Marion Lillian Marley Sparrow
1909-2006
A lifetime of stories compiled of notes written by “Grammy” during her last years on this earth
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Marion L. Marley Sparrow, commonly known to the Sparrow and Gunter families as “Grammy” was a unique and amazing woman. Her personal drive and dedication to her family, church, and community distinguished her from us normal folks year after year. Marion’s legacy lives on through the lives of the countless people she touched as a teacher, patriot, Christian, and matriarch.
It is hoped that the stories contained herein will serve as a guiding force to younger family members denied the opportunity to know Grammy firsthand, and possibly explain how certain of her life experiences molded her personality, creating the Grammy that we have all come to love and admire so much.
--John R. Gunter, grandson
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Marion Lillian was born June 20, 1909 in Lowell, Massachusetts. That she was delivered by a handmaiden at home to an unwed mother named Hazel Brown was a closely-guarded secret of Marion’s that she preferred not to discuss until the end, even with her immediate family. Eventually Marion did share this information after much strained prodding by her family; after all, none of us chooses the conditions of our birth and we are all so blessed by the lifetime of love she has given us. Maybe someday the descendents of Hazel Brown will read these stories and appreciate and honor the decisions and sacrifices made by Hazel.
At about one year of age, Marion was placed in the care of Frank and Blanch Marley, of Smyrna, Maine in Aroostook County. Smyrna is in the far northeastern area of Maine, near Houlton. The connection between Hazel Brown and Frank and Blanch Marley is not yet known by the Sparrow family.
Marion had a doll she named “Jane” and a teddy bear that she slept with. She also had a black coon cat named “Blacky.” The Marleys kept two cows, one horse, two hogs, several chickens and turkeys. Marion recalls teasing the gobbler, which resulted in her getting chased and the gobbler strutting around afterwards.
Frank Marley had a sister named Lottie Jane. Lottie Jane soon married Word Grant and Marion was then taken care of by the Grants from the age of four on the Grant homestead in Ludlow, about a mile from Smryna. Frank and Lottie Jane’s mother, Charlotte Marley, lived in a small apartment on the Word Grant homestead, too.
Marion started school in Smyrna when she was seven years old. There was no kindergarten at that time. Miss Marie White was Marion’s first teacher, and there were about twenty students. A school cart driver by the name of Leslie McGee picked Marion up each morning in Ludlow and took her one mile to the schoolhouse in Smyrna. Eventually the town of Ludlow built its own school, Brown School, and Marion then started walking to school. Brown School housed grades 3-8.
Like most schools, Brown School had its share of special programs and fund raisers. An event called a “box social” was a particular favorite. Attendees would bid on contents of boxes prepared or offered by each student, with the box’s contents going to the highest bidder. Marion recalls her Aunt Lottie Jane helping her make a treat with lemon filling, whipped cream, and a cherry on top—earning Marion the highest bid that evening!
Marion recalls wearing her snow skis to school during winters. Miss Cogwell was her favorite teacher while at Brown School.
There was a brook which ran past her aunt’s house (Lottie Grant) to a small lake. A dam was built to supply water to a pump situated inside a shed. This water was used to for washing purposes; drinking water was supplied by a spring on the property.
Marion remembers playing in the brook as a girl and collecting rocks. She and a cousin, Donald, went trout fishing on occasion. Behind the house was a steep hill used by area kids to ski down. Sometimes they jumped over barrels. Old barrel slats were used to slide down the icy hill. As they got older some kids used bobsleds.
A state snowplow tried to keep the middle of the roads cleared for traffic, which resulted in the creation a great sliding track. On moonlit evenings all younger family members would go bobsledding, which was a community-wide event. A favorite stretch of road-turned bobsledding track allowed them to go over half a mile (presumably before having to walk back, towing a sled).
In summers teenagers would gather at someone’s house and have “lawn parties.” Parents were always present to serve refreshments and keep an eye on things. There were no radios, televisions, etc. The card game “Old Maid” was a common activity, as was checkers and homemade board games.
Marion later attended Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, which is about 150 miles south of Smyrna. Aunt Lottie Jane had a male cousin that lived near there and Marion helped his wife do house chores in exchange for her own board. The family had three sons; two were at University of Maine and their youngest, David, was just a year older than Marion. Marion and David walked the ¾ mile to school together, returning home for lunch each day.
Marion played on the women’s basketball team for three years and was on the field hockey team, lettering in two sports worn on the same sweater. She also participated on the softball team. Marion also took some college courses from Leland Marsh, headmaster at Foxcroft Academy.
