|
|||||||
Thanks to William Weiler for transcription of this article. |
|||||||
A SADDER NOTE Since the last issue of the Update, one of the `treasures' I received was a copy of the book of Thomas Skinner descendants by Dorothy West. While reading through it, I came across a reference to the `Skinner Settlement:' "The house Daniel (John (4,3), Thomas (2,1)) built in 1794 (see `The Skinners' by John B. Skinner, III SKU Vol. 1 #2 p3) is still in use today (1981). The area is called the "Skinner Settlement." The farm is, today, a working farm for education in order that children and adults can see what farm life was like in those days. It has been designated an Historical Site: a corporation receives State of Maine and private contributions to support it." Dorothy was kind enough to send a copy of the above article, as well as a copy of a pamphlet explaining the Skinner Settlement. The pamphlet explains that: "The Skinner Settlement Association is (was) a group of Maine residents who wish to preserve the Skinner village setting to portray life on the nearby Skinner Farm as it was a century ago. The Skinner Farm "The Skinner Farm, a long stone's throw from the crossroads, was settled by Daniel Skinner in 1793. It has remained in the Skinner family through five generations and 180 years to the present day. It was one of the first farms to be cleared from the wilderness in the Town of Corinth and the first Town Meeting was held in the Skinner house in 1812. "By the end of the 19th century, the farm had passed through successive states from a frontier "chopping" to a commercially oriented farm specializing in dairy, apple, and maple products. Details of life on the farm have been preserved in over sixty years of diaries kept by George and Sarah Deering Skinner, who, after their marriage July 4, 1852, ran the farm during a half century of rural transition." In pursuing more information about the settlement, I have learned from John B. Skinner, III that due to lack of money, the association is now defunct, and the farm is going down. The clock, however, has been saved and is at the Bangor Historical Society. |
|||||||
|