Washburn Boy Scouts enjoy Winterama festivities
WASHBURN NEWS
by Christie Cochran
Boy Scouts enjoy Winterama
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
WASHBURN Boy Scouts recently took part in the annual Winterama festivities. Pictured in front from left are: Caleb Thompson, Bryce Roix, Tyler Jardine and Scoutmaster Larry Harrison. Back row: Ronald Rand, Tim Roix, Kody Brissette, Daniel Roy, Taylor Skinner, Brandon Cropley and Turner McLaughlin.
During the weekend of Feb. 19-20, Scouts and leaders from Washburn Troop 177 took part in the annual North Star Winterama held at the Aroostook State Park. The troop constructed two snow domes that were connected by a tunnel and slept out in them on Saturday night. When they awoke on Sunday morning, it was a balmy 38 degrees inside the domes.
Troop 177 leaders attending the 2011 Winterama were, pictured from left: Committee Chairman Stacey Skinner, Assistant Leader Tim Roix, Scoutmaster Larry Harrison and Assistant Leader Ronald Rand.
Scouts took part in several events on Saturday afternoon with other Scouts from the County, and placed within one point of bringing home the coveted “Wink Larsen” trophy. Troop 177 placed first for the campsite inspection and snow shelter building.
Winter cooking is a little more difficult, but the troop enjoyed delicious meals of chicken soup, chicken stew and oatmeal, as well as hot Tang. For some troop members this was a first-time event. All enjoyed the time.
Scouts attending included: Taylor Skinner, Brandon Cropley, Bryce Roix, Kody Brissette, Caleb Thompson, Tyler Jardine, Daniel Roy and Turner McLaughlin. Adults attending were Scoutmaster Larry Harrison, along with Ronald Rand, Tim Roix and Stacey Skinner.
Birthdays/anniversaries
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Kyle Rider, Colby Hitchcock, Karen Carmichael, Betty Putnam, Danny Creasey, Eva Levesque, Harley Curtis, Mark Sperrey, Dennis Tully, John Thomas, Michelle Doody, Tony Hatch, Kevin Rand, Peggy Wilson, Andrea Hatch, Shannon Skipper, Maurice White III, Ed Bither, Jim Cray, Eleanor “Ella” Snyder, Melissa Perry, Tamra Robertson, Kevin Cunningham, Alex Kennedy, Clifford Sperrey, Lisa Turner and Mike Lagasse.
Anniversary wishes go out to Craig and Crystal Hobbs and Troy and Sandy Dahlgren.
The children of the Chavez family in Washburn shared their team spirit with motorists passing their Washburn Road home recently, posting signs supporting the Washburn District High School girls’ and boys’ basketball teams in tournament action. Each year signs are put on the telephone poles heading out of town — one for each player and the coaches of the teams. The Chavez posters show the athletes that their efforts are appreciated and that the teams have community support in their pursuit of the state title. Although the boys were defeated, the Lady Beavers have advanced and are scheduled to play on Saturday.
Town-wide notes
There will be an August Festival meeting on Wednesday, March 9, at 7 p.m. at the Washburn Civic Center. All are welcome to join in the planning and share your ideas for the 150th year celebration for the town of Washburn.
The Washburn Trail Runners clubhouse is open for breakfast and lunch on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to noon. You can check out their schedules and events on the web at www.washburntrailrunners.org., or contact them at 455-8439.
The TOPS program meets at the Trail Runners clubhouse at 48 Station Road on Mondays. For further information, call Birdena Cochran, 455-4892.
Please note that there will be indoor soccer held during March and April for grades K-8. Times and dates will be announced in the near future.
The Washburn municipal election will be held on Monday, March 21, with the polls at the Washburn Civic Center open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The annual Town Meeting will follow on Tuesday, March 22, at the high school starting at 7 p.m.
Remembering Washburn’s history
Crouseville has been more than an active community in its history; and it will take more than this one story to cover it all. There will be several more issues concerning Crouseville before the August Festival celebration of the Washburn Sesquicentennial year.
The Aroostook Valley Railroad stop at Crouseville was busy in years past. The railroad made some impressive loadings at the Crouseville stop with everything from the mail, lumber, hardware and other entities transported by train.
