Observer Building Museum opens for the season June 23

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society’s Observer Building Museum will be opening for the season on the day of the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday June 23. This year the museum have a new display about East Dover.

Abel Blood was the first pioneer to come to this area. He had first choice of land and chose a square mile including both banks of the Piscataquis River –- now East Dover.

Eli Towne of Temple, N.H.was the first permanent settler, coming in 1802 with his father Thomas and brothers Moses and Abel. They cleared land and raised a crop. Eli returned home to Temple in the fall and returned the next spring with his wife Betsey (Scripture) and his year-old-son Alvin. They arrived in East Dover on May 8, 1803, where his father and brothers greeted them.

In March of 1805 Mrs.Towne gave birth to the first child born in Dover – daughter Sybil.

Lyford Dow was the second permanent resident. He arrived with his wife Miriam and settled on the river below the Blood tract. Lyford and his wife had a son, Benjamin, born in 1795, who married Sybil Towne in 1826 thus uniting the two early families.

A descendent of Benjamin and Sybil, Lewis Dow, has spent the winter constructing the village of East Dover. Dow was born in East Dover, grew up in East Dover and still resides there. He knows the village from personal experience. Dow found photos and information on each of the buildings, his wife Leona cut out the structures and his daughter-in-law Debbie Dagnon painted them.

Dow will be at the museum from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on opening day to talk with all the visitors. The beautiful display will be available all summer. The Observer Building Museum is open each Thursday and for the Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming on Saturday, Aug. 4. All are invited to stop by.

Photo courtesy of Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society
A TRIP TO EAST DOVER — A replica of East Dover created by Lew Dow, pictured and his family will be on display at the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society’s Observer Building Museum this summer. The museum opens for the season in conjunction with the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival on Saturday, June 23 and Dow will be there from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 23.