Cora M. Putnam, My Eastern Star Grandmother 

by Francis Harper Sleeper

She taught her male grandchildren how to play poker summers at the Putnam cottage on Drew’s (Meduxnekeag) Lake in New Limerick. Several of the cousins used this skill with great ability when they were in the armed services. The writer did not. Instead, he lost all the money he'd made at the Temple Theater in Houlton during a whole summer in a single poker game

--and never played poker again.

She organized and cooked for large family gatherings at that same cottage. She was working with very individualistic people but her innate organizing ability won everyone over.

Cora M. Putnam, at the age of 38, became the first Grand Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star from Aroostook County in 1909-1910.

There was good reason for that election. This lady, who had received her post high school education at the Madawaska Training School (now the University of Maine at Fort Kent) and who had taught in Upper Saint John Valley schools and in Oakfield, had helped organize 0.E.S. chapters in Fredericton, Saint John, Woodstock and Grand Falls, New Brunswick, and Presque Isle, Patten, Mars Hill, Bridgewater, Ashland, Fort Fairfield and Sherman Mills in this state.

Born in Houlton June 14, 1872, about 130 years ago, Cora M. Carpenter married Amos Putnam June 2, 1891. He was a descendant of one of the two founding families of Houlton; the other family was the Houltons.

Stick your finger in the pie of most Houlton community and OES activities for more than half a century and you'd be liable to come up with the fine hand of Mrs. Putnam. She lived the OES and Masonic ideal of service to her community and country.

However, I would like first to turn to her farewell address as Grand Worthy Matron, made May 25, 1910 at the Eighteenth Annual Session of the Grand Chapter in Portland. While much of the talk involves organization matters, there are some sections which have relevance today.

Here are some of her words:

"As zealous workers for our Order, we all have, I trust, our ideals as to what the Eastern Star should be, and all are alive to the tremendous possibilities of its future. It cannot be said that we have yet attained to our full stature, and with whatever satisfaction we may contemplate the results already attained, the ideal is ever beyond them.”

"We have a standard in the great Masonic fraternity to which we owe our existence. There is a solidity and a firmness about Masonic ties which may not yet, but hope sometime to attain. It would be useless to speculate on the secret sources of Masonic life, and indeed by our very position as a dependent Order, we must always allow that that something makes the Masonic Order superior to our own. But if it be true (as we affirm) that woman's heart equally with man's beats responsive to the grand ideal of Brotherly Love, Relief and Trust, so we may permit ourselves on these foundations to aspire to erect a temple equally solid and enduring, if less glorious.”

"If we have given abundance of our time and labor to Eastern Star work it is not because we are unconscious of its imperfections, but because we are hopeful for the future. The true optimist is led ever onward by the visions of a glorious ideal, and in the contemplation of the ideal derives consolation amid the present imperfections.”

"Fraternity in the pursuit of noble aims is a grand ideal of the Eastern Star. Fraternity is the thing insisted upon in our obligation, and noble aims are the lessons inculcated by the heroines of our Order. Fraternity must have something to work upon, some common purpose and endeavor. It was this common purpose and endeavor which united the workmen on King Solomon's temple and laid the foundation for the Masonic spirit. That was man's work."

"Woman will find the fraternal bond in work more consistent with her sphere and learn from Adah, Ruth, Esther, Martha and Electa the true ideal of womanhood. In our common pursuit of this ideal we shall realize the true fraternal spirit in the Order of the Eastern Star, and be drawn closer together as the principles of our Order shine with undiminished luster through our lives. Only as we hold to this high view of our privileges and responsibilities can it be true that in entering the Order we enter a new phase of life. Only as we cherish the highest ideals can we be said to have for our inspiration the Star of Bethlehem to guide us to the new Jerusalem of our hopes."

My grandmother concluded her speech thusly: "I may not have come up to what you might have wished, yet I have done my best, always striving to live up to the teachings of our Order--'That we love one another.'"

Is there enough of the fraternal spirit my grandmother talks about in Maine Masonry now? Do we really love one another as Christ taught us to do?

