"He sat at his own table that night, a lonely old man, missing the spirit and the laughter that once filled his house-a house he'd built with his own hands all those long years ago. The quiet got to him at night when the wind came blowing strong down from the mountain above. He could hear the beating of his heart, a steady thump, thump, thump. The parlor clock with the family name etched upon its face ticked and tocked, reminding him that his time was running down."

In the tumultuous years that followed incorporation, the citizens of Bridgton, Maine faced wars, famine, tragedy, disease, and weather disasters. Still, their accomplishments during the next thirty years left a lasting legacy for their descendants. From churches to schools to roads to businesses to farms, the little town's landscape was forever shaped by the sacrifices and dreams of those who carved a town from the wilderness.

At the Perley homestead, the years have taken their toll on the family. Crop failures, illness, heartbreaking loss, and financial troubles beset the family, leaving the Old Squire weary. But still driven by his indomitable will, he is determined to achieve his goals for the town and for all those who follow in his footsteps before he sleeps forever under the trees on the land he so loved.

Based on a true story.