The enduring popularity of a Raymond author’s book remains strong. Cheryl Blanchard will be discussing both her book and additional memories about her childhood at an upcoming event at Erik’s Church in Windham.
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| Author Cheryl Blanchard of Raymond will discuss her popular book '236 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine: Strange happenings in our young lives' at Erik's Church in Windham on Thursday, Feb. 27. COURTESY PHOTO |
The book is a recounting of tales from Blanchard and her siblings' recollections that haven't been spoken of for more than half a century. Published by Newman Springs Publishing, the book remains popular more than five years after it was first published, and especially among Maine residents.
“It's amazing how my story about my childhood and my gifted talents and all the music has touched so many and how it all saved our young souls through this time in our lives,” Blanchard said. “Volunteers of America had so much involvement with this. I've been so honored to have this invitation to meet with their team and to share more memories.”
In the book, Blanchard describes how she and her siblings would suddenly catch glimpses of silhouettes and shadowy figures looming on walls in their home without a human nearby casting a silhouette or shadow. She also discusses in detail finding a tunnel underneath the building she lived in, and many frightful memories associated with that.
"There are such a lot of memories for a small child at the age of 6, along with five brothers and five sisters who were also very young,” Blanchard said. “All of those memories are still living in the minds of all of us. We haven't talked about them in over 50 years. I would like to thank the Maine historian Herb Adams for asking me about the house up over Botto's Market that I lived in as a child."
Blanchard’s family eventually moved away from the building and the trauma and bad memories she and her siblings experienced living there. The entire block has been demolished since the family moved from there in the early 1970s.
Just a few years ago, one of her friends asked Blanchard to share some of her memories about growing up there and that led to the creation of "236 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine: Strange Happenings in our Young Lives.”
Once her book was published, Blanchard was then interviewed on the Maine television show “207” and she also received a personal note from renowned Maine resident and noted author Stephen King, who is a master of telling “haunted” stories. In 2019, she was a guest of book groups that met at public libraries in Augusta and in Windham to discuss her book.
Despite being subjected to what she calls “paranormal occurrences” while growing up on Cumberland Avenue in Portland decades ago, Blanchard has gone on to lead a happy, productive and normal life otherwise.
Married, and a mother and a grandmother, Blanchard is now retired from a career in the nursing field. Many in the community know her from her time serving as a substitute teacher in Windham schools or for creating the first cheerleading squad for Windham Youth Football.
Published by Newman Springs Publishing, Blanchard's lively tales in the book are peppered with vivid descriptions of the historic district of her childhood and photos. Blanchard recalls everything from the smell of her mother's home cooking on the wood stove, to the numerous accounts of unexplained supernatural phenomena that the children experienced in their apartment over Botto's Market.
The stories contained in “236 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine: Strange Happenings in our Young Lives" serve as a primary document that offers a glimpse into life in a bygone era. Blanchard remains humble and appreciative that people find the book interesting and has a simple message to readers.
“Just remember how truly blessed we truly are, and I hope you hold your loved ones, always reach out and feed the hungry and clothe the less fortunate,” Blanchard said.
Blanchard’s book "236 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine: Strange Happenings in our young lives" is available for purchase at select bookstores in Maine, or online at the Apple iBooks Store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble. Copies may also be purchased by contacting Blanchard at cherylblanchard43@gmail.com.
She says she’s been slowly working on writing an extension to “236 Cumberland Ave. Portland, Maine: Strange Happenings in our Young Lives" and perhaps another book. <
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