While at Foxcroft Academy Marion would return to Aunt Lottie Jane’s home for summers and Christmas breaks. Summers and breaks were not all relaxation, though. Marion remembers being kept busy cooking and cleaning every day and picking raspberries and blueberries on the farm. During picking season there were usually twelve workers, including family.
At Christmas, two brothers and a sister (not sure who Marion is referring to here) would come to the Word Grant homestead and have a big dinner, enjoy the Christmas tree, and then Santa Claus would come. Marion would return to Foxcroft Academy with sleigh bells ringing in her ears.
Lottie Jane’s husband, Word Grant, worked as a foreman for the Bangor-Aroostook Railroad. He was assigned to the track between Ludlow and Oakfield and was paid $5 per week. A perk of the job allowed Marion to travel on the railroad for free using a pass given to workers’ families.
Marion graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1929 just as the Great Depression was hitting the nation’s economy. The Brown Mill in Dover had closed its doors, bringing the depression home in a significant way. The poor economic climate had a large impact on the graduation ceremonies and no prom was held that year. Many graduating seniors were not able to have their photos taken, which was a long-standing custom. There was a banquet, however, and the senior class took part in a pageant for graduation.
After graduation from Foxcroft Academy, Marion attended the State Normal School for Teachers in Farmington, Maine. The curriculum consisted of a 6-week training course where Marion took primary reading, language, math, child psychology, geography, history, and penmanship.
One of her first teaching posts was in a small community schoolhouse along present-day Route 126 in Pittston. She was hired by Supt. Lila Leavitt, of Chelsea, and had fifteen students. The 1929-1930 school term was for 27 weeks, for which Marion was paid $276. (yes, she kept records of this nature all her life!)
She arranged room and board with Horace and Emma (Sparrow) Huntington, which is how she met Theodore, Emma’s younger brother. From Emma’s home it was a convenient walking distance to the schoolhouse.
Marion worked under Mrs. Lewis during the 1930-1931 school term at Joyce. With a year’s experience behind her she was given a salary of $480. The 1931-1932 school term had Marion assigned to a school in Summerville at a salary of $374. Mrs. Brown was her administrator.
Marion married Theodore Roosevelt Sparrow in Houlton, Maine on November 30, 1931. Word and Lottie Jane Grant gave her away and her cousin Elspie was the maid of honor. A family reception followed the ceremony. A second reception was later held in Pittston for the Sparrow family.
Son Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born June 7, 1932 and daughter Priscilla Ann was born March 19, 1935. Marion suspended her teaching career for several years to tend to her two young children. Theodore and Marion enjoyed attending Saturday night dances at the Grange Hall, going to movies, and participating in church functions.
Immediately after marrying, T.R. and Marion Sparrow started building their home in Pittston, Maine adjacent to the large farmhouse and dairy structure where Theodore’s family lived. The house took several years to construct since it was hand-built by Theodore, with occasional help from his father and brothers. The first couple of years as a couple were spent living upstairs in her in-law’s house, where they had a small living room, kitchen, guestroom, and bedroom. They moved into their new house in September 1934, although it was only partly finished at the time.
Son Theodore was born in the Sparrow farm house. Marion says that George Edward and Mabel carried him on a silver platter, they were so smitten with him. Every time young Theo cried, grandpa and grandma would come running up the stairs to fetch him and take him downstairs for some consoling. Grandpa George would take young Theo around the property to gather apples in a wheelbarrow. Theodore, Sr. would give young Theo rides in the farm truck each afternoon as they delivered gravel. All the farm workers called young Theo “Boss.”
Theodore, Sr. helped his father operate the family sawmill, generally cutting pine logs into lumber during winter and stacking them up in early spring to dry. Theodore operated the planning machines at night and Marion helped him stack up the finished lumber afterwards.
The new house was to have a cellar and this was dug out by hand. Theodore rented a cement mixer to pour the foundation. A Pittston builder named Frank Lapham helped Theodore establish the right pitch to the roofs and help with the framing. By the end of the first year the house was up, with all the windows and doors installed. The winter was spent installing water and drain pipes inside the north side of the house.
I recall Marion stating that there was never a mortgage on the property since all the materials were purchased with cash as it became available. The only exception was a short-term bank loan taken out to pay for the doors and windows so they could be installed at the same time and get the house closed in. Priscilla and Theodore, Jr. say that the upstairs was completed first, which contained the four bedrooms. They recall using the living and dining rooms as a playground through most of their younger years, which would have been through the 1930s.
