Two historical presentations will be offered in February by Dale Potter-Clark, Readfield historian and author.

“Kents Hill: From Farmland to Village” will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at Maranacook Adult & Community Education, Maranacook High School, 2250 Millard Harrison Drive in Readfield. A snow date is set for March 1.

When and how did Kents Hill village change from remote backcountry farmland to a cultural and educational center will be the focus. Before 1775 there were very few people living on Kent’s Hill — the Packards and Kents were two of the first to stake their claims and buildings began to appear. The Packard men were housewrights so they built many. After the Revolutionary War others came — the most influential was Luther Sampson.

From 1790 until 1824 a meeting house and parsonage, grammar school, store, cemetery and Methodist Seminary were established and the hilltop called Kent’s Hill evolved from a handful of family farms to a thriving cultural and educational center. In this class participants can learn about that evolution, hear about the buildings and houses, and some of the people who lived in Kents Hill village.

Class registration will cost $12.50 for this class or $40 for all four classes Potter-Clark offers this spring.

For more information, call 685-4923, ext. 1065 or visit maranacook.maineadulted.org.

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“The Day Readfield Corner Burned” will be the topic at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26, at the Senior Café, Maranacook Middle School cafeteria, 2100 Millard Harrison Drive in Readfield.

Readfield Corner once was a bustling business center. Readfield Telephone Company was located at Readfield Corner as well as a hotel, tavern and livery. In this presentation attendees can learn more about this industrious village of long ago and about the day that it changed forever.

No fee or registration necessary.

Senior Café meets every Monday morning at the middle school cafeteria when school is in session. Attendees can come for coffee, muffins and social time from 9 to 9:30 a.m. before the program begins. The café is a program for those 55 and older sponsored by Maranacook Adult and Community Education.

For more information, call Nicole Cushing at 685-4923, ext. 1065.

For more information about the presentations, contact Potter-Clark at 441-9184, crossings4u@gmail.com or visit readfieldhistorywalks.blogspot.com.


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