By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Caribou’s well-known playwright and his irreplaceable producer/director are hitting the stage once again. This time, with a cast of 15 (plus extras), the dynamic duo will present, “Our Memorial Windows” at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22 at the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Dr. Phil Turner, Caribou playwright and Lynn Josselyn, director and producer, study the script of Turner’s play “Our Memorial Windows,” which will be presented at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou.
The play, written by Dr. Phil Turner, 88, and directed/produced by Lynn Josselyn, illustrates in vignette form, how members of some of the earliest families in Caribou formed different groups and raised money to purchase the magnificent stainedglass windows that grace the church today.
The Gray Memorial United Methodist Church was built in 1913, the design created by Astle and Page Caribou architects. The city landmark is (and at that time was) similar in design and structure to Methodist churches all over the country.
According to Dr. Turner, at the time when the church was built the larger stained windows were purchased for $500 each; the smaller ones for $250 and when the Bishop came to participate in the dedication of the church, there was no money owed against the entire project. Within the archives of the church history it is recorded that the three large stainedglass windows are the Corydon Powers, Frank and Martha Campbell and the Elizabeth Sincock memorials.
Corydon Powers was a member of the 5th Maine Battery of the Union Army for four years, discharged on July 6, 1865. His saddle and other accoutrements of battle are displayed at the Whittier Memorial.
Frank and Martha Campbell’s daughter Jennie, married John B. Lyons, and in 1913 she gave $500 for a stainedglass window in memory of her parents. The memory the Campbells’ daughter remains strong within the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church in Caribou through the Jenny Lyons Circle of the United Methodist Women.
Elizabeth Willey married John Sincock, their son W. Edgar Sincock became a Doctor of Medicine and returned to the village of Caribou setting up his practice as a physician and surgeon on South Main Street. When the Methodist Episcopals built their new church on the corner of Sweden and Prospect streets, Dr. Sincock donated $500 to purchase a large stainedglass window in memory of his mother.
Dr. Turner wrote his original play, “Stained” in 1988 and it is from this work that, ”Our Memorial Windows” was created.
“The play not only consists of words and costuming,” said Josselyn, “but the characters will also be sharing music, inviting the audience to sing along.”
It has been nearly a year since the playwright and director took on the production of Turner’s work, “HI to Caribou,” which was presented via a much larger cast, during Caribou’s Sesquicentennial Celebration. “HI to Caribou” traced early settlers of Caribou (Lyndon) through its 150 years.
The production was a huge success, drawing a full house at the Caribou Performing Arts Center and many laughs, as the cast represented steadfast citizens, events, conflicts and changes that took place over the years. This year’s production, although done on a smaller scale, promises to be just as entertaining.
The event will be held at the Gray Memorial Methodist Church at 10 a.m., during the normal Sunday worship time. The play will be preceded by an opening hymn and an invocation.
The production is open to all residents of Caribou and the surrounding communities.
Josselyn the former Grey Memorial Methodist Church pastor, stated, “We hope that those who have connections to the individuals who had windows placed in their memory will come and experience a new the history of their families.”
In researching for this particular play it was determined that a number of the family names are still living in this area. Some of the surnames connected to the church history and the stained glass windows include: Shaw, Gray, Bell, Thibodeau, Wilson, Tracy, Brown, Small, Thomas, Page, Hitchings, Johnson, Bird and Wood. Again, these are only some but by no means all of the many family names that are part of the rich history of the Gray Memorial United Methodist Church.
