Lovell Town Column Ethel Hurst (207)925-3226 [03/27/2006]

By Ethel Hurst

On Friday, March 24, Robert Drew, Rick Eastman and Stephen Goldsmith, Lovell selectmen, presented the Boston Post Cane to Gladys Littlefield at Fryeburg Health Care. The Boston Post Gold Cane was donated by the Boston Post Newspaper to towns of New England beginning in 1909 as an acknowledgment or honor of the oldest resident of the town. At present, Mrs. Littlefield is the oldest resident of Lovell at the age of 95, having been born in Skowhegan on Dec. 7, 1910. She grew up in Falmouth and, while attending Fryeburg Academy, met her future husband, Robert Littlefield. The couple were married in 1935 and lived in various towns while Bob worked in the sawmills. Their first home in Lovell was at the new fish hatchery built in Lovell near Fern Drive. Gladys worked at the Lovell United Telephone Co., but was proudest of her work as a teacher in a one-room school house in Stow and then the Annie Hill School and New Suncook, retiring in 1975.Like the women of today, Gladys worked other jobs to help her husband provide for a family that expanded to five children. In her description of their crude quarters while following the sawmills, she spoke of how Azel outgrew the hammock and Bob had to build a bunk over their bed. I had to smile thinking of Azel as a little boy sleeping in a hammock. Another wonderful tale I heard about Gladys was of when she did any baking, she would put up a red flag outside her house on Route 5 to let the family know she had goodies for them if they rode by. Mrs. Littlefield has led a very full life, with many memories of Lovell that may be a bit dim now, but those memories have been preserve for history by the Lovell Historical Society, some of which I used for this piece. Her full life included her love of her large family which included five children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and the area where she lived. She was dedicated to her church, the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library and the Senior Citizens. In 1998, her love of community was reward by being the grand marshall of the Old Home Days Parade. The last recipient of the Boston Post Cane was John Fox.The Italian Night at New Suncook School was well attended, with long lines. The fifth grade students who waited on the tables looked wonderful in their white tops and black pants or skirts, and did a terrific job serving the people. The Italian dinner is one of the PTAs best attended fund raisers. It was great to see former principal, now superintendent, Gary McDonald attending seating people as he has done for many years. The artwork on the walls was once again up to former years' standardsloved the African masks, very colorful.The Scholastic Book Sale was doing a brisk business also. A great night for those attending, those helping out and the New Suncook PTA.The Kezar Trailbreakers would like to thank all those who supported them, even though they had to call off the poker rally. The lack of snow this year sort of spoiled it for all those who snowmobile, especially here in Lovell. Hopefully next year will be better.A reminder that the UCC Thrift Shop is holding a free week until April 1. This is to thank all those who have kept the ladies busy through the season. After April 1, there will be a changeover to the spring and then summer clothes.The three genealogy classes sponsored by the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library and the Lovell Historical Society were very well attended. I was amazed at the number of people who are so well aware of where to go to search for information on family members who have migrated to the United States. Having a cousin who is doing the search in the United Kingdom, Im well aware of how difficult and tedious it can be to go through many records. One problem in the United Kingdom is that many records were destroyed during the bombings. Its a fascinating subject, and difficult for those who came from England and Europe because family members never told much about their lives. Thats why after reading memories of Gladys Littlefield at the historical society, I thought how lucky her family is that generations down the line can go to the research area of the historical society and learn about their ancestor.I was going to wish a very good friend a happy 50th birthday but was afraid she'd search the town to do me bodily harm, so I won't mention that Elaine Drew had a birthday.