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LEEDS — At its monthly meeting, Leeds Historical Society treasurer Eileen Coyne surprised members with the announcement the society received an anonymous grant from a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation.
The grant will help the society continue its mission to “educate the public about the history of the town of Leeds, Maine; to preserve historical records, landmarks and artifacts related to Leeds; to promote interest in the town’s history; and to provide opportunities to celebrate the heritage of the town.”
The society will once again coordinate the Veteran’s Day Observance at the Leeds Veteran’s Memorial in Leeds Center at 11:20 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. The public is invited to attended.
On Saturday, Nov. 17, the society will host a program by local historian Doug Hodgkin, based on his book “Elwin E. Additon, Progressive Farmer and Politician.”
Hodgkin has written a biography about his great-grandfather, Elwin Additon, a farmer, local civil leader and Androscoggin County politician. It’s a look into life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in rural Maine.
Additon (1864-1942) owned a farm in Leeds and held many offices in town government, including school board, moderator and selectman. He was active in the local grange, and he was also a member of the board of the Maine State Fair, located in Lewiston. These organizations were founded, in part, to encourage farmers to adopt progressive practices which would enable them to shift from self-sufficient farms to compete in a market economy.
Politically, Additon was a progressive Republican,Theodore Roosevelt’s wing of the party, and Hodgkin illustrates how his great grandfather tapped into the politics of the first third of the 20th century.
The program is free (donations accepted) and open to the public and will begin 1 p.m. in the community room at the Leeds Town Office, 8 Community Drive. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call Pam Bell at 207-933-4121. Copies of Hodgkin’s book will be available for purchase at the program.