Marion writes that Priscilla was born in the den in the house and Emma Sparrow Huntington (now her sister-in-law) helped deliver the baby before the doctor could even arrive. Priscilla weighed only four pounds and was very jaundiced. Word got out that Marion just had a yellow baby and for all to come and see. Dr. Cole, the local pediatrician, stopped by twice each week to give Priscilla shots and pills. Marion says that despite a rocky start Priscilla turned out to be quite a nice looking girl! ;-)
As Marion was raising her two children she stayed busy working as a server at Hubbard’s Restaurant, a popular eatery in Gardiner, staying on for three years. Marion writes that she was teased quite a bit when she was serving tables while very pregnant with Priscilla. Marion’s mother-in-law, Mabel Bailey Sparrow, took care of Theodore while she was working evenings.
Wooster House, an upscale Hollowell restaurant hosting banquets and private dinner parties, also hired Marion to serve tables. Wooster House often hosted dinner banquets for state functions since the capital city of Augusta was just a couple of miles away. Marion writes that she became especially good at handling a loaded tray as she delivered food to the tables.
Marion also worked at Danforth’s Studio on Saturdays for several years assisting the photographer with setting up his shots. During the Christmas shopping seasons Marion would work at Davenport’s, a jewelry store owned by Harvey and Evelyn Allen. She continued working at Davenport’s for ten years and enjoyed working with Evelyn very much. Marion was never one to be idle, for sure.
During this period Theodore’s father, George Edward Sparrow lost his left hand in a sawmill accident. George Edward Sparrow operated a dairy and sawmill that served the greater Gardiner community. Following the accident, Theodore helped his father do the chores around the farm and eventually bought a small tractor to help plant beans, corn, and squash which were sold to a local factory.
The front of the new house was finished in 1939, complete with its welcoming porch. Marion says she was applying wallpaper to the living room in late 1939 when Supt. O.C. Woodman called her saying that he urgently needed a teacher at the Lincoln School to fill an immediate vacancy. Marion informed Mr. Woodman that she would be able to teach, but her certification would need renewal. Mr. Woodman told Marion that if she would start teaching tomorrow he would work with the State of Maine and get her certificate renewed. Marion then explained that she had a four year old daughter to consider, and Mr. Woodman said to just bring Priscilla with you to school and she can stay there while you teach. So, that is what she did.
So, after a seven year hiatus from teaching, Marion returned to her career as an elementary school teacher. She opened the doors to complete the term vacated by Mrs. Crocker due to a family illness, teaching Grades 1-8 in one room. There was a large black stove with a long pipe attached that ran the length of the room to a half chimney.
A water bucket was used for drinking water and each child used a common cup to dip from the bucket. Four kerosene lamps aligned along one wall provided lighting. Water was carried from a hand pump well on adjacent property owned by Phil Calbath. Two students were assigned water fetching detail for the school.
Marion was teacher, custodian, and nurse to twenty-nine students and was supplied with a first aid kit to treat the expected cuts and bruises. There was usually a box of Kleenex to tend to runny noses and teary-eyed kids.
With the Spring 1940 term near completion and with the cooperation of many parents, interested citizens, and acting abilities of some students, a program was put on to raise money to install electric lights and a water cooler and purchase some reading books and some learning skills games for the students to use on rainy days during recesses.
Marion writes that two humorous events happened after a particularly heavy rain during school vacation. On the first day back at school the bottom of the chimney fell away, filling the classroom with sod, ash, and water. All the students joined together to clean up the mess.
Someone also once tried to break into the school using the wrong key, which broke off inside the lock in the failed attempt to gain entry. The following morning Marion could not unlock the door, so the older boys pried open a window and all students—and the teacher—shimmied through the window. School started right on time that day too, Marion recalled. (Those of us who knew Marion would expect nothing less.) An “SOS” was sent out to Superintendent O.C. Woodman who also climbed through the window with his tools to fix the lock. The repair required the removal of the door. Supt. Woodman never stopped teasing Marion about making him climb through the window that day.
Marion relates that her years spent teaching at Lincoln School were among her most cherished memories. Children were eager to please and put forth their best efforts. Many stayed in the area as adults and Marion enjoyed watching them take their turn at running the community.
The first Thanksgiving observance in the new house was in 1939. Theodore’s parents, George Edward and Mabel were invited, along with Theodore’s bachelor brother, Leslie. They all ate in the kitchen since the dining room and living rooms were not yet completed.
She taught the 1940-1941 school term in Pittston and earned $416. Marion remained at the Pittston school for seven more years and also had the pleasure of teaching Priscilla one term. By the end of this period Marion was earning $1,524 each school year.
During the wartime years of WWII, Marion recalls collecting scrap steel and taking it to the shipyards. The government furnished items for a hot lunch program one year. (I am unsure if she is talking about for military needs or for the schools). Bath, Maine was a booming shipyard during the war years.
