Shaker Pedia Alfred,ME
From Shaker Pedia
From Shaker Dictionary
SPIRITUAL NAME: Holy Land. FEAST GROUND: Holy Hill of Zion, BISHOPRIC: Maine, FAMILIES: Church, Second, North, MAXIMUM POPULATION AND YEAR: 200 in 1823.
INDUSTRIES: Woven cloth, seeds, herbs and herbal medicines, brooms, brushes, saw and grist mill, horsehair sieves, woodenware, spinning wheels, wagon wheels, oval carriers, and fancy goods,
NOTABLE SHAKERS: R. Mildred Barker, John Vance, Elisha Pote, Harriett Coolbroth, Henry Green,
UNIQUE FEATURES: In 1900, Alfred was a typical Shaker community-small numbers, mostly old and seemingly doomed to die out within the next 20 years. Between that time and 1920, through the efforts of Eldress Harriett Coolbroth, Eldress Mary Ann Walker, and their companions, a tremendous Shaker revival took place at Alfred. In 1920 almost the entire community consisted of young women-the vast majority of whom would stay faithful. Alfred was very poor, but rich in young Shakers who had a fervor not seen in other Shaker societies for decades. In every way, the fact that Shakerism survives to the present day was due to the strong faith that the Alfred Sisters brought to Sabbathday Lake when they moved there in 1931.
BRIEF HISTORY: Until 1820, the district of Maine was part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Though there was a low population and plenty of empty land, Maine had been settled for more than 150 years. The waves of religious enthusiasm that affected those who had become dissatisfied with the standing order of Congregationalism in older parts of New England had their representation in Maine as well. In Alfred around 1780, the religious community was ripe with revivalism of all sorts. John Cotton had only recently moved to the town and was caught up in its enthusiasm. When the revivalism waned, he, like many others sought to go west in search of a better life. On his way, he traveled through Canterbury, New Hampshire, where some of his New Light Baptist friends lived. From there he got as far as Enfield, New Hampshire, where he came under the influence of James Jewett, a Shaker missionary. Filled with the Shaker testimony, Cotton returned to Alfred to open the gospel to his friends John and Sarah Barnes.
Cotton met with great success and soon hundreds were gathering to hear his testimony. In March 1793, the Shaker community at Alfred was organized under Father John Barnes, Brother Robert McFarland, Mother Sarah Kendall, and Sister Lucy Prescott. Although the seat of the Maine Ministry, Alfred was always one of the smaller Shaker communities. In fact, it peaked very early in the 19th century. As time went on, economic conditions steadily worsened as numbers gradually diminished for most of the 19th century. In 1870, the community decided to sell out and move to Kansas. The entire village was put up for sale, but no buyer came forth. The Shakers then decided to reorganize their village and stay put. Sale of a lot of timberland gave them a financial boost, but later losses and the premature deaths of Frank Libby (1870-1899) and John Vance (1832-1896) left the community virtually without industries or sufficient men by 1900.
For many years, the relatively large number of sisters remaining in various Shaker communities had been making fancy goods to sell in the Office stores as well as at resorts during the summer. This trade became a mainstay of the Alfred community and Elder Henry Green made annual sales trips for decades. In addition, teams of sisters went out to the seaside and to the mountains to sell fancy goods. This industry kept Alfred afloat financially. Unfortunately, two fires destroyed their small fund of accumulated wealth and made it inevitable that the community would have to close. The first of these fires took place in 1901 and destroyed the Church Family dwelling, the Meeting House, and the Ministry shop. Valuable records and irreplaceable manuscripts were lost. Incredibly to most other Shakers, the Alfred society decided to build a replacement dwelling. Elsewhere, Shakers could barely fill one dwelling, and the Central Ministry gave the Alfred Shakers the option of dissolving their community. The Alfred Shakers refused to even think of going to live anywhere else and resolved to rebuild. At the time it seemed like folly since Alfred did not have many young members and few men. Much to the surprise of many, not only was a new dwelling built, but many young women became Shakers. Much of the credit for the latter goes to Eldress Harriett Coolbroth of the Second Family. Her deeply religious vision was one of hard work and a total giving of oneself in service to the community. Through her ministrations, R. Mildred Barker, Ethel Peacock, Della Haskell, the Philbrook sisters, and many other women became lifelong Shakers.
In 1912, a fire set by a girl only recently taken in by the Shakers destroyed the new dwelling at the Church. It was the construction of the third dwelling to replace the one lost in this fire that pushed the community over the financial edge. Even the presence of so many young and faithful Shakers could not make up for the lack of cash. Various ways were tried to make money, but these all fell short. In 1927, the Maine Ministry was abolished. No doubt the Parent Ministry wished to be in a position to sell Alfred if an acceptable price could be received. Finally, in 1931, during the early years of the Great Depression, the situation had become so desperate that the decision was made to close and consolidate with Sabbathday Lake. The decision was announced to the Alfred community on 14 February 1931. Preparation for the move began immediately, but lagged as Elder Henry Green was so ill that they decided to wait for his passing before moving; however, he rallied and the consolidation was completed on 28 May. After the move, an offer was made by the Roman Catholic Brothers of Christian Instruction. This French Canadian religious order was seeking a headquarters for its many grammar and high schools scattered throughout the parishes of New England.
Though Alfred may be no more, the light and the love of Shakerism that existed at Alfred lay dormant at Sabbathday Lake until it could find its freedom during the 1960s. Since that time, in cooperation with recent converts to Shakerism, much of the spirit of the old time faith of the Shakers has been able to survive to the present day.
LAST SHAKER: Minnie Greene (1910-2001) was the last Alfred Shaker. She joined the community in 1921 with her younger sister Ellen. In 1931, she moved to the Sabbathday Lake society when the Alfred Shakers were consolidated with this community. Here she signed the covenant, and for decades worked in the sewing department and the candy-making industry. She also did the baking and helped out in the kitchen and with housekeeping. Sister Minnie was a very self-effacing and shy sister. In the 1990s her health needs prompted her removal to a nursing home. For the final few years of her life, she was constantly visited by community members. When she passed into Eternity, the last tangible link to the glorious Alfred Shakers was lost.