New Hampshire: The Origin of "Old Home Week" and the Rollins Family

According to some “The three sweetest words in the English language are “Mother, Home and Heaven.”  Taking advantage of this sentiment, Frank W. Rollins, a governor of New Hampshire, instituted a project called “Old Home Week,” that is best described in his own words below.

From: The Origin of Old Home Week by Frank W. Rollins
“The purpose of this new festival, inaugurated in New Hampshire in the year 1899 and designated “Old Home Week,” was to win back, if possible, some of the wealth which the State, with its New England neighbors, had lavished on the newer parts of the country in the persons of sturdy, resourceful men and women. I had watched with grave consideration the decimation of our hill towns by drawing away of our brightest and best to fields where they thought they had a greater opportunity and it was in the endeavor to stop this loss and bring back some of those who had gone away that I hit upon the plan of “Old Home Week.”  There have been, of course, reunions since the beginning of time, but my plan differed from the ordinary reunion in that it was to occupy a week in each year so that each one could make his plans to be back, and was to be recognized by the State as a permanent festival. In organizing this festival it was hoped that some might come back to the old home to remain; that others might return for the reunion season, and perhaps choose here a spot on which the vacation home at least might be established. ”

By 1907 the idea of “Old Home Week” expanded from New Hampshire to all of the New England States, New York, Ohio, Alabama, Virginia, North Caroline, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, and onto Nova Scotia, Ontario and even to Australia.  Events included church services, reunions in homes and in public gatherings on week days, musical events including bands and singers.

Many towns in New Hampshire continue the tradition of holding “Old Home Days.”

*Additional Reading*

– New Hampshire’s Old Home Week, from 1925 Granite State Monthly

–Old Home Day: The Origin–

-Biography: Gov. Frank W. Rollins–

–New Hampshire’s Opportunity, by Frank W. Rollins-

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****ROLLINS GENEALOGY****
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————–First generation————-

James Rollins, an Englishman who came to America in 1632. He spent a short time in Ipswich MA, was in Newbury in 1634, and in 1644 settled in that part of Dover NH (at Bloody Point) now included in Newington. He was one of the first settlers there, and secured a grant of 100 acres of land, where he lived for the rest of his life. His will dated Dover 16 Dec 1685 gave property to his wife Hannah, to his son Ichabod (the oldest) to Benjamin and to his “other children” not named in the will.
Children of James & Hannah Rollins:
1. +Ichabod Rollins
2. Thomas Rollins, b. 1641 [note: “Granny D” (Rollins) Haddock is a descendant of this line-SEE]
3. Samuel Rollins, b. 1649
4. James Rollins
5. Benjamin Rollins, b 1662
6. Joseph Rollins
7. Deborah Rollins, m. James Benson of Kittery ME, 20 March 1719

————–Second generation————-

Ichabod Rawlins/Rollins, the eldest son of James and Hannah Rawlins, was one of the early inhabitants of Bloody Point, where he was a taxpayer in 1665. He married Mary Tibbetts, daughter of Jeremiah Tibbetts. She d. bef age 30, leaving one son, Jeremiah. Mr. Rawlins m2d) Elizabeth — by whom he had one daughter Hannah. On May 22, 1707 Ichabod was killed by Indians, being attacked by a party of twenty or more while driving a team in company with John Bunker from Lieut. Field’s garrison to James Bunkers for a loom.
Child of Ichabod & Mary (Tibbetts) Rollins:
1. +Jeremiah Rollins, b. Dover NH
Child of Ichabod & Elizabeth (?) Rollins:
2. Hannah Rollins, b. 16 July 1706; prob. married 24 Sep 1744 Job Hardy of Bradford MA.