Since 9/11 this country has become more united than it has been since the days of World War II. Has Maine Masonry become more united since then? I can't answer these questions and don't even want to. I leave it up to the individual Mason. My grandmother once told me "Don't get the Masons mad at you." I've not always been successful at that due largely to my own ignorance and/or mistakes. I've tried, however.

Community service has always been one of the bulwarks of Masonry. My grandmother had set up these networks as she helped establish Eastern Star chapters. She used those networks, I believe, for community betterment which she herself led. She was, of course, a Past Matron of Fidelity Chapter, OES in Houlton. Later, she was made an honorary member of the Grand Chapter, OES in New Brunswick. She organized an International OES Field Day in 1914. That still exists as an International Night held by Fidelity Chapter and Victoria Chapter, OES, in Woodstock, New Brunswick. She received honors from the Supreme Association, Order of the Rainbow, which enrolled her in the Grand Cross of Color Book of Membership in the International Rainbow Temple.

On the community level, my grandmother organized and was for some 30 years’ executive secretary of the Southern Aroostook Chapter, American Red Cross. The chapter was formed during World War I. It had 21 branches from Bridgewater to Danforth. During World War II, she was chairman of overseas production for that chapter. She founded the women's auxiliary of Chester L. Briggs Post, American Legion, was its president five years and was vice president of the auxiliary's Maine Department two years. She was a delegate to the International Legion Auxiliary convention in Paris during 1927 and got a chance to use her Upper St. John Valley French for the first time in many years. It worked quite well. Some years later, she was a delegate to the auxiliary's national convention in Portland, Oregon.

Among services my grandmother got started in Houlton were bringing a Red Cross nurse into the town's schools along with milk lunches, a dental clinic for the elementary schools and clothing for needy children.

She was a past president of the Houlton Women's Club and the Houlton Business and Professional Women's Club. The last time I talked to Senator Margaret Chase Smith she clearly remembered my grandmother as one of her strongest supporters. A Unitarian Church member, she was 30 years’ secretary of the Aroostook County Unitarian Conference. Houlton Unitarians were, in general, much more conservative than are most Unitarians today. She was a past regent of Lydia Putnam Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. When you went to one of those DAR meetings in Houlton, you found most offices held by Mrs. Putnam, her sister, the mother of a son-in-law (Mrs. Mabel Cates) were also very active in Fidelity Chapter and a strong support to my grandmother in all her civic endeavors.

My grandmother received an overseas citation from the Red Cross and honors from the American Legion and the Houlton Rotary Club. She was definitely interested in history.

Cora Putnam was a charter member and past president of the Aroostook Museum in Houlton. She received a citation from Lydia Putnam Chapter, DAR, for her work to help restore Garrison Hill (used as a fort during the bloodless Aroostook War) and the Old Soldiers Cemetery in Houlton. At the age of 86, she had her 400 plus page "Story of Houlton" published. That work had been started by her husband, Amos Putnam, and she had worked on it more than 25 years. No other hard cover history of Houlton has been written since that 1958 book.

But my grandmother was right up on the latest news until she died. That was probably because, in her younger days, she was "that reporter from Houlton." At one time or another, she reported for the Houlton Pioneer Times, the Bangor Daily News, the Lewiston Sun, the Waterville Sentinel, all the Boston papers and the Associated Press.

Her biggest story, she always said, was the attempt by Werner Horn, a German spy, to blow up the railroad bridge at Vanceboro, Maine. The attempt didn't work. Horn was arrested and taken to the jail in Machias. Once there, he would speak to only one reporter--my grandmother. She was lined up with the Boston Post then and had to stay in Machias a week, filing a daily story with the Post. Horn eventually went back to Germany and, some years later, was declared insane and died in a mental hospital.

My grandmother's greatest thrill during her life "was the introduction of railroad service to Houlton. It was a great day for the people here." Maybe that has something to do with one of my lawyer sons working in the present Bangor and Aroostook bankruptcy matter.

My grandmother influenced me in various ways beyond teaching me to play poker and telling me not to offend Masons. Her internationalism influenced me greatly, though not in the direction of Canada. She was a great stamp collector. I became a stamp collector because of her and this further influenced me toward internationalism, though I wasn't aware of it at the time.