The 1949-1950 school term brought Marion to Gardiner, a much larger school system about five miles from Pittston. At $2,000, the job paid much better than the rural school districts. Marion stayed on at Gardiner another 23 years.
While teaching at Gardiner in the daytime, Marion would take courses offered by Gorham Teacher’s College each summer. Some courses were also taken in the evenings of the Spring terms. Marion graduated from Gorham Teacher’s College with her Bachelor’s degree in June of 1960 at the ripe old age of 51. Her perseverance never waned; she also earned a Master’s degree from University of Maine in 1965, a fairly rare achievement in those days for a married woman teaching full-time. Those summer, Saturday, and night courses had finally paid off.
In 1973 Marion retired from teaching after 37 years, not counting the seven years taken off to rear young Theodore and Priscilla. Marion continued volunteering for several church and community projects following her retirement from teaching. In the late 1980s the State of Maine honored Marion’s lifetime of selfless service to the Pittston community by awarding her a large framed certificate of recognition.
Marion’s son, Theodore, attended the University of Hawaii and had a 20-year career with an agribusiness company there afterwards. Theodore, Jr. married and raised his four children in Hawaii. An opportunity then presented itself for Theodore, Jr. to work in Iran in 1974 helping the Shah develop Iran’s agricultural potential.
Theodore, Jr. moved to Iran, but left his two youngest children in Marion and Theodore Sr.’s care as they completed high school. Grandson Thomas stayed with Marion for 2 ½ years and granddaughter Janie stayed one year before moving in with her sister, Lani, and transferring to a Dallas school. A consequence of this arrangement was the development of a close bond between Marion and her grandchildren, one that continued for decades afterwards.
Marion writes that she changed her church membership from Dover-Foxcroft Baptist Church to Gardiner Baptist when the children were still young. She taught Sunday School, summer Bible school, and was president of the Carry On Club at her church. After retirement, Marion took up several new hobbies such as crocheting, knitting, making afghans, and rug hooking. Marion probably spent most of her spare hours reading, though, which was obvious to any visitors to her home. She always had some recent releases lying about.
Marion faced cancer several times later in life and had to have breast surgery, removal of portions of both intestines, and other organs removed. But she never let these life-or-death circumstances depress her or ruin even one day. Her resilient “can do” outlook on life impressed and amazed her doctors. Even when she was required to wear ostomy bags she never let them change her lifestyle one bit. She began volunteering to help other elderly patients in similar circumstances learn to take better care of themselves and maintain their independence, dignity, and self-respect, becoming an inspiration to many.
Marion had a servant’s heart; this was demonstrated time and again when company dropped in, sometimes unexpectedly, and quality, healthy food would be served up in no time. Marion was a superb chef and could single handedly feed twenty people with a cheerful face on a moment’s notice. She would prepare massive amounts of food in her spare time and stock the freezers to capacity awaiting any opportunity to serve it up. A favorite of mine and my siblings was her homemade applesauce made from apples grown in her own backyard.
The photo above was taken at Christmas 1981. Son-in-law Jack Gunter with grandchildren Jay, Joy, and John.
Marion had a very strong, independent spirit about her that served her well her entire life. She insisted on driving herself to personal appointments well past the time when it was appropriately safe for her to do so. This caused the family serious concern for many years, but Marion steadfastly refused to give up her car keys. We are all fortunate that no serious accidents occurred; her mind remained stronger than her body until the end.
In some of her final notes Marion says that she and Theodore had a very good marriage. She says they always worked together and were generally compliant. They enjoyed dances, movies, plays, Red Sox games, family parties, some traveling, and always had plenty of grandchildren to tease when they visited. They were married over 62 years when Theodore passed away Jan 11th, 1993.
Marion says that she is keeping the home fires burning until they are reunited in heaven. Until then she is staying busy repairing what is broken, drilling a new house well, trying to keep the house and garage from sinking into the Maine mud, and installing a new furnace and washer/dryer. When time allows she is cooking, cleaning, doing yard work, reading, freezing food, raking leaves, shopping for groceries, and doing other handiwork.
Marion also wanted her family and friends to know she describes herself as a committed Baptist and votes Republican!
In one of her parting written passages Marion summed up her personal philosophy quite succinctly:
“I am Master of the Ship of Life”
Of that, we are all in complete agreement, Grammy.
