May 2009

Susan DeLong Gardening at the St. Lawrence Arts Center

By Carol McCracken

The St. Lawrence Arts Center on the Hill was the beneficiary of the work of  20 men and women who volunteered to participate in the United Way Day of Caring yesterday.  They performed a number of jobs including painting the interior of the theater and the lobby,  cleaning up the fenced-in lot next to the Center and gardening in the front of the building.

Susan DeLong, who works at Fairchild Semiconductor, spent most of her 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. shift refilling stones around the four circular gardens at the front of the building.  The stones were taken from the fenced-in lot behind her.  That’s the site of the demoliltion of the tower section of the building that had to be removed a year ago because of safety concerns. Sections of the stone structure that came down were buried in the lot from which Susan was gathering stones for her refilling work. ( It’s hoped that following a successful fund raising effort,  those buried stone pieces of the tower and sanctuary inside, will be dug up and used to rebuild that edifice – an edifice that would be used as a 400-seat performance center, the Sanctuary Theater. It would  greatly enhance the seating capacity at the St. Lawrence which currently has 100 seats in  the Parish Hall Theater.)  Last year, Susan worked at the Longfellow School gardening as well.

Dierdre Nice, executive director, of the St. Lawrence Arts Center said:  “Every year we need volunteers.  It’s great for us.  Non-profits couldn’t exist without volunteers who ask for nothing, but are generous with their time.”

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Leonard and Mary Jane Cummings At The Abyssinian Meeting House

By Carol McCracken

The public is invited to attend an Open House at the Abyssinian Meeting House over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.  It’s open on Friday, May 22; Saturday, May 23; and Monday, May 25 – Memorial Day.  Admission is free and it’s located at 75 Newbury Street on the Hill.

Phase 11, or the stabilization portion of the restoration project, is completed announced Leonard W. Cummings, president of the Committee to Restore the Abyssinian Meeting House  at a recent press conference.  Now it’s time for the public to come in and see what has been accomplished in the last several years.  Not only is the historic old church stable, but the Fire Department now considered the building safe to enter if a fire is detected in the building.  Previously, the Fire Department did not consider the building safe enought to enter to fight a fire.  That significant event was marked by the removal of the old red sign and replaced by a new yellow sign at the front door – signaling a  less dangerous situation.  The Munjoy Hill Fire Department participated in the change of the signs on the building.

The Open House which starts tomorrow morning will give the public an opportunithy for an interesting look back at the history of the Abyssinian and its role in the community.  For example, the historic building survived the great fire of 1866 when not much else did.  Credit for that is given to Reuben Ruby who founded the church.  Ruby stood on the roof of the building covering it with wet blankets until he was able to contain the fire.  Later, according to Cummings, the building was used by the community as a shelter and meeting place during the aftermath of the fire.  A large section of a back wall remains badly charred by the fire.  There are no plans to remove the wall.  It was made of eastern white pine which makes it very fire resistant, said Arron Sturgis, the contractor for the building restoration.  But it’s also a poignant reminder of the devastation of that fire in 1866.

As to its future use, board members hope to see the building used as a center of the community much as it was originally.  It could serve as a lecture hall, repositoryof public art and  even a place from which bottled water could be sold.  On the ground floor, a spring runs under the floor of the building.  The dampness from the water is the reason that the original wooden floor rotted out and had to be removed.  The rest of the floor is made of concrete and has withstood the dampness from the running spring.  Cummings said he has not tasted the water so far, but is waiting for the state to test it to determine how safe it is.  “Don’t let Poland Spring find out about our spring here or it will be all over,” someone in the group quipped.

The building was started in 1826 and not completed until a few years later.  “It was built on faith.  That’s history repeating itself today.  There are no guarantees here,” said Sturgis.  “It’s important for the community to recognize how important this building is to the city and the country.  This needs to be the anchor of this community again.”

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By Carol McCracken

At the end of the day, big smiles were everywhere.

Everywhere was this past Sunday at the first Maine Comics Arts Festival held at Ocean Gateway Terminal on the waterfront. There were more than 70 vendors from everywhere – including Chicago, Toronto, New York City, Massachusetts and right here in Portland. More than 1,000 people attended the Festival throughout the day which lasted from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Included in the program were a series of workshops relevant to the creative industry. When 5:00 p.m. arrived, the Festival continued at the North Star Café at 225 Congress Street at the bottom of the Hill.

One of the many satisfied vendors was a couple from Massachusetts. Gynn and Rick Silva who came from Cape Cod said that their line of comic books had never received as much exposure as they did on Sunday. As an animal lover generally and currently a cat owner, MHN could not resist purchasing copies of their “One Cat’s Spiritual Statement.” The drawings of two cats with accompanying dialogue are extremely well done and food for thought for humans as well! They are recommended for purchase by MHN. The cost is another bonus – only $1.00 each. Generally, Gynn does the drawing and Rick the writing. He’s also a history teacher.

According to Gynn a number of teachers were particularly enthusiastic about their environmental line because they are excellent tools for teaching. The first in that series is: “Unpopular Species – A Look at the Plants and Animals Hardly Anybody Loves.” Also a buck. They are planning a second booklet in the series. For more information, please visit www.dandelionstudios.com

Rick Lovell, the Festival organizer, said it took him about a year to organize the event and that he will return next year for the Second Annual Maine Comics Arts Festival – for everyone from everywhere.

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Three Generations of the Loring Family

By Carol McCracken

Loring Memorial Park was dedicated to the memory of Major Charles J. Loring, Jr. in 2000. Earlier today some members of his family were at the Park planting geraniums and preparing the site for the upcoming summer season. Paul, brother of Charles and some family members will return in the fall to plant mums. In the meantime, Paul & Family make frequent trips to the Park to weed and water – since the Park has no access to city water.

Major Loring enlisted in the service in 1942. He served in World War II as an Air Force pilot. He was shot down and spent time in a prison camp. Loring served once again in the Korean conflict. During a bombing mission over North Korea, he sacrificed his life rather than be taken a prisoner of war once again. He died on November 22, 1952. He was awarded the Medal of Honor “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk at his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy.”

“We have three generations of the Loring family here today,” said Roberta Loring Donnini, niece of Paul. “It makes us feel good to do this. A core group of the family gets involved in honoring my uncle‘s memory.” Michael, Paul’s son was at the Park. Roberta’s husband, Bill and their daughter, Danielle, made up the three generations honoring the memory of Major Loring. Barbara, another niece of Paul’s and a sister of Roberta, was present as well. Their father, the late Harold, served on the Portland City Council for 12 years and was twice Mayor of Portland. The attractive Roberta said that she still considers herself a “Hill Girl” since she was raised on the Hill.

“My brother graduated from Chevrus High School so there is a display over there of his memorabilia,” said Paul who spearheaded the effort to dedicate the Park to his late brother. Moreover, Paul’s efforts had another positive result for the circle. It necessitated the cleaning -up of a long neglected area full of litter and other discarded material into a source of pride and an asset on the Hill.

So when Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 25, it would be a place to take some time to remember our fallen heroes – who sacrificed their lives for mankind everywhere.

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