Local historian and author Dale Potter-Clark will speak about The Underground Railroad at two events in April.

Potter-Clark’s interest in the Underground Railroad spiked several years ago when she discovered a couple named Mitchell had once lived in a Readfield house that she was researching. They had moved there from Jacksonville, FL in 1861 and Potter-Clark knew that was unusual. She thought it especially peculiar they would have done so during the havoc of the Civil War. Potter-Clark suspected the Mitchells had been involved in the Underground Railroad and began to dig deeper. One thing led to another and before she knew it a story had evolved in her head that she couldn’t shake. She combined what she had learned with her imagination and her first historical novel took shape, titled “Escape from Bunker Hill.” Much of the story takes place in central Maine and includes actual people, places and happenings, as stated in a news release.

The book talks will take place at 2 p.m. April 16 at the Vienna Grange Hall, Route 41 in Vienna Village; and at 2 p.m. April 29 at the Underwood Memorial Library, 2006 Main Street in Fayette. Copies of “Escape from Bunker Hill” will be available for purchase. For more information about the Vienna book talk contact Dr. Shaw Library in Mount Vernon at (207) 293-2565; and for the Fayette event, contact librarian Michele Briggs at (207) 685-3778.