Arthur M. Griffiths 1928-2005

Tuesday, February 1, 2005

MONMOUTH -- Arthur M. Griffiths died at his home on Norris Hill Road in Monmouth, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, following a long illness. He was 76.

Arthur was born Dec. 21, 1928, in Waterville, the son of the Rev. Thomas M. and Esther F. (George) Griffiths. He was educated in the Waterville schools and graduated from Bates College in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in history and government.

In 1948, he was married to Lois M. Spofford in South China. His career took many different paths. He was headmaster at Limington Academy, proprietor of a feed store in Newport and a broadcaster at radio and television stations in Waterville and Lewiston. He headed the news bureau at Bates College in Lewiston from 1955 to 1974. He left Bates to pursue his interest in printing and publications at Twin City Printery in Lewiston, where he worked from 1974 to 1990. In 1965, he founded The Monmouth Press, a typesetting and publishing company, which continues to the present day.

After settling in Monmouth in 1958, Arthur's service to the town was extensive. He served on the School Committee, Planning Board, Budget Committee and appeals board. He was elected moderator for special town meetings, was Civil Defense director for Monmouth and represented the town on the board of directors for the Southern Kennebec Valley Regional Planning Commission. He took a special interest in Harry Hayman Cochrane, the architect of Cumston Hall; Arthur served as a Cumston Hall trustee and chaired the Cumston Hall Grant Steering Committee, which raised funds for the recent renovations of the hall. Arthur wrote his college thesis on Cochrane and was working on a full-length biography of him at the time of his death.

A gifted public speaker and accomplished parliamentarian, Arthur enjoyed presiding over meetings of the Cochnewagon Agricultural Association, the Arnold Expedition Historical Society, the Maine Old Cemetery Association and the Monmouth Historical Society. He also served on the board of trustees of the Maine Genealogical Society.

He and his wife, Lois, made several trips to England, Scotland and Wales on genealogical and historical quests. His publications include collaborations with his father on "Major General Henry Knox and the Last Heirs to Montpelier" (1965), "A Pictorial History of Maine" (1970) and his own book, "A Centennial History of Cumston Hall" (2000). Arthur was Webmaster for Rootsweb genealogical sites for Monmouth, Hebron and South Paris.

Arthur was a 32nd-degree Mason, a 50-year member and past master of Rabboni Lodge 150 in Lewiston. He was editor of The Maine Mason and president of the Androscoggin Valley Square and Compass Club for many years. Arthur was a Sea Scout as a youth and taught sailing, first at summer camp and later to his children aboard his Nova Scotia-built schooner, Antares. Other interests were woodworking, photography and computers.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois M. Griffiths of Monmouth, and his four children, Thomas A. Griffiths and his wife, Margaret, of Bloomington, Ill., John H. Griffiths and his wife, Anne, of Pittsford, N.Y., Linda G. Johnston and her husband, Terry, of Monmouth, and Carol S. Griffiths of Lewiston. He also is survived by four grandchildren, Jennifer S. Griffiths of Durham, N.C., Anne E. Griffiths of Berkeley, Calif., and Christopher S. and Matthew C. Griffiths of Pittsford.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Friday at Bragdon-Finley Funeral Home, 707 Main St., Monmouth. Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Interment will be in Maple Ridge Cemetery, Hebron, in the spring. Masonic services with Rabboni Lodge will be held at 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Messages of condolence may be sent to bfinleyfh@adelphia.net