Raising the flag at the camp, Drew's Lake Maine, abt 1938

Raising the flag at the camp, Drew's Lake Maine, abt 1938

 

Ervin, Cora and others at Drew's Lake, ME abt 1938

Ervin, Cora and others at Drew's Lake, ME abt 1938

 

Another Article on Cora-October 28, 1933

The Bangor Daily News-October 28th, 1933

 

LEGION LADIES HONOR DEPUTY

Mrs. Zilpha Neal Hostess at Reception to Cora Putnam

Mrs. Cora Putnam, of Houlton, Deputy Vice President of the American Auxiliary of Maine, was the guest of honor at a party given Friday evening by Mrs. Zilpha Neal, at her home at 324 Essex street. The evening was spent in bridge, with the guest of honor, Mrs. Putnam winning first honors, and the consolation prize going to Mrs. Mary Boldue.

Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess.

Those present at the party were: Mrs. Alice Toxier, Mrs. Maude Doran, Mrs. Eleanor Partridge, Mrs. Leone Towle, Mrs. Mary Boldue, Mrs. Gladys Jameson, Mrs. Cora Putnam, and Mrs. Zilpha Neal.

Article on Cora Putnam

 So, my brother was talking to me about a family legend that my Great Grandmother Cora Putnam had one of the first cars in Houlton or possibly one of the first deriver's licenses in the state and I though I would go looking.  I found nothing on those topics but did find more articles about Cora.  So here is one of the ones I found.  This is from the October 9th, 1957 edition of The Bangor Daily News.  

Honored-Cora M. Putnam, past worthy grand matron of the Grand Chapter of Maine, OES, left, was honored by Fidelity Chapter, and guest chapters, Monday evening at "Cora Putnam Night" at Houlton. Right is Doris E. Moody, worthy matron of Fidelity Chapter(Tozier photo)

Cora Putnam Honored by Houlton OES

HOULTON, Oct. 8-Past Worthy Grand Matron of the grand chapter of Maine, OES, Cora M. Putnam, was honored by the members of Fidelity chapter No. 32, and guest chapters, Monday evening at Houlton.

The evening, designated as Cora Putnam night, and obligation night, honored Mrs. Putnam as a charter member and past worthy matron of Fidelity chapter. Mrs. Putnam was presented with a gift from the chapter by Worthy Matron Doris Moody. Gifts were also presented to the honored guest by Worthy Matron Ada Peabody of Victoria Chapter, N.B. and Past Matron Sarah Green of Carlton chapter, Florenceville, N.B.

Distinguished guests attending were Past Grand Matron Edna Kilpatrik and Past Grand Matron Mae Earl, both of the Grand chapter of New Brunswick, OES; grand secretary of the grand chapter of New Brunswick and district deputy grand matron of District 19, Margaret Conners. Grand representative Ethel Smith of Presque Isle; Alice Caine of Carleton chapter, N.B., and Daisy Taylor of Houlton.

 The worthy matron, Doris Moody, presided at the meeting. An invitation was read from Felicity chapter No. 295 Bucksport, to attend the 25th anniversary October 15 at 3 o'clock. An invitation was read from Luna chapter, Presque Isle, observing Friendship night on October 9. An invitation was also read from Celestial chapter, Fredericton, N.B. to attend the regular meeting of the chapter on October 16 at 8 o'clock Atlantic Standard Time.

A 50 year pin was presented to Myrtle Logan and 25 year pins were presented to Gladys Purdy and Past Patron Arthur Robinson, by Fidelity Chapter. The Past Matrons and Past Patrons Association presented a new baton to Fidelity chapter.

A ceremony was conducted with the members of the Order of the Eastern Star renewing their obligations.

The degrees if the order were conferred on Andy Boutilier, John McLaughlan, Gerald Scovill and Bernard Judkins.

  Past Matron Edith Gray was chairman of the evening's program with Annabel Hussey playing several piano selections. Miss Ruth Mooers, accompanied by Mrs. Robert Josselyn, sang several numbers.

Inspection of the chapter will be held on November 4 by the Worthy Grand Matron Gertrude Powers, grand chapter of Maine, OES.

Refreshments were served by the past matrons with Mildred B. McIntosh, chairman.