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The above stories and notes were taken from handwritten notes Grammy wrote in her final years at the prodding of her family. We all feel that she was a remarkable person that had such a positive impact on so many lives and the sharing of her life’s stories would allow some part of her to touch younger family members she was not able to meet in this life. – John R. Gunter, grandson
1909-2006
A lifetime of stories compiled of notes written by “Grammy” during her last years on this earth
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Marion L. Marley Sparrow, commonly known to the Sparrow and Gunter families as “Grammy” was a unique and amazing woman. Her personal drive and dedication to her family, church, and community distinguished her from us normal folks year after year. Marion’s legacy lives on through the lives of the countless people she touched as a teacher, patriot, Christian, and matriarch.
It is hoped that the stories contained herein will serve as a guiding force to younger family members denied the opportunity to know Grammy firsthand, and possibly explain how certain of her life experiences molded her personality, creating the Grammy that we have all come to love and admire so much.
--John R. Gunter, grandson
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Marion Lillian was born June 20, 1909 in Lowell, Massachusetts. That she was delivered by a handmaiden at home to an unwed mother named Hazel Brown was a closely-guarded secret of Marion’s that she preferred not to discuss until the end, even with her immediate family. Eventually Marion did share this information after much strained prodding by her family; after all, none of us chooses the conditions of our birth and we are all so blessed by the lifetime of love she has given us. Maybe someday the descendents of Hazel Brown will read these stories and appreciate and honor the decisions and sacrifices made by Hazel.
At about one year of age, Marion was placed in the care of Frank and Blanch Marley, of Smyrna, Maine in Aroostook County. Smyrna is in the far northeastern area of Maine, near Houlton. The connection between Hazel Brown and Frank and Blanch Marley is not yet known by the Sparrow family.
Marion had a doll she named “Jane” and a teddy bear that she slept with. She also had a black coon cat named “Blacky.” The Marleys kept two cows, one horse, two hogs, several chickens and turkeys. Marion recalls teasing the gobbler, which resulted in her getting chased and the gobbler strutting around afterwards.
Frank Marley had a sister named Lottie Jane. Lottie Jane soon married Word Grant and Marion was then taken care of by the Grants from the age of four on the Grant homestead in Ludlow, about a mile from Smryna. Frank and Lottie Jane’s mother, Charlotte Marley, lived in a small apartment on the Word Grant homestead, too.
Marion started school in Smyrna when she was seven years old. There was no kindergarten at that time. Miss Marie White was Marion’s first teacher, and there were about twenty students. A school cart driver by the name of Leslie McGee picked Marion up each morning in Ludlow and took her one mile to the schoolhouse in Smyrna. Eventually the town of Ludlow built its own school, Brown School, and Marion then started walking to school. Brown School housed grades 3-8.
Like most schools, Brown School had its share of special programs and fund raisers. An event called a “box social” was a particular favorite. Attendees would bid on contents of boxes prepared or offered by each student, with the box’s contents going to the highest bidder. Marion recalls her Aunt Lottie Jane helping her make a treat with lemon filling, whipped cream, and a cherry on top—earning Marion the highest bid that evening!
Marion recalls wearing her snow skis to school during winters. Miss Cogwell was her favorite teacher while at Brown School.
There was a brook which ran past her aunt’s house (Lottie Grant) to a small lake. A dam was built to supply water to a pump situated inside a shed. This water was used to for washing purposes; drinking water was supplied by a spring on the property.
Marion remembers playing in the brook as a girl and collecting rocks. She and a cousin, Donald, went trout fishing on occasion. Behind the house was a steep hill used by area kids to ski down. Sometimes they jumped over barrels. Old barrel slats were used to slide down the icy hill. As they got older some kids used bobsleds.
A state snowplow tried to keep the middle of the roads cleared for traffic, which resulted in the creation a great sliding track. On moonlit evenings all younger family members would go bobsledding, which was a community-wide event. A favorite stretch of road-turned bobsledding track allowed them to go over half a mile (presumably before having to walk back, towing a sled).
In summers teenagers would gather at someone’s house and have “lawn parties.” Parents were always present to serve refreshments and keep an eye on things. There were no radios, televisions, etc. The card game “Old Maid” was a common activity, as was checkers and homemade board games.
Marion later attended Foxcroft Academy in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, which is about 150 miles south of Smyrna. Aunt Lottie Jane had a male cousin that lived near there and Marion helped his wife do house chores in exchange for her own board. The family had three sons; two were at University of Maine and their youngest, David, was just a year older than Marion. Marion and David walked the ¾ mile to school together, returning home for lunch each day.
Marion played on the women’s basketball team for three years and was on the field hockey team, lettering in two sports worn on the same sweater. She also participated on the softball team. Marion also took some college courses from Leland Marsh, headmaster at Foxcroft Academy.