————–Third generation————-

Jeremiah Rollins, son of Ichabod & Mary (Tibbetts) Rollins, was b. in Dover NH (now Newington NH) and d. bef 1768. He was one of the petitioners in 1729 for the incorporation of Somersworth NH as a separate parish. He m. Elizabeth Ham, dau of John and Mary (Heard) Ham and graddaughter of William Ham of Exeter and Portsmouth NH who emigrated from England. She b. 29 Jan 1681. His will was proved 29 June 1768 with his son Ichabod as heir and executor of his will.
Children of Jeremiah & Elizabeth (Ham) Rollins:
1. Mary Rollins, b. 23 Jan 1714
2. Lydia Rollins, b. 18 March 1716
3. Deborah Rollins, b. 26 Jan 1719
4. +Ichabod Rollins, b. 18 July 1722 in Somersworth NH
5. Sarah Rollins, bap. 7 Apr 1728; m. Edward Walker of Newington NH.

————–Fourth generation————-

Hon. Ichabod Rollins, son of Jeremiah & Elizabeth (Ham) Rollins, b. 18 July 1722 in Somersworth NH, and d. 31 Jan 1800; m. Abigail Wentworth, dau of Capt. Benjamin & Elizabeth (Leighton) Wentworth. She b. 12 February 1723, and d. 17 Oct 1790 in her 68th year. He m2d) Summer 1792 to Margaret (Colton) Frost, widow of Joseph Frost of Newcastle NH. Margaret d. 5 July 1813 age 89 at Rollinsford NH. He was a member of the Revolutionary conventions at Exeter NH April, May and Dec 1775; one of the committee to prepare and bring into the convention a plan of ways and means for furnishing troops. On 20 June 1775 he was sent in company with Hon. Timothy Walker of Concord NH to ascertain the losses sustained at Bunker Hill by officers and soldiers of the NH forces in order to compensate them. He was a member of the Convention in 1776 when it became an independent state government. He was a delegate to the legislature Oct 1776 and the first Judge of Probate under the new government, which office he held from 1776 to 1784. He was a member of the Executive Council of NH in 1789. He was a slave-holder; res. Somersworth NH (later incorporated as Rollingsford in honor of him).
Children of Ichabod & Abigail (Wentworth) Rollins:
1. John Rollins, b. 22 March 1745; m. Mary Carr; res. Somersworth NH; had issue
2. Ichabod Rollins, b. 1747; m. Ruth Philpot; res. Somersworth; had issue
3. +James Rollins, m1) Hannah Carr; m2) Lucy Gerrish; res. Somersworth NH; had issue
4. +Daniel Rollins, b. 1759 in Somersworth NH; farmer; he died at age 30. He married Martha Weeks.
5. Elizabeth Rollins, m. Jonathan Chesley Chadbourne of Berwick ME. They had 4 ch: (1) Abigail who m. Geo. W. Wallingford; (2) Benjamin; (3) Ichabod R.; (4) Mary, dy
6. Abigail, died in early life
7. Mary, m. Hon. Samuel Hale of Barrington NH. Ch: (1) Samuel; (2) Martha

————–Fifth generation————-

James Rollins, son of Ichabod & Abigail (Wentworth) Rollins, b. abt 1749 in Rochester, Strafford Co NH. Possibly he is the Capt. James Rollins who died 12 April 1854 in Stratham NH; he m. abt 1770 in Dover NH to Hannah Carr, daughter of Dr. Moses Carr of Newbury MA.  (Her sister Mary married James’ brother John.). She b. 26 June 1749 in Dover NH. He m2) abt 1795 to Lucy Gerrish of Dover NH.
Children of James & Hannah (Carr) Rollins:
1. Nathaniel Rollins, b 1780 Somersworth NH
2. Abigail Rollins, b. 1782 Somersworth NH; d. unmarried 21 May 1823
3. Mary Rollins, b. May 1783 Somersworth NH; m. 1835 Isaac Pray of Boston MA
4. Moses Rollins, b. 1786 Somersworth NH
5. Samuel Rollins, b. 1790 Somersworth NH; m. Sarah Stevens, res. Rollinsford NH
6. Hannah Rollins, b. abt 1792 Somersworth NH; m. John Tibbetts
Children of James & Lucy (Gerrish) Rollins:
7. +Daniel Rollins, b. 30 May 1797 Somersworth NH
8. Lorenzo Rollins, b. 1799 Somersworth NH
9. Elizabeth Rollins, b. abt 1801 Somersworth NH; m. Edmund Higgins
10. Angeline Rollins, b. 1803 Somersworth NH
11. James Rollins, b. abt 1805 Somersworth NH
12. Ellen Rollins, b. abt 1807 Somersworth NH, died young
13. Charles Rollins, b. abt 1808 Somersworth NH, died young

