SPOTLIGHT ON NOTABLE PARSONSFIELD RESIDENT - ALICE E. GRANVILLE

 Alice Granville was an active and well known resident of Parsonsfield for all her adult life.  She was born in Brownfield, Maine July 15, 1884; daughter of David S. and Anne Elizabeth (Staples) Fogg.

January 1, 1903 she was married to Harvey E. Granville who was also active in Parsonsfield town affairs, the first principal of Porter High School at Kezar Falls in 1920 and served in both houses of the Maine State Legislature.  

They had a son, Harry F. Granville born in 1903.  In 1911 they moved to reside on Elm Street in Kezar Falls Village, Parsonsfield.  Her husband passed away on August 18, 1948. 

Alice was active in many state and local organizations.  She became a member of the Ladies Magazine and Reading Club in 1905 and became a member of the Kezar Falls Circulating Library Association the same year.  She served as its librarian for several years.

When the Kezar Falls Branch, American Red Cross was organized in 1917, she served as its first secretary with Mrs. Bessie Stearns Johansen.  In 1945 she also became active in the work of the Salvation Army serving as Kezar Falls treasurer and was Chairman of the welfare committee in that area for many years.

From 1925 – 1945 Alice was president of the York County Tuberculosis and Health Association and was honored by them in May 1964 for her part in a statewide effort to improve personal health.

Previous to 1928 she was made a member of the executive board of the Maine Public Health Association, serving for many years.  She also served as chairman of the health committee of the Maine Federation of Women’s Clubs for two years and was the first treasurer of the Women’s Legislative Council.

She was best known as the Parsonsfield Town Clerk where she served from 1938 to 1964, was Registrar of Voters and held the office of Excise Tax Collector for a number of years. Alice passed away April 14, 1982 at the age of 98 and is buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds Cemetery.

Hanging the Crane

 While doing genealogical research of the Merrifield family, Sylvia Pease came across this ceremony practiced by early settlers.  According to Gideon Ridlon’s account in “Saco Valley Settlements and Families” the story goes as follows…….

Having put up their log houses the previous year and in the autumn after securing their harvests and a new fall of snow, Levi Merrifield and his brother-in-law John Kennard packed all their household belongings on a common ox-sled, seated their two young wives upon it and began their journey to settle in the wild lands of Limington (then known as the plantation of Little Ossipee).  Arriving late the second evening, “Here in the wilderness, surrounded by towering hills the brief ceremony of “hanging the crane” was attended to and full of courage, vim and health these young people began life in earnest.” 

The ceremonial hanging of an iron crane (a potholder mounted to the wall of a fireplace for cooking) symbolized the making of a home – whether a new home as described above, or when newlyweds set up their first home.

In 1874 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about this in his poem - “The Hanging of the Crane”.  In his poem – having performed this task in the home, the newlywed couple celebrated with family and friends with merriment and jests.  The wedding guests depart leaving the fatigued couple alone before their newly renovated hearth contemplating family and the future.

It is a very long poem. The first stanza included here describes the ceremony.  To read the whole poem just google the title.

The lights are out, and gone are all the guests

That thronging came with merriment and jests

  To celebrate the Hanging of the Crane

In the new house, -- into the night are gone;

But still the fire upon the hearth burns on,

  And I alone remain.

O fortunate, O happy day

When a new household finds its place

Among the myriad homes of earth,

Like a new star just sprung to birth,

And rolled onto its harmonious way

Into the boundless realms of space!

So said the guests in speech and song,

As in the chimney, burning bright

We hung the iron crane to-night,

And merry was the feast and long.