Come to the Ice Harvest : Tuesday February 21 at 10 am on Lake Keewaydin
Artist Eric Aho will attempt to create a version of Marsden Hartley’s famous painting , the Ice Hole, pictured above. Come to the south end of the lake on Tuesday to join the crew, This event is dedicated to the life of town historian, Danny Barker. Rumor has it that 90 year old Marilyn Jones will be in attendance.
South Paris - James B. Owen of Stoneham died on February 11, 2023 at the Maine Veterans' Home in South Paris with his family by his side. Born on May 23, 1931 in Danville, VT, Jim grew up in Berlin, New Hampshire. He is survived by his wife of almost 48 years, Lucia Baker Owen, and by the children of his first marriage, daughter Patricia Jean of Gorham, ME and son Jonathan Douglas, his wife Zianibeth Shattuck-Owen of Park City, Utah, and their two sons Ethan Alessandro, also of Park City, and Alanson Elihu, of Greensboro, NC. He was a 50-year member and Master Mason in good standing of the Gorham-Sabatis Lodge, Grand Lodge of New Hampshire.
Education
He graduated from Berlin High School in 1949 and from the University of New Hampshire in 1953 with a major in Oboe. He played briefly with the New Hampshire State Symphony. In the Army after college he played in and conducted the 9th Division Band Training Unit Band and ran the Special Services darkrooms. He earned a degree in Business Administration at Burdett College in 1957 and an MA in Education at Boston University in 1958 and worked briefly in Boston before coming to Bethel in 1958 to teach music at Gould Academy, where he developed an orchestra, dance band, marching band and varsity glee club.
From Music to Art
When the school separated from the town and enrollment dropped significantly, the music program eroded, but Jim had been advising an informal art club, and the transition to art courses and an entire Art Department began. His life as an artist changed because of attending The Haystack School on Deer Isle, where he met and worked with inspiring and important craftsmen. At Gould Academy he was fortunate enough to work for a series of heads of school who sometimes doubted his sanity but took the risk and let the Art Department grow, and in 1980 the gallery in the newly renovated Art Cottage became The James B Owen Gallery.
Between 1965 and 1975 he was president of the Maine Art Education Association, State Representative to the National Art Education Association and served on the board of the The Maine Arts and Humanities Commission. In 1981 he and Lucia were elected Fellows of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain for their collaborative work in (pre-digital) slide-tape productions.
A Teacher, a Craftsman , a Father, a Husband, and a Friend
He was an extraordinary teacher and craftsman. His own work in pottery, jewelry and photography has been exhibited and collected in a number of places here and in Europe. He was always proudest, however, of the students who discovered the disciplines he loved and went on to become musicians and artists in their own right. He was never concerned with ‘creativity,’ but with discovering the way an artistic medium made its own ‘rules’ by its very nature.
Jim fished the waters of the North Country throughout his life. The stories of trips with Stan Fox and Frank Vogt had a certain legendary quality - often imitated, never duplicated. Sailing, however, was his great passion, whether on his small cat boat or cruising with his wife on more imposing vessels on salt water. After retiring he continued making jewelry in his studio in his beloved house on Lake Keewaydin. Through all his adventures and successes, however, he loved his family above all, especially the many summers on ‘the lake’ watching children and grandchildren grow. He and Lucia often agreed that they were one another’s best. Jim was as dry, wry, fine and loving a dad, husband and friend as he was teacher and artist - an enviable epitaph.
There are not enough thanks on the planet for those who cared for him at the Maine Veterans' Home. Anyone who wishes to honor his memory can make a contribution to The Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, PO Box 518, Deer Isle, ME 04627. The plan is to establish a scholarship fund for Maine art teachers.
The family plans a memorial at a later date. Arrangements are under the care of Chandler Funeral Homes & Cremation Service, 45 Main St., South Paris. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Bradley Owen please visit our Tribute Store.
Broadband is COMING!!!
By the end of March or into April, ESRB will offer recommendations to its 7 member towns to help them make decisions about high speed internet and their path forward.
In November, ESRB asked internet service providers (ISP’s) to propose plans for reaching our goal of establishing a broadband network to serve all permanent and seasonal residents, visitors, and businesses with competitively priced, reliable service of at least 100/100 Mbps, now and in the future.
The Eastern Slopes Regional Broadband coalitionincludes the towns of Brownfield, Denmark, Fryeburg, Lovell, Stoneham, Stow, and Sweden
As always let me know if any questions. Thomas.clay8484@gmail.com or 610-550-9488.
Tom Clay
My Grandfather’s Norway, Maine Store Ledger Circa 1908
This is a ledger/notebook Melinda Butler’s grandfather kept when he went into business with his father. His name was Carle Brown and his father was Alvin. Alvin had a farm in North Norway and Carle worked with him for a time. It didn't work out, and Carle moved with his family to a farm in South Royalton, Vermont. After a few years, the barn burned down in a thunderstorm, and Carle moved the family back to Norway. Melinda’s mom (the fifth and youngest) was born in Norway in 1928.
Most interestingly, at this time of inflation, we can see the prices of things back then. Haircut .25. Watch $1.00. Pail and thermometer .47.
Six more weeks of winter are on the way.
That’s according to the legendary Punxsutawney Phil, who saw his shadow on Thursday.
The groundhog was summoned from his tree stump at Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, by members of his "inner circle" to determine if he has seen his shadow. The "inner circle" is comprised of local officials, who are responsible for taking care of Phil.
Phil has predicted winter more than 100 times, according to records dating back to 1887. This marks the 137th celebration of Groundhog Day. More information on Amy Ludwig Vanderwater and her wonderful teaching website here. http://poemfarm.amylv.com/
Visiting Friends: The Dog Beat by Reishi
Marilyn Jones talks about people visiting back then, but dogs have never forgotten the power of a quick visit to sniff each other and raise a ruckus. Indeed, this is what we live for. I love to visit my 2 BFFs Baxter and Skidder. No need for a handwritten invitation. We just show up and let the wild rumpus begin!!!!!
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Xenophobia meets Xenophilia
My friend, the children’s book author, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater , and I wrote a song together about what happens when Xenophobia (fear over everything foreign) meetsXenophilia ,(love of everything foreign). The song is based on her poem, which she recites here, followed by me singing the song, Afraid of Love. I love the last line. “One by One the hearts they start to flower.”
Writer, Singer, Spreader of Kindness