Morning Sentinel
Civil War-era flag finds honored position
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BY SCOTT MONROE
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 07/04/2009

NEWPORT -- The American flag, with 34 stars on it, was made here in town sometime between 1861 and 1863 during the Civil War.

The family that lived on Camp Benson Road, off what is now Route 7, used to hang the flag outside at the family farm from Memorial Day and throughout the summer.

Guy and Mable Tardy received it sometime prior to 1930, hanging it outside between two trees. Their oldest daughter, Helen Tardy Melanson, decided to donate the flag to the Newport Historical Society in 1964, marking the towns' 150th anniversary.

For years, the 9-feet wide by 15-feet long flag hung on the wall in a hallway in the historical society's old, third-floor headquarters.

"It wasn't prominent," Ron Hopkins, president of the society, said of the flag's placement. "Some people would notice it; others just walked right by it."

Now, the Civil War era flag has found a new -- and more noticeable -- home. Since Flag Day, June 14, the large flag has been draped over tables behind the front desk on the main floor of the Newport Cultural Center, the newly opened library and historical society home on Main Street.

The flag will remain on display until July 11, Hopkins said.

"The flag was made right here in town, made by a local lady who used to do a lot of sewing," Hopkins said. "It's part of the town's history, I'd say. We don't have any written history about the thing."

Although it's not a Civil War "battle flag," the artifact is still an important historical connection, Hopkins said, and the society now has the opportunity to show it off to the public in a bigger and nicer space.

The flag has a couple of tears, patches and stains in it, but it's in pretty good shape, Hopkins said. About four years ago, officials from the state archives cleaned and vacuumed it, he said.

After July 11, the flag will go back into storage and wrapped with acid-free paper so it remains safe and protected for years to come, Hopkins said.

Joanna Tarrazi, director of the Newport Cultural Center, said the flag has generated a big response from people, especially school-age children.

"We really want to be a place where we can educate people of all ages about our rich cultural heritage," Tarrazi said.

Scott Monroe -- 861-9253

smonroe@centralmaine.com

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