————–Sixth generation————-

Daniel G. Rollins, son of James & Lucy (Gerrish) Rollins, b. 30 May 1797 Somersworth NH; d. 31 Mar 1864 in Rollinsford NH; m. 20 Nov 1823 to Mary Plummer, dau of Ebenezer & Mehitable (Warren) Plummer. She was b. abt 1802 in Rollinsford NH, and died 9 November 1894 in Dover, NH., aged 92 years. Buried at Rollinsford, NH. He was a farmer. In 1858 he was awarded prizes for best ox-wagon and best ox-cart by the New Hampshire State Agricultural Society. In 1846 he was one of the original incorporators of the Great Falls Bank.
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1860 US Federal Census > NH > Strafford > Rollinsford
Daniel Rollins 63 M Farmer 9000/6000 NH
Mary Rollins 58 F NH
James G. Rollins 33 M NH
Elizabeth W Rollins 23 F NH
—–living next door—-
Augustus Rollins 62 M Farmer 20,000/5820
Abiah Rollins 60 F 700
Augustus W. Rollins 29 M Trader 3000
Olive W. Rollins 32 F 600 NH
Mary Rollins 26 F 500 NH
Lydia H. Rollins 19 F 500 NH
Benjamin Stokes 31 M Farm Laborer Maine
John Stokes 17 M Farm Laborer Maine
——————
Children of Daniel & Mary (Plummer) Rollins:
1. +Edward Henry Rollins, b. 3 Oct 1824 in Somersworth NH
2. James G. Rollins, b. 6 Jan 1827 NH; d. Omaha, Nebraska
3. William A. Rollins, b. 1 Oct 1829 NH, d. 23 July 1853
4. Lucy G. Rollins, b. 24 Sep 1831; d. 20 Feb 1850
5. John F. Rollins, b. 4 July 1835; m. Hannah Breck Peters; res. Ft. George Island, FL
6. Elizabeth W. Rollins, b. 1 May 1837 NH; res. Rollinsford; d. 27 March 1911 Dover NH, age 73, unmarried.

