Hosta Art
I had no idea that fugitives from slavers in the United States had made the terrifying flight to freedom through little Fort Fairfield and into our province. In the course of one week, however, I was told about this slice of local history by four different people who all suggested that we tell folks about it.
Joe Gee is a history buff and he had been doing research into the subject. His inquiries had put him in touch with a local historian, collector and avid gardener near Fort Fairfield named Arthur Mraz.
Joe took me to meet Art last week at his beautiful and secluded home to gather up more information about the Underground Railroad. Along the way we drove over now paved roads that would have been part of the route taken by the people fleeing into Canada.
Mr. Mraz is an absolute fountain of information and entertainment. He is a World War II veteran, having served in the Pacific as an engineer. Once back in the states, he taught courses as a college professor and his interest in history has led him down some interesting trails.
With his late wife Ruth, the couple took care of the Quaker’s Friends Church in the Maple Grove settlement outside of Fort Fairfield.
They hosted tours and told groups about the history of the church, which is the oldest still standing in northern Maine. It was the last stop on this part of the underground railroad before the refugees made it to New Brunswick and freedom!
The Canadian connection for the refugees was with the Tomlinson family, just south of Carlingford. The Friends Church was built on the Canadian border to help slaves escape to freedom.
The Quakers were a sect ahead of their time. The Society of Friends was the first religious democracy. Created in 1647 by a young Puritan named George Fox the friends were pacifists who abhorred war. They believed in the equality of men and women and were abolitionists. They worshipped in simple meeting houses and believed that God dwells in our hearts, not in temples.
They avoided creeds and religious symbols. The Friends Church has a glorious stained glass window that is made up of geometric shapes and forms only….there are no saints or crosses or religious icons.
A secret hiding place for refugees was discovered under the pulpit because the cover to the hole was made from the crate the stained glass window had been shipped in. The folks working on the restoration wondered why an addition had been made using wood different from the rest of the platform.
I thought a hosta was just a hosta until I met Art! The plants are all lovingly tended, and each variety has a placard underneath announcing its name.
Art even bred a new variety which is named after his wife Ruth and is officially recognized by the Hosta Society.
The hosta gardens have stone pathways laid through them giving it all a fairy tale look. I kept expecting to see pixies and sprites under every plant!
They were there, I am sure….I just couldn’t see them. Plants as lovingly tended as these would attract all kinds of nature spirits!
Stephanie Kelley