While at Foxcroft Academy Marion would return to Aunt Lottie Jane’s home for summers and Christmas breaks. Summers and breaks were not all relaxation, though. Marion remembers being kept busy cooking and cleaning every day and picking raspberries and blueberries on the farm. During picking season there were usually twelve workers, including family.
At Christmas, two brothers and a sister (not sure who Marion is referring to here) would come to the Word Grant homestead and have a big dinner, enjoy the Christmas tree, and then Santa Claus would come. Marion would return to Foxcroft Academy with sleigh bells ringing in her ears.
Lottie Jane’s husband, Word Grant, worked as a foreman for the Bangor-Aroostook Railroad. He was assigned to the track between Ludlow and Oakfield and was paid $5 per week. A perk of the job allowed Marion to travel on the railroad for free using a pass given to workers’ families.
Marion graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1929 just as the Great Depression was hitting the nation’s economy. The Brown Mill in Dover had closed its doors, bringing the depression home in a significant way. The poor economic climate had a large impact on the graduation ceremonies and no prom was held that year. Many graduating seniors were not able to have their photos taken, which was a long-standing custom. There was a banquet, however, and the senior class took part in a pageant for graduation.
After graduation from Foxcroft Academy, Marion attended the State Normal School for Teachers in Farmington, Maine. The curriculum consisted of a 6-week training course where Marion took primary reading, language, math, child psychology, geography, history, and penmanship.
One of her first teaching posts was in a small community schoolhouse along present-day Route 126 in Pittston. She was hired by Supt. Lila Leavitt, of Chelsea, and had fifteen students. The 1929-1930 school term was for 27 weeks, for which Marion was paid $276. (yes, she kept records of this nature all her life!)
She arranged room and board with Horace and Emma (Sparrow) Huntington, which is how she met Theodore, Emma’s younger brother. From Emma’s home it was a convenient walking distance to the schoolhouse.
Marion worked under Mrs. Lewis during the 1930-1931 school term at Joyce. With a year’s experience behind her she was given a salary of $480. The 1931-1932 school term had Marion assigned to a school in Summerville at a salary of $374. Mrs. Brown was her administrator.
Marion married Theodore Roosevelt Sparrow in Houlton, Maine on November 30, 1931. Word and Lottie Jane Grant gave her away and her cousin Elspie was the maid of honor. A family reception followed the ceremony. A second reception was later held in Pittston for the Sparrow family.
Son Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was born June 7, 1932 and daughter Priscilla Ann was born March 19, 1935. Marion suspended her teaching career for several years to tend to her two young children. Theodore and Marion enjoyed attending Saturday night dances at the Grange Hall, going to movies, and participating in church functions.
Immediately after marrying, T.R. and Marion Sparrow started building their home in Pittston, Maine adjacent to the large farmhouse and dairy structure where Theodore’s family lived. The house took several years to construct since it was hand-built by Theodore, with occasional help from his father and brothers. The first couple of years as a couple were spent living upstairs in her in-law’s house, where they had a small living room, kitchen, guestroom, and bedroom. They moved into their new house in September 1934, although it was only partly finished at the time.
Son Theodore was born in the Sparrow farm house. Marion says that George Edward and Mabel carried him on a silver platter, they were so smitten with him. Every time young Theo cried, grandpa and grandma would come running up the stairs to fetch him and take him downstairs for some consoling. Grandpa George would take young Theo around the property to gather apples in a wheelbarrow. Theodore, Sr. would give young Theo rides in the farm truck each afternoon as they delivered gravel. All the farm workers called young Theo “Boss.”
Theodore, Sr. helped his father operate the family sawmill, generally cutting pine logs into lumber during winter and stacking them up in early spring to dry. Theodore operated the planning machines at night and Marion helped him stack up the finished lumber afterwards.
The new house was to have a cellar and this was dug out by hand. Theodore rented a cement mixer to pour the foundation. A Pittston builder named Frank Lapham helped Theodore establish the right pitch to the roofs and help with the framing. By the end of the first year the house was up, with all the windows and doors installed. The winter was spent installing water and drain pipes inside the north side of the house.
I recall Marion stating that there was never a mortgage on the property since all the materials were purchased with cash as it became available. The only exception was a short-term bank loan taken out to pay for the doors and windows so they could be installed at the same time and get the house closed in. Priscilla and Theodore, Jr. say that the upstairs was completed first, which contained the four bedrooms. They recall using the living and dining rooms as a playground through most of their younger years, which would have been through the 1930s.
