1903 was a relatively peaceful year. There were no major military conflicts and only a few political dust-ups, primarily those involving the European powers colonial land grabs, especially in Africa. Joseph Conrad, in his classic Heart of Darkness put it … Continue reading
There were a couple of significant international events in 1902 which had a local connection—the purchase of the rights to the Panama Canal project by the United States from the French and the end of the Boer War in South … Continue reading
The Mona Lisa, the thief Vincenzo Peruggia and the return of the painting in 1913 One of the most sensational stories in 1911 was the theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in Paris. Adding to the sensation resulting … Continue reading
The roar of the “Roaring Twenties” became a whimper with just two months left in the decade Few folks are around today who remember 1929. After all, a 5-year-old child in 1929 would be 97 today. Nonetheless “1929” evokes, even … Continue reading
The year 1956 was a momentous one on the world stage: Khrushchev denounced Stalin, a hopeful sign that the Soviets might be mellowing, but the Soviets then began conducting multiple nuclear tests—putting the rest of the world on edge and … Continue reading
It’s no secret what was happening in the world in 1944: the news was all about the war, and it was often tragic, especially the reports from the Pacific and Europe of the neighbors, friends, sons and husbands being killed … Continue reading
We came across an article recently written by Sam Saunders, well known Calais historian and raconteur, which mentioned what Sam called the “Ole Steel Bridge” at Ferry Point, the main bridge connecting Calais and St. Stephen and how the local kids put … Continue reading
ske·dad·dle/skəˈdadl/ Verb INFORMAL depart quickly or hurriedly; run away. “when he saw us, he skedaddled” A Maine Unit assembled after the Battle of Marye’s Heights, Fredericksburg, Virginia Although we have written a good deal on the St. Croix Valley and … Continue reading
Ned Lamb and Emma Boardman, “Dueling Cameras at Ten Feet”, Calais Waterfront, probably in the 1920s The circa 1920 photograph above is titled “Dueling Cameras At Ten Feet”. The scene is the Calais waterfront and the two photographers are Ned … Continue reading
The Gravestone above reads: Leonard T.Son of Leonard & Mary E. FarrisDied Aug. 28 1898AE 7 Mos & 18 Dys The grave pictured above is in the Calais Cemetery, between the Beckett lot which is on the main avenue on … Continue reading