Playing With a Full Deck
“Playing with a full deck!” Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the ‘Ace of Spades…’ To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games required 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb […]
New Brunswick Crown Grant Maps
Hi All – I have been in contact with the office in Edmundston that has the Crown Grant Maps as I purchased 3 maps from them a few years ago. However, they no longer offer the maps for sale; but they do have them online now. I thought you and the Genealogy Society might find […]
Archival Notes, March 2018
Linda has made and donated new ACGS business cards this month; she arranged in albums many obituaries for the library, one of which is Evergreen Cemetery only. Another folder contains Vital Records in Presque Isle’s Town Report for March 1931 to March 1932. Pages 102-116. Thank you, Linda. Ann, Dennis and I have completed the […]
Historical Trivia, March 2018
“Mind your own bee’s wax!” Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee’s wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexion. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another […]
Big Wig
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October). Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn’t wash the wigs, so to clean them they would […]
Fort Fairfield Newspapers Online
— Submitted by Leslie G. Poole, Rockland, ME I’ve been to the Fort Fairfield Library several times and agonized about perusing their old newspapers. They are so fragile and “crackly.” But now, thanks to librarian Jennifer Gaenzle, newspapers are now online to browse from the comfort of your own home, which, if you’re like me, […]
President’s Message, March 2017
I hope everyone is well and you’ve had a fruitful winter of research. This time of year brings thoughts of outdoor research and travels. We’ve been lucky so far that the weather hasn’t played havoc with our monthly meetings. Hope I didn’t just jinx us. Sometimes when I’m talking to people I ask if they […]
“Life on the Little Black River”
“Life on the Little Black River” Author: Randall Probert Published by: Randall Enterprises PO Box 862, Bethel, ME 04217 The story begins with John Willey, age 82 and his wife Ann trying to understand why John hears voices as if he is the reincarnation of somebody from a prior life. In Chapter one, John becomes […]
President’s Message, February 2016
Do you get asked “Aren’t you done tracing/chasing your ancestors yet?” The uninformed persons ask these questions obviously. If they only knew, for every question answered, more appear. A birth date or place not found, a death date unknown-just part of a person’s life-enough to keep us looking for the answers. For example, on my […]
President’s Message, January 2016
Greetings, January 2016! Did you make a New Year resolution? Whether you did or not, you probably have to-do lists concerning your family history search. Here in Northern Maine we change research locations too indoors due to cold and snow, but we still search. My to-do for ACGS this year-with your help includes selling more […]