Community Read: The Frozen River
How fun it is to read an historical fiction murder mystery about the frozen Kennebec River during our hot summertime in the Belgrades! Such is The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon, which is based upong the diaries of 18th-Century Hallowell midwife Martha Ballard.
Right away I thought of A Midwife’s Tale, which won a Pulitzer for author Laurel Ulrich. My old copy is on our camp bookshelf from many years ago. Ulrich presented A Midwife’s Tale in Augusta at the University of Maine campus. Many Belgrade readers attended that crowded event.
Ballard’s detailed diaries are quoted at the beginning of each chapter and then translated and explained by Ulrich. The Frozen River offers an historic fiction rendition of the importance of Ballard’s diary as detailed evidence of a possible murder on the icy Kennebec.
My most vivid memory of the Pulitzer history is when Martha Ballard would cross the frozen Kennebec to help deliver a baby, even in the middle of the night. Her closely kept diary of healthy deliveries in the Hallowell area and beyond — better live birth statistics than Boston doctors at the time — made Martha Ballard’s achievements to be unforgettable.
The Frozen River involves a death of a man on the Kennebec. Martha’s accurate daily records are dismissed by certain men and she does not give up. She carefully surmised murder from her complete examination of the body before an outsider doctor arrived to take over. Dr. Cony was the local doctor in Hallowell who usually worked with Martha Ballard when required. (Cony High School is now located across the Kennebec from Augusta.) Her evidence of daily birthings along with community happenings point to murder on the ice and not an accidental death.
How this all works out makes for fascinating summer reading. Remember our murder mystery last summer on Great Pond? That author had a packed audience, standing room only, at our large All Seasons Community Center. Many readers had penetrating questions and personal comments for the very talented author of so many mysteries around Maine.
Hoping our community read this summer brings out your curiosity about local, real life historic figure Martha Ballard. She is portrayed by Ariel Lawhon as an authentic character of strength and intellect. Her husband and children all ring true to the history in Ulrich’s Pulitzer.
As you drive to Augusta, look for the Ballard Stables on the right: same family. At Sam’s in Augusta look for the Ballard barn up on the hill behind…The cemetery of Ballards is fenced in black near Barnes & Noble, Martha’s remains unknown however. Jonathan Ballard kept his mother Martha at a lovely home not far from the Key Bank…On my many hospital visits a few summers ago I still saw Ballard Lane along the way. Perhaps you remember the Manchester Ballard Meat Store from awhile back?
Fort Western has a Martha Ballard tour on occasions. Apparently the Ballard family reunion also happens around here somewhere near Great Pond.
The historic Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden had Martha Ballard there more than once to testify, right on the Kennebec. John Adams even tried a case there back in his lawyer days according to David McCullough’s John Adams, another Pulitzer. The marvelous model of winter ice cutting caught my eye when we found this stunning courthouse one summer day on our way to the coast. Imagine Kennebec ice packed in sawdust reaching India.
History surrounds us here in the Belgrades and so do good books about Martha Ballard. Visit our Belgrade Public Library for directions, news, monthly book group discussions, special programs for kids and everyone, all ages.
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