Historian to relate spooky ghost stories at Raymond-Casco Historical Museum

By Ed Pierce

Did a prominent 19th century Raymond resident predict how he would die years before a tragic accident claimed his life? This tale and other eerie ghost stories will be part of a free community presentation to be held at the Raymond-Casco Historical Museum later this month.

Eerie and spooky tales from the Lakes Region of Maine
will be related by historian Mike Davis from 4 to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25 at the Raymond-Casco Historical Museum
during a presentation called 'Ghost Stories and Unusual
Happenings.'  COURTESY PHOTO 

Historian Mike Davis of Bridgton will relate spooky tales from the Lakes Region of Maine from 4 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25 at the museum while surrounded by historical artifacts during a presentation called “Ghost Stories and Unusual Happenings.”

Raymond-Casco Historical Society’s Sue Pride says with Halloween nearing, this will be an event sure to interest many in the area.

“Mike’s storytelling brings together history, mystery, and local lore – perfect for the Halloween season,” Pride said. “These historical tales of curious happenings, scary ghosts and unusual circumstances will be sure to entertain everyone in attendance.”

Among the tales to be told by Davis is one about Edgar Welch, whose story was originally contained in the book “Historical Gems of Raymond and Casco” written by the late Ernest H. Knight, one of the founders of the Raymond-Casco Historical Society.

Welch was born close to the Raymond/Casco line on the County Road to Otisfield (Route 85) in Raymond in 1849. His grandfather, James Welch was born in 1765 and came to Raymond from Cape Elizabeth as an early pioneer settler. Edgar’s father was born in 1819 and taught his son how to farm.

For years Edgar farmed and eventually worked for a neighbor, David McLellan, whose barn and part of his house are still in use, the main house having burned in 1954.

According to Knight, Edgar was a bright, pleasant person though inclined toward strange ideas on work and physical activity, which were extreme to say the least.

“Besides hard work, running was his pastime for which the urge seized him after a week or so of labor,” Knight wrote about Welch in his book. “Dropping whatever he was doing at the time, winter or summer, he would be off running to Portland, Norway or wherever fancy directed, and on his return, he’d pick up where he left off.”

He wrote that on frequent occasions Welch’s route was through the White Mountains and once a year he would run to the top of Mount Washington, an event to which proprietors and guests looked forward to with anticipation. 

“For this event he wore a suit, boots and a tall beaver hat where on his ordinary runs his garb was his overalls with woolen socks in the winter and barefoot in the summer,” Knight wrote. “On one occasion he ran to Boston, circled through Tremont Street and Boston Common and then headed for home. Once an owner of a nice span of driving horses challenged Edgar to a race to Portland. Starting from Raymond Village, the team soon left him far behind, but when the team reached its destination on Congress Street, Edgar was there waiting for them.”

Knight said that Edgar had unique ideas about labor and benefits to mankind.

“An astute observation that the McLellan farm, being on the easterly slope of Rattlesnake Mountain, had the sun set much earlier than farms to the north or south, set him on a mission,” Knight wrote. “To correct this fact of nature, he worked for many years off and on as time permitted, day or night, rolling boulders from the top of the mountain to reduce this bothersome interference. In the stillness of the night, people would awaken to the sound of crashing on the mountain, and remark that Edgar was at it again, and go back to sleep.”

While piling logs on the ice at Crescent Lake (then Great Rattlesnake Pond) to be floated to Sebago when the ice melted, Knight said that Edgar would get hot feet, take off his boots and run on the ice or snow until he could go back to work in comfort.

“He was a great conversationalist and interested in the politics of the day. As a composer of rhymes and ballads, with a good voice always in true pitch, he would sing on picnic occasions accompanied by Carrie McLellan on her portable melodeon,” Knight wrote. “His physical make-up baffled doctors, though he never had need of their services as he never even had so much as a cold. With all his work and running, Edgar never perspired, which the doctors said should have killed him.”

But Edgar Welch is said to have had one more attribute which will be part of the presentation by Davis and that is clairvoyance, or a sixth sense.

Reportedly when Welch was young, a man named Eastman Bean of Otisfield fell from a haymow while holding a pitchfork, and he impaled on the pitchfork’s tines and died.

Knight said that bizarre accident was on Welch’s mind for all of his life, and over the years, he was overheard muttering some sort of rhyme or reference to Eastman Bean.

On Dec. 23, 1903, Edgar was working in the McLellan barn, which is still standing on the easterly side of Route 85 not far from the Raymond-Casco line, when he slid from the mow while pitching hay down for cattle. He was impaled on his pitchfork and died in the same manner as Eastman Bean.

