Chapter History

Mary Dillingham-Burnt Meadow Chapter, NSDAR was organized by Caroline Rich in January 1895, as the second chapter in Maine.

The chapter namesake was Mary, the wife of Captain Samuel Dillingham of the Continental Army.  Mary Dillingham was one of the ‘matrons’ who assisted in receiving George Washington on his visit to Boston, Massachusetts, to take command of the Army.  Their daughter, Mary Dillingham, was born in Hanover, Massachusetts, in 1757. In Freeport, Maine, in 1786,  she married John Stockbridge, born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, in 1757. He served in the American Revolutionary War for seven years. The couple lived in Freeport, Maine, where five children were born to them. They later moved to Dixfield, Maine, for a time, where he taught school and worked as a surveyor. While he was surveying in the wilds of No. 6, later named Byron, Oxford County, Maine, he decided to relocate there. This is where the Stockbridge family spent their remaining years, and they are buried there in the Stockbridge Cemetery.

Caroline Webster Stockbridge Downs Rich was born and grew up in Byron, and she named the chapter for her beloved great-grandmother. Our organizing chapter regent was the daughter of John Stockbridge, Jr., and Anna Leavitt; granddaughter of John Stockbridge and Mary Dillingham of Byron, Maine; and Joseph Leavitt and Anna Stevens of Turner, Maine. Caroline is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Auburn, Maine. Her father is also buried in Stockbridge Cemetery in Byron, Maine.

Shortly after the Mary Dillingham-Burnt Meadow Chapter, NSDAR was formed by the twelve women, there was a fire that destroyed the Lewiston City Hall. Many of the old Manufacturers’ and Mechanics’ Lending Libraries were lost.

These ladies quickly decided on a project to provide a public library for Lewiston.  Regent Caroline W. D. Rich lived on Faculty Row next door to Helen Frye White, daughter of Senator William P. Frye, who was then President Pro-tem of the Senate. Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie was providing funds for libraries in many places.  The political connection with Senator William P. Frye soon secured a gift of $50,000 from Mr. Carnegie to build this elegant library for the city of Lewiston.

The lovely granite building on the corner of Pine and Park Streets was opened to the public in 1903.  The Board of Trustees always includes a member of the Mary Dillingham-Burnt Meadow Chapter, NSDAR.

This building is still in use as a library today and has been expanded.