Photo of Walter Carpenter, Frank Carpenter, Cora, Florence, and Vie at the camp on Drew's Lake, Maine

Photo of Walter Carpenter, Frank Carpenter, Cora, Florence, and Vie at the camp on Drew's Lake, Maine

 

Photo of Ervin, Cora, Richard, Unknown and Robert at Camp

Ervin, Cora, Richard, Unknown and Robert at Camp

 

More Putnam photos I need help with

 I suspect most of these are at the camp, but I don't know who all is in the photos.  I also, don't know when these were taken but I suspect early 1930s.

Mary, Robert and Richard Putnam with others, 1932-1935.  Possibly Harriette Putnam, Frances and Jeanette Cates

Woman and child at camp, date unknown,  Possibly Harriette Putnam and Jeanette Cates

Richard, Unknown, Amos and Robert Putnam

Cora, dog and Unknown group at camp

I can't remember if I posted this before. Can anyone help me identify the people in this photo?

 

This photo was taken at the Putnam Family camp around 1934.  I can identify my Dad, my Uncle, Amos Putnam, Cora Margaret Carpenter, Mary Gertrude Connelly but don't know who the others are.  Any help would be appreciated.  

Data from the 1950s Census-Cora M. Carpenter

1950 Census

I've also found my Great Grandmother living with her daughter and son-in-law in the Houlton, ME.  They were on Page 18 of the Houlton, ME 2-61 report living at 45 Pleasant Street. Here is what I found.

• Fred C. Greaves is a 50 year old white male who was born in Maine. He worked 60 hours as the Houlton Town Manager the previous week,
• Margaret P. Greaves is a 52 year old white female who was born in Maine. She worked 38 hours the previous week as a teacher at the High School.
• Cora M. Carpenter is a 76 year old white female who was born in Maine.  She is widowed and is listed as doing house keeping.

Photo Friday: Putnam Family Photo at the Camp

 For this photo Friday, I'm posting a family photo from 1935.  I know some of the people in it and have suspicions on the others but would love to hear your thoughts.

Putnam Family Photo at the Camp, 193

From left to right:

• Robert Putnam
• Stanley Greaves?
• Dog
• Margaret Putnam?
• Amos Putnam
• Harriette Putnam?
• Mary Connelly
• My Uncle
• Frederick Greaves?
• Frances Cates?
• Jeanette Cates?
• Cora Carpenter

I love the dog in this, so did a zoom in:

Smiling Dog

Photo Friday: 1925 Putnam Family Photo

 I don't know all the people in this but here are the ones I can identify:

Back Row: Madge Weldon Putnam, Frank Putnam, Vie Carpenter, Unknown Woman, Unknown Man, Harold Cates, Harriette Putnam Cates, Unknown Woman(Possibly Ruth Putnam), Unknown Man(Possibly Francis Sleeper), Unknown Woman(Possibly Margaret Putnam) , Unknown Man(Possibly Fred Harold Greaves), Ervin Earl Putnam

Front Row: Frank Benjamin Carpenter, Amos Putnam, Unknown Child(Possibly Amos W. Putnam), Cora Carpenter Putnam, Unknown Child(Possibly Kathleen Putnam), Unknown Child (Possibly Joyce May Putnam), Unknown Woman, Unknown Child

In Front: Unknown Child(Possibly Joan Putnam)

Putnam Family-1925

Descendants of Amos Putnam and Cora Margaret Carpenter

• Amos Putnam(1863-1936)-P2 married Cora Margaret Carpenter(1872-1964)-P3
• Frank Houlton Putnam(1892-1930) married Madge Weldon(1891-1957)
• Joyce May Putnam(1920-1926)
• Amos Weldon Putnam(1921-1983) married Ann Elizabeth Campbell(1921-2008)
• Living married Peter Earnshaw Murray Willis(1910-1995)
• Joan Lucy Putnam(1925-2008) married Vernon Entwhistle Dean(1916-1993)
• Madge Putnam(1928-1928)
• Ervin Earl Putnam(1893-1988)-P1 married Mary Gertrude Connelly(1895-1972)-C1
• Robert Ervin Putnam(1927-2011)-P0 married Florence Caroline Wright(1930-2016)-W0
• Living Son married Living
• Margaret Louise Putnam(1895-1978) married Fred Harold Greaves(1927-2003)
• Stanley Putnam Greaves(1927-2003) married Jaqueline M. Hall(1928-2008)
• Living married Living
• Harriette Carpenter Putnam(1898-1992) married Harold Farnhan Cates(1892-1947)
• Frances Ann Cates(1925-1940)
• Living married Living
• Ruth Lydia Putnam(1900-1978) married Frank Harper Sleeper(1900-1983)
• Francis Harper Sleeper(1927-2006) married Living

 I am not sure of the status of some of the people I marked as living, but want to be careful with their information.

