Veterans’ room dedicated at Abbott Museum

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    DEXTER — A dedicated room of veterans’ artifacts, equipment and awards was a dream of Abbott Museum Curator Rick Whitney for more than 20 years.
    On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, his dream came true as the Lysander Cutler Veterans’ Room was officially opened and dedicated. “Thanks to the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and many supporters in the community, we are here today honoring those who served our nation,” Whitney said.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    DEDICATION — State Rep. Paul Davis gave the keynote speech at the Veterans’ Day dedication of the Lysander Cutler Veterans’ Room at the Abbott Museum in Dexter. Pictured, from left, are Davis, Russ Titus, finance officer of the Dexter American Legion Post; Jim Rattigan, quartermaster of the Dexter VFW; and Anton “Tony” Larson, past commander of the Dexter American Legion.

    The building, which once served as Dexter’s town hall, was donated to the community in 2001 by Guilford of Maine, now known as True Textiles. It’s one of the oldest structures in the community and Whitney estimates that there’s about $250,000 invested in the museum so far. “This is a huge addition,” he added.
    The veterans’ memorial was built by students at the Tri County Technical Center and has brass plaques with the names of every known Dexter resident who served in the military.
    Lysander Cutler was a Massachusetts native who came to Dexter in 1821 to “take care of the town’s school for $16 a month,” Neil Clukey of the Dexter VFW Post explained.  He became a successful woolen mill owner, established a rifle company in Dexter — similar to a militia — and founded the Dexter Fire Department. “We still have the original hand pump from that company,” Clukey said.
    But Cutler’s major claim to fame was in the military where he was engaged in numerous Civil War battles before shrapnel wounds forced him to retire from the military. President Abraham Lincoln promoted him to brevet major general, one rank above his commissioned grade, in recognition of his valor on the battlefield.
    Rep. Paul Davis, the keynote speaker, said that each name on the memorial was a real person “who had feelings, desires and needs. Each one left this small town and went off and served. Some didn’t return, some came home with injuries, most came home safely.”
    Davis noted that two Dexter natives, James Bailey and Otis Roberts, were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. Bailey was honored for valor during the Indian Wars of 1872-73 and Roberts was cited for bravery during the Civil War.
  “In America, those that get to do the governing do only so with the permission of the governed,” Davis said. “The goals a person can attain to are only limited by the abilities God gave them.”
    He concluded his remarks with a poem “Nothing But Flags” written by Maine State House Clerk Moses Owens in 1875.
    At the conclusion of the ceremony, Barbara Marshall of Corinna presented the Legion and VFW with a check for $700 for homeless and needy veterans. Mrs. Marshall and her husband, Gerry, raised the funds with a Haunted Field near their Abbott Hill Apartments on Halloween weekend.