Gould Crouse and his sons, Jerre, Abram and William, came over from Keswick, New Brunswick, to settle in what was then referred to as East Washburn. Other early settlers included names such as Churchill, Story, Umphrey, Lavway and Holmes, among many others. At one time, there had been some question about what name should be applied: East Washburn, Crouseville or Churchill-Ville. Rumor has it that the toss of a coin settled the issues, with Crouseville coming out the winner.
The following edited writing is courtesy of Amy O’Donnell as part of a school report, and she gives much credit to her grandmother Evelyn Flewelling. She is the granddaughter of Alonzo E. Flewelling and the daughter of Tim and Carolyn O’Donnell.
This report is based on the life of Alonzo E. Flewelling and his family. He was one of eight children and was born on Nov. 21, 1902 — in the family farmhouse on the Cross Road in Crouseville — to Edrick and Evie Flewelling. His wife Evelyn Eliza McIntire was born in Perham to Fred and Lulu McIntire. She attended Washburn High School — at times living at the Wilder home during school times. Evelyn and Alonzo were married on Dec. 29, 1927, and lived in Crouseville throughout their lives.
Alonzo had a natural talent for building things, including several homes. The couple had three sons: Edrick McIntire, David Guy and Peter Alonzo.
This was during Depression times, and it took imagination to make a living; and many Crouseville families had this ability. Alonzo worked for the U.S. government as a workman and worked at the dehydrated potato factory in Washburn. He built a mill in back of the present Flewelling apartment houses. There were two entrances and two levels and made a place for Evelyn to have a cow and some hens.
Alonzo had a contract with MPG to make bushel-sized boxes, and potatoes were picked and placed into the boxes and shipped directly from the field. This peaked the interest of Alonzo and he opened up a shop to make barrels. He hired a couple of coopers, including Paul Smith and a Mr. Henderson. The barrels were made of cedar and ash, with farmers sometimes exchanging cedar for barrels. The hoops of the barrels were made from the more pliable ash and sawed to go around the staves.
Evelyn did the bookkeeping and payroll, among other things. She shared her office space in their living room with Alonzo’s drafting board, then eventually moved the office into the parlor. She also helped out during busy times by driving a truck loaded with about 100 barrels, delivering them to farmers. The woodworking mill was ruined by a fire and a great deal of damage was done to the back of the apartment house.
The Flewellings bought a piece of land along the railroad tracks in Crouseville and built a large woodworking mill and garage. Soon after this, he began making pre-fabricated buildings, setting them up where they were to be built. There are still some in use around Madawaska Lake.
He also set up a shingle mill in town. The sons kept up with various sides of the business, hiring over 100 men — keeping most of them in year-round employment. Areas of the family enterprise included Ed making Cedar Craft canoes — his own plan. He also repaired canoes.
During a period of serious illness for Alonzo, Evelyn began a baking business in their home and delivered a wide array of goodies to McEachern’s Market in Presque Isle. After this career, Evelyn taught school in Washburn; and the couple had a daughter, Carolyn Evelyn.
After his health returned, Alonzo delved into one of his favorite construction jobs, building church steeples, and continued to check on the work until his death.
Local news and visits
Dot and Atwood Sperrey have been receiving congratulations on becoming new great-great-grandparents. The little girl, Ashlyn Corn, is the first child for Bradley and Casey Corn, and the family lives in South Carolina. The proud great-grandparents are Paul and Sandra Sperrey.
Loren and Brenda Sperrey of Massachusetts have been in Washburn due to the passing of Brenda’s father, Clairmond Belanger. Also with them were their two sons: Loren Jr., and wife Jane, with daughters Jenna, Ashley and Avery, of Ocean Park, New York; and Shaun and Rhonda Sperrey and their sons, Brandon and Chandler, all of Bangor.
Dot Sperrey was saddened by the loss of her sister, Almeda V. Elliott of Springfield, Mo. She spent 25 years in India as a missionary with her husband Leon Elliott. Almeda was the first missionary that went from the Washburn Pentecostal Church, leaving for the mission field in 1938. She was part of a family of three girls, Naida Parks, Dorothy Sperrey and Edna Hersey, as well as one brother, Dwight Valley, of Lakeland, Fla.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
