Edith Gardner and Family Papers

Edith Howard Gardner was born on May 1, 1889, to Fred L. Gardner and Mary S. Gardner. Edith was the oldest of four children and resided in Dennsyville, Maine with her family until 1906. Edith left to attend Abbott Academy in Andover, Massachusetts and returned to Dennsyville in 1909 after completing her schooling. While at Abbott Academy she studied the violin, which she continued to pursue throughout her life by teaching the violin and participating in recitals.

Edith’s father, Fred L. Gardner was the son of A.L.R. Gardner, who owned the A.L.R. Gardner Co. a general store in Dennsyville, Maine. Edith worked at the A.L.R. Gardner Co. store when she resided in Maine between her time spent at Abbott Academy.

After meeting George H. Merriam III, Edith and George married, August 18, 1921. Edith resided in Worcester, Massachusetts with George until his death in 1944. Edith and George had one son, George H. Merriam IV, born May, 17, 1922. After her husband, George, died, Edtih moved back to Maine and married a friend of both hers and George, Ray Tobey, on June 22, 1948. Edith and Ray resided at the Pine Cone Farm, in Fairfield, Maine. Edith passed away in Waterville, Maine following a long illness on July 24, 1975.

In 1871 A.L.R. Gardner began operating a general store in Dennysville, Maine, with the assistance of two of his four sons, Edwin R. and Fred L. In addition to handling the usual merchandise of a country store, the Gardners were dealers of coal, grain, stoves, shingles (pine, spruce, and cedar), and farm implements, as well as crockery, agateware, and even fine Austrian china. After the settling of A.L.R. Gardner's estate in 1902, the A.L.R. Gardner Company was formed with Edwin R. Gardner serving as treasurer, clerk, and manager; Fred L. Gardner, president; and the rest of the family, directors. During 1909-1910 Gardner's store was extensively remodeled. After the death of Edwin Gardner in 1918, Fred L. Gardner became clerk, treasurer, and manager, and his brother, Charles, served as president. During later years Fred L.'s son, Louis, became involved in the store business, which he carried on after his father's death in 1944. The store eventually was closed, and the building was razed in 1961.