————–Seventh generation————-

Edward Henry Rollins, son of Daniel & Mary (Plummer) Rollins b. 3 Oct 1824 in Somersworth NH (now part of Rollinsford). He died 31 July 1889 at Isles of Shoals, Rockingham Co NH. He was buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord NH. He was educated in Dover NH and South Berwick Maine. He became a druggist’s clerk in Concord and Boston and entered business there on his own. Republican and member of NH State House of Representatives 1855-57; delegate to the Republican National Convention from NH 1860, 1884; U.S. Representative from NH, 2nd District 1861-67; U.S. Senator from NH 1877-83. He married 13 Feb 1849 to Ellen Elizabeth West, dau of John and Ann (Montgomery) West, grand-daughter of John and Susanna (Eastman) West, and 2nd great-grand-daughter of Moses Eastman, 2nd Lieut. New Hampshire Continental Troops (American Revolution). Edward was a Congregationalist. She was an Episcopalian. Mr. Rollins was a member and master of Blazing Star Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Trinity Chapter, and commander of Mount Horeb Commandery, Knights Templar at Concord NH. Mrs. Rollins was b. 8 Sep 1827 in Concord NH and died 8 Oct 1893 at York Harbor, Maine. She was a descendant of Edward West who came from England about 1650 and settled at Newbury MA.
[See photo #1] [Photo #2]
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1850 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Merrimack > Concord
Nancy West 58 F NH
Ellen M. Manahan 17 F DC
Charlotte P. Manahan 15 F DC
Edward H. Rollins 25 M Apothecary NH
Ellen C. Rollins 23 F NH
John Rollins 15 M NH
Julius Cone 30 Chemist NH
Mary Byrne 20 F Ireland
James J. Rollins 23 Druggist NH
————-
Tuesday, October 9, 1929, Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA), page 2
ROLLINS FOUNDER DEAD
DOVER, N.H. Oct 8 (I.N.S.) — Edward Warren Rollins, 79, one of the organizers of the E.H. Rollins & Sons Investment brokers is dead. Rollins helped start the Denver Electric Light company in 1881 and became its president, serving until 1899. During a residence in the west he helped promote the Denver Country club, the Denver club and the Denver Athletic club of which he was president for several years.
—————-
Thursday, October 10, 1929, Boston Herald (Boston MA) page 23
EDWARD W. ROLLINS IS BURIED AT DOVER
Ceremonies for Banking House Founder Simple
DOVER, N.H., Oct. 9–Edward W. Rollins, founder and many years before his retirment president of the inter-national banking firm of E.H. Rollins & Sons of Boston, was buried with simple ceremonies this afternoon in a naturally formed circular enclosure of mammoth pines on Paul’s point, the extreme point of land on Three Rivers farm at the confluence of three lovely rivers, land which came into the possession of his ancestors in 1623 under the grant of the council of Plymouth, Eng., to Edward Hilton, New Hampshire’s first settler. This land had remained a family possession ever since with the exception of a short period which ended with Mr. Rollin’s repurchase of it in 1900.
The funeral services took place in the main hall of the residence, the Rev. Richard W. Lyford, An Episcopalian minister of Longmeadow, Mass., and a cousin of Mr. Rollins officiating. The casket was covered with a blanket of evergreen boughs mixed with American beauty roses, while just beyond in the inclosure porch was a bank of flowers and evergreens. The pall bearers were: Thomas J. Walsh, George B> Green, New York; George W. Treat, E. Carleton, Charles E. Carlton, James W. Rollins, Philip Ashton Rollins, Boston; George P. Foss, Strafford; John W. Esmond, Chicago; Millar Wilson, Jacksonville Fla., and Hugh K. Moore, Berlin, N.H. Among the 250 persons present were: President Richard Hunt of the banking house and several other executives of the firm from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Montreal; W. Alton Jones, vice-president; George F. Kennedy of the Cities Serivce Company of New York; Abe LaGare of Washington, James W. Rollins of Holbrook, Cabot & Rollins, Boston; Profs. K.R.C. Flint, C.N. Barber and H.O. Orser of Norwich University and W.V. MacDonald vice president of the Banc-America Vlair Corporation.
————–
Children of Edward H. & Ellen E. (West) Rollins:
1. Edward Warren Rollins, b. 25 Nov 1850, died October 1929 [see obituaries above] ; grad. MIT at Boston; engineer and cashier of the Colorado Central RR, later engaged in banking in Boston MA; he m1) 27 Feb 1878 Jessie V. Witter of Denver CO; m2) St. Louis MO 25 Nov 1891 to Clara H Sherwood of Alton IL. Children: (1) Ashton b 1880); (2) Sherwood, b. 1894. He donated a woodland tract in Concord as a park in memory of his father; he erected rest cabins at Lost River for the Society for the Protection of Forests; he built a nurse’s home in connection with Wentworth Hospital, Dover NH as a memorial to his late daughter-in-law Mrs. Gladys A. Rollins (wife of Ashton Rollins).
2. Mary Helen Rollins, b. 4 Sep 1853; m. Hon. Henry Robinson, Concord attorney
3. Charles Montgomery Rollins, b. 27 Feb 1856; d. 25 June 1861
4. +Frank West Rollins, b. 24 Feb 1860 in Concord NH
5. Montgomery Rollins, b. 25 Aug 1867; m. 28 Oct 1891 to Grace Webster Seavey of Dover NH; in 1910 living in Newton MA with wife Grace, and children Ellen W. and Sarah W. In 1930 Grace was a widow living in Newton MA.

