Esther Smith, interviewed by Joyce Butler

Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The “Wildfire Loose” Collection consists of a series of 37 interviews conducted by Joyce Butler in preparation for her book of the same title about the fires in Maine in October 1947. Donated in 1979.

Dates

Creation: 1976-1980

Creator

Butler, Joyce (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

For digitized items free from access restrictions, we are working to upload this material (pdfs, mp3s, jpgs) for public access, but it is an ongoing project. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, contact Special Collections (um.library.spc@maine.edu).

Extent

From the Collection: 37 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

1232 Esther Smith, interviewed by Joyce Butler, November 2, 1977, Waterboro, Maine. Smith talks about the fires of 1947 in Waterboro; reading of a paper she wrote for a local historical society; outbreak of fire; escape to Saco; her young daughters’ reactions to the fire; reading of another paper she wrote; dry weather conditions that autumn; firefighters and feed stations; evacuation of Waterboro; buildings which were lost to the fire; and community and Red Cross relief efforts.