Ancestry of those who appeared in the Putnam Family Reunion photo

Putnam Family Reunion, Houlton, ME 1922-Numbered

Below you will find a descendant chart for Aaron Putnam and Isabelle Patrick that can tie to most of the people in the photo.  It does not show all of Aaron's descendants, just the parts of the family that relate to the photo.  If the name is followed by a -P# then they represent my direct ancestors.  All of the people in the photo are noted with a (#) at the beginning of their name so you can tie them back to the photo and are highlighted in green.

• Aaron Putnam(1773-1849)-P16 married Isabelle Patrick(1773-1867)-P17
• Amos Putnam(1773-1849)-P8 married Christiana Jane Wormwood(1804-1894)
• Levi Houlton Putnam(1820-1890)-P4 married Sara Bradbury(1820-1901)-P5
• (#51) Amos Putnam(1863-1936)-P2 married (#3 )Cora Margaret Carpenter(1872-1964)-P3
• Frank Houlton Putnam(1892-1930) married (#4) Mage Weldon(1891-1957)
• (#7) Joyce May Putnam(1920-1926)
• (#5) Amos Weldon Putnam(1921-1983)
• (#6) Margaret Louise Putnam(1895-1978)
• Lydia Trask Putnam(1822-1904) married David Hanigan(1823-1904)
• Alonzo R. Hanigan(1854-1914) married Mary Amelia Bradbury(1861-1903)
• (#53) Frederick O Hanigan married (#2) Clara Maria Crawford(1884-1953)
• (#54) Robert F. Hanigan(1907-1985)
• (#1) Ruth Madeline Hanigan(1909-2005)
• Lyman O Putnam(1834-1872) married Martha Ann Packard(1836-1901)
• Thomas P. Putnam(1862-1920) married (#10) Jennie C. Stevens(1864-1924)
• (#48) Dr. Harry L. Putnam(1863-1934) married (#9) Gertrude M. Bass(!864-1945)
• Polly Cook Putnam(1836-1920) married Andrew H. Porter(1843-1914)
• (#16) Alice M. Porter(1870-1952)
• (#22) Margaret Anne Porter(1871-1957)
• (#42) Sally Cook Porter(1873-1954) married (#45) Birdsill Bert McIntyre(1868-1951)
• (#14) Gertrude McIntyre(1903-????)
• (#41) Andrew Porter McIntyre(1905-1940)
• Isa Angeline Putnam(1838-1916) married Frances Barnes(1840-1893)
• (#35) Charles Putnam Barnes(1868-1951) married (#11) Annie Maud Richardson(1871-1951)
• (#13) Margaret Louise Barnes(1911-1984)
• (#12) Frances "Frank" Barnes(1914-1986)
• (#38) Varney Wheeler Putnam(1839-1930)
• (#19) Margaret Burleigh Putnam(1845-1922) married John Edgar Burnham(1842-1912)
• (#21) Margaret Louise Burnham(1886-1973) married Alvin Leslie Cotton(1885-1972)
• (#20) Edward "Ted" Cotton(1915-1998)
• (#23) Carey Howe Cotton(1919-1998)
• Frank Lewis Putnam(1850-1887) married Anna Jane Donnell(1857-1920)
• (#26) Alice Wiggins Putnam(1883-1973) married (#44) Justin Clark Rose(1869-1933)
• (#25) Anna Witchell Putnam(1886-1980) married Leonard A. Pierce(1885-1960)
• (#24) Leonard Augustus Pierce(1916-2005)
• (#17) Jotham Donnell Pierce(1918-1990)
• (#27) Francis Madigan Pierce(1919-1990)
• (#39) Benjamin Putnam Pierce(1921-2000)
• Lysander Putnam(1806-1886) married Ruth Fall Libby(1809-1895)
• (#52) Mellen D. Putnam(1849-1925) married (#8) Belle Ida Bell(1865-1942)
• (#47) Albert T. Putnam(1852-1937) married Cordelia W. Putnam(1858-1915)
• (#34) Fred Lysander Putnam(1880-1974) married Mary Alice Pearce(1886-1978)
• (#29) Cordelia Putnam(1911-1994)
• (#33) Albert Pearce Putnam(1913-1966)
• (#18) Emma Ruth Putnam(1884-1948) married (#36) Bernard Archibald(1881-1942)
• (#32) James Putnam Archibald(1912-2006)
• (#17A) Ruth Archibald(1914-1945)
• (#15) Mary Cordelia Archibald(1916-1997)
• (#49) Aaron Albert Putnam(1886-1968) married Maria L. Hacker(1890-1969)
• (#28) Elizabeth Putnam(1918-2010)
• (#30) Beatrice Hannah Putnam(1896-1995) married (#37) John O. Willey(1891-1989)