Marion writes that Priscilla was born in the den in the house and Emma Sparrow Huntington (now her sister-in-law) helped deliver the baby before the doctor could even arrive. Priscilla weighed only four pounds and was very jaundiced. Word got out that Marion just had a yellow baby and for all to come and see. Dr. Cole, the local pediatrician, stopped by twice each week to give Priscilla shots and pills. Marion says that despite a rocky start Priscilla turned out to be quite a nice looking girl! ;-)
As Marion was raising her two children she stayed busy working as a server at Hubbard’s Restaurant, a popular eatery in Gardiner, staying on for three years. Marion writes that she was teased quite a bit when she was serving tables while very pregnant with Priscilla. Marion’s mother-in-law, Mabel Bailey Sparrow, took care of Theodore while she was working evenings.
Wooster House, an upscale Hollowell restaurant hosting banquets and private dinner parties, also hired Marion to serve tables. Wooster House often hosted dinner banquets for state functions since the capital city of Augusta was just a couple of miles away. Marion writes that she became especially good at handling a loaded tray as she delivered food to the tables.
Marion also worked at Danforth’s Studio on Saturdays for several years assisting the photographer with setting up his shots. During the Christmas shopping seasons Marion would work at Davenport’s, a jewelry store owned by Harvey and Evelyn Allen. She continued working at Davenport’s for ten years and enjoyed working with Evelyn very much. Marion was never one to be idle, for sure.
During this period Theodore’s father, George Edward Sparrow lost his left hand in a sawmill accident. George Edward Sparrow operated a dairy and sawmill that served the greater Gardiner community. Following the accident, Theodore helped his father do the chores around the farm and eventually bought a small tractor to help plant beans, corn, and squash which were sold to a local factory.
The front of the new house was finished in 1939, complete with its welcoming porch. Marion says she was applying wallpaper to the living room in late 1939 when Supt. O.C. Woodman called her saying that he urgently needed a teacher at the Lincoln School to fill an immediate vacancy. Marion informed Mr. Woodman that she would be able to teach, but her certification would need renewal. Mr. Woodman told Marion that if she would start teaching tomorrow he would work with the State of Maine and get her certificate renewed. Marion then explained that she had a four year old daughter to consider, and Mr. Woodman said to just bring Priscilla with you to school and she can stay there while you teach. So, that is what she did.
So, after a seven year hiatus from teaching, Marion returned to her career as an elementary school teacher. She opened the doors to complete the term vacated by Mrs. Crocker due to a family illness, teaching Grades 1-8 in one room. There was a large black stove with a long pipe attached that ran the length of the room to a half chimney.
A water bucket was used for drinking water and each child used a common cup to dip from the bucket. Four kerosene lamps aligned along one wall provided lighting. Water was carried from a hand pump well on adjacent property owned by Phil Calbath. Two students were assigned water fetching detail for the school.
Marion was teacher, custodian, and nurse to twenty-nine students and was supplied with a first aid kit to treat the expected cuts and bruises. There was usually a box of Kleenex to tend to runny noses and teary-eyed kids.
With the Spring 1940 term near completion and with the cooperation of many parents, interested citizens, and acting abilities of some students, a program was put on to raise money to install electric lights and a water cooler and purchase some reading books and some learning skills games for the students to use on rainy days during recesses.
Marion writes that two humorous events happened after a particularly heavy rain during school vacation. On the first day back at school the bottom of the chimney fell away, filling the classroom with sod, ash, and water. All the students joined together to clean up the mess.
Someone also once tried to break into the school using the wrong key, which broke off inside the lock in the failed attempt to gain entry. The following morning Marion could not unlock the door, so the older boys pried open a window and all students—and the teacher—shimmied through the window. School started right on time that day too, Marion recalled. (Those of us who knew Marion would expect nothing less.) An “SOS” was sent out to Superintendent O.C. Woodman who also climbed through the window with his tools to fix the lock. The repair required the removal of the door. Supt. Woodman never stopped teasing Marion about making him climb through the window that day.
Marion relates that her years spent teaching at Lincoln School were among her most cherished memories. Children were eager to please and put forth their best efforts. Many stayed in the area as adults and Marion enjoyed watching them take their turn at running the community.
The first Thanksgiving observance in the new house was in 1939. Theodore’s parents, George Edward and Mabel were invited, along with Theodore’s bachelor brother, Leslie. They all ate in the kitchen since the dining room and living rooms were not yet completed.
She taught the 1940-1941 school term in Pittston and earned $416. Marion remained at the Pittston school for seven more years and also had the pleasure of teaching Priscilla one term. By the end of this period Marion was earning $1,524 each school year.
During the wartime years of WWII, Marion recalls collecting scrap steel and taking it to the shipyards. The government furnished items for a hot lunch program one year. (I am unsure if she is talking about for military needs or for the schools). Bath, Maine was a booming shipyard during the war years.