She gave me an interest in history, best shown in the 12 books of collections of old photographs of Maine communities and regions that I've done. And she gave me a feeling for the town of Houlton which will always be my home town to me, even though I only spent most of my summers there from the time I was very small until I was 20 or so.

What about her husband, Amos Putnam? He was no piker Masonically even though he never held a chair in his home lodge, Monument of Houlton. He did rise to become Grand King of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons of Maine. He was Past High Priest of the Aroostook Chapter, RAM, past commander of St. Aldemar Commandery, Knights Templar, in Houlton and past patron of Fidelity Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star in Houlton. He joined Monument Lodge in 1889.

His working life included a stint with the John Millar Store in Houlton, 23 years as superintendent of buildings and grounds at the Houlton Post Office and 43 years with the Houlton Fire Department. He retired in 1927 and held the post of captain in that department several years. He was a great outdoorsman, especially on the Allagash and Mount Katahdin.

I'm extremely proud of both my Masonic grandparents. I could never live up to all the standards they (especially my grandmother) set.

My grandfather had nearly completed work on a history of Monument Lodge when he died. He had also started work on a history of Houlton. both were eventually completed. I have a copy of the Monument Lodge history generously given me by Richard Rhoda, our new Maine Lodge of Research Fellow.

I also want to thank Mrs. Mildred Mcintosh, ever my grandmother's great helper, with supplying me with Cora Putnam's farewell address.

LEGION LADIES HONOR DEPUTY

The Bangor Daily News-October 28th, 1933

Mrs. Zilpha Neal Hostess at Reception to Cora Putnam

Mrs. Cora Putnam, of Houlton, Deputy Vice President of the American Auxiliary of Maine, was the guest of honor at a party given Friday evening by Mrs. Zilpha Neal, at her home at 324 Essex street. The evening was spent in bridge, with the guest of honor, Mrs. Putnam winning first honors, and the consolation prize going to Mrs. Mary Boldue.

Delicious refreshments were served by the hostess.

Those present at the party were: Mrs. Alice Toxier, Mrs. Maude Doran, Mrs. Eleanor Partridge, Mrs. Leone Towle, Mrs. Mary Boldue, Mrs. Gladys Jameson, Mrs. Cora Putnam, and Mrs. Zilpha Neal.

Branch

• Generation 2(Great Grandparents): Amos Putnam and Cora Margaret Carpenter

  • Generation 1(Grandparents): Ervin Earl Putnam and Mary Gertrude Connelly

    • Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam and (Florence) Caroline Wright

Descendants

• Generation 2: Amos Putnam(1863-1936)(P2) and Cora Margaret Carpenter(1872-1964)(P3)

  • Generation 1: Frank Houlton Putnam(1892-1930) and Madge Weldon(1891-1957)

    • Generation 0: Joyce May Putnam(1920-1926)

    • Generation 0: Amos Weldon Putnam(1921-1983) and Ann Elizabeth Campbell(1921-2008)

    • Generation 0: Living and Peter Earnshaw Murray Willis(1910-1995)

    • Generation 0: Joan Lucy Putnam(1925-2008) and Vernon Entwhistle Dean(1916-1993)

    • Generation 0: Madge Putnam(1928-1928)

  • Generation 1: Ervin Earl Putnam(1893-1988)(P1) and Mary Gertrude Connelly(1895-1972)(C1)

    • Generation 0: Robert Ervin Putnam(1927-2011)(P0) and  Florence Caroline Wright(1930-2016)(W0)

    • Generation 0: Living Son and Virginia Ann Childs(1934-2021)

  • Generation 1: Margaret Louise Putnam(1895-1978) married Fred Harold Greaves(1927-2003)

    • Generation 0: Stanley Putnam Greaves(1927-2003) married Jaqueline M. Hall(1928-2008)

    • Generation 0: Living married Living

  • Generation 1: Harriette Carpenter Putnam(1898-1992) married Harold Farnhan Cates(1892-1947)

    • Generation 0: Frances Ann Cates(1925-1940)

    • Generation 0: Living married Living

  • Generation 1: Ruth Lydia Putnam(1900-1978) married Frank Harper Sleeper(1900-1983)

    • Generation 0: Francis Harper Sleeper(1927-2006) married Living