There are a few outliers, that I have listed below:

• (#11A) Unknown, friend of Jennie Stevens Putnam and Annie Richardson Putnam
• (#31) Mae Cleveland
• (#40) Clarance H. Pierce(1848-1933) married Francis E. Madigan(1851-1908)
• Leonard A. Pierce(1885-1960) married (#25) Anna Witchell Putnam(1886-1980)
• (#24) Leonard Augustus Pierce(1916-2005)
• (#17) Jotham Donnell Pierce(1918-1990)
• (#27) Francis Madigan Pierce(1919-1990)
• (#39) Benjamin Putnam Pierce(1921-2000)
• (#46) Ned Putnam
• Abraham Pearce(1798-1850) married Fanny Cook(1807-1870)
• Joseph C. Pearce(1843-1926) married Harriet E. Williams(1848-1926)
• Mary Alice Pearce(1886-1978) married (#34) Fred Lysander Putnam(1880-1974)
• (#29) Cordelia Putnam(1911-1994)
• (#33) Albert Pearce Putnam(1913-1966)
• (#50) Varney Pearce(1847-1924) married Myra Anna Hussey(1851-1941)
• Evelyn Pearce(1882-1956)

The Putnam Family Reunion

Putnam Family Reunion, Houlton, ME approximately 1922

I have to admit I'm pretty excited about this post.  I found this photo in Dad's papers.  It is a photo of a Putnam family reunion that took place in the early 1920's based on the age of some of the people in the photo.  Someone, possibly Amos or Cora, has written who everyone was on the back.  There are some discrepancies in the first row, but this is genealogical gold.  I'll list who everyone is below and comment on how I am related to the ones I know.  This may take several posts to complete, as I am clipping out each person from the photo so you can get a better look.

Front Row, right to left

1. Ruth Hannigan, my 3rd cousin, once removed.  Daughter of Frederick Olanzo and Clara Hannigan.  She would have been about 13 in the photo.

2. Clara Hannigan, wife of Frederick Olanzo Hannigan, my 2rd cousin twice removed. Her estimated age in the photo is 38.

3. Cora Putnam, my Great Grandmother. She would have been about age 50.

4. Madge Putnam, Wife of my Great Uncle Frank Houlton Putnam, age 31.

5. Amos Weldon Putnam, Son of Frank Houlton Putnam and Madge Putnam, age 1.

6. Margaret Putnam, my Great Aunt, was married in 1924 so this photo was taken before that.  She was about 27 in the photo.

7. Joyce May Putnam, Daughter of Frank Houlton Putnam and Madge Putnam.  Joyce died in 1926 at the age of 5 and this is the only photo I've seen of her.  Here she was about 2.

8. Bella Putnam (Mrs. Mel), Wife of Mellen D. Putnam, my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.  She would have been about 57 in the photo.

9. Gertrude Putnam (Mrs. Harry), Wife of Harry L. Putnam, my 1st cousin, 3 times removed. She would have been about 58 in the photo.

10. Jennie Putnam (Mrs. Tom), Wife of Thomas Packard Putnam, my 1st cousin, 3 times removed, I believe Tom died before this photo was taken.  She would have been about 59 in the photo.

That's all I will cover for today.  The batch I will cover in the next post is where there is some confusion.  I will do my best to get it right, but apologize in advance for any screw ups.  