The 1949-1950 school term brought Marion to Gardiner, a much larger school system about five miles from Pittston. At $2,000, the job paid much better than the rural school districts. Marion stayed on at Gardiner another 23 years.
While teaching at Gardiner in the daytime, Marion would take courses offered by Gorham Teacher’s College each summer. Some courses were also taken in the evenings of the Spring terms. Marion graduated from Gorham Teacher’s College with her Bachelor’s degree in June of 1960 at the ripe old age of 51. Her perseverance never waned; she also earned a Master’s degree from University of Maine in 1965, a fairly rare achievement in those days for a married woman teaching full-time. Those summer, Saturday, and night courses had finally paid off.
In 1973 Marion retired from teaching after 37 years, not counting the seven years taken off to rear young Theodore and Priscilla. Marion continued volunteering for several church and community projects following her retirement from teaching. In the late 1980s the State of Maine honored Marion’s lifetime of selfless service to the Pittston community by awarding her a large framed certificate of recognition.
Marion’s son, Theodore, attended the University of Hawaii and had a 20-year career with an agribusiness company there afterwards. Theodore, Jr. married and raised his four children in Hawaii. An opportunity then presented itself for Theodore, Jr. to work in Iran in 1974 helping the Shah develop Iran’s agricultural potential.
Theodore, Jr. moved to Iran, but left his two youngest children in Marion and Theodore Sr.’s care as they completed high school. Grandson Thomas stayed with Marion for 2 ½ years and granddaughter Janie stayed one year before moving in with her sister, Lani, and transferring to a Dallas school. A consequence of this arrangement was the development of a close bond between Marion and her grandchildren, one that continued for decades afterwards.
Marion writes that she changed her church membership from Dover-Foxcroft Baptist Church to Gardiner Baptist when the children were still young. She taught Sunday School, summer Bible school, and was president of the Carry On Club at her church. After retirement, Marion took up several new hobbies such as crocheting, knitting, making afghans, and rug hooking. Marion probably spent most of her spare hours reading, though, which was obvious to any visitors to her home. She always had some recent releases lying about.
Marion faced cancer several times later in life and had to have breast surgery, removal of portions of both intestines, and other organs removed. But she never let these life-or-death circumstances depress her or ruin even one day. Her resilient “can do” outlook on life impressed and amazed her doctors. Even when she was required to wear ostomy bags she never let them change her lifestyle one bit. She began volunteering to help other elderly patients in similar circumstances learn to take better care of themselves and maintain their independence, dignity, and self-respect, becoming an inspiration to many.
Marion had a servant’s heart; this was demonstrated time and again when company dropped in, sometimes unexpectedly, and quality, healthy food would be served up in no time. Marion was a superb chef and could single handedly feed twenty people with a cheerful face on a moment’s notice. She would prepare massive amounts of food in her spare time and stock the freezers to capacity awaiting any opportunity to serve it up. A favorite of mine and my siblings was her homemade applesauce made from apples grown in her own backyard.
The photo above was taken at Christmas 1981. Son-in-law Jack Gunter with grandchildren Jay, Joy, and John.
Marion had a very strong, independent spirit about her that served her well her entire life. She insisted on driving herself to personal appointments well past the time when it was appropriately safe for her to do so. This caused the family serious concern for many years, but Marion steadfastly refused to give up her car keys. We are all fortunate that no serious accidents occurred; her mind remained stronger than her body until the end.
In some of her final notes Marion says that she and Theodore had a very good marriage. She says they always worked together and were generally compliant. They enjoyed dances, movies, plays, Red Sox games, family parties, some traveling, and always had plenty of grandchildren to tease when they visited. They were married over 62 years when Theodore passed away Jan 11th, 1993.
Marion says that she is keeping the home fires burning until they are reunited in heaven. Until then she is staying busy repairing what is broken, drilling a new house well, trying to keep the house and garage from sinking into the Maine mud, and installing a new furnace and washer/dryer. When time allows she is cooking, cleaning, doing yard work, reading, freezing food, raking leaves, shopping for groceries, and doing other handiwork.
Marion also wanted her family and friends to know she describes herself as a committed Baptist and votes Republican!
In one of her parting written passages Marion summed up her personal philosophy quite succinctly:
“I am Master of the Ship of Life”
Of that, we are all in complete agreement, Grammy.
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The above stories and notes were taken from handwritten notes Grammy wrote in her final years at the prodding of her family. We all feel that she was a remarkable person that had such a positive impact on so many lives and the sharing of her life’s stories would allow some part of her to touch younger family members she was not able to meet in this life. – John R. Gunter, grandson