————–Eighth generation————-

Frank West Rollins, son of Edward H. & Ellen Elizabeth (West) Rollins was born 24 Feb 1860 in Concord NH and d. 27 October 1915 in Boston MA. He is buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord NH.  He received his B.S. degree from MIT, and a degree of A.M. from Dartmouth College. He then studied law at Harvard University. He practiced law in Concord NH, and was head of the firm of E.H. Rollins & Sons, bankers of Boston MA, New York, and San Francisco. He was also a director of the Great Western Power Company. He was Adjutant General of NH from 1890-95; President of the State Senate from 1895-6, and from 1899-1901 he was Governor of New Hampshire.  He was a trustee of St. Paul’s School in Concord NH, the Concord Public Library, the Orphan’s Home of Concord, and MIT. He was a former president of the New England Business Federation, and was President of the New Hampshire Good Roads League, the Church Settlement Society, and was a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce. He belonged to many clubs including the University Union, Exchange, Authors, Dartmouth, Technology of Boston, the Wonolancet, Snow Shoe and Beaver Meadow Golf of Concord NH. He married 6 Dec 1882 to Katherine Wallace Pecker, dau of Frank H. & Anna H. (Wallace) Pecker. She b. 10 Aug 1861 in VT.  He was an author of several books including “The Ring in the Cliff (1877), The Twin Hussars,” “Break-o-Da Tales” (1895), “The Lady of Violets,” (1898).  Today the Governor Frank West House can be found at 135 N. State Street in Concord NH. His office was located at 19 Milk Street in Boston MA.
[obituary] [likeness & bio]
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1900 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Merrimack > Concord Ward 4 > District 151
Rollins Frank W. Head M W Feb 1860 40 married 17 yrs NH NH NH
Rollins, Katherine P. Wife W F Aug 1861 30 married 17 yrs 1 ch 1 living VT NH VT
Rollins, Douglas son W M Oct 1886 single NH NH VT
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > New Hampshire > Merrimack > Concord Ward 4 > District 196
Rollins, Frank W. Head M W 50 m1x 25 yrs NH NH NH Banker Bond House
Rollins, Katherine wife F W 50 m1x 25 yrs 2 ch 1 living NH NH NH
Rollins, Douglas son M W 23 single NH NH NH
[servants]
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Child of Frank W. & Katherine W. (Pecker) Rollins:
1. male child, stillborn, 1 October 1884, Concord NH
2. +Douglas Rollins, b. 25 Oct 1887 Concord NH

