By Molly Lovell
Editor
     The Scarborough Historical Society has a new addition to its family and is seeking donations from the community to help them pay for the cost of it.
     With permission from the organization’s board of directors, the society has purchased a violin made in 1898 by resident Louis L. Litchfield. It’s rare that the historical society actually purchases an item–usually such things are donated–but members didn’t want to lose out on the chance of having the violin in their possession.
     Historian for the Scarborough Historical Society Rodney Laughton was perusing eBay when he came across the violin. The seller was in Vermont and had several violins up for auction.
     “Time was of the essence,” Laughton said of the purchase. The society needs to raise a total of $850 for the violin. Some of the money has already been raised, but Laughton couldn’t confirm a definite number.
     Laughton is positive the violin belonged to Litchfield, as there is a paper label on the inside with Litchfield’s name and location.
     “It’s a beautifully handcrafted instrument,” he said. The violin is made of tiger maple and in excellent condition, even playable condition, Laughton said.
      “This is really what I like to see happen,” Laughton said of the violin. “It’s interesting enough to learn that a building was built on a certain date, but to get a musical instrument, that’s living history.”
     Laughton and the Scarborough Historical Society have been able to find tid bits of information about Litchfield. Beginning in 1897, Litchfield played at Scarborough High School graduation exercises accompanied on piano by Addie Kaler-Vail.
     Kaler-Vail is a well known person to Scarborough history buffs. Her father built the Southgate Hotel at Prout’s Neck, which later became the Black Point Inn. When Kaler-Vail left her home on the Black Point Road she left the property in a trust and it became the Kaler-Vail Memorial Home for Women, which is still there today.
     Laughton said Litchfield served as Station Agent at the Oak Hill station of the Boston and Maine Railroad. That station was located at the intersection of what is now known as Eastern Road and Black Point Road. Litchfield lived at 55 Black Point Road and then later on the Ross Road.
      Volunteers at the historical society found an article at the society’s museum written about Litchfield’s 90th birthday party held by his niece in Blue Point.  It’s unclear in what newspaper the article was written, or even the date it was published as the page is torn. The article does say that Litchfield retired from the Boston and Maine in 1940 after 50 years of service. It also said he spent his summers living alone and winters with relatives in New Hampshire.
     In describing Litchfield, the author of the article wrote, “He is alert, gets his own meals and takes the daily paper to keep up with the news.” The article referred to Litchfield’s playing violin at Scarborough High School graduation ceremonies and that he continued the tradition for 50 years.
     Because of Litchfield’s musical history, Laughton said he would like to hold a special event where someone in the community actually plays the violin. “Ideally, I’d like to see a piece he (Litchfield) played,” Laughton said.
     Anna Delaware, volunteer with the Scarborough Historical Society said volunteers are “trying desperately,” to find out more information about Litchfield and said they hope to locate an obituary for the man to nail down specific dates.
     Delaware is also hoping the community will come together to help pay for the purchase of the violin. She said it’s important that young people become interested in such pieces of Scarborough’s history because someday, it will be them running the society and museum.
     She said young people occasionally become interested in Scarborough history. Every year the society hosts the town’s third graders for a lesson about their ancestors. Delaware said last year a college student, who was once one of those third graders, called the society wanting to visit the museum to reminisce.
     Instances like that are encouraging, Delaware said, and hopes to foster that interest in generations to come.
     In addition to seeking funds to help pay for the violin, the historical society is also seeking someone with historical knowledge of violins who could play the instrument at an event. “It seems sturdy enough . . . but not being a musical person I really don’t know. In the proper hands it should not be a problem,” he said.
     Anyone with information about Louis Litchfield, or anyone who would like to donate money toward the purchase of the violin should call 883-4820 or e-mail seasideinn@aol.com.