MONMOUTH – Cumston Public Library and the Monmouth Museum will co-host a book talk by local historian and author, Dale Potter-Clark, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at the library, 796 Main St.
The talk is free and open to the public.
Potter-Clark will discuss her new historical novel about the Underground Railroad, “Escape from Bunker Hill,” which tells a story about a Maine couple that moves to Jacksonville, Florida, to help enslaved people escape north.
A group of four of the refugees travel along 1,500 miles of the eastern seaboard until they reach Portland, Maine then proceeds further north to central Maine
“Although the main characters Dr. Joseph and Myra Mitchell existed, their tale in my novel comes from my imagination,” Potter-Clark said. “I was inspired when researching their ‘real’ home in Readfield and evidence led me to suspect they’d been involved in the Underground Railroad. It is challenging to find proof that most anyone was involved in the secretive and dangerous movement so I did not find confirmation that Mitchells were – even after speaking to some of their descendants – but their story would not leave my head and this novel is the result.”
The book includes a 35-page appendix with pictures, provides information about the real Mitchells and actual abolitionists, events, places, publications and organizations in the novel.
