Whenever someone tears down or burns down an old Windham building, it’s appreciated when the historical society is notified, so they can “rescue” anything historical and keep it at the society for preservation and future research.

The society has been in the news this past year with publicity about “saving” parts of the historic John Andrew School, the old Weeks house on Highland Cliff Road and in the past, the former train depot building. Sometimes, surprising historic discoveries are made. In the April 29, 1980, edition of the Courier Free Press (Windham, Maine), an article told of just such a discovery.

An old building on Route 302, next to the Dairy Queen site at Boody’s Corner (intersection of Route 302/35/115), which had served as the post office, was being removed. When it was demolished, an exterior wall covered with huge, brightly colored posters advertising a performance of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was uncovered.

At the time, it was estimated that the posters were put up in either 1884 or 1904 (there was some problem reading the dates). The posters advertised:

“Witherell and Davies’ majestic revival of the famous, moral and picturesque drama of Uncle Tom’s Cabin…an unrivalled success,” which was to be performed at a “mammoth pavilion opera house.”

The wallboards on which the posters were affixed, were given to the historical society, catalogued into the archives and put in the upstairs (attic) space at the society headquarters where they awaited restoration. Unfortunately, a leaky roof and squirrels, mice and other varmints caused tremendous damage. Thanks to generous donations from members and the public, the roof was repaired, but too late to save those old posters.

Between 1852 and the end of the century it’s estimated that a million copies of the book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” were sold. The play, based on the story by Maine author Harriet Beecher Stowe, was performed more often in America than any other production. During the 1880s, there were up to 500 “Tom Shows” on the road across the country.

Just where the production advertised in Windham was being performed is not known; however, the fact that it was advertised here shows how popular and well known the subject was. And if you haven’t heard of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” or Harriet Beecher Stowe – the library, history teachers or the Internet are all good research resources.