————–Ninth generation————-

Douglas Rollins, son of Frank W. & Katherine W. (Pecker) Rollins, b. 25 Oct 1887 Concord NH; ROTC Cambridge MA; student Harvard; enrolled for draft in WWI; he married Beatrice Tremaine, dau of Frank & Grace (Young) Tremaine. She b. April 1896 in Brooklyn NY. In 1922 they sailed on the “Homeric” to NYC where they lived (16 W. 10th Ave NY). In 1933 a Tremain Rollins (widow dob 1 Apr 1896) traveling to US from Europe with Young Tremaine (F widow b 22 Nov 1876) and 2 children, Douglas Rollins Jr. age 9 (b abt 1924), and Gordon Rollins (b abt 1925) age 8. Notes state they were born abroad of U.S. citizens. In 1940 these children traveling from Lisbon Portugal to NYC, res. 4 School Street Concord NH and Three Rivers Farm, Dover NH
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NYTimes 1932 — CONCORD NH June 9 — Douglas Rollins was the only son of the late governor Frank West Rollins, who founded New Hampshire’s annual old-home day custom. He had been living in Europe for the last ten years in an effort to regain his health. He had been an invalid for several years.  In 1919 in Florida he met Miss Beatrice Tremaine, daughter of an English journalist, but an American citizen, whom he later married in London. She was at his bedside today. Other survivors are two sons, Douglas Jr. and Gordon.  Mr. Rollins attends St. Paul’s school here and subsequently went to Harvard. He then entered the investment banking firm of E.H. Rollins & Sons Company of Boston. The Rollins fortune, which for years has been in trust under administration of three Concord trustees, and which was reputed to have yielded Mr. Rollins, the beneficiary, about $40,000 a year, now goes automatically to the widow and children.
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1900 United States Federal Census > New York > New York > Manhattan > District 107
Tremaine, Frank Head W M May — 38 married 5 yrs San Francisco, SF, CA Journalist [b abt 1862]
Tremaine, Grace wife W F Nov 1876 23 m5 yrs 1 ch 1 liv NY NY NY
Tremaine, Beatrice dau W F Apr 1896 4 single NY California NY
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > New York > New York > Manhattan Ward 12 > District 681
Tremaine Howard Head M W 48 m2x 15 yrs NY NY NY Commercial Auditing
Tremaine Grace Wife F W 33 m1x 15 yrs 1 ch 1 living NY NY NY
Tremaine, Beatrice W. dau F W 14 single NY NY NY
—————–
U.S. Census > 1920 United States Federal Census > New York > New York > Manhattan Assembly District 10 > District 710
Tremaine, Grace Head F W 43 married NY NY NY
Tremaine, Beatrice M. dau F W 23 single NH NH NH
—————–
Children of Douglas & Beatrice (Tremaine) Rollins:
1. +Douglas Rollins Jr., b. 20 Sep 1923, d. 24 Apr 2000 York Harbor ME; married Helen Eitel. She b. June 1924 Paris France
2. Gordon Rollins, b. abt 1925 Paris France

