Illuminated by 57 volunteer light painters. For many years, Big Tree, served as a landmark for sailors at 90 feet tall. The tree was struck by lightning in 1929, but stood until 1944 when a hurricane brought it down.
Description: Illuminated by 57 volunteer light painters. For many years, Big Tree, served as a landmark for sailors at 90 feet tall. The tree was struck by lightning in 1929, but stood until 1944 when a hurricane brought it down.
Alton M. Billings (1876-1922) was born on September 22, 1876 to Stephen Billings and Hanna Stewart (Dow) Billings in Tremont, Maine. Alton married Bessie Clara Dow (1883-1931), daughter of Willard Sawyer Dow and Edwina C. (Hodgdon) Dow, on January 18, 1902. Alton and Bessie were third cousins once removed as Alton was the great great grandson of Nathan Dow (1716-1794) and Mary Sarah Flanders (1721-1802) and Bessie was the great great great granddaughter of Nathan and Mary Sarah. Alton M. Billings died on October 28, 1922 in Southwest Harbor. Bessie then married Harry L. Wheelden on October 23, 1926. Bessie Clara (Dow) Billings Wheelden died on January 16, 1931 in Ellsworth, Maine. Alton and Bessie had three children: Maurice P. Billings (1903-1981) Ronald G. Billings (1906-1981) Edna S. Billings (1904-2001) – Mrs. Perley M. Sprague Alton was a finish carpenter and, after he bought the property on Lawler Lane in 1903 he enlarged the house (while his family was in residence) to the shape it is today.
Description: Alton M. Billings (1876-1922) was born on September 22, 1876 to Stephen Billings and Hanna Stewart (Dow) Billings in Tremont, Maine. Alton married Bessie Clara Dow (1883-1931), daughter of Willard Sawyer Dow and Edwina C. (Hodgdon) Dow, on January 18, 1902. Alton and Bessie were third cousins once removed as Alton was the great great grandson of Nathan Dow (1716-1794) and Mary Sarah Flanders (1721-1802) and Bessie was the great great great granddaughter of Nathan and Mary Sarah. Alton M. Billings died on October 28, 1922 in Southwest Harbor. Bessie then married Harry L. Wheelden on October 23, 1926. Bessie Clara (Dow) Billings Wheelden died on January 16, 1931 in Ellsworth, Maine. Alton and Bessie had three children: Maurice P. Billings (1903-1981) Ronald G. Billings (1906-1981) Edna S. Billings (1904-2001) – Mrs. Perley M. Sprague Alton was a finish carpenter and, after he bought the property on Lawler Lane in 1903 he enlarged the house (while his family was in residence) to the shape it is today. [show more]
Edna S. Billings (1904-2001), daughter of Alton M. Billings and Bessie Clara (Dow) Billings, was later Mrs. Perley M. Sprague. As a young girl, c. 1922, Edna worked as a waitress at the Jordan Pond House. Her family said she told many stories about climbing the mountains with the owner, Thomas Andrew “T.A.” McIntire (1869-), looking for mushrooms and berries, making home made ice cream and serving the Rockefellers when their nurses brought them in to learn table manners. See SWHPL 13657 for photographs of some of the friends Edna worked with at the Jordan Pond House.
Description: Edna S. Billings (1904-2001), daughter of Alton M. Billings and Bessie Clara (Dow) Billings, was later Mrs. Perley M. Sprague. As a young girl, c. 1922, Edna worked as a waitress at the Jordan Pond House. Her family said she told many stories about climbing the mountains with the owner, Thomas Andrew “T.A.” McIntire (1869-), looking for mushrooms and berries, making home made ice cream and serving the Rockefellers when their nurses brought them in to learn table manners. See SWHPL 13657 for photographs of some of the friends Edna worked with at the Jordan Pond House. [show more]