By Emma Bouthillette
Staff Writer
Violin making is a woodworking art and science. Around 1898, Louis Litchfield of Scarborough made violins as his hobby. This is the story of one of his violins.
“I found the violin in Vermont. The dealer had four of Litchfield’s violins, but only this one was in playable condition. We raised the funds because generally we don’t purchase artifacts, but I wanted to see this violin back in Scarborough,” Scarborough Historical Society President Rodney Laughton said.
Laughton said he brought the idea of finding someone to play the instrument to the society’s board. Program Director Bruce Thurlow approached USM’s Director of String Studies and assistant professor Robert Lehmann to play Litchfield’s violin.
“When we received the violin, Robert’s mother came to the museum to see it. We asked her to play for us, but she wasn’t available, but her son was,” Laughton said.
Not having been played for many decades, the violin needed some repairs. Laughton contacted Val Mongillo, owner of Valerio Mongillo Musical String Instrument Repairs in Kennebunk, for the repairs required before the instrument could be played again.
“The violin was in tremendous condition for being so old. I had to exchange the tuning pegs, bridge and sound post,” Mongillo said.
With the instrument in playing condition and a violinist secured, the Litchfield violin vibrated with song during the June 4 Scarborough Historical Society meeting. The night’s program was one in a series highlighting the various Scarborough communities in honor of the 350th anniversary of the town.
“Scarborough is made up of many marsh villages and we’ve been working with each one,” Thurlow said.
Guest speaker, Harold Snow, 92, knew Litchfield well and spoke in his memory.
“Litchfield was a Pine Pointer at the time he made this violin. I was sitting there listening to him fiddling with it and asked him when he made it. He said around November or December of 1898,” Snow said.
Mongillo said that Litchfield was probably a hobbyist violinmaker. 
“Because of the unusual measurements, I don’t think Mr. Litchfield had any formal training, but he had very good woodworking skills,” Mogillo said.
“The art of violin making goes back to the 1500s. One of our own native sons made something as beautiful as this, that sounds as beautiful as this,” Lehmann said.
Lehmann entertained the audience with classical music, as well as some American classic tunes. Some people in the audience hummed along as Lehmann played the familiar songs.
“It was difficult to decide what to play until I had the violin. When I saw it and realized it was in good condition, I then thought what should I play for the crowd to humanize the violin and its maker,” Lehmann said.
The final piece played was Prokofiev’s Sonata. Lehmann said he chose the difficult piece to show the ability of the violin.
“All the working parts have to be in perfect order to play this piece and play it in tune and well,” Lehmann said.
The violin is now part of the Scarborough Historical Society’s collection of artifacts.
For more information on the violin or the historical society, please contact Bruce Thurlow at 883-5445.