More on Cora Carpenter

When I was home, I came across a document written (I believe) by my father's cousin, Francis Harper Sleeper about his grandmother (my great grandmother) Cora Margaret Carpenter.  It seems like a copy that my father edited for him, and I don't know what happen to the final product.  Given some of the comments he made, I suspect this was written in 2002. It is a bit odd, as I am transcribing his write up, that included quotes that Cora made as part of a 1910 speech.  Normally, I put my transcriptions into italics, but thought it would be better to skip it this time.  I've added some photos and maps where I thought it might help people understanding.

Cora M. Putnam, My Eastern Star Grandmother 

She taught her male grandchildren how to play poker summers at the Putnam cottage on Drew’s (Meduxnekeag) Lake in New Limerick. Several of the cousins used this skill with great ability when they were in the armed services. The writer did not. Instead, he lost all the money he'd made at the Temple Theater in Houlton during a whole summer in a single poker game

--and never played poker again.

She organized and cooked for large family gatherings at that same cottage. She was working with very individualistic people but her innate organizing ability won everyone over.

Cora M. Putnam, at the age of 38, became the first Grand Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star from Aroostook County in 1909-1910.

There was good reason for that election. This lady, who had received her post high school education at the Madawaska Training School (now the University of Maine at Fort Kent) and who had taught in Upper Saint John Valley schools and in Oakfield, had helped organize 0.E.S. chapters in Fredericton, Saint John, Woodstock and Grand Falls, New Brunswick, and Presque Isle, Patten, Mars Hill, Bridgewater, Ashland, Fort Fairfield and Sherman Mills in this state.

Born in Houlton June 14, 1872, about 130 years ago, Cora M. Carpenter married Amos Putnam June 2, 1891. He was a descendant of one of the two founding families of Houlton; the other family was the Houltons.

Stick your finger in the pie of most Houlton community and OES activities for more than half a century and you'd be liable to come up with the fine hand of Mrs. Putnam. She lived the OES and Masonic ideal of service to her community and country.

However, I would like first to turn to her farewell address as Grand Worthy Matron, made May 25, 1910 at the Eighteenth Annual Session of the Grand Chapter in Portland. While much of the talk involves organization matters, there are some sections which have relevance today.

Here are some of her words:

"As zealous workers for our Order, we all have, I trust, our ideals as to what the Eastern Star should be, and all are alive to the tremendous possibilities of its future. It cannot be said that we have yet attained to our full stature, and with whatever satisfaction we may contemplate the results already attained, the ideal is ever beyond them.”

"We have a standard in the great Masonic fraternity to which we owe our existence. There is a solidity and a firmness about Masonic ties which may not yet, but hope sometime to attain. It would be useless to speculate on the secret sources of Masonic life, and indeed by our very position as a dependent Order, we must always allow that that something makes the Masonic Order superior to our own. But if it be true (as we affirm) that woman's heart equally with man's beats responsive to the grand ideal of Brotherly Love, Relief and Trust, so we may permit ourselves on these foundations to aspire to erect a temple equally solid and enduring, if less glorious.”

"If we have given abundance of our time and labor to Eastern Star work it is not because we are unconscious of its imperfections, but because we are hopeful for the future. The true optimist is led ever onward by the visions of a glorious ideal, and in the contemplation of the ideal derives consolation amid the present imperfections.”

"Fraternity in the pursuit of noble aims is a grand ideal of the Eastern Star. Fraternity is the thing insisted upon in our obligation, and noble aims are the lessons inculcated by the heroines of our Order. Fraternity must have something to work upon, some common purpose and endeavor. It was this common purpose and endeavor which united the workmen on King Solomon's temple and laid the foundation for the Masonic spirit. That was man's work."

"Woman will find the fraternal bond in work more consistent with her sphere and learn from Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa the true ideal of womanhood. In our common pursuit of this ideal we shall realize the true fraternal spirit in the Order of the Eastern Star, and be drawn closer together as the principles of our Order shine with undiminished luster through our lives. Only as we hold to this high view of our privileges and responsibilities can it be true that in entering the Order we enter a new phase of life. Only as we cherish the highest ideals can we be said to have for our inspiration the Star of Bethlehem to guide us to the new Jerusalem of our hopes."

