Wood, Esther (1905 - 2002)

Genre: Non-Fiction

Wood (born 2 Sept. 1905), a descendant of pre-1790 settlers who came to the Eastern Maine towns of Ellsworth, Deer Isle, and Blue Hill, and a Blue Hill resident until her death, began her history teaching career at the Gorham Normal School (now the University of Southern Maine) in 1930. She continued at the institution, with its myriad name changes, until her retirement in 1972.

She was a graduate of Blue Hill's George Stevens Academy in 1922, Colby College in 1926, and Radcliffe College in 1929.

In retirement Wood published four books, all of which focused on the social history of the Blue Hill region.

Miss Wood was also a regular contributor to the Christian Science Monitor and the Ellsworth American.

Her dedication to teaching history has been recognized in a number of ways. George Stevens Academy has a lecture room named in her honor and the University of Southern Maine has Wood Hall. She was the recipient of the Blue Hill Chamber of Commerce 'Woman of the Year' award and has also been honored by the Maine School Superintendent's Association. In addition, she received an honorary doctorate from Colby College. In 1994, Miss Wood was inducted into the Maine Womens Hall of Fame.

In 2000 she established a $100,000 scholarship in memory of Edna Frances Dickey, a colleague and friend. The scholarship is awarded to qualifying students at the Lewiston Auburn Campus of the University of Southern Maine.

Selected Bibliography

  • Country Fare: Reminiscences and Recipes from a Maine Childhood (1976)
  • Saltwater Seasons: Recollections of a Country Woman (1980)
  • Hannah: Reminiscences of an 1850 Childhood (1982)
  • Deep Roots: A Maine Legacy (1990)

Selected Links