NEW HAMPSHIRE’S FASTEST GROWING ONLINE NEWSPAPER

Mural shows roots of Alfred's Shaker community

Comment   Print
Related Articles
Shaker Brother Arnold Hadd speaks at the Shaker Museum mural's dedication in 2011. The mural was created by Sandra Howe. (Courtesy photo Mary Doyle)

SPRINGVALE, Maine - Southern Maine Garden Club recently met at the Springvale Library for an informative lecture on the Shaker Museum in Alfred. The presenter was Linda Aaskov, a curator at the museum. She shared with the club members her great interest in the Shakers that resided in Alfred.

Maine's Shaker roots began in Alfred; it was in Alfred that Elder Joseph Brackett wrote the most iconic Shaker song, "Simple Gifts" - which Aaron Copeland made famous in "Appalachian Spring" ballet that he scored. Shaker life is valued for its simplicity, respect for nature, proficiency in art, furniture design, architecture and agriculture; the Shakers seek harmony in all things.

The Alfred Shaker Museum is located at 118 Shaker Hill Road, Alfred (www.alfredshakermuseum.com), and it is open for visits May through November on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 1-4. The former Shaker Carriage House is a museum and educational center offering workshops in the arts and crafts as well as events such as the annual music festival. They participate in Alfred Days in July, the September Apple Fest and Maine Maple Sunday in March as well as other events (consult the website).

Contained within the museum is a historically accurate rendering of the Alfred Shaker Hill landscape that has been captured by Cornish artist Sandra Howe. The mural was dedicated in September 2011 by one of the three surviving Shakers, Brother Arnold Hadd, who resides at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester. The mural is 10-foot by 7-foot and it resides on a wall in the Alfred Shaker Museum's Morrison Community Room.

SMGC meets throughout the year at the Springvale Library on the third Wednesday of every month beginning at 6:30 PM (unless otherwise noted). The public is invited to attend to sample our meetings to see if you would like to join us. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, January 21st, at the Library and the presenter will be Sydney Sirois from Sirois Family Farm in Lebanon, ME, and the title of the presentation is "Now what do I do?" Preserving your harvest - FMI please contact - Mary Stewart-Dore at 207-490-1833 or in NH - Donna Claveau at 603-332-4860.

Read more from:
lifestyle
Tags: 
None
Share: 
Comment Print
Powered by Bondware
News Publishing Software

The browser you are using is outdated!

You may not be getting all you can out of your browsing experience
and may be open to security risks!

Consider upgrading to the latest version of your browser or choose on below: