Person:Cora Leach (4)
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 Cora Leach was born in Penobscot, Maine. She spent her early years there, as her Dad, Buford, was working in the local brick making industry. Later on, Burford got work as a gardener on Islesboro at the vacation retreat of Marshall Field ("The Field Cottage"). The job on Islesboro was a resident position, so the entire family moved to quarters on the grounds of the estate. Cora therefore went to Islesboro High School. Cora was apparently very attached to her older brother Shirley, who passed away quite young as a result of Leukemia. She often told a story that she remembered Shirley and some other men going to the mainland to get mail, using a boat set upon a sled (the bay had iced over). Throughout her life she often spoke of Shirley and never lost her sadness over his loss. After High School, Cora went to Haverhill, Massachusetts to learn nursing at the Hale Hospital. She did additional training at Boston Eye and Ear, which she was always very proud of. After graduating from that program, she went immediately into private nursing in Haverhill, for a wealthy woman who was assaulted in her home and left severely injured. After a time, as a result of her injuries, that woman passed on. This may have been in the Rock's Village area of town. Also at this time, she acquired the nick-name "Peggy", from someone who employed her in private practice. This nick-name stayed with her for life. Around the time she was first nursing, Cora became friendly with Ruth Ramsey. Ruth was seeing Harry Mason, and this resulted in Cora being introduced to Harry's brother Clayton. Cora and Clayton eventually married in Plaistow before moving to Conway. In Conway, Cora was a fairly important person, being a registered nurse. She worked with Dr Shedd at the memorial hospital on surgeries that, for the time, were quite innovative. The skiing equipment of that time was notorious for causing spiral fractures and otherwise destroying legs. Dr Shedd either innovated, or was an early adopter, of the practice of putting bones back together surgically with metal bands. Today, screws are used, but this was cutting edge stuff in the 1930s. Cora continued working at the hospital in Conway until the late 50s, early 60s. At that time, she cut over to private practice again for a wealthy elderly gentleman who was in severe decline. He seemed to be suffering from some sort of age-related dementia. The Man's name was Wellman, and he is known to have written some published poetry. When he passed away after a couple years, she finished for good.
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