I was told I would feel as though the house was at “the ends of the Earth.” The crunch of the dirt drive under the tires led us up to a unique home with a special occupant.
It became clear when visiting with Dana Allison of Castle Hill that a life so rich and well lived would need more time to explore, but my friends Melanie, Mikaela and I made the best of the time we had. Allison is a mother, grandmother, wife, artist, author, quilter and Republican among many other roles and talents. She is full of joy, compassion, humor and thoughtful concern.
Our trio’s interest in Allison was sparked after seeing her attend our local rallies to stand up against policies of the current administration that she fears will have a devastating impact on her family, neighbors, Maine and America. On No Kings Day a photo of her walking and carrying her American flag went locally viral, inspiring many others to stand up for democracy. Her willingness to step out and be vocal against injustices she’s observing, at 93 years young, inspires us.
Allison was originally from Vermont, where her family had strong Republican roots. Her husband, Dr. Horace Allison, was from Texas, where he grew up learning to ride horses before bikes. When they first visited Aroostook County in 1965, when her husband was looking for a place to establish a practice, they immediately fell in love with the setting and community. This was when Interstate 95 only reached the southernmost city in Maine, Kittery.
She described heading up Route 1 toward northern Maine and arriving at the Haynesville Woods, where the whole world opened up. They were smitten with the luscious greenery and lovely community that greeted them warmly and they didn’t look back. They settled with their family in Presque Isle for 10 years and later moved to Castle Hill on acreage where they could better accommodate their five children and the growing array of farm animals.
“We had a herd of 73 donkeys, plus several other species of farm animals, and a pet skunk,” she said.
While her husband grew his practice in pediatrics and later in emergency medicine, she ran the farm, raised the children, served on the local school board for 31 years, ran a local business, published a children’s book, and more.
She raised her children at home after her husband died in 1980. A couple of years later their home burned down, and generous folks from Aroostook County and New Brunswick helped see them through rebuilding. She fears that the close ties that once created communities that knew no international boundaries are now being damaged.
She takes great pride in the lives, education and opportunities that her children gained from SAD 1. She grew up during the Great Depression and knew the struggles of scarcity, the harmful impact of long-term health issues and the sadness of deaths from illnesses that eventually could be eradicated by vaccinations. She was relieved that her children had access to quality education and health care, and could go out into the world with solid preparation.
She shared her progress on the quilt she’s finishing for her grandson, who graduated as valedictorian from a magnet school, just as his older brother did. She talked about her children, their careers and life adventures, and the process of turning the story of a white cat at the farm into a children’s book that her granddaughter illustrated for her (first as a child and later as a design graduate) and that she eventually published earlier this year.
She spoke of kindness and compassion as the County way, and the ultimate example of true American values. She shared her observations of the desires to help others out of genuine compassion and Christian values in action. She talked of treating people with respect, supporting them in citizenship and encouraging people to feel safe, respected and encouraged.
She believes now is the time to take a stand against hate, to protect people who are marginalized and to protect health care, food benefits, and other assistance that helps people survive. Her view is that one can address challenges and find solutions without minimizing human beings, and if policies are causing human suffering, they should be changed.
Then she unfolded the spectacular wildflower quilt that she had finished by hand.
As my friends and I drove back down the road, seeing the fields and flowers that inspired that work of art, they held even more significance. Mrs. Allison will always remind and inspire us to withstand the hard so that you can embrace the beauty. Her warm smile, jovial laughter, and her love and hope seem destined to inspire.
Welcome to the beautiful end of the earth, where American values are strong and true and political party is irrelevant.
Janel Underwood-Charette is a nana, mom, wife and social worker from Presque Isle. Everything in life is richer when she is surrounded by family and community.
