Mabel Espling Todd

Mabel Todd will be honored at Midsommar on 1:00 pm Sunday June 21, 2009 at New Sweden, Maine.

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Sunday Program featuring The Maine Event singers and Wednesday Evening Fiddlers: Thomas Park; arrival of the Majstång (Maypole); Little Folk Dancers; music by The Maine Event singers and Wednesday Evening Fiddlers from Perth Andover; raffle drawings and more, Lewis Peterson emcee, Honoring Rena Espling Hultgren and Mable Espling Todd.

Here is her bio:

Mabel Espling Todd

Mabel Espling Todd was born in New Sweden to Helmer and Edrie (Olson) Espling. Her beloved sister, Rena, is four years younger. Mabel attended grade school in New Sweden and graduated from Caribou High School in 1937. Mabel was married to Arthur Todd and has two children (twins), Paul and Amber, and three grandchildren.
Mabel worked in Caribou at Newberry’s and R. H. Frost Co. (where she obtained state licenses for insurance and real estate), Norton Company in Worcester during WWII years, Ray Harmon and Sons, National Confectionery, the Caribou Town Office, M. D. McGrath Co., L. D. Bearce Co. and Bearce-Carter Oil. She was Office Manager at Cary Memorial Hospital and at Maine Potato Bag Co. She worked at Caribou Publishing Co. for some time where she was also involved in all aspects of printing the Aroostook Republican. She worked 19 years at Loring AFB with the Army & Air Force Exchange in every department until she retired. Mabel has been considered a good secretary, excellent in bookkeeping and proficient in office management. Her most recent paid occupation was being ballot clerk at Stan’s whenever T16 R4 was involved in the election process.
Mabel has been affiliated with Baptist churches in the area serving as Sunday school teacher, Youth Leader, Deaconess, Choir Member, Church Clerk, Financial Secretary and Mail Secretary as well as a member of various committees.
Mabel was Secretary/Treasurer of the Caribou Band Parents for four years while her children were in the high school band, helping to raise money for instruments and band trips.
Mabel was instrumental in starting youth groups where there were none such as the Caribou Junior Baptist Fellowship and the Baptist and Boys 4H group for Perham and Woodland boys. She was Assistant 4H leader for many years with Colby girls.
Mabel is still quite proficient in Swedish which she began learning from infancy. She also became proficient in French, Italian, Finnish and Lithuanian.
Mabel’s most recent interests have been volunteer work. She has been involved with the New Sweden Historical Society as Secretary, Treasurer and “ongoing volunteer fulltime.” Mabel served faithfully as museum hostess as well as on several committees. She is a member of the Maine’s Swedish Colony, Inc., and served as Secretary for several years. She was a member of the New Sweden Cemetery Association and was President for many years and a Director. Mabel is a member of the Madawaska Lake Campers Association serving as Secretary and Treasurer for many years and as a Director.
Mabel says she has had a good life and has appreciated many activities and associations that have been educational and fulfilling. At age 89 she is happy to be able to be involved in whatever comes her way. Perhaps Mabel’s favorites memories are of working with her dad on the farm and later enjoying farming with her husband. She says one learns a lot in that occupation, not just planting and harvesting, but also construction, electricity, machine work, purchasing and selling, to mention a few.

Tags: Women of the Colony