————–Tenth generation————-

Douglas Rollins Jr., son of Douglas & Beatrice (Tremaine) Rollins, was b. 20 Sep 1923 in Paris, France, and d. 24 Apr 2000 in York Harbor Maine. He m. Helen Eitel of Louisville KY. She b. June 1924. He was president of Tomhegan Woodlands Inc, a timber company in York Harbor.
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Obituary of Douglas Rollins [Jr.]
YORK – Douglas Rollins Jr., 76, of York Harbor, died Monday, April 24, 2000, at his home following a brief illness. Born Sept. 20, 1923, in Paris, he was the son of Douglas and Beatrice Tremaine Rollins. He lived there until the fall of France, coming to this country in August, 1940. He graduated from St. Paul’s School in Concord, and Harvard College, where he was a member of the Iroquois Club, now D.U. He served in the Army 47th Battalion during World War II in the European Theater. He was twice awarded the Croix de Guerre, the first one for translating into French the English directions for the use of radar. The second was awarded by General Charles De Gaulle for solving the enigma of the robbing of supply lines to the French front known as the “Red Ball Express.” He was a resident of Rollinsford for 30 years where he devoted himself to the improvement of the village named for his family. He was a director of the Strafford National Bank in Dover from 1972 to 1991, when it joined the Bank of New Hampshire in Concord. He then served as a member of the Bank of New Hampshire Investment Committee until his retirement. Since 1966, he was the president of Tomhegan Woodlands, Inc. of Tomhegan Township, Maine. He was a founding member of the Strafford County Regional Planning Committee and of the Strafford Child Guidance Clinic, both in Dover. Dedicated to historic preservation, he was a member of the Northam Colonists of Dover, an incorporator of the Old York Historical Society, and an officer and overseer of Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, and was active in the New Hampshire Republican Party. He formerly served as senior warden of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Dover, and was a trustee of Trinity Church, York Harbor, until his death. He was a member of the York Harbor Reading Room. He was the husband of the former Helen Eitel of Louisville, Ky., for 52 years. In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, Douglas Rollins III of Milbank, S.D., Paul E. Rollins of York and John G. Rollins of Seattle; three daughters, Helen Rollins Lord of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Alexandra Rollins Upton of Boston; and Elizabeth Rollins Mauran of Providence, R.I.; and nine grandchildren.
—————–
Obituary of Helen (Eitel) Rollins:
YORK HARBOR – Helen Eitel Rollins, of York Harbor, Maine, died on June 6, 2009, surrounded by her family after a heroic struggle with a little known disease called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 30, 1924, Helen was the daughter of Paul T. and Louise F. Eitel. Helen attended Kentucky Home School for Girls, the University of Louisville, where she was a Pi Beta Phi sister, and Purdue University, where she studied aeronautic engineering. In 1942, as World War II began, Helen enlisted in the Navy as a WAVE and served in the War Department in Washington, DC, where she tracked weather for ships at sea. After the war, she worked for the Episcopal Rector at Harvard College; there she met her husband of 52 years, Douglas Rollins who pre-deceased her in 2000. They married and moved to Rollinsford, NH where they lived for 30 years before moving to York Harbor. A true community leader, she served on many boards including the Dover Children’s Home, St. Thomas Episcopal Church, the Guild of Strawbery Banke, Piscataqua Garden Club, Old York Historical Society, York Hospital, St George’s Church, and Trinity Church. She was a founding member of the Guild of Strawbery Banke, the York Public Library, and of the Archive of American Gardens at the Smithsonian Institution. Helen was active in the Republican Party, in conservation and historic preservation. For 40 years, she served as the Vice President of Tomhegan Woodlands, Inc. She is a former member of the Chilton Club, the Filson Club, and the York Harbor Reading Room.
When most people were thinking of retiring, Helen championed computer database use in cataloguing a collection of glass plate negatives owned by the Garden Club of America. Her work there grew into a national project to preserve the history of notable gardens in America, now comprising more than 80,000 images and plans at the Smithsonian. Although the Archive was formally established in 1987 with the support of the Garden Club of America, Helen continued to serve throughout her life as the contact for landscape historians wishing to research or contribute to the Archive.
Survivors include her brother Paul T. and Marilyn Eitel, of Hilton Head, SC, children, Douglas and Euretta (Buzzi) Rollins, of Milbank, SD, Helen Rollins Lord of York Harbor, ME, Paul and Carla Rollins of York, ME, Alexandra and Gordon Upton, of Boston, MA, Elizabeth and Frank Mauran of Providence, RI, and John Susan Rollins of Seattle, WA, nine grandchildren, Jesse, Catherine, Douglas IV, Ruth, Philip, Paul, Marion, Cecily and John, and a great-grandchildren, Colby and tbd. A Funeral Service will be held at 4 PM on Friday, June 12, at Trinity Church, 546 York Street, York Harbor. Interment will be in the First Parish Cemetery, York. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street, Springvale. In lieu of flowers, Helen’s family suggests gifts to her beloved Trinity Church or the York Public Library.
—————–
Children of Douglas & Helen (Eitel) Rollins:
1. Douglas Rollins III of Milbank S.D., who m. Euretta Buzzi
2. Paul E. Rollins of York Maine
3. John G. Rollins of Seattle WA
4. Alexandra Rollins; who m. Nov 1987 to Gordon Allen Upton; res Boston MA
5. Elizabeth Rollins who m. Frank Mauran, of Providence RI
6. Helen Tremaine Rollins who m. Aug 1986 to William Aborn Lord. She resides York Harbor, Maine.

*Some Sources*
1. Leonard Weeks of Greenland NH by Jacob Chapman
2. Records of families of the name Rawlins or Rollins in the United States, by John R. Rollins, 1874
3. United States Census, 1790-1930
4. New York Times