His funeral was conducted from the old Village School at Webb’s Mills, now Crescent Lake Village, and it was attended by so many people that the overflow stood outside near the windows which were left open so they could hear the orations honoring their friend who may have predicted the manner of his death years before.

The “Ghost Stories and Unusual Happenings” presentation welcomes families to the event, although some of the tales in the presentation may be a bit spooky for the littlest ones. Participants are encouraged to wear a costume and enjoy trick or treat refreshments that will be available.

Admission is free, but donations that night would be greatly appreciated by the Raymond-Casco Historical Society to continue bringing these events to the community.

To learn more about the Raymond-Casco Historical Society visit raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org or find them on Facebook. <

Local Revolutionary War patriots subject of historical presentation

By Ed Pierce

As the nation celebrates its 250th birthday this weekend, contributions made by Raymond and Casco patriots to the cause of liberty are easily overlooked. But thanks to a new presentation being offered by the Raymond-Casco Historical Society, the bravery of Revolutionary War patriots living in Raymond and Casco will not be forgotten.

Sue Pride of Raymond will highlight the lives and
service of 28 Revolutionary Way patriots during a 
free program at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 6 at the
Raymond-Casco Historical Museum, 1 Shadow
Lane in Casco. SUBMITTED PHOTO  

Sue Pride, the Collections Manager for the Raymond-Casco Historical Society Museum, will discuss and highlight the lives and service of 28 Revolutionary War patriots from the area during a free public program at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 6 at the museum, 1 Shadow Lane in Casco.

Her presentation includes a richly illustrated PowerPoint talk focusing on the remarkable stories of early local settlers who answered the call to defend America long before Maine became a state.

Pride was inspired to create the presentation while sorting through the historical society’s collections to organize them. It prompted her to research how Revolutionary War veterans ended their journeys in Raymond and Casco.

“This year is the 250th birthday of the United States, and I thought the museum should do something to bring Raymond and Casco into it. I thought we must have some veterans.”

In conducting research, Pride found that some patriots were living in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775, and responded immediately to the alarm of the Lexington and Concord opening of the American Revolution. Others were already living in the district that would become Maine, and they enlisted shortly afterward and marched to Cambridge to join American troops during the Siege of Boston.

When the Revolutionary War for American independence from Great Britain erupted, Raymondtown, now known as the towns of Raymond and Casco after the communities split in 1841, was part of the Cumberland County Militia territory, with its members serving under the command of early settler Captain Joseph Dingley of Raymondtown. Their membership roll was used as a recruitment tool for soldiers to join the Continental Army once it was founded and placed under the leadership of the Continental Army’s General George Washington in June 1775.

“Before the army, it was just the militias fighting,” Pride said. “Lexington and Concord were fought by the militia.”

The area’s sparse population at the time meant that not many men from Raymond enlisted and Pride’s research found four residents who had traveled south to fight. However, she has discovered at least 28 Revolutionary War veterans are buried around Raymond and Casco, which shows the influx of former soldiers locally after the war ended.

“Many of the 28 patriots later served under Capt. Richard Mayberry, taking part in the Saratoga Campaign, a turning point in the war, and enduring the harsh winter encamped at Valley Forge alongside General George Washington’s troops,” Pride said.

Her new program will also touch on the broader story of Maine during the Revolutionary War, including the Battle of Machias, which is often called the first naval battle of the war, and the devastating burning of what is now known as Portland in 1775.

“I found one veteran who only served three days and never served again, but he was at Lexington and Concord, so it was a pivotal three days,” Pride said. “I think there were four who were living in Massachusetts and marched to Lexington and Concord.”

She also found a story of one soldier who was captured by the British and then held in the notorious prison ships afloat in the harbor of New York City, which were decommissioned or damaged ships that were used to hold prisoners in overcrowded conditions, where many died due to illness or malnutrition. He survived to be discharged from the army six months after his service was meant to have ended. Pride also discovered two men buried locally that died while serving. One drowned after falling from a floating bridge and the other died of fever.

Both Dingley and his son Samuel volunteered for military service at the start of the Revolutionary War in the company of men from Raymond and Windham and returned to the fast-growing Raymondtown as Captains, a title that Joseph retained for the rest of his life, even though he later held the rank of Colonel in the militia.

The 28 patriots highlighted in Pride’s presentation came to reside locally and helped to build and shape the community’s legacy.

“As the nation marks its 250th birthday, the Raymond-Casco Historical Society emphasizes the importance of honoring their service and recognizing their influence on the region’s early growth,” Pride said.

To learn more about Raymond and Casco’s role in the Revolutionary War, visit www.raymondcascohistoricalsociety.org or find them on Facebook. <