Photos:Mt Lebanon Hancock Hamilton Richmond
Village:Alfred, ME Source:bios:74Search: Full Last First
id 74 firstname Harriet, N. lastname Coolbroth birthyr 1864 deathyr 1953 bio Coolbroth, Harriet, N. (1864-1953), was born in Scarborough, ME, the youngest of seven siblings (five brothers and two sisters). Upon the death of her parents, she was brought at the age of ten to the Alfred Shakers,together with the youngest brother. She was placed under the care of Eldress Francella Blake, and upon her death, under Eldress Eliza Smith. After a brief time in the trustee's office, she became eldress at the 2nd F., due to Eldress Eliza's failing health. In 1917 she supervised the move of the 2nd Family to the Church Family, and she was appointed eldress again, from 1818 to 1931. She also served as trustee or deaconess, from May 1927 to May 1931. When the two Maine communities were consolidated, she once again supervised the move of the cShakers to Sabbathday lake in 1931. She "retained the spiritual leadership of her Sisters for another ten years, in union with Eldress Prudence [Stickney]" (Ruth Mildred Barker, 1971) when she relinquished it, due to failing health. She was referred to, by Sr. Mildred, as "another pillar of Zion." Sr. Harriet was also an important source of Shaker songs - eager and willing to teach them to the Shaker girls, Mildred Barker among them.