My grandmother concluded her speech thusly: "I may not have come up to what you might have wished, yet I have done my best, always striving to live up to the teachings of our Order--'That we love one another.'"

Is there enough of the fraternal spirit my grandmother talks about in Maine Masonry now? Do we really love one another as Christ taught us to do?

Since 9/11 this country has become more united than it has been since the days of World War II. Has Maine Masonry become more united since then? I can't answer these questions and don't even want to. I leave it up to the individual Mason. My grandmother once told me "Don't get the Masons mad at you." I've not always been successful at that due largely to my own ignorance and/or mistakes. I've tried, however.

Community service has always been one of the bulwarks of Masonry. My grandmother had set up these networks as she helped establish Eastern Star chapters. She used those networks, I believe, for community betterment which she herself led. She was, of course, a Past Matron of Fidelity Chapter, OES in Houlton. Later, she was made an honorary member of the Grand Chapter, OES in New Brunswick. She organized an International OES Field Day in 1914. That still exists as an International Night held by Fidelity Chapter and Victoria Chapter, OES, in Woodstock, New Brunswick. She received honors from the Supreme Association, Order of the Rainbow, which enrolled her in the Grand Cross of Color Book of Membership in the International Rainbow Temple.

On the community level, my grandmother organized and was for some 30 years’ executive secretary of the Southern Aroostook Chapter, American Red Cross. The chapter was formed during World War I. It had 21 branches from Bridgewater to Danforth. During World War II, she was chairman of overseas production for that chapter. She founded the women's auxiliary of Chester L. Briggs Post, American Legion, was its president five years and was vice president of the auxiliary's Maine Department two years. She was a delegate to the International Legion Auxiliary convention in Paris during 1927 and got a chance to use her Upper St. John Valley French for the first time in many years. It worked quite well. Some years later, she was a delegate to the auxiliary's national convention in Portland, Oregon.

Among services my grandmother got started in Houlton were bringing a Red Cross nurse into the town's schools along with milk lunches, a dental clinic for the elementary schools and clothing for needy children.

She was a past president of the Houlton Women's Club and the Houlton Business and Professional Women's Club. The last time I talked to Senator Margaret Chase Smith she clearly remembered my grandmother as one of her strongest supporters. A Unitarian Church member, she was 30 years’ secretary of the Aroostook County Unitarian Conference. Houlton Unitarians were, in general, much more conservative than are most Unitarians today. She was a past regent of Lydia Putnam Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. When you went to one of those DAR meetings in Houlton, you found most offices held by Mrs. Putnam, her sister, the mother of a son-in-law (Mrs. Mabel Cates) were also very active in Fidelity Chapter and a strong support to my grandmother in all her civic endeavors.

My grandmother received an overseas citation from the Red Cross and honors from the American Legion and the Houlton Rotary Club. She was definitely interested in history.

Cora Putnam was a charter member and past president of the Aroostook Museum in Houlton. She received a citation from Lydia Putnam Chapter, DAR, for her work to help restore Garrison Hill (used as a fort during the bloodless Aroostook War) and the Old Soldiers Cemetery in Houlton. At the age of 86, she had her 400 plus page "Story of Houlton" published. That work had been started by her husband, Amos Putnam, and she had worked on it more than 25 years. No other hard cover history of Houlton has been written since that 1958 book.

But my grandmother was right up on the latest news until she died. That was probably because, in her younger days, she was "that reporter from Houlton." At one time or another, she reported for the Houlton Pioneer Times, the Bangor Daily News, the Lewiston Sun, the Waterville Sentinel, all the Boston papers and the Associated Press.

Her biggest story, she always said, was the attempt by Werner Horn, a German spy, to blow up the railroad bridge at Vanceboro, Maine. The attempt didn't work. Horn was arrested and taken to the jail in Machias. Once there, he would speak to only one reporter--my grandmother. She was lined up with the Boston Post then and had to stay in Machias a week, filing a daily story with the Post. Horn eventually went back to Germany and, some years later, was declared insane and died in a mental hospital.

My grandmother's greatest thrill during her life "was the introduction of railroad service to Houlton. It was a great day for the people here." Maybe that has something to do with one of my lawyer sons working in the present Bangor and Aroostook bankruptcy matter.

