Gorham goes Groucho

Gorham kicked an Australian rugby team out of the Guinness Book of World Records on Sunday.

Under a scorching sun in Gorham, 1,489 people at the town’s annual fair donned Groucho glasses, with the signature eyebrows, nose and mustache, to erase a world’s record of 1,437 set last year. Groucho Marx fans traveled to Gorham from around the country to be part of Gorham’s record bid.

It took about 75 minutes to gather enough people wearing Groucho glasses to smash the previous mark. At about 4:15 p.m., Gorham Recreation Director Cindy Hazelton announced, “A new world record.”

Hazelton, who organized the event, had some moments of doubt about Gorham setting the new record. “At 1,200, I started getting nervous,” said Hazelton.

Hazelton said the numbers are still unofficial, as results are being tabulated before sending the tally and a packet of news clippings to Guinness in London, England. The event took place on the lawn at the Municipal Center during the St. Anne/Gorham Days Festival. Entry points for the record attempt were alphabetical, and participants signed in. Each received a numbered pair of Groucho glasses.

For the family of one Gorham man, the event marked an occasion for a family get-together. Glenn Eisenhauer was the senior representative of his family that included his sisters, Sibylla Linden of Ohio and Melissa Hanham of New Jersey, and his brother, Phil Eisenhauer of North Carolina.

Some of the family’s 15 members who attended took their own Groucho glasses to the event. “We’ve always worn these,” said Linden, who was wearing a sign with her home state on it, as she pulled Groucho glasses from a bag.

Glenn Eisenhauer said the tradition in the family went back many years. Some members of the family have worn Groucho glasses everywhere they traveled, including at a castle in Ireland.

Young and old played a role in the event with Kendra Wilbur, grandchild of Bob and Laurie Frazier, most likely being the youngest. She is less than three weeks old.

DrewChristopher Joy of Philadelphia, Pa., returned to his hometown for the event and to visit his parents, Roger and Peggy Marchant. He brought four friends along, too. “I made a special trip for this,” said Joy, who graduated from Gorham High school in 1998. “This record seemed interesting to me.”

Rose Sack of Gorham was one of many appealing on cell phones to friends and neighbors to bolster the record attempt. “I’m trying to help with the record,” she said. “I hope they make it.”

Optimism ran high through the gathering. “I’ll bet they’ll do it,” said Mike Phinney, chairman of the Gorham Town Council.

Sophomores Shannon O’Brien and Samantha Schulte were wearing the Groucho glasses as part of a contingent from Gorham High School. “It would be awesome,” Schulte said, hoping enough people would turn out.

Tammy Brown agreed, hoping Gorham could pull it off. “It’s good for community spirit,” Brown said of the attempt.

The event had a pair of 10-year-old twins, Tim and Jason Meuse, who will be in fifth grade this fall at Village School. Their father, Phil Meuse, said nearby sidestreets were filled with parked cars beside those lining Main Street. He attributed much of Sunday’s turnout for the fair to this year’s Groucho attraction.

One man, visiting his daughter in Gorham, had just heard about the attempt an hour before it began. “It seems like a great community get-together,” said Bob Rothwell of Waldo.

The weather was hot. Many drank bottled water and soft drinks to stay cool. Some brought umbrellas to shield the sun while others crowded around a couple of trees inside the area taped off for the event.

“It’s so hot you’ve got to give these people credit for staying out here,” Rothwell said.

In the record bid, every one counted. Heading for the fair, Lynn Savage of Gorham was walking past and was conscripted to join the crowd. At 3:30 p.m., 870 people had signed in and a record was looking uncertain.

But at about 4 p.m., a cheer went up from the throng when Hazelton made an announcement. “They’ll put us over the top,” she said, looking at a line signing in.

Cutline (Groucho 2) Cutline (Groucho 3) hauer, Waterboro; and Glen Eisenhauer, Gorham.Cutline (Groucho 4) Cutline (Groucho twins) Cutline: (Groucho Frazier) th their son, Kevin Frazier, 9, in the front.