it over time. It truly is an eclectic collection of anecdotal stories mixed with a brief historical background throughout.
“One will get a snapshot picture of the town over the early beginnings, when early settlers first came, into the Aroostook War, the beginnings of a township, the Civil War to World War II, and glimpses into the lives of real people who have lived in Fort Fairfield over time,” she said. “Stories came from previous generations, as well as current tales, and they are all informative and well-loved stories, which folks were willing to share.”
The potluck dinner will be held Friday, Dec. 4 from 6-8 p.m. at the Fort Fairfield Community Center. Baked beans, bread and beverages will be provided; everything else is potluck. Seating is limited. Residents can RSVP for free tickets by calling the Fort Fairfield Town Office at 472-3800.
“We had such a successful potluck when we launched our Sesquicentennial event and people have been asking for that,” said Sesquicentennial co-chair Sarah Ulman, “so we thought this was a perfect opportunity to do that again and to present the book for sale and have some of the authors there, as well.”
The book contains over 300 pages of photos and stories submitted by the townspeople.
“We received a lot of contributions,” Ulman said. “We were very happy … many, many people responded. People from away and people who live here still.”
The hardcover books, which cost $45, will be available for purchase at the potluck dinner.
“The books are red and are beautifully bound with the title and the town clock logo embossed in silver,” said Ulman. “There are a lot of pictures and anecdotal stories, as well as a history section. At the end, the book highlights our Sesquicentennial. They should make great gifts for this time of year!”
Also at the dinner, Town Manager Dan Foster will look to the town’s future with a presentation entitled, “A Passion for Community.”
“Students in Kim Sebold’s class at the University of Maine at Presque Isle will also be on hand to share some historical information that they’ve been working on about people in the community,” said Ulman. “They’re going to be available during the dinner to talk with people about the historical people that they represent. They had done a survey of the people buried in Union Cemetery and they’re going to portray those people.”
After Dec. 4, books may be purchased at the Fort Fairfield Town Office and various stores in town. They may also be ordered and mailed by sending a check ($55) payable to: The Town of Fort Fairfield, 18 Community Center Drive, Fort Fairfield, Maine 04742. Be sure to include your mailing address.
“We printed 1,000 copies,” said Ulman, “so we will have plenty of books for sure. The handful of people who have seen the book are very pleased with it, and I think others will be, too. I think it will be something that people will not only want, but will be proud to give as gifts.”
