Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society turns 50

By Mary Annis
Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society President

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For many years George Dunham (1910-1991) watched as the blacksmith shop, located on Dawes Road, fell into disrepair. George was born and raised in a home just below it – now the home of Dr. and Mrs. Richard Swett. 

Photo courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society

    TOWN’S HERITAGE — George Dunham accepts the Blacksmith Shop deed from Francis Nelson about 50 years ago. The efforts to preserve the then century-old structure in Dover-Foxcroft helped lead to the formation of the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, which is planning a 50th birthday event on July 4 at the Blacksmith Shop Museum.

    The shop was built in the early 1860s and was an integral part of the Foxcroft neighborhood for 60 years.  George wanted to save this old building. He began to talk to citizens about starting a historical society as a way to preserve the old shop. The question was asked, why attempt to preserve the old blacksmith shop on outer Park Street? For years the shop had been used to store potatoes and neglect was beginning to show.  Many have seen oxen shod; many more have not. Many have never seen the equipment necessary to do such a job.  Most of the children in school today have a vague idea about horse shoeing but have never seen a blacksmith shoe an animal. 
    It was in this neighborhood that many Foxcroft “firsts” took place. The Samuel Chamberlain place nearby, was occupied in 1809 and is one of the earliest buildings in town. The Nathan Carpenter place was occupied in 1811 and is where the first school in Foxcroft was held. People from all over the country were becoming interested in historical objects and places. Where could one go to see a blacksmith shop typical of the old days? The shop in question could attract tourists and give future generations a better conception and appreciation of their present advantages. This building could be preserved for about $500. With the passing of another year it would have collapsed or have been torn down.
    And so it was decided to put forth a call for a meeting. All interested parties were invited to a meeting held on Oct. 14, 1963 at 7 p.m. at Central Hall. The town manager, Laurence Peabody, officiated.  Considerable interest was shown to establish a historical society to help preserve points and articles of interest. Madelyn Betts, the first secretary, remembers that about 15 people were at that original meeting and those people were adamant about saving the blacksmith shop. This was to become the first project of the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society. 
    The Parson’s Blacksmith Shop, owned by Francis and Vergie Nelson, was constructed in 1863 during the Civil War. It was built as a community project for the convenience of the neighbors for shoeing oxen and horses and for making items of iron. The shop was built by Nicholas Chandler, who bred and trained horses and used the shop to shoe animals and make other items needed on the nearby farms. Later, the shop passed on to Henry L. Parsons, who carried on the day to day operations from 1881 until his death in 1906. The meeting discussed the feasibility of establishing a historical society – how to go about it and future projects.
    The first official meeting of the fledgling society was held in November 1963, once again at Central Hall.  Election of officers was held. George L. Dunham was named president, Charles L. Glover named vice president, Madelyn C. Betts named secretary and Barbara Klimavicz named treasurer. Serving on the Board of Trustees was Ora L. Evans, Edgar Boardway, Laurence A. Peabody, Stuart E. Hayes and Louise Chapman. By-laws were adopted in view of possible future incorporation.
    It was voted that the immediate project of the society was to undertake the restoration and preservation of the Parsons Blacksmith Shop. Plans were made for the purchase of the shop from owners Francis and Vergie Nelson. A committee was formed to undertake a survey of the shop and address the immediate needs. This committee consisted of John A. Glover, Robert Shapleigh, Mr. Peabody and Mr. Dunham.
    An advertising window display was arranged by Ralph and Louise Chapman and Mrs. Flora H. Mayo at the former Western Auto Store. Several items of historic significance were displayed in the window, with the articles being changed from time to time.
    The objectives of the society were to collect and preserve whatever will tend to illustrate any civil, military, ecclesiastical and natural item of history, especially to the town of Dover-Foxcroft, the county and the state.
    An invitation went out to any interested citizen to join the society. The dues were set at $2 a year.  Meetings would be held on the first Tuesday of each month at Central Hall.
    On June 15, 1964, a preliminary deed was signed by all parties: The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society, J. Francis Nelson and Vergie A. Nelson and the Bangor Savings Bank, passing the ownership of the blacksmith shop to the society.
    In September of 1964, fundraising for the shop began in earnest as the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society launched its “hammer and tongs” fund drive to secure finances for the purchase and restoration of the Parsons Blacksmith Shop. A small bank loan of $400 was obtained. Negotiations were ongoing with the Nelsons and the deed executed. Immediate repairs were necessary before the onset of winter. Now the “fire” of enthusiasm must be “kindled in the old forge” – but currency and not coal is the needed fuel!
    Donations started to arrive. Besides the dollars needed many items were given. In October, work began on the old building. The work of straightening beams and making the building plumb was done under the supervision of Albert Pennington. Weathered boards donated by the Rev. Wilson Hickham were used to repair the roof and Robert Weymouth and son applied cedar wood shingles.
    A former resident of the neighborhood, Alonzo Pfundtner of Guilford, offered to build a door for the shop. There were donations of 9 by 13 panes of glass for the windows but there was still need of six over six window frames. The windows were temporarily boarded up for the winter as volunteers set and glazed the glass and painted the frames.
    An ox sling, used for shoeing unruly oxen, originally made in this same Parsons Shop was donated by Willis Gilman and conveyed back to the premises through the kindness of George Meade. This ox-lifter was patented in 1858 by Joseph M. Bachelor. A newspaper advertisement of that year states that by the use of the lifter “any ox, however stubborn, can be shod, without any of the hard labor usually attending the raising of the feet, as the worst cases can be handled by the shoer with perfect ease and without injury to the ox”. Mrs. Elizabeth Kimball gave the society an old-time pung (a low box sled pulled by one horse) and several small articles for display at the shop. Other tools, plows and harrows of early origin were shown.  “Billheads” of the Cooperative Blacksmith Company of 1883 were found on the premises and were put on display.
    Many hours were given by Robert Shapleigh as he sorted through the old iron and salvaged that which was pertinent to the project. A crew from Foxcroft Academy attacked the yard armed with brush cutters to clear the grounds for spring landscaping.
    By July 4 1966, the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society was ready for an open house. Richard E. Boone, Sr., local blacksmith, demonstrated the techniques of forge work on the old forge and made souvenir horseshoes which were available for a nominal fee. This was an opportunity for people to view the shop and relive a bit of the past and observe some of the activity of the early trade of blacksmithing. Harold Ruksznis donated the large horseshoe which for many years hung outside the Charles M. Deyone blacksmith shop on Summer Street to hang in front of the museum.  he open house was deemed a success as over 200 persons attended.
    These are the early years of the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society. I thank Madelyn Betts who shared her memories with me on a very cold Tuesday afternoon. At 101 years of age, her mind is amazing.
    We plan to celebrate our 50th birthday on July 4 at the Blacksmith Shop Museum. Presently under construction is a small building next to the shop which will enable us to invite blacksmiths to come and share their trade. We hope you will put this date on your calendar. More information on the event will be shared at a later time.