Our Women in History

March is National Women in History Month so I thought I’d bring some of our local notable women to light. The history of many of these women below can be found on the Rockland History Page in Facebook under “People.” I took a lot of them from there and credited the pictures to those people who entered the person. If the pictures aren’t credited, assume they were submitted by the host of the site, Tim Sullivan. You may also want to check with the Rockland Historical Society if you are interested in further information for any of these women.

Before we begin looking at some of the older women in our past, I’d like to recognize some of our local women who made a difference in our community. One such woman is still very much with us and she is a real asset to Rockland. Alice Crie Knight is involved in many community causes and organizations. She was named Community Person of the Year by the Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce in 2011. She was also recently recognized by a national sorority organization.

Alice Crie Knight

We should also mention other community-minded women in our community: Mary Wasgatt, sister to Dr. Wasgatt, and aunt of my classmate, Roland, was involved in many civic pursuits in her lifetime. Two teachers also stand out, Doris MacDougal and Anna Coughlin. I’d also like to recognize Ruth Hoch, who was in charge of the Sea Goddess Pageant at the Lobster Festival for many years.

We must include Eliza Steele in this long list. What would we all have done without her in our lives. There is a great video of her on www.gemproductionsinc.com.

Eliza Steele

My great-aunt, Clara Sylvester Emery was also a woman of note in that she was a local historian and wrote many pieces of historical interest for The Courier Gazette. She was also a staunch teetotaler and I believe a member of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She may even be in this picture. I wouldn’t want to come up against any of these women, would you? Actually I don’t really know if these women are WCTU ladies, but if those spikes they have are any indication, I’d believe they were. Perhaps they were used to stave in barrels of that “demon drink.”

WCTU Ladies perhaps?

Doris MacDougal

Mrs. Doris MacDougal, a teacher in the third grade and principal of the McLain Grammar School in Rockland, Maine, ready to lead her class in a singing lesson (about 1954). Library of Congress

Our most famous women in local history are of course, Edna St. Vincent Millay, another family member of mine; Louise Nevelson, who I have recently written about; and the Elliott sisters, Maxine and Gertrude Elliott, who were nationally and internationally known actresses. Books have been written about Edna, ask your local librarian or check with your local book store for biographies and her works. Here’s a baby picture from the Rockland History site I’ve never seen before. There may also still be a plaque on a house up on Broadway where she was born.

Adelaide Hall Dermot

Adelaide Hall Dermot was born September 4, 1842 and was a relative of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Married Capt Thomas Dermot March 8th, 1863, a Master Mariner who was born about 1840 in England and came to Rockland at age 14 under the patronage of Capt David Ames. They had five children, including Jessie and May, famous stage actresses who later changed their names to Maxine and Gertrude Elliott. The family originally lived on Pleasant Street where the train station is now. As Thomas Dermot became a successful sea captain the family moved to larger house on Park Street, corner of Lisle Street. The house on Pleasant St. was moved to Halls Lane to make room for the train depot. Adelaide was a school teacher. She died March 13, 1888 and is buried in the Achorn Cemetery with her infant daughter. Their famous daughters are buried in France and England. Submitted by Wayne C. Gray

From Gordon Page: The photo doesn't do it justice, but here's the plaque recognizing the Elliott sisters birthplace, (the current site of the passenger train depot at 4 Union Street), which hangs inside Trackside Station. There are also photos of the site before and after the train station was built at the corner of Union and Pleasant Streets.

 Pictures of Maxine Elliott:

From Arnold A Brewer: I am quite certain that this is a young picture of Maxine Elliot, Rockland's famed Hollywood actress. She was my Dad's (Robert George Brewer) aunt. Her real name was Jessie Dermot. The story goes that she chose the name Maxine because it reminded her of Maine without the "x".

Maxine Elliott (1868-1940); a famous and frequently photographed actress, Elliott was born Jessie C. Dermott in Rockland, Maine. She made her debut with E. S. Willard in small parts, and soon after played leading parts in Rose Coghlan's company. Elliott was under Augustin Daly's management for two seasons. In 1898 she married the famous comedian, Nat. C. Goodwin, with whom she costarred in “Nathan Hale.” They divorced in 1908. She became the owner and manager of Maxine Elliott's Theater in New York. Some of her film credits are the silent movies, “The Fighting Odds” (1917) and “The Eternal Magdalene” (1919). She died in France. She was considered to be one of the most beautiful women in the world. Submitted by Wayne C. Gray

Pictures of Gertrude Elliott

Gertrude Elliott as Ophelia in 1904
Born 14th December, 1874 - Rockland, Maine USA.
Died 24th December, 1950 - Kent, England.
Real Name Gertrude Dermot
Sister of actress Maxine Elliott.
Married actor Johnston Forbes-Robertson (1900).
1913 - became Lady Forbes-Robertson.

Maxine's sister, Gertrude Elliott, was also a great stage actress. Married to an English actor, Sir Johnston Fobes-Robertson, she grew up in Rockland. (1873-1950) Submitted by Wayne C. Gray

Abbie Burgess

Abbie Burgess (later Mrs. Abbie Grant; 1839–1892) was an American lighthouse keeper known for her bravery in tending the Matinicus Rock Light, in Maine, during a raging winter storm in 1856. She tended the light for nearly a month while her father, the head keeper, was away from the island. Her heroic actions attracted much attention, and she was soon a popular heroine.

Effie Crockett

Effie Crockett, also known as Effie I. Canning, also known as Effie C. Carlton, was an American actress. She is credited with having written and composed the lullaby "Rock-a-bye Baby". By some accounts she created the song in 1872 while babysitting. Because of "Rock-a-bye Baby", she is credited in over 100 films, many made decades after her death. Daughter of Edward and Jennie Crockett, she was born in 1856 in Rockland, Knox, Maine, and died 7 January 1940 in Waltham, Middlesex, MA.

Helen Augusta (Knowlton) Orne

Helen Augusta (Knowlton) Orne was Maine's first woman admitted to the Maine Bar, in 1899 at the age of 24. She was born April 1, 1874 in Rockland; her parents were Edward A. and Harriet Hewett. It took a special act of the Maine Legislature to make it possible for Helen to become Maine’s first female lawyer. At that time, women were not allowed to hold any state office and lawyers were viewed as officers of the state. When Chief Justice John Peters interpreted that the state law allowed only men to practice law, Knowlton’s advocates petitioned the Legislature to allow her to take the bar exam. She scored a 97.

Rockland High School Women's Basketball Team, 1922

1922 Rockland High School girls state champion basketball team. Finished 12-0 and outscored their opponents 430-20.

Pictured from top down, left to right; Agnes Flanagan, Dorothy Breen, Coach William J. Sullivan, Kathleen Blethen, Clemice Blackington, Helen Griffin and Eileen Flanagan. Submitted by Andrew Carpenter

Dolly Stewart

Rockland's Dolly M Stewart became the first Miss Maine in 1937.

Rita Willey

Rita Willey, the World's Fastest Sardine Packer at a 1970's Lobster Festival.

These women, all born in Rockland or its environs, are our Women in History. If you don’t see your favorite Rockland woman in history here, please let me know and we’ll recognize them at a later date.

Thanks for listening.