In this video interview, lifelong Gray resident Evelyn Durgin reflects on growing up in town during the early 20th century and the many changes she witnessed over her lifetime. Born and raised on Whitney Road, Evelyn recalls attending the South Gray one-room schoolhouse, where a single teacher taught multiple grades beside a wood stove, and outdoor privies stood behind the building. As enrollment declined, students were eventually sent into the village schools.
Evelyn describes her education as simple but formative, progressing from rural schools to high school at the former Pennell Institute and later to Castine Normal School, where she trained as a teacher. She contrasts her school days—focused on core subjects, weekly music, and holiday programs—with the broader opportunities available to students today.
Her memories extend beyond school to everyday life in Gray: homemade toys, hours spent exploring woods and fields, birdwatching with her family, stargazing nights, and community gatherings before television shaped entertainment. She also recalls farming life during the Depression, when her family raised poultry, kept gardens, and occasionally sold surplus produce to passersby.
Evelyn reflects on changes to Main Street landmarks, shifts in bird populations, and the transformation of transportation—from horse-drawn wagons and Model T Fords to paved roads and increased traffic. Throughout the interview, her stories offer a vivid, personal window into Gray’s rural past and the close-knit community that shaped her life.