Local author captures ‘Sangerville Over the Centuries’

By Dyan McCarthy-Clark

SANGERVILLE — Diana Bowley, a seventh generation Sangerville resident, vividly captures her hometown’s history in her new book “Sangerville Over the Centuries: Town of Two Knights”. The 400-plus page volume offers readers a rich collection of both well-known facts and “undiscovered” aspects of Sangerville’s past, making the book an easy and entertaining read.

Building on these personal connections, Bowley proudly reflected, “My links to Sangerville run deep.” Her ancestor James Weymouth, was one of the 18 petitioners who approached the Massachusetts Legislature in 1814 to incorporate the territory as the town of Sangerville. 

“Nearly all of my ancestors are buried in the Village Cemetery,” Bowley — who spent a number of decades writing for the Bangor Daily News — continued. “I am the fifth generation to live on the same family property.”

The search for facts had Bowley utilizing a wide variety of resources, from the town office to local libraries to the Maine State Library. She also combed through historical resources at Folger Library on the University of Maine campus, searched countless websites and examined artifacts from collections across the state. Furthermore, the Sangerville Historical Society, of which Bowley is president, proved to be an invaluable source of information, photographs and primary source documents. Finally, her own assemblage of artifacts and historical information about her hometown — gathered by her family over the years — rivals any museum collection.

She found her research challenging at times, especially when tracing family names. “Names were often spelled how they sounded to the recording person. [That] was the case for my ancestor James, whose family name was alternatively recorded as Waymouth, Waymoth, Weymouth and Weymoth.” Bowley remarked that historians often run into such hurdles, but the puzzle is worth the effort.

Bowley especially enjoyed interviewing individuals whose families have roots in the town almost as deep as her own. The stories shared by those families give an “up-close and personal” account of life as it was, both in the village and in the far-flung farms and hamlets of the town.  Newspaper accounts of long-forgotten human interest stories mingle with chapters that chronicle the rise of industry and commerce. In several chapters, Bowley is delighted to have confirmed as fact what seemed to have been fanciful local folklore.

The self-published work, whose printing was funded by the Sangerville Historical Society, is packed with pictures that give a peek into the past. With street scenes, family portraits and photos of posters and regional newspaper clippings, Bowley has created a richly illustrated volume. Early town voter records and accounts of town meetings provide the reader with an opportunity to experience historical civic business and discover how much 21st-century people have in common with those of the past.

In an effort to make the town’s history accessible, Bowley is selling the book at cost, hoping that any interested buyers can afford its $30 price tag. She emphasized, “It’s more important to me that people can learn about the history of our wonderful town than to make a profit.” Proceeds from the book sales will be returned to the Sangerville Historical Society to replenish their treasury.  

Bowley is stunned by the publication’s positive reception. Over 160 copies of the first printing of 200 volumes have been reserved by enthusiastic readers. With the remaining copies almost sold out, she is contemplating a second printing to meet demand. If the buzz about this historical record is any indication, Bowley’s history of her beloved Sangerville is already a resounding “best seller”. Remaining copies are available at Sangerville’s town office and will be on sale at Stutzman’s Farm Stand and Bakery in Sangerville, when they open for the season.