George Matteson: The Man and His Maps
Thursday, December 3rd
5:30 – 7 pm
at the ANNEX / CLC, Room 127, 1675 Flat River Road, Coventry, R.I.
(across the street from the library. Parking on the side and around the back of the building.)
Back by popular demand! Join us to hear Linda and Steve Kornatz of the Scituate Preservation Society discuss local mapmaker George Matteson, who spent his life surveying
the backwoods, digging into local legends, and preserving Coventry’s rich history. Includes a newly digitized historical short film of Matteson’s Smoky the Bear!
Paul St. Amand, who has carefully preserved his grandfather’s maps and legacy, will be displaying many of George’s maps at the program.
George Matteson lived locally and was a forest ranger for over 40 years. He served as a search and rescue specialist taking part in more than 9,000 rescues of lost hunters and
hikers, 100 plane crash rescue missions and myriad forest fire patrols. He would fly over forest fires, drawing quick maps of the terrain, landmarks, trails and roads, which
were dropped by parachute to ground crews to aid them in reaching the heart of a fire.
Presentation is free and open to the public. No registration required. For questions, or if you’d like a friendly reminder two days before the program, register: online, by calling 822-9104, or by emailing JCoppa@CoventryLibrary.org or online at https://coventrylibrary.libcal.com/event/17902530.
