Though she is one of Island Falls’ premier authorities on the history of the town, many people do not know Rebecca “Becky” Drew is not a native of the community.
Born in Lincoln in 1949 to Herbert and Ava Joy, she came to Island Falls with her family when she was just 2 years old. Her father was a Maine State Police trooper, assigned to the Island Falls area. He passed away in 1981, while Drew’s mother turned 87 this year and still lives in town with Drew’s sister.
With a passion for knowledge and books, Drew, 70, has been one of the champions of the Island Falls Historical Society and the town’s library for many years.
Her husband Dennis was employed by Maine Public Service for 43 years and was stationed in Island Falls. The couple once had an opportunity to relocate to both Portage and Fort Fairfield, but the couple felt so strongly about the area that they chose to remain in Island Falls.
“Dennis loves hunting and fishing, and this is where we both grew up,” Drew said.
Becky was first introduced to Dennis when they were quite young. Dennis’ aunt babysat Becky and her sister, but one day when she couldn’t, Dennis was pressed into service.
“I think I was 12 years old, but mom and dad were not comfortable leaving us home alone,” she said. “I think Dennis was 16 at the time, and he had to come stay with us for an hour or so. I can still remember giggling my way through the hour or so he was there.”
It was not until a year or so later that the two started dating. Becky said she was at a “Sadie Hawkins Ball” when her friends dared her to ask Dennis to dance.
“We all thought he was cute, and I said I knew him, so they dared me to go dance with him,” she said. “Well, I did and we danced for the entire rest of the evening and he walked me home that night.”
Six and a half years later, the high school sweethearts married and 51 years later are still happily married. The couple have two adult children, Adam and Elizabeth, and four grandchildren.
A one-time nurse for the hospital in Island Falls, Drew also spent several years with the Katahdin Valley Health Center until hearing loss became an issue. “When you can’t follow conversations very well, it just doesn’t work in the medical field,” she said.
So instead, she turned her attention to one of her life’s passions — books. For the past 23 years, Drew has served as the librarian for the Katahdin Public Library in Island Falls.
“I grew up in a reading family and that has always been where my focus is,” she said.
As the town’s librarian, Drew does her part to introduce more people to the wonders of books. She regularly brings books to the senior housing center for people to read and has been known to be lenient when it comes to overdue books, especially if they are children.
“I usually have a pretty good idea of what books are going to come back and which people I may have to chase a little,” she said. “We charge 5 cents a day for overdue books, and sometimes I have to go up to someone on the street and remind them.”
Giving back to the community also plays a big part in her life. She served on the school board for 11 years and is currently serving on the town’s cemetery board, buildings and grounds committee, grant committee and is a member of the Island Falls Historical Society.
When she is not reading or working at the library, Drew likes to quilt and knit. She also enjoys going bird hunting in the fall with her husband and is renowned for her creativity in the Island Falls Summerfest parades. This past year, she dressed as a “Pink Lady” from the 1950s.
“I do what I can,” she said. “I consider this my town and my people, and I try to help people as best I can.”
