"WORCESTER VOICES"  -  JULY 4, 2019
5:00 PM, WORCESTER VILLAGE CEMETERY


Characters Portrayed:

MILDRED CHANDLER (1906-1918) and DR. W. T. TURNER (1869-1918) were two of Worcester's Spanish Flu victims in 1918. Mildred, a student at the Village grammar school, was the eldest daughter of Clarence and Mary Chandler. Dr. Turner, who was a native of Weston, had been the village doctor for fifteen years.

CHARLES COREY (dates unknown) was a resident of Eagle Ledge when his neighbor, Charles McLane, was murdered. Both were woodsmen and after several others were arrested, but not indicted, Corey was accused of the brutal killing. He was never brought to trial, however, and was released to become a pauper, a ward of the Town.

EARL MAXHAM (1895-1971) was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. His mink farm and subsequent mink food production plant was known throughout New England. He flew his own airplane and built an airstrip right across the road from the Village cemetery. The current Town garage occupies the remaining buildings of the mink operation.

JESSIE PRATT (1890-1955) was a slight woman who raised nine children pretty much on her own. She and her husband Calvin farmed and ran a delivery business from Montpelier to Worcester until he left to seek a better life in the West. He begged his wife to accompany him, but she did not want to leave her home place. Her fortitude and industry are celebrated by her granddaughter Earlene.

FRANK KING (1862-1931) had a farm as did most men who dwelt in Worcester during the 19th century. However, he had another vocation that he was locally known for. He was the village sexton, the gravedigger. He spent twenty years of his life performing that duty for the citizens of Worcester.
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ALMA E. HOWIESON (1819-1908) had a harrowing experience in the "wilds of Worcester" one winter night in the 1860's. Carrying her infant daughter, Carrie, she became lost attempting to walk back to her cabin on Eagle Ledge from a visit with a weaver in Calais. Her story was dramatically told by Worcester's first historian, C. C. Abbott, in 1873.