Patriot’s grave to be marked

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum in a ceremony on Oct. 8 will mark the grave of Ephraim Smith, a Gorham patriot involved in the famous 1773 Boston Harbor event who is buried in White Rock.

Association participants will likely wear period garb during the ceremony, Gorham Historical Society President Suzanne Phillips said.

Smith was born around 1751, and died Jan. 13, 1835, according to historical accounts.

His grave will be marked in advance of the 250th anniversary next year of the historical event where patriots dumped tea from a British ship into the harbor in protest.

Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum plans to mark the graves of the 125 men from New England and throughout the United States who dumped the tea by next year’s Dec. 16 anniversary.

Nomination papers available

Nomination papers are available in the Town Clerk’s Office for three seats on the Town Council and two on the School Committee for elections to be held Nov. 8.

Town Council seats up for grabs are held by Vice Chairperson James Hager and Councilors Benjamin Hartwell and Janet Kuech. The available seats on the School Committee are now filled by Stewart McCallister and Phil Gagnon.

Nomination papers must have at least 35 signatures of registered voters, but no more than 50. Papers must be submitted by 4 p.m. Sept. 7 in the Town Clerk’s Office in the municipal center, 75 South St.

For more information, call Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors at 222-1670.

First day of school 

The first day of school in Gorham for grades 6 and 9 will be Aug. 29. All other grades return to school Aug. 30 except for kindergarteners, who start Sept. 1.

50 years ago

The American Journal reported Aug. 16, 1972, that Mrs. Roy Redin of Hillview Road sold the stationery store at Main and School streets to Mr. and Mrs. Edward Clough of Nashua, New Hampshire. Mrs. Redin and her late husband had operated the store for more than 20 years. She retired Aug. 1.

U.S. taxpayer debt

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service reported Aug. 11 that the U.S. public debt was $30,660,257,804,900.73.