Well, we had ourselves quite the interesting Town Meeting last Saturday! There were 122 registered Greenwood voters present, which I think was about three times as many as in the past few years, and I’m guessing there were between 50 and 75 nonresidents there, too. If you missed it, you can watch the Western Hills Access Television video here. I’ll just sum it up by saying that both the noise ordinance and the amendments to setbacks in the town’s Land Use Ordinance were defeated, all budget articles passed easily, Selectman Norm Milliard was reelected without opposition, and everyone sang “Happy Birthday” to our wonderful, capable, kind, compassionate (and long-suffering) Town Manager Kim Sparks.
As I told the crowd at the meeting, the selectmen are soliciting suggestions for some issue we can put on next year’s Town Meeting warrant that will be equally as effective as the noise ordinance at bringing people out. I’m sure there were many folks there who were attending their first Town Meeting, and I hope they were both entertained by and educated about the workings of small-town government and will plan to attend every year.
On the morning of Town Meeting, Chris Dunham posted a write-up of Greenwood’s very first Town Meeting, which was held on March 23, 1816, just seven weeks after the new town was incorporated. In addition to the familiar offices of selectmen, treasurer, tax collector, and so on, voters also elected fence viewers, field drivers, and hog reeves (all positions involving the control of wayward livestock), surveyors of lumber (who ensured uniform measure for products from the town’s sawmills), and three “tythingmen,” who were charged with, among other duties, inspecting drinking establishments, ensuring that all able-bodied residents attended worship services on the Sabbath, and reporting the behavior of “profane swearers” to the courts or a justice of the peace.
Since town roads and their upkeep are often a hot topic at Town Meeting, I was fascinated by the early 19th century model of highway maintenance, as described by Chris:
Nine men—one from each of the early neighborhoods—were chosen surveyors of highways. They were charged with building roads in their districts and keeping them in good repair. The surveyors would give to each male resident upwards of sixteen years of age notice of the road tax he owed. Each then had the option of paying the tax or working it off on the road—either himself or by substitute. Those who chose to work might be asked to bring tools or a cart and team. The relevant statute gave surveyors "full power and authority to cut down, lop off, dig up and remove all sorts of trees, bushes, stones, fences, rails, gates, bars, inclosures, or other matter or thing that shall any way straiten, hurt, hinder or incommode the highway or town-way," and to dig up any materials needed "in any land not planted or inclosed."
I think the selectmen should suggest that the next person who complains about the maintenance of their road should bring their tools, cart, and team, and have at it!
Stuart McInnis wrote to let me know that there will be a Celebration of Life for his mother, Alice Hathaway McInnis, on Friday, May 30, at 2:00 p.m. at the West Bethel Union Church. Alice passed away on March 2 in North Carolina, where she had made her home near family for the past dozen or so years.
My neighbor Sally Smith asked me to mention that Jim Bolen, of Friendship, Maine, passed away on May 19. Jim grew up in Greenwood and was a member of Telstar’s first graduating class in 1969. No service is planned. You can read his obituary here.
Here are some upcoming events:
Monday, May 26, at 9 a.m. at the Locke’s Mills Legion Hall: Jackson-Silver Post 68 will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony, commemorating those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces from the Revolution to the present, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Following the Post ceremony, additional ceremonies will be conducted at the East Bethel Cemetery on the Middle Intervale Road at 11 a.m., with further ceremonies conducted by the Daughters of union Veterans at 1 p.m. in Bryant Pond, with a final firing salute being rendered at Lakeside Cemetery, Bryant Pond.
Thursday, June 5, at 5 p.m. at the Pleasant Valley Commons, 721 West Bethel Road in West Bethel (formerly the Pleasant Valley Grange: Join the Museums of the Bethel Historical Society for a special party to commemorate the launch of the fifth edition of the annual history journal, Goose Eye. There will be a Grange-style supper and a presentation by Larry Glatz on West Bethel puzzler Edwin "Ruthven" Briggs. Rumor has it that America's Puzzlemaster himself, Will Shortz, an admirer of Glatz’s article, may even be dropping by for a brief video appearance! This event is free, although donations will be cheerfully accepted. To help us with planning for the supper (you wouldn’t want us to run out of pie!), please register for your free tickets by using this link, or by calling MBHS at 207-824-2908 or emailing info@bethelhistorical.org.
Saturday, June 7, from 9 – 11 a.m. at the First Universalist Church of West Paris: Annual Rhubarb Festival. There will be all kinds of rhubarb goodies, including pies, both rhubarb and strawberry-rhubarb. There will be some plain rhubarb available if you want to make your own. There will also be white elephant tables with all kinds of useful items. Come early, as everything sells out fast. This event raises money for the church and for the ladies’ group, The Goodwill Fellowship.
If you have news or events you’d like included here, email me at amy.w.chapman@gmail.com or call 207-890-4812. The next print edition of the Bethel Citizen will be published next week.
“Try to pick a profession in which you enjoy even the most mundane, tedious parts. Then you will always be happy.” – Puzzlemaster Will Shortz