Lubec, Maine

The fifth graders observations
“One day in 1936 school children went to spend the end of the year by going on a boat at Gardner’s Lake. The boat flipped over. Miss Mimi Kelley who was saved by Wyman Ramsdell is the last living of the three children who survived. This made me feel a little sad because so many died.” Robert Wallace, 10.
“Terrible. It was terrible. When you hear a word of it, you can see it in your head. You feel so bad; Miriam’s friends were gone. She never went back to Gardner’s Lake for 27 years! I would’ve waited longer, maybe never. She handled it far better than I would have, although she was not to speak of it. Ever. Mimi was lucky Wyman Ramsdall was there to save her. They arrived children, students, and friends. They left crying, grieving, a smaller crowd. Wyman Ramsdell lived near to Miriam, and the day of the accident saved her life. I wouldn’t have been able to bear such a tragedy.” Emma Page, 9.
“It is terrible to read, hear, and think about. It was so sad to hear about all the children dying. Miriam Kelly the only survivor living today (2009). She was so lucky that Wyman Ramsdell grabbed Kelley by the hair of her head to stop her from drowning. Kelley said, ‘I just wanted to lay down and go to sleep.’ Kelley’s sister Ellen was the last person to get in and luckily she jumped out before the boat took off. Wyman is a lifesaver for helping Mimi stay alive. When I hear about this tragedy I feel bad for all the people that died. But we always have to remember it wasn‘t anybody’s fault. It was an accident that happened that day.” Stephanie Wright, 10.
“When I first heard about the terrible drownings I felt sick. I feel badly for all the people who lost their lives. I wanted to know more. I really do hope all kinds of people think about this day of sadness. There were only three survivors among the children and one of them is Mimi, my best friend’s grandma.” Austin Serrato, 10.
“I hate to think of these children drowning. I thank the people who saved them. Wyman Ramsdell is like a hero to me because if he didn’t save my grandmother then I wouldn’t he here right now. My grandmother used to tell me this story. I didn’t know how bad it was until now. It shocks that there were only three survivors and my grandmother is the only living survivor. It was very brave of the people who saved the three.” Seth Doherty, 10.
*Other survivors were Barbara Tyler and Leah Wilcox. Those who perished were Leverne Dinsmore, Roland Eaton, Jerome Kinney, Raymah Knowles, Merle Lewis Jr., Evelyn and Aaron Mahar, Daniel McCurdy, Glenn Morey, Frank Reynolds, Christine Sleight, and Doris Small.

References from primary sources
Lubec Herald, “Tragedy Takes Lives of Twelve Children,” Thursday, June 25, 1936.
Portland, The Press Herald, “Wyman Ramsdell, Lubec, Added To Heroes Of Drowning Tragedy,” Tuesday June 23, 1936.
For further reading, see Vicki Reynolds Schad, Remember the Children, published by the author, 2006. The book was not used as a source in this exhibit.