A Lazy Maine Summer Day...

Written by Elnora Merrill Pace.



I do not know the story behind this picture for sure but my mom thinks they had just had a barbecue and they were watching the men hay. My parents were married in May 1969. This looks like it was the summer of 1969 to me (based on no little kids running around and my mom's hair style) so if that's the right time, then my mom doesn't know her in-laws very well yet. Of course, my mom has a history of not smiling for photographs so she could be having a great time here and we'd never know it! There is someone in curlers between my mom and Aunt Eunice but I can't tell who it would be.

I love seeing the leaves of the day lilies on the side of the house--just as I remember them. I love the beauty of the surrounding land. I love the simpleness of the day. I love seeing my grandma in her dress and apron with her hand up and her fingers closed. I love how classy Aunt Eunice looks in her pink dress. And, I love seeing the upcoming new generation of young mothers--wearing pants! (Actually, upon closer inspection, the pants in the picture look like they belong to our mystery woman but I'm sure my mom was wearing pants too! Does it look like one of these pictures was flipped to anyone else?)

(Pictured: Dora Agnes Chubbuck Merrill; Lucinda Maurine Reidhead Merrill; Mystery woman in curlers; Eunice Vivian Merrill Lindsay)

Not Your Frequent Fliers!

Written by granddaughter, Elnora Merrill Pace.


I grew up in the same home and on the same farm that my father, Jesse Albion Merrill Jr., had grown up in since he was 10 years old. The Merrill roots were firmly planted in St. Albans, Maine. A change of scenery was difficult since there were always cows to be milked, animals to be fed and chores to be done. My father liked it that way. He has never enjoyed traveling and the thought of getting on a plane is not a thought of comfort nor excitement for him.

I've always assumed my grandparents, Jesse and Dora Merrill, were the same way. I never even remember my grandparents being gone. In my memory, they were always in their red and white trailer just down the hill. And for the most part, they were. But, it looks like when I was four years old, they did indeed leave. They flew clear across the country to Phoenix, Arizona to visit their youngest daughter, Shirley and her family, who were stationed there with the military.

I love this picture! I love the look of pure joy on my grandfather's face. I love the dapper little hat he is wearing and the profile of my grandmother wearing her glasses. Did my grandparents enjoy traveling? I do not know the answer to this question but it is clear that they were happy to be done traveling at this moment and thrilled to be seeing the faces of loved ones once again.

An Answered Prayer

Written by Elnora Merrill Pace, daughter of Jesse Albion Merrill Jr.

During the 1940s and 1950s, young men were required to serve in the military. My uncles, Haley Andrew Merrill and Clinton Edgar Merrill both served in the Army. Haley served for approximately four years and although he was sent to the Philippines, he never saw any action. Clinton only served for a couple of years but he stayed entirely in the United States and also didn't see any war action. In the 1950s my father was running the family farm for his father so he was able to get deferred from serving several times. You had to apply for a deferment every six months so finally, Jesse Albion Merrill Jr., decided to enlist.

Clinton had been praying that his little brother would join the Air Force instead of the Army since there was an Air Force Base close to where he lived in Utah and he hoped his brother would be sent there so he would have the opportunity to teach him about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jesse did join the Air Force in November 1956 but he wasn't sent to Utah. Instead, he was sent to Lackland AFB in Texas.

When Jesse arrived in Texas, he was asked what religion he belonged to. He didn't belong to any religion but he knew his brother, Clint, had joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so he replied that he was a Mormon. After a month in Texas, Jesse was transferred to Colorado to the Lowry AFB. As it turned out, the base chaplain at Lowry was a Mormon chaplain by the name of Joel Garrett. At this point in time, the Lowry AFB was the only AFB with an LDS chaplain. When Brother Garrett discovered that Jesse was not actually a Mormon, he got to work. He started teaching Jesse the discussions and on June 1, 1957 Joel Garrett baptized Jesse A. Merrill Jr. an official member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was confirmed a day later also by Joel Garrett in the Denver 4th Ward.

Jesse returned to the family farm in November 1957. During this brief one year in the service he received training to repair radar on the F102 and F104 airplanes. He also fell in love with the beauty of Colorado and the mountains of the West. But, most importantly, he was taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and a prayer of a brother was answered.

(Note: The picture of Jesse and his two comrades was obviously taken in Texas. All three of them are pointing at something which is hard to make out but it looks like it could be a dandelion weed. )

The Merrill Connection

I hope this blog will be a place where we can post pictures and share memories and stories of our Merrill ancestors. If you have pictures and/or stories that you would like to share, please leave a comment with your email address and I will list you as an author.