| bio | Wilson, Delmer Charles (Dellie, in his childhood), (1873-1961), of the Church F., Sabbathday Lake, ME, was
brought to the community by his mother, a widow, together with his brother, Harris, when eight years old. He made up
his mind to stay with the Shakers in 1887, when only 14 years of age. As a boy he kept a diary, recording many
significant events; it was published in the SHAKER QUARTERLY, (in 1968), with notes and an introduction by T. E.
Johnson, titled" The Diary of a Maine Boy: Delmer Wilson-1887.. By his late teens he was already an experienced
wood-worker, orchardist, and dairy herdsman. When 23 years' old, together with Br. Chellis Wing, he built the "Green
House," in 1896. Later on, as a man of many talents, he raised vegetable plants in his greenhouse for sale to local
markets; was in charge of the orchards, and built and installed a mechanical apple grader. While as a fine craftsman he designed furniture, he was also an electrician and a plumber. Furthermore he was known for his strong singing bass voice. Still later he developed many additional skills such as a beekeeper, barber, dentist, painter, and photographer. While he was taking photographs of his community, providing a detailed chronicle of Shaker life, he started a new industry in his community, namely that of postcard publishing. He bought a camera to take postcard pictures with on May 7, 1908. The first postcards, in small batches, were homemade: later they were printed in Germany, and finally in the United States. Many of his paintings were based on.-the photographs he took. He made 1083 Shaker oval carrier boxes during a single winter's work in the ell of the Boy's Shop. For the prolific output of his, he earned the title of "Dean of the Carrier Makers." He kept a journal called "Carrier Notes." His workshop was originally at the Great Mill, but as other Brothers moved out of the old Brethren's Shop into the Boy's Shop, Elder Delmer did the same. He served as a trustee from February, 1927 until December, 1961. In addition, he was appointed trustee at Alfred, on May 11, 1931, (to help close out the Alfred Church F.), and elder on May 14, 1931, to succeed Elder William Dumont. In spite of these illustrious appointments he insisted on being called Brother. He stayed in this position, too, until his death. The expression "Shaker your plate" originates with him.
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