Winter Lecture Series 2025
- Jonathan Peter Monro, a retired landscape architect, described the
recent work of The Stewards of Western Cemetery to rehabilitate the
heavily damaged, long neglected cemetery on the Western Prom.
Jonathan is a co-founder and current secretary of the Stewards. He
described the historic cemetery's national significance, technical
gravestone repair efforts under way, the current capital campaign, and
plans for improving this neighborhood treasure's infrastructure.
- David Perkins, a tour guide and board member of the Neal Dow House in
Portland, led a talk about Neal Dow and his involvement in Portland's
Rum Riot of 1855. He delved into the temperance movement that started in
Portland in 1851, touching on prohibition and the Maine Law written by Neal
Dow. David worked his way through the events that led to the Rum Riot of
June 2nd, 1855, the details of the riot and the aftermath, and the committee
appointed to investigate those transactions.