SOUTH BERWICK, ME -- Elaine Pelletier Holland of Rochester, NH, and Norman J. Pelletier of Gorham, ME, contributed their father’s war correspondence, journal and other memorabilia. Two other relatives, Lloyd Pelletier of York and Theresa Wilkinson of South Berwick, gave copies of their extensive family genealogy and family photos.

Items from the collection are now on display in a small new exhibit at the museum, which is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on weekends through October 31. Admission is free.

Family Donates Collection to Counting House

Wildré Pelletier grew up on what is often called lower Main Street, South Berwick, and attended St. Michael’s parochial school in the building that contains South Berwick Town Hall. He entered the Army in 1943. Pelletier was one of two sons to do so in his French Canadian immigrant family of nine children. Their mother, Clementine, raised them alone after their father, Henry, died of pneumonia.

Six months before Pelletier enlisted, his wife Jeannett gave birth to daughter, Elaine. The couple exchanged letters every day of his almost three-year absence. Jeannette worked in General Electric and other factory jobs while living in Berwick. She cared for Elaine and, like so many young war wives, waiting for her husband’s return.

After basic training in 1943 and 1944, Pelletier was almost sent to Europe for the D-Day invasion. Instead he was singled out for his fluent French language ability and sent to the South Pacific for over 17 months.

In the Foreign Service Association Pacific Theater, he became interpreter for the large Allied base on the French island of New Caledonia, where he was a member of the 208th Army military police and attained the rank of sergeant.

After the war, the Pelletiers settled in Berwick and raised Elaine and her younger brother, Norman. Wildré worked many years at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and died in the 1986, and Jeannette in 1999.

For over four decades, local families have been placing historic objects in the care of the volunteers of the Old Berwick Historical Society, who own and operate the Counting House Museum in a textile factory building dating to the 1830s.

The Counting House is also a small local history research center offering thousands of documents, photos, books and historic objects gathered by local residents. The collection is under the care of local amateur historians or professionals who donate their time and will assist visitors in doing research.

In addition to its regular summer weekend hours, the museum is open by appointment. The Old Berwick Historical Society also offers a schedule of monthly lectures and walking tours throughout the year. More information about the Counting House Museum is available at www.obhs.net, by calling (207)384-0000.

Elaine Holland, daughter of World War II soldier Wildré Pelletier of South Berwick, stands with her granddaughter, Jessica Prentiss, by a new display at the Counting House Museum in South Berwick. The museum is open from 1:00 to 4:00 pm on weekends through October 31. Admission is free.