Dr. E. A. Thompson (above left) was the driving force behind the library and was immortalized in this portrait by Mary Elizabeth Greeley. The library was built in memory of his wife Lucia Eddy Thompson (above right), who passed away shortly before the construction started.
Dr. Elbridge Augustus Thompson, was born in Sangerville in 1828, he attended Foxcroft Academy and his family moved to Dover during his time there. He graduated from Bowdoin in only two years, then Castleton, Vermont Medical School in 1852. At the age of 22, now a doctor, he moved to Charleston, where his new wife, the former Marion Foss, was from. Marion died the following year in 1855. Her tombstone gave her age as “20 years, 9 months,” adding credence to Lou Stevens’ hypothesis that she died in childbirth. However, no vital records remain from this period either in the Charleston town hall or in the state archives, so her death remains a mystery. Three years later, Thompson married Lucia Eddy of Corinth,.
Historians love to talk about war (especially the Civil War!) Dr. Thompson joined the 12th Maine as a surgeon on May 10, 1862 and remained with the regiment until December of 1864, having allegedly never missed a day of work. The 12th helped to secure the Mississippi River for the Union and expand the war into western Louisiana in 1862-63 before being moved to the Shenandoah Valley. Throughout their campaigns, the 12th marched with two trained bears at the head of their band, who considered themselves “veteran soldiers of the bruin order” no different from their fellow soldiers. The regiment helped to bring Confederate resistance in both theaters to an end, and the victory at Cedar Creek, Va. helped to ensure Lincoln’s 1864 reelection.
Following the war, Thompson moved next to the Blethen House (now the western end of the Walgreen’s parking lot) in 1865, where he resided until his death. In addition to his medical practice and store, he held many important roles: from town meeting moderator to surgeon general to governor Perham in 1874 (which made him an honorary colonel of Maine.) He was a leader of the G.A.R. in the area, for which he received a ceremonial sword. The sword was displayed in the library’s Maine room until the 1990s, when it was stolen. We would love to have the sword back, no questions asked, if anyone should come across it. The doctor even had one of the first automobiles in the area, which he refused to drive after it went backwards uncontrollably down Douty Hill.
Less is known about Dr. Thompson’s wife, Lucia Eddy Thompson, in whose memory the library was built, though her obituary described her as loved by the town, “naturally retiring, modest, living in and for her home, she had endeared herself to everyone who knew her.” Her family, the Eddys, was actually a famous one in Maine history. Her great great grandfather Jonathan Eddy fought in Canada during the French and Indian War and returned to Nova Scotia following the Acadian expulsion. In 1776, he attempted to bring the revolution to the Maritimes, laying siege to Fort Cumberland before being forced to retreat to Machias, which he defended from a British raid in 1777. In recognition of his efforts, he was given land now named after him–the town of Eddington.
Dr. Thompson commissioned Mary Elizabeth Greeley, 74 at the time, to paint portraits of himself and his recently-deceased wife. Dr. Thompson thought his wife’s image was too severe, so he asked Lizzie to “pretty up” the portrait, which she did by adding a very lacy fichu to enhance her plain gown.
Mary Elizabeth Greeley (above) was the locally famous painter Dr. Thompson asked to paint portraits of him and his wife.
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