It can be great fun to go browsing for old books, whether you’re seeking a genealogy-packed volume to augment your research or a dusty tome that tugs at your heart with just a few pages pertaining to your family.
I confess to having purchased an old copy of Amasa Loring’s “History of Piscataquis County, Maine: From Its Settlement to 1880” for $75 in the past even though I already had one, and even though I consult it mostly to find a town’s list of early settlers to use as a starting point for research.
The Maine Antiquarian Booksellers Association has a listing of its members and their offerings at maineoldbooksellers.org. It is worth a look because not all sellers of old books specialize in genealogy or local history. In addition, antique malls frequently have one or more booths featuring old books.
In general, I would say that “antiquarian” books are not cheap, but prices do vary. An example of this is “Behind the Bars,” a book my ancestor Dr. Mary (Payne) Bray Jenks wrote a century ago about serving as a woman’s police matron in Rhode Island. It has absolutely no genealogy in it, but prices I found online varied from $7.50 to $127.50.
Like antiques, old books often have prices that no one would call bargains, but there are a few out there. I recently found a book of Berwick area vital records, still in print for about $110, priced at $40 for a used copy at a book booth. Moreover, the vendor had all books under a “summer sale” for 50 percent off, so I bought a book I really didn’t need that much for $20. I probably won’t keep it long, but for that price I can afford to give it to a library that doesn’t have it at some point.
Historical societies can be great places to check out for books connected to local history, whether it’s a volume or two the group has published itself or a greater number it keeps on hand to support local history outreach.
A recent visit to the Monson Historical Society included purchases from its delightful gift shop right on Main Street, where offerings vary from books on local history and fiction to souvenirs of special interest to those with Finn ancestry. The organization, which is open Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer, is also unique in that sells archival quality photographs from a collection of glass plate negatives received a few years ago.
The shop’s books include reprints of the “History of Monson,” which is a good reminder that we should check out historical societies, and even towns, for books they have reprinted or newly published — sometimes to mark a special anniversary.
A Maine company that specializes in reprinting historical books is Sam Teddy Publishing, owned by Jeff Linscott of South China. I met Jeff years ago at a state meeting of the Maine Genealogical Society, where I purchased a reprint of Azel Ames’ “The Mayflower and Her Log,” first published in 1901 and updated in 1907. I have a few Mayflower ancestors, plus the book contains letters by Robert Cushman, father of my Thomas Cushman, who married Mayflower passenger Mary Allerton.
The 220-page book is sold for $22.95, with discounts available for libraries and schools. But my favorite reprint is likely Loring’s “History of Piscataquis County, Maine: From Its Settlement to 1880” for $14.95. At that price, I have bought copies for both my sons, and I expect to do the same for all six grandchildren.
Among Sam Teddy’s dozens of other reprints are Bruce W. Belmore’s 1945 “Early Princeton, Maine” for $14.95; Seth W. Norwood’s 1935 “Sketches of Brooks History” for $23.95; Francis G. Butler’s 1885 “A History of Farmington, Franklin County, Maine” for $33.95; William B. Lapham’s 1899 “History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine” for $24.95; Edwin Carey Whittemore’s “Centennial History of Waterville 1802-1902” for $27.95; and James W. North’s “The History of Augusta From the Earliest Settlement to 1870” for $39.95.
Information on all of Teddy’s publications is available at samteddypublishing.com, or you may write the company at 208 Lakeview Drive, South China, ME 04358; or email info@samteddypublishing.com.
Purchases are subject to Maine sales tax and mailing costs, although you may save mailing costs by arranging to pick up books. South China is about 15 miles from Waterville, 20 miles from Augusta. In addition, Jeff brings a collection of his books to the state Maine Genealogical Society conference, the next one being scheduled for Sept. 19 at Jeff’s Catering in Brewer. (For information, visit maineroots.org.)
Who Do You Think You Are?
The TLC channel follows up its recent season of “Who Do You Think You Are?” with a new seven-episode season starting at 9 p.m. Sunday, July 26. The subject will be actress Ginnifer Goodwin. That same day, some of the recent season’s episodes will air beginning at 5 p.m.
From The County
My husband and I were married just three months when he went to work as an electrician for Carroll C. Allen at Allen Electrical in Hampden. Carroll was both a mentor and father figure to my husband, who earned his journeyman’s and master electrician’s licenses while at the Hampden company.
We knew Carroll was born in Aroostook County, as was my husband, but learned from his obituary that the section of Presque Isle he came from was known as Phair Junction.
Carroll’s funeral was one of the best services I’ve attended, featuring remarks not only from his children but from colleague Goody Gilman, who founded Gilman Electric in Newport.
One of the youngest World War II veterans and a mainstay of organizations such as Kiwanis, Carroll can be found as a 2-year-old in the 1930 Census, which showed Allen and Taylor families living near one another.
In retirement, Carroll and Geneva made six trips from Maine to Florida on their boat, a time of wonderful adventures for them. Fair winds and following seas, Carroll.
For information on researching family history in Maine, see Genealogy Resources under Family Ties at bangordailynews.com/browse/family-ties. Send genealogy queries to Family Ties, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402, or email familyti@bangordailynews.com.