Standing in shadows, he watched dreams grow
Staff Writer
The community of Houlton and towns beyond were saddened by the untimely death of Houlton’s former economic development director, Charles J. Upton on Jan. 18 at the age of 64.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
KIND IN HEART — Charles Upton was just as comfortable driving an old tractor in a parade as he was in an office penning a grant for a deserving project. Friends, family and colleagues said good-by to their good friend this past week. Upton died unexpectedly at the age of 64. From remarks at his memorial service, he will be remembered for his kind heart, gentle spirit, a smile, a wave and as a visionary who has left his mark, not only on the community of Houlton, but throughout the state.
Upton spearheaded many significant projects in Houlton and surrounding towns in his 23 years at the helm. He was a visionary, seeing far beyond the average person. Ingrained in his nature was the importance of preserving the past yet planning for the future.
From the stories told at his celebration of life service held at the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum, Upton had taken time to smell the roses all along the way. He had a slow gait, casual dress; an old pick-up filled most of the time with very important “stuff.” Upton was a man most often seen with his hand wrapped around a ‘coffee to go’ and if he stopped by to see you and didn’t have one, he’d ask you to make a cup.
Upton was known for his Tilley hat, and scruffy Santa Claus beard, and just last fall had shaved it off for a time. He was told that he looked much younger without it, but within a few months he had grown it back. You see Charles Upton was an original.
Ralph Cleale, former Houlton Public Works director recalled his working relationship with Upton.
“Charles was not only a colleague, he was a true friend. You can go through life and make many acquaintances, but those acquaintances don’t always become real friends. Charles was my friend.
He never did anything like anyone else, said Cleale, as he recalled the time he had built a canoe and when Charles saw it he wanted one, too. I thought he would drive me nuts before we got it done, as Charles wanted to do it his way.” Charles loved paddling a canoe and being on the water, but in his 64 years had never learned to swim.
Former town manager, Lewis Bone praised Upton’s work, as did former Houlton Chamber of Commerce director Nancy Ketch, for Upton’s part in the downtown revitalization project in 1985.
Bone said, “Charles saved the town a lot of money during this project and in the end we were able to send $85,000 back to the federal government as unused funds. That is highly uncommon.”
He added that at the time there was a major drainage problem in the downtown and with the grant they were able to alleviate the problem. Upton also suggested the planting of the trees along the sidewalks, as well as other amenities.
Ketch recalled coming back to Houlton after college to become the marketing director for the town. Her job was to keep activities going during the construction. This position was tied into the Houlton Chamber of Commerce and it was created at the time through the grant written by Upton. Ketch worked closely with Upton for several years, in this capacity.
Ketch said, “Charles worked for years on this project, starting with the concept, selling the idea, writing the grant and following through on the construction. The hard work resulted in nearly 1.4 million dollars of grant money. This project was a true testament of Charles’s dedication and vision for this area. When the project was finished and the town celebrated a grand opening, he refused to be recognized. He wanted his boss, (Lew Bone, the town manager) to receive the credit. In reality, the project probably wouldn’t have happened if it hadn’t been for Charles.”
Another example of Upton’s influence Ketch recalled came a few years later. The end result of that was Houlton’s Higher Education Center. Ketch said that Upton had approached her after a Chamber function and suggested putting together an education symposium. He would set up all the speakers, line up the location and pay all the expenses from his budget, but he wanted it to be a Chamber-sponsored event. He knew what a hole had been left in the community after the closing of Ricker College. The symposium was very successful and from this meeting came an educational committee that was instrumental in the development of the education center on Bangor Street.
Ketch said, “Charles didn’t worry about getting credit, as long as something positive was happening in the community.”
Words that reverberated from the speakers of the day included, aging hippie, warm, caring, proud of his country and community, a storyteller, take it slow, talk to a stranger, dream big, be fearless, philosophize, hug and tell that person how you feel, a dreamer and an originator of alternative plans. It didn’t matter what time it was, if you’re having a good time enjoy it.
A note sent from Dick Denton, a high school friend, now of Rhode Island, said that Charles would often wait up for his friends to arrive at camp for hunting season and that he was the originator of the Motel 6 slogan referring to the light that is always on. Charles was that light, always with a smile and a twinkle in his very blue eyes.
As each friend, colleague or family member took the microphone, another feather appeared in Upton’s hat. Linda Whitine whose son Jeremy was nominated for a Maine Junior Sports Alliance scholarship by Upton, told how it resulted in the necessary funding for college. Heidi Watson of Littleton gave kudos to Upton for assisting the Town of Littleton in establishing a children’s park that is still in existence today.
Cathy O’Leary, Houlton’s Town Clerk said, “Charles was a genuinely sincere, caring person. He never appeared to ever have a bad day. He was always concerned how everyone else’s day was.”
Deputy clerk, Gail Cleary said that she started her job at the Houlton Town Office in 1990 and Charles made it a point to pull up a chair beside her desk and take the time to get to know her. He seemed to take a genuine interest in the people around him and always made them feel welcome.
Upton was one of 10 residents that had the desire to create a farmer’s museum that came to fruition in 2001 with the purchase of the former Littleton Elementary School. It is now the well-known Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum. As a board member, he never sat up to the table, but sat comfortably in a chair around the fringe with his cup of coffee, taking in the discussion and adding his thoughts and suggestions as he saw fit. He was the author of the by-laws for the organization. He was instrumental in securing the grant money for the Carl and Helen Hagan Barn that was built on the museum complex in 2006. Upton dickered and bartered with items for the museum and had a gift for selling raffle tickets to benefit the museum. Upton was there at the museum, to be a tour guide during school field trips, or to drive a piece of machinery in a parade, he plowed the yard in the winter and helped on projects too numerous to list. One of his most enjoyable jobs was that of dishwasher at the museum’s monthly suppers. Deep in the midst of the all woman kitchen crew, he would joke and carry on, keeping them all in stitches at times with his dry sense of humor.
Upton has sown many seeds during his lifetime and now we the community will benefit from this extraordinary man that stayed in the shadows watching his dreams come true. (Please see complete obituary on page four.)
RIDING HIGH — Charles J. Upton of Houlton extended a wave and a smile to many spectators during a parade in Littleton. Upton, a lover of antiques was one of the founders of the Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum in Littleton. He is remembered as a man kind in spirit and huge in heart.
