LEEDS — The Leeds Historical Society has just received a new shipment of Leeds commemorative stoneware pottery, including the ever-popular mugs, crocks, pie plates and bowls. These items make great Christmas presents and are available at the town office or by calling Pam Bell at 933-4121.
Last spring, the Historical Society received a grant through the Maine Historical Society and the Maine State Library to purchase equipment to help catalog and preserve its collection. Part of the grant involves the LHS and sixth-grade students from the Leeds Central School collaborating to develop an online exhibit for the Maine Memory Network, a virtual museum, providing access to thousands of historical items from over 200 Maine organizations. The diaries 1855-1865 of Leeds native John Y. Merrill will be the focus of the exhibit.
Members of the LHS were also on hand to give a short history of the Howard Peace Monument the day the Leeds Central School students hiked up to the monument which was erected by the generals O.O. and Charles Howard of Leeds, honoring their brother Rowland and commemorating the Peace of 1865. It is unique among Civil War monuments in being dedicated to peace rather than the war that preceded it.
Almost two dozen people gathered at the Leeds Memorial Park in observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11. Coordinated by the Historical Society, the short service included the Rev. Steve Hastings of the Leeds Community Church leading the group in prayer and the singing of “America the Beautiful,” and USAF veteran Richard Fochtmann read a poem paying tribute to our veterans.
At the conclusion of the service those gathered at the park recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and members of Daisy Troop No. 1524 hung a wreath on the memorial in honor of all the men and women who have served from the town of Leeds.
The Leeds Historical Society meets at 7 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Leeds History Center (the old Leeds Town House) in Leeds Center. All are welcome.
For more information, call Laura Juraska at 524-2324.
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