Gilead

The really hot weather returned over this past weekend. We tried to get any outside work done early in the morning. There was shopping on Saturday, which is always a treat, and Sunday we spent a good part of the day under the shade of the maple tree on the GHS lawn in front of the Railroad Station and Schoolhouse.

My brother, Steve McLain, told me that he had found Japanese Beetles by his garden. I had mentioned to him that we have found quite a few on some of our garden plants. They seem to like my hanging geraniums. So far, they have stayed off the tomato and cucumber plants.

Speaking of cucumbers, I have started making my old-fashioned sour pickles. I mixed up the brine and just keep adding the cucumbers as I pick them.

Steve and Lise McLain went to Bethel to check out the Mineral Show sponsored by the Oxford County Mineral and Gem Association.

I work with Lois Ruff at Adult Education and she just sent me a message that she won a door prize at the Mineral Show.

Gilead Historical Society

The brick work for the chimney is finished! Lance Stickney, Andover Masonry, did a great job on the chimney and Barry Carver, Carver’s Woodworking, is finishing it off. Barry is doing the carpentry work to trim around the chimney outside on the roof. Things are coming together. Barry just finished up the carpentry work on the schoolhouse. There is a lot more to do, but at this point, we have to step back, check our finances and maybe apply for more grants.

Robert Cross from Central Maine Power was busy the other day hooking up the electricity to the buildings. Autumn Electric will be returning to finish up running the wires and then we will have electricity! Of course, this means a monthly light bill.

As I mentioned earlier, Hugh and I spent most of Sunday sitting under the tree on the GHS lawn. We set up a cooler filled with cold bottled water. We are planning on doing this on as many Sundays as we can this summer. When we have been on the corner working, people riding bikes or heading for the river with canoes have stopped looking for water. The cost of the water is a donation to the GHS and a very short explanation of what we are doing. One of the reasons for doing this is to have people, either local or people passing by, stop and visit and see what the GHS has been doing to the buildings. Any donations received will go directly into the building fund. So if you see us relaxing in the shade on the corner with a cold bottle of water, stop by and say “Hello.” We promise not to pressure you into making a donation for a nice cold bottle of water to drink on a hot day!

Got any news? Call 836-2987 or e-mail chapmal@hotmail.com