Harland Eastman was born in Springvale, Maine, April 14, 1929. After graduating from Sanford/Springvale schools, he earned degrees from Colby College, Tufts, and studied at the London School School of Economics. From there, he had a 24 year career in the Foreign Service which took him to such diverse places as France, Israel, Morocco and Viet Nam. Retiring to his beloved Springvale in 1979 and passionate about history, he became an antiquarian book dealer and joined the Sanford Historical Committee. Rummaging the storage depths of the Sanford Town Hall, where Sanford/Springvale's artifacts were stored, he discovered, what to him was a veritable treasure trove -- glass negatives of Sanford/Springvale (and surrounding towns Acton, Shapleigh, Alfred) taken by Fred Philpot, circa 1900. From this find, Mr. Eastman published several photographic histories between 1985 and 1995.
Tne need for an actual Sanford/Springvale Historical Museum became more evident than ever. In 2005, Mr. Eastman spearheaded a non-profit to raise money to establish a museum to house the Historical Committee's collections. The 1875 Sanford Town Hall (actually located in the Village of Springvale) which was not in use was transformed by the new, non-profit, Sanford-Springvale Historical Society, under Mr. Eastman's ever so watchful and meticulous eye. In 2014, thanks to the generosity of two Board members, the Society purchased the 1899 Goodwin House right next door to the Museum and began restoration to its original state. Tours are offered of the restored main floor, while upstairs provides much needed storage for the Society's huge collection. Both buildings are now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Historical Museum's campus expanded once again in the 2020s with the purchase of the abandoned house on the other side of the museum thanks to the efforts of Mr. Eastman's son, Stephen. This space now provides much needed parking and outdoor space for the museum. Stephen, unfortunately, passed before seeing this come to fruition. It is now a memorial park dedicated which was dedicated Stephen in September, 2022. Harland Eastman passed on February 29, 2024, at the age of 94. His life's passion for history and his hometown has left an incredible legacy for us all. (For more museum information: sanfordhistory.org )
Enjoy this historic area and hunting for this interesting cache. Experienced cachers will probably figure it out quickly, but those who haven't seen this type of cache may be puzzled. There's room for small swag. Please replace the cache carefully and make sure all is secure.