My grandmother influenced me in various ways beyond teaching me to play poker and telling me not to offend Masons. Her internationalism influenced me greatly, though not in the direction of Canada. She was a great stamp collector. I became a stamp collector because of her and this further influenced me toward internationalism, though I wasn't aware of it at the time.

She gave me an interest in history, best shown in the 12 books of collections of old photographs of Maine communities and regions that I've done. And she gave me a feeling for the town of Houlton which will always be my home town to me, even though I only spent most of my summers there from the time I was very small until I was 20 or so.

What about her husband, Amos Putnam? He was no piker Masonically even though he never held a chair in his home lodge, Monument of Houlton. He did rise to become Grand King of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Maine. He was Past High Priest of the Aroostook Chapter, RAM, past commander of St. Aldemar Commandery, Knights Templar, in Houlton and past patron of Fidelity Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Houlton. He joined Monument Lodge in 1889.

His working life included a stint with the John Millar Store in Houlton, 23 years as superintendent of buildings and grounds at the Houlton Post Office and 43 years with the Houlton Fire Department. He retired in 1927 and held the post of captain in that department several years. He was a great outdoorsman, especially on the Allagash and Mount Katahdin.

I'm extremely proud of both my Masonic grandparents. I could never live up to all the standards they (especially my grandmother) set.

My grandfather had nearly completed work on a history of Monument Lodge when he died. He had also started work on a history of Houlton. both were eventually completed. I have a copy of the Monument Lodge history generously given me by Richard Rhoda, our new Maine Lodge of Research Fellow.

I also want to thank Mrs. Mildred Mcintosh, ever my grandmother's great helper, with supplying me with Cora Putnam's farewell address.

Cora Margaret Carpenter (1872-1964)-P3

I've often said that Putnam men tend to marry strong, intelligent women.  My wife and Mother are examples,  so is Cora.  There is quite a bit that could be done documenting Cora's life and I've only scratched the surface with this post but you have to start somewhere.

Cora Putnam at the Charles Street house, 1935

Cora Margaret Carpenter (1872-1964)-P3
Birth: June 14th, 1872 in Houlton, ME
Father: Frank H Washington Carpenter (1845-1936)-P6
Mother: Elvira A. Green (1850-1917)-P7

Married: Amos Putnam (1863-1936)-P2 on June 2nd, 1891 in Houlton, ME

Children:
Frank Houlton Putnam (1892-1930)
Ervin Earl Putnam (1893-1988)-P1
Margaret Louise Putnam (1895-1978)
Hariette Carpenter Putnam (1898-1992)
Ruth Lydia Putnam (1900-1978)

Death: January 30th, 1964 in Houlton, ME

1872-1890
Cora Margaret Carpenter was born on June 14th, 1872 to Frank H Washington Carpenter (1845-1936)-P6 and Elvira A. Green (1850-1917)-P7 in Letter B, Houlton, ME  She appears to have been the younger of twins with her older sister, Nora Louise Carpenter (1872-1952) being listed first.  Frank is listed as being a trader.  Her brother, Walter Garfield Carpenter (1874-1956) was also born in Houlton in 1874.  Frank is now listed as a clerk.  Sometime between September 1874 and December 1875 the family moved north to Fort Kent, ME.  Their daughter, Althea Carpenter (1875-1894) was born there in December.  They lived there until at least 1880 when their son Frank Benjamin Carpenter (1880-1968) was born.  The 1880 U.S. Census shows them all living in Fort Kent.  Cora's father is listed as being a Deputy Sheriff.




By 1887, the family had moved to Van Buren, ME where Cora's twin siblings, Elivra Lydia Carpenter (1887-1978) and Charles Stinchfield Carpenter (1887-1965) were born. At some point between 1887 and 1891 they had moved back to Houlton.




1891-1910
On June 18th, 1891 Cora married Amos Putnam (1863-1936)-P2 in Houlton, ME.  Soon after that, they moved to Oakfield, ME where their oldest son, Frank Houlton Putnam (1892-1930) was born.  Their second son, Ervin Earl Putnam (1893-1988)-P1 was born on July 9th, 1893.  Cora is listed as being a teacher on his birth certificate.


