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READFIELD — The first Readfield History Walk of this fall, and the 49th since the walks began, will visit “W Corner,” near the intersection of South, Tallwood and Beaver Dam roads.
The walk will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Friday, Oct. 5, led by Readfield historian Dale Potter-Clark and guest host Bill Roarke, whose family has lived in the neighborhood for several generations.
The area was dubbed W Corner by Potter-Clark because in the earliest days of Readfield’s history the Waugh, Whittier, White and Wyman families lived there or in close proximity. The 1791 town meeting, when Readfield voted to separate from Winthrop, was held at one of the W Corner homesteads.
The Townsend Farm, Beaver Brook Farm (Tourist Home) and Sir Charles Hotel (later known as Tallwood) were also located in the neighborhood.
Rourke, who resides on W Corner, has lived there for most of his life, as did his parents and grandparents. He has lived on the original Tallwood (Waugh) Farm and the Whittier homestead and Beaver Brook (Wyman) Farm. Rourke, a retired contractor, recently volunteered to cut brush and install a new fence around Whittier Cemetery, which holds some of the oldest burial plots in town.
Walkers should meet by 10 a.m. in the yard by Rourke’s equipment barn off South Road.
For more information, contact Dale Potter-Clark at 207-441-9184 or crossings4u@gmail.com. Registration is not necessary, and the walk is free. Donations made to the Readfield Museum in the Streets are welcome. Checks, made out to Readfield Historical Society, may be mailed to PO Box 354, Readfield 04355.
PHOTO CAPTION: Bill Rourke of Readfield stands with his family homestead, Beaver Brook Farm, in the background. Rourke will be guest host of a Readfield History Walk on Friday, Oct. 5. Rourke has lived nearly all of his life in the neighborhood where this walk will take place. (Submitted photo)
