Education

In 2001, with the help of a grant from Maine Arts, the Doughty Hill Band put together a program designed to teach Maine School children about their local history. Working with area Historical Societies, stories and landmarks were earmarked as most noteworthy subjects for the program. Each subject was then researched and with the help of local artists, historians, and authors, an audio visual selection was produced. Each subject has a custom written song by Sid Stutzman and Ron Hall, that is performed to punctuate the images of these historic places and events.

The program is available with a curriculum developed by Tracy Michaud Stutzman PHD that helps students interact with the program by coming up with their own historic subject matter. Through their writing, art, skits, and songs the student actually be come part of the show and bring their historical themes to a performance level. In this way we have taught students that history can be fun. The use of local artists and authors also increases the interest in the arts and gives students a practical approach to perform them.

Some of the subject matter of this slide show contains:

The Lost Child (Sid Stutzman)

This is the story of Ruth Ames of Sangerville a young girl who disappeared while running an errand for her mother in 1822. Ruth's mysterious disappearance was further complicated by an extraordinary court battle for the custody of a girl thought to be transformed by witchcraft. It is a true story of strange circumstances that made daily papers in some of the larger cities of New England.

K.I. (Sid Stutzman & Ron Hall)

K.I is a historical piece about one of the first industries in Piscataquis County. Katahdin Iron Works at its peak employed more then 200 men and produced over 20 tons of Iron a day. This was quite a feat back then when you consider the technology they used.

The Marriage of Dover and Foxcroft (Sid Stutzman)

In 1917, the towns of Dover and Foxcroft were set to be united, but unfortunately the men of those towns would not cast the vote required to do so. All that changed in 1922 when women got the right to vote. They filled the voting hall and brought about the joining of the two towns. This was probably one of the first acts of women suffrage in Piscataquis County.

Conversations with a Mountain (Sid Stutzman)

This is the story of Mount Kineo from the mountains point of view. As a meeting place of Stone Age Native Americans, Kineo was a source of Ryolite, a flint like material used in making stone tools. In latter years it was home to a grand hotel, with a dining room that could seat 500 people at once. It seems Kineo has always been a destination.

drawing by Pete Eldridge

painting by Alan Bray

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