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07/21/2008
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Photo by Katherine LeBlancfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
SKOWHEGAN -- School children see him as the mild-mannered man who answers their questions at the Skowhegan History House. Gardeners see him as the pleasant man who bustles around Boynton's Greenhouse. However, many people are unaware that Lee Granville holds the key to much of Skowhegan's history.
As the curator of the Skowhegan History House, Granville has uncovered, preserved and promoted Skowhegan's past for school children and history buffs near and far.
Under Granville's leadership, and with the assistance of former Town Planner Tom Marcotte, the Skowhegan Heritage Council was formed in 2000.
The Skowhegan Rotary Club recently honored Granville with the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, one of the highest honors Rotary can bestow. Recipients are Rotarians and community professionals who are recognized for their outstanding contributions, placing "service above self." A donation of $1,000 or more is made in the recipient's name to Rotary International's Annual Program Fund, which supports Rotary's world-wide programs.
Council member Katie Ouillette calls Granville " A walking local encyclopedia." Furthermore, she said "we are all fortunate that he has dedicated so much of his time to Skowhegan's heritage."
Under Granville's leadership, countless hours have been spent cataloging cemetery stones and recording oral histories. The near completion of the interpretive sign tour, said Ouilette, also will be another feather in his cap, and a huge draw for those who travel to Skowhegan.
The Heritage Council hopes visitors to the area will take advantage of this self-guided "then and now" tour that will be placed downtown.
Jeff Hewett, director of economic and community development, says that with these signs people can "get a better connection to the history of the downtown."
Done in conjunction with the Maine Mountain Heritage organization, the hope is to promote this type of tour and bring people not only to Skowhegan, but to other communities such as Farmington and Norway, which also are involved in this project.
Granville began his career in 1961 at Boynton's Greenhouse, where he met and later married his wife, Marcia. Seventeen years later they purchased the greenhouse from her parents and successfully ran this business until his retirement in 2002.
Two of his four daughters purchased the business. Although her father retired six years ago, daughter Karen Moore says her father is a "good grower, and all spring he comes over and gives us advice. Although we don't carry the same plants, good growing practices never change."
As a longtime member of the Historic Photo Preservation Committee, Granville was given permission by Skowhegan Savings Bank to scan photos that had been discovered in a vault.
The two large albums that were compiled are referred to as the "Wyman Collection." These photos and others were used to complete the "Skowhegan Then and Now" book, co-authored by Lynn Perry and Granville. In 2002 the bank gave permission for these same photos to be uploaded to the Maine Memory Network (www.mainememory.net), which displays 228 historic items and four exhibits on Skowhegan history.
In conjunction with SAD 54, Granville works closely with Laura Richter the Technology Integration teacher at Skowhegan Area Middle School, to expand the Maine Memory project to incorporate school children.
This cooperation between schools, museums and computer technology has been mimicked by many other schools all over the country.
"Lee's enthusiasm and affinity for the past has been infectious for my students as they seek to understand our local history," Richter said.
The Skowhegan community projects completed by the children can be also seen on the school's web site and include movies, documentaries and web page projects. A new link was also added this year with student history podcasts.
As a member of the Bloomfield Academy Trustees, Granville serves on the boards of the Skowhegan Free Public Library and Skowhegan History House. His knowledge is so highly regarded that the Maine Historical Society asked him to testify before the Legislature.
With this knowledge Granville has successfully written several grants including a New Century grant to provide him with the materials necessary to clean, preserve and store the negatives by three generations of the Huff family photographers.
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