Last Shaker community in U.S. loses librarian and elder member

Residents of Mecklenburg County share a cultural link to a fading American religious tradition. The only active Shaker community in the country lost one of its two oldest members on Tuesday. Sister June Carpenter, a librarian who helped preserve the group's history, died in New Gloucester, Maine. She was in her late 80s.

The Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village confirmed the death in a statement. The announcement noted that Carpenter had faced health challenges and limited mobility in recent months. It listed her birth year as 1938 but did not specify the exact date. She was born in Boston and later earned a master's degree in library sciences from Simmons College.

Carpenter first visited the village in 1988 for the dedication of its library. She volunteered to help organize the catalog and became a full member the following year. Her work ensured that the community's extensive collections of records and writings remained accessible to scholars. The village credited her efforts with making the Shakers' legacy easier to study.

David Richards, the village curator, recalled her arrival. He told the announcement, “If the meek are to inherit the earth then she will get the whole thing.” Carpenter spent decades working in the village gardens and caring for the birds and cats that lived on the property. She also visited fellow Shakers who resided in nearby nursing homes.

The Shakers, officially known as the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, are a celibate Christian movement founded by Ann Lee in the late 1700s. At their peak in the early 1800s, thousands of members lived in communities across several states. The population declined after the Civil War, leaving Sabbathday Lake as the final active site today.

Carpenter was one of two longtime members at the village alongside Brother Arnold Hadd. A third member joined the community last year. The Shakers are known for their simple furniture and music, including the melody “Simple Gifts.” The village said Carpenter will be remembered for her faith and her dedication to the Shaker way of life.

The community continues to operate in New Gloucester. Researchers can still access the library and archives that Carpenter organized. The village maintains its grounds and continues to support the remaining members.