‘Dictionary Days’ still popular in today’s online world

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    NORTH GUILFORD — During the past 13 years, Valley Grange in Guilford has distributed more than 1,400 dictionaries to third-graders in four school districts as well as homeschooled students in the area.

Observer photo/Mike Lange

    YOU’VE GOT MAIL — Walter Boomsma watches as Justice Morel-Frias, center, and Kamryn Merrill open their “mail” during Dictionary Days at Valley Grange.

    Last Friday, youngsters from Piscataquis Community Elementary School gathered at the Grange hall in North Guilford for the latest “Dictionary Day” which included a historical presentation about the Grange itself and a visit from Civil War reenactor “Captain Jack” Battick.
    Valley Grange Program Director Walter Boomsma, who is also a substitute teacher at PCES, pointed out that while the Internet is a popular way to gather information today, dictionaries are still a valuable tool. “It’s convenient, easy to use and it’s also something you can take home with you at the end of the school year,” he said.
    Sixth-graders Meagan Lemieux and Sabrina Hamele told the youngsters that they used their dictionaries many times when they first received them three years ago. When asked if they ever heard a word that they couldn’t find in the dictionary, the answer was “never.”
    The Dictionary Project, which offers the books to nonprofit organizations at a discounted price, cites the advantages of reading a bound volume compared to a PC or tablet. “Its usefulness goes beyond the spellings, pronunciations and definition it lists,” according to the fact sheet. “It is a companion for solving problems that arise as a child develops his or her reading, writing and creative-thinking abilities.”
    Boomsma gave a short presentation on the history of the Grange, noting that while the organization was founded as an advocacy group for farmers, it was also instrumental in convincing the federal government to start rural free delivery in the late 1800s. “Farmers would have to drive into town to get their mail while city folks had theirs delivered,” said Boomsma. “So the farmers didn’t think this was fair.” By 1905, the postal service was serving 32,000 RFD routes.
    Battick, a semi-retired college professor, was dressed in a naval captain’s uniform complete with dress sword and bosun mate’s whistle. He showed a slide presentation of the Civil War Navy, noting the evolution from sailing ships to steam-powered vessels.
    Battick said that the use of naval warfare helped the north win the Civil War. “The Navy didn’t win the war by itself. But without it, we’d probably be two countries in what is now the United States.” Battick also noted that Maine sent more sailors to serve in the U.S. Navy in the Civil War than any other state.
    More information about Valley Grange is posted at www.valleygrange.com.