Celebrating the Past

Long associated with the famous 1781 Indian Raid on Bethel and surrounding settlements, the Jonathan Clark House (which was actually built about 1785) was a much-venerated local landmark that finally succumbed to neglect in the 1920s.  This ancient farmstead, set on a rocky hillside west of Bethel Hill, remained a favorite subject with photographers long after it became derelict.

Baptized by the French as "Marie Agathe"—a name that became "Mali Agit" when pronounced with difficulty by the Abenaki—Molly Ockett (the English version) is a legendary figure in Bethel's past.  Though she died at Andover, Maine, in 1816, it was not until July 4, 1867, that a marker was placed over her grave.  The dedication ceremony was highlighted by an address by Dr. Nathaniel Tuckerman True of Bethel, and a musical performance by the Bethel Brass Band.

Published on the one-hundredth anniversary of white settlement in Bethel, this small booklet contains a wealth of historical facts gathered by Dr. Nathaniel T. True, the town's beloved educator and historian.  Bethel's major nineteenth century celebrations, of which this was the first, also included centennial events honoring the famous 1781 Indian Raid and the 1796 incorporation of Sudbury Canada as the "Town of Bethel."

The Vernon Street home of General Clark S. Edwards was trimmed in patriotic bunting for the 1896 centenary of Bethel's incorporation as a town.  Visible behind the porch roof balustrade, Edwards distinguished himself in several major Civil War engagements, including the Battle of Gettysburg.  He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic candidate for Governor of Maine in 1886 and was appointed Maine's Commissioner for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. 

The dedication in 1908 of Bethel's Civil War monument gave townspeople yet another opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the past.  Fundraising efforts towards the purchase of such a memorial had begun as early as 1866.

From the "antiquarian suppers" organized by Dr. Nathaniel Tuckerman True in the 1850s, to the Bethel Historical Society's creation in the 1960s, local citizens have acknowledged the past in a number of significant ways.  The 150th anniversary of the Last Indian Raid in New England was celebrated in 1931 with one of the largest parades ever held in Bethel.