In 1894, Cora's youngest brother Ralph B Carpenter was born and died in Houlton.   She also lost her sister Althea that year.  Cora appear to have stopped working before the birth of her next child in 1895, Margaret Louise Putnam (1895-1978) and she remained that way through the birth of her next two daughters, Hariette Carpenter Putnam(1898-1992) and Ruth Lydia Putnam (1900-1978).  At the time of Ruth's birth, the family had moved back to Houlton.  The 1900 U.S. Census has her living with Amos and the five children in back on Elm St in Houlton, ME.

Sometime after 1901, Cora started to work as a reported and she is listed as being a reporter for a newspaper in the 1910 U.S. Census.  She is living with Amos and the children  somewhere around number 6 Green Street.  The documents are a bit unclear as to the exact address.

1911-1930

Putnam Family in 1916-back row left to right: Ervin Putnam, 

Ruth Putnam, Elvira Green Carpenter, Amos Putnam, Charles Carpenter,

front row left to right: Harriette Putnam, 

Cora Carpenter Putnam, and Vie Carpenter

Both Cora's sons went of and fought in World War I.  Frank join up with the Canadians before the U.S. entered the war and Ervin was an X-Ray technician for the U.S..  Cora's mother, Elvira, died on April 26th, 1917.    By 1920, Cora is shown to be living with Amos, her daughters, Margaret, Hariett and Ruth, and son Frank with his wife at 6 Elm St. in Houlton ME.  Cora is listed as being a reporter and the Secretary for the Red Cross at the Red Cross Room.



We have a passenger list showing that she returned from a trip to France in 1927.  The return trip started in Le Harve, France on September 24th, 1927 and ended in Boston, MA on Octobr 2nd, 1927 on board the Scythia.  The document shows her still living at 6 Elm St.

 According to the 1930 U.S. Census she had moved with Amos to 9 Charles St. and was living with her father Frank and sister Elivira L. Carpenter.  Cora was still working as a reporter.  He eldest son, Frank died in 1930.

9 Charles St, Houlton, ME -1935

1931-1964

Carpenter Family at the Anchorage camp, 1931
Walter Carpenter, Frank Carpenter, Cora Putnam
Vie Carpenter, and Florence Carpenter 

1936 was a hard year for Cora with the loss of both her father and husband.  By 1940 she had moved to 21 Park St to live with daughter Harriette , Harriette's husband (Harold Cates) and children Francis A. and Jeanette.

She was a member of the Unitarian Church in Houlton and was active with quite a few organizations throughout her life.  We have newspaper articles That shows she held many offices with the Lydia Putnam Chapter of the Daughter's of the American Revolution, a member of the Legion Auxiliary, a member of North Star Camp Royal Neighbors of America.  In 1910 she was elected the Grand Matron of the Maine Grand Lodge of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She published two books.  I haven't been able to see a copy of one, History of the Carpenter family 1303-1845.  She published The Story of Houlton in 1958 after years of effort.  She built her work on research that her husband, Amos, and Father-in-Law Levi Houlton Putnam started.

Cora passed away in Houlton on January 30th, 1964 and is buried next to her husband in Evergreen Cemetery.  Her death was noted as far south as Portsmouth, NH, where the Order of the Eastern Star honored her.

Sources:

• 1880 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1880; Census Place: Fort Kent, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: 476; Family History Film: 1254476; Page: 24C; Enumeration District: 199; Image: 0049.
• 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: 589; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0028; FHL microfilm: 1240589
• 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T624_537; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0035; FHL microfilm: 1374550
• 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T625_641; Page: 40B; Enumeration District: 32; Image: 235
• 1930 United States Federal Census: Database online. Year: 1930; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: 829; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 53.0; FHL microfilm: 2340564.
• 1940 United States Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: Houlton, Aroostook, Maine; Roll: T627_1472; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 2-53
• Maine Death Index, 1960-1997: Name Cora M Putnam, Death Date 30 January 1964, Age 91. Town Houlton, Certificate 6400136
• Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922: Name Cora Margaret Carpenter, Gender Female, Birth Date 14 Jun 1872, Birth Place Houlton, Registration Place Houlton, Aroostook, Father Frank Carpenter, Mother Elvira A
• Boston, Massachusetts. Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943. Micropublication T843. RG085. 454 rolls. National Archives, Washington, D.C.
• U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15973429&ref=acom
• U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Database online. Number: 325-14-0871; Issue State: Illinois; Issue Date: Before 1951.