NORWAY — The Historical Society will present a program on Civil War soldier and local native Gen. George Lafayette Beal at its meeting Oct. 5.
The program is free to the public and begins at 7 p.m. Herb Adams of Portland will present an illustrated talk about Beal’s biographical information and Civil War record at the society headquarters at 471 Main St.
This program recognizes Norway’s role in the Civil War as the nation begins the 150th anniversary celebration.
According to information from the society, Beal was born in Norway in 1825, the son of Ezra F. Beal who was a builder of depots for the Maine Central and Grand Trunk railroads. He was captain of the Norway Light Infantry when it was chosen to escort the Prince of Wales on his visit to Portland in 1860.
When Fort Sumter was fired on in April 1861, Beal enlisted on the afternoon of President Abraham Lincoln’s first appeal for volunteers to defend the nation. Beal commanded units in three of Maine’s Civil War outfits, the 1st, 10th and 29th regiments. After the war, Beal became a great friend of Gen. Joshua Chamberlain. Beal died in 1896.
Adams is also originally from Norway. He is currently an adjunct professor of history and political science at the University of Southern Maine and Southern Maine Community College and he is a 2010 graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Adams has also served in the Maine Legislature, representing the Parkside neighborhood of Portland.
Refreshments will be served after Adams’ talk. For more information, check the society’s website at norwayhistoricalsociety.org.
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