Good hands needed

A volunteer clay studio assistant is needed at the Fiddlehead Center for the Arts. The job requirements are strong organization skills, familiarity with the clay and pottery studio process, willingness to learn, cooperative spirit to do whatever is needed to be done that day.

Specific tasks include firing and maintaining two indoor electric kilns, general up-keep, organization and cleaning of clay studio, recycle clay, mix glazes and inventory supplies and materials. This volunteer assistant will work between four and six hours per week. More hours may be requested in advance.

Benefits include earning Fiddlehead cash credits towards classes at the center or use of the clay room, kiln tools and equipment to fire work during hours of operation. Call 657-2244 or visit www.fiddleheadcenter.org for more information.

About Stimson Hall

There has been some talk about selling Stimson Hall. Louise Knapp of the Gray Historical Society has provided a history of the building.

In 1900 Stimson Memorial Hall was built on the site where the Universalists had planned to build a church; and, when the hall was presented to the town, one condition of the gift was that the religious societies of the town were to have free use of it, and that, in case of conflicts, the Universalists were to be given preference, since they had furnished the lot and had no church of their own.

The building is named after Capt. Theophilus Stimson, born in Gray June 18, 1796. He married Mary Lawrence of Gray Feb. 26, 1826. Stimson and his brother made farm implements and edged tools. Stimson was active in town affairs and state militia, and he was representative to the Legislature in 1843-1844. In the mid 1850s he bought a tavern and operated a blacksmith shop.”

Stimson died Sept. 2, 1872. His children George, Charles, Martin and Abby built and endowed Stimson Memorial Hall in memory of their parents and donated it to the town of Gray in 1900.

After the hall was built, social activity in town began to be centered there. A library was established in the top floor of the Greek Revival-style building, it opened in January 1907 with more than 700 books

The new hall, which cost about $6,000, was given to the town, together with a trust fund of $5,000, by Abbie (Stimson) Ingalls and her brothers. In 1921 the Stimson heirs added $2,500 to the trust fund and turned the management of the hall over to the town.

In 1992 the hall was added to the National Register of Historical Places in Maine.

Knapp would be pleased to provide more information about the hall. Those interested can call her at the Gray Historical Society at 657-4297.

Give a pint

The Red Cross will hold a blood drive, Monday, May 19, at Newbegin Center on Main Street from 1-7 p.m. The blood drive is sponsored by the Gray-New Gloucester Lions Club.

Help out

Help has been requested for a community-wide effort to support the LeClair family in Gray, who lost everything in a fire May 3. The family includes a Michael and Melanie (who is pregnant and expecting in early June) and three young children.

Donations of gift cards to Wal-Mart, Mardens, Target, gas cards, Shaws, Hannaford or of course Gray Marketplace would be welcomed. It is also possible a room downstairs at the First Congregation Parish House on Brown Street will be opened for people to drop off good usable items for the family.

Please contact Rosie at the church office, [email protected] or Connie Holland at Russell School from 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. at 657-4929 to donate or for more information.

Good fun, good food

The children care/recreational activities that took place during the morning portion of the annual town meeting were a great success. The 30 children had a wide variety of activities to choose from, ranging from face painting, fish printing, ping pong and pool, to a tour of the Raymond Fire Department fire safety trailer, a crafts table and kickball and more.

After the town meeting, the barbecue grills were fired up and before long the aroma of sautaed onions, hamburgers and hot dogs filled the air. Although rain dampened the grass, the spirit of the 30 to 40 people attending the barbecue was warm and upbeat.

Thanks to all of the following businesses/individuals/clubs and organizations for their contributions, donated items and volunteering time: Steven Berry, Cole Farms, Gray Market Place, Project Teamwork members, Patriot Soccer Club, Daisy Girls Scouts, Pack 86 Scouts, Manchester Realty, Sienna Wolf, Varney Insurance, Cumberland County 4-H club, Gray Public Library, and Libby Hill committee members Jay Wilkins, Tracy Scheckel, Kayla Dore, Megan Dehetre and Josh Libby

Join the parade

The annual Memorial Day Parade in Gray is scheduled for Monday, May 26. After the 11 a.m. service at Stimson Memorial Hall, the parade step off will be at Russell School on Route 26 and proceed to the American Legion Hall on Route 100 where refreshments will be served to the marchers.

Organizations with a patriotic theme, such as school bands, Scouts, fire and rescue or anyone wishing to honor our veterans, are invited to attend. Please call 657-4917 or e-mail [email protected] and let them know who you are and how many will participate. All veterans are welcome and cars will be provided for veterans who cannot march.

Greg Bell from the Dry Mills Hatchery slides one of 30 trout being deposited into the Collyer Brook in Gray last week. These trout are part of the population of another Maine state hatchery that is closing down.