Twila Lycette displays some of the newly restored town vital records that she was passionate about preserving as Lisbon’s Town Clerk. She is retiring from her position next week after more than 35 years. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
LISBON — Although Twila Lycette’s responsibilities as town clerk have changed since she was first hired in 1986, her love for her job and Lisbon have only grown.
But with a recently-retired husband and a new home on Sabattus Pond, Lycette said she’s ready to explore what’s next. Thursday is her last day in the town office before retiring.
Asked what her favorite part of her job was, Lycette had just one answer: everything.
“It’s not easy to leave something you like,” she said. “I’m going to miss the work, I’m gonna miss the people. I’m gonna try not to cry. But it’s time.”
Lycette is especially proud to have helped restore and preserve Lisbon’s vital records, which contain historic information on the town’s births, deaths and marriages.
Among the list of future records to be preserved are two selectmen meeting books, both more than a century old.
“Those are just irreplaceable, they’re just wonderful history,” Lycette said. “I think everybody’s passionate about knowing where we came from.”
One section of records details the shape and the cut of cows’ ears, used to identify which farm the livestock belonged to. And after looking up her former home in Lisbon, the Oliver Moses House, she found that the Worumbo Mill, not Moses the chief executive, had owned the home.
“I think it’s so neat,” she said with reverence.
One of the historical records in the Lisbon town office details the shapes of the ears of each farmer’s livestock animals. Each farmer had a particular pattern of ear clipping which was registered with the town. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal
Gwendolyn Michel, a friend and coworker since 1997, said she has cherished working with Lycette throughout the years.
“I’m sure there were times when our laughter could be heard in the hallways,” Michel recalled. “We got our work done, but had fun doing it. It also helped us get through the long late evenings during election time.”
“There were times when I felt like I shouldn’t get paid for enjoying the day so much,” she added. “I called it my ‘miracle job,’ as I know God opened the door for me to work there.”
Lycette is patient, flexible, understanding and gives excellent customer service, Michel said. People would come into the office just to chat with her, and she always made the time to help residents, no matter how busy she was.
Many times, Lycette stayed late in the office or worked weekends preparing for elections or finishing reports, she said.
Michel no longer works in the town office, but her friendship with Lycette has held firm. She recalled a difficult time in her life when Lycette was there to support her.
“After we talked one evening, she went out to the drug store and then showed up at my door with a basket of products that she thought might help me,” Michel said. “Many times, she would come by with a thoughtful gift. And then there were times she’d show up to take me for a ride in her convertible just to get me out.
“I can never thank her enough for all of her thoughtfulness through that difficult time and beyond.”
Lycette is planning to pamper herself in her first day of retirement, getting her hair done and going out to dinner with friends to celebrate.
“After that I think it’s just whatever we’d like to do,” Lycette said. “We can get in the car and just travel, or stay home and take a boat ride as soon as that water is ready.”
Lycette’s position will not be unfilled for long, as a new town clerk is expected to be sworn in Thursday.
Andree Kehn contributed to this reporting.
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