Hooray, hooray, she chortled in her joy! Tom Blackford and Susie Stephenson have bought the Salt Marsh Schoolhouse! We went down Saturday to their schoolhouse warming party. They have been working on the building, not in the best of shape, but still sound, restoring and cleaning floors, and stripping off some rather glum colored over-ornate wallpaper. Susie plans to use the building as a studio for her rug-hooking, and perhaps hold classes in that skill. I'll keep you all posted as work progresses.

The school room looks so small! I suppose, as with everything, perceived size changes as one grows bigger. I was at Salt Marsh from 1941 to ‘44. When Dad, John Colby, went back to sea, I went to school in Delhi, N.Y. I entered Lincoln Academy in 1949. I remember two teachers. Fronia Wasson wore a lot of magenta and armloads of bracelets, really glamorous. I think I have mentioned before, that of all the students who walked to school every winter morning, I was the one who was always late. I have found a couple of Mrs. Wasson's notes, "Dear Mrs. Colby, please see that Joanna arrives at school on time."

Of course, I'm the kid who lived right across the road. The other teacher was Miss Annie Adams, who was drafted out of retirement to fill the teacher gap when Mrs. Wasson left to do war work. She expedited learning by lining us all up, regardless of class or age, to read from the eighth grade reading book. I hear so much about "educational experiments" these days, like all ages in the same room, older or more competent students teaching the younger or less competent, etc. Miss Adams was a trail blazer!

Tom, who is The Deck House School's director of development, will have given a talk about the school at Spectrum Generations' lunch and learn program on Wednesday, Aug. 21. That's the trouble with Friday deadlines; I miss a lot of stuff happening mid-week!

Bob Thomas will be among those showing new paintings in "Edgy and Elegant," the late summer show at the Stable Gallery, opening Friday, August 16 Come all ye to the reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at 26 Water Street, Damariscotta Celtic music by Tamara Goltz and David Stimson will add to the elegance. This show can be seen daily through Sept. 10.

Row 3 of the Cochran Wedding Quilt, now in the collection of the Newcastle Historical Society: 3.1: no name, 3.2: Ann A. Palmer, 3.3: Albert Ryan, 3.4: no name, 3.5: Mrs. E. Perry, 3.6: R.M. Sarrett, 3.7: D.A. Chase In response to Row 2, Byron Johnson, on Spruce Ridge Road, tells me he is descended from the same Dodge family whose daughter Abigail is Abagail, according to the quilt. So, a distant cousin. As you see, some of these names are merely initials. If you suspect you have a relative named in this quilt, be sure to consult Nancy Hartley and Geraldine Hanley of the NHS who may be reached via newcastlehistoricalsociety@hotmail.com.

Flower of the Forest: Farewell to Pearl Pinkham, aged 101, who was the mother of two Salt Marsh School alumnae, the late Joan Creamer, whose husband Perley Creamer also attended the school, and Joyce Tuttle of Nobleboro. Our sincere condolences to all of Pearl's family and descendants. Donations in Pearl's memory may be made to Wiscasset Green Assisted Living Facility of the Eldercare Network of Lincoln County, P.O. Box 652, Damariscotta, ME 04543.

In the meantime, if you are an alumna/alumnus of the Salt Marsh School, or related to someone who went there, please let me know! Wouldn't a Salt Marsh School reunion be a nice way to celebrate the building, and ourselves? Several such alums are near neighbors, but others, as you can well imagine, have settled in widely different places. I can only hope that the word goes out, so we can agree on a date and make plans. Susie and Tom are all for it!

Anyone who once attended the Salt Marsh School in East Edgecomb, I can still be found at 234 River Road, 207-633-2978, and jocam@tidewater.net.