BOOTHBAY REGION HISTORICAL
SOCIETY
Volume 18, Number 1 Spring 2005
COMING
EVENTS
Please
join us for an extraordinary evening on Fisherman's Island this August.
With the goal of helping us raise funds to support the future needs of the
society, the owners of the island have generously offered to open up their
home and the trails on the island to our members. If you have never set
foot on Fisherman's, or if it has been many years since your last visit,
this is a wonderful opportunity to both satisfy your curiosity and help
the historical society.
The
Novelty will be leaving Boothbay
Harbor at 4 p.m. on Sunday, August 14, for the trip to the island. While
on the island guests are welcome to enjoy good food and cocktails and the
music of Kevin Kiley as they explore this idyllic location. The Novelty
will return to the Harbor at 7:30 p.m. The cost per person is $100.
Members
wishing to provide an extra boost to the society may instead purchase
"patron" tickets for $150 per person. Patrons will enjoy the
same special evening on the island but will arrive slightly earlier,
having traveled to and from the island on the classic Nellie
G. II, whose use is generously donated by George McEvoy for the event.
Details on boarding times and locations for both vessels will be provided
at the time of ticket purchase.
The
evening on Fisherman's Island also marks the conclusion of our August
silent auction (see related article). From the original artwork of Earle
G. Barlow, to a chance to stay in a cozy cottage, to the opportunity to be
the high bidder on one-of-a-kind ceramic creations, guests at the event
will have the opportunity to cast the final, winning bids. All proceeds
from the auction and ticket sales will benefit the historical society.
We
remain grateful for the consistent support of our members through their
dues and gifts to the society. These funds help support the daily
operations. The money raised from the auction and island event will be
used to underwrite the endowment and the preservation and enhancement of
the collection in the years ahead.
Silent
Auction to Raise Funds for Museum
A
small, select number of items will be on display in the museum this
summer, beginning July 27. Unlike our usual exhibits, the artifacts in
this display are meant to be taken home—by the highest bidder! While we
are still receiving items for this small auction, members are encouraged
to stop in and bid on any one, or more, of the following:
•
An original painting of Fisherman's Island by East Boothbay artist
Earle G. Barlow
•
Week-long cottage stays in Boothbay Harbor and at Ocean Point (for
2006)
•
Maine Island design pottery from Damariscotta's Sheepscot Pottery
•
An original urchin bowl designed by East Boothbay's Andersen Studio
•
Gift certificates for the famous Cabbage Island Clambakes
•
A first edition of the 1899 novel Mary
Cameron, A Romance of Fisherman's Island
•
And more
We
are grateful to each of the donors, and we hope that members will stop in
and bid, often, and lend your support to the museum.
————
Rumsey Talk at Annual Meeting
The
annual meeting will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17, at the
museum. Barbara Rumsey will give a short talk on the history of
Fisherman's Island. Barbara, an East Boothbay resident and director of the
society, has recently been researching the island in conjunction with the
coming event. A display of Fisherman's Island photos and documents will
accompany the talk and will remain on exhibit during the summer.
A
brief business meeting will precede the talk and will include the election
of new trustees and officers, remarks by officers, and a trustees' report.
There
will be refreshments and socializing following Barbara's talk. All members
of the society and other interested parties, plan to join us!
Please
do not park in the bank's lot across the road. There is parking along the
road, and Tom Carbone has generously offered to let people park in his lot
next door just below the museum.
Colin
Woodard on The Lobster Coast
Maine
author and award-winning journalist Colin Woodard will talk about
the people of coastal Maine on
Tuesday, June 7 at 4 p.m.
In
the centuries since settlement, coastal Mainers have fought off aggrieved
Indians, French raiders, English lords, and greedy land speculators, to
found one of America's most iconic and compelling cultures: the lobstering
communities of coastal Maine. It's a story as big as America itself, from
the forgotten formative experiences of the colonial era to the perils of
failing to conserve our cultural and environmental heritage in the face of
uncontrolled growth and development.
Come
and hear Colin profile the centuries on our stretch of coast. Refreshments
and an opportunity to talk to him will follow. Tom Carbone will allow
attendees to park in his lot just south below the museum.
Jim
Hunt on World War II Shipbuilding
Jim
Hunt, Southport resident and current president of the society, will give a
slide show on Wednesday, June 22 at 4 p.m. Jim will profile the life in
town at the time and the building of rescue tugs, minesweepers, coastal
transports, and subchasers at the Reed and Sample yards in Boothbay Harbor
and at the Hodgdon Brothers-Goudy & Stevens and Rice yards in East
Boothbay.
Many
of you have heard Jim's talk on local World War I large schooner
construction. Join us to hear this new talk followed by refreshments and
socializing. As before, Tom Carbone will allow attendees to park in his
lot just south below the museum.
Tad
Pfeffer on Cottage Architecture
Scheduled
for 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, is a slide show on cottage architecture
by Colorado University professor Tad Pfeffer. Besides being a
glaciologist, Tad is an accomplished photographer with a strong interest
in northern New England summer cottage architecture.
Tad
has come to Boothbay three times to examine houses at Ocean Point and
elsewhere for his forthcoming photographic book devoted to summer
cottages. We're delighted his trip east this summer will include a talk at
the society.
————
Volunteer
Recognition Reception
We
are deeply appreciative of the great contributions made by our volunteers.
This year we will have a reception to honor them on September 27 at 5 p.m.
at the museum.
All
our volunteers are welcome—those who man the museum in the summer, those
who work behind the scenes in collections, and those who help in so many
other ways, such as work on the building or donating legal expertise. Let
the trustees volunteer for you for one afternoon!
————
PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
Much
has been accomplished at the Historical Society in the last few years.
Barbara Rumsey continues to have her steady hand on the tiller, keeping
the society on course toward fulfilling its mission. In addition, it is
the generosity and efforts of the members that provide the monetary and
human resources necessary for the organization to succeed.
Our
membership continues at a high level, numbering some 620. The income from
dues and the annual fund have enabled the society to invest in
improvements to the infrastructure and appearance of the building.
Much
of the exterior has been painted, but the most noticeable change is in the
interior. Most of the rooms have been painted, and many floors refinished.
The painting was done by inmates of the Lincoln County Jail under the
supervision of Deputy Rob Banks. Larry Brown coordinated these projects
and purchased the necessary materials. The new appearance is quite
amazing. Please come and see
it.
Faith
Meyer and Ken Hanson continue their essential weekly curatorial work;
Peggy Voight does a great job with publicity; Bill Wilson has put in many
hours remounting exhibits; Bob Rice has put in countless hours on the
photo collection, and new volunteer Linda Giles has made a big dent in the
Greene collection. These volunteers and all the unnamed other volunteers
make the Society successful and their efforts are very much appreciated.
I
am very grateful for the support of Cathy Sherrill, our vice president,
Sarah Giles, our treasurer, and Doreen Dun, our secretary, and all the
members of the board of trustees. Thank
you to all.
Jim Hunt
————
ACTIVITIES
Winter
Open House
We
held an open house on Saturday, December 6, during the pre-Christmas
Harbor Lights celebration. A Christmas tree, decorated with ornaments both
lent and donated for the occasion, was installed in the main room, and Don
Jackson lent a train to run around the base. We had a good turnout, and
attendees enjoyed refreshments and a special display of antique Christmas
cards.
In
January we mounted a photographic display of the Harbor waterfront fire of
1945. In February Faith Meyer put together an exhibit of valentines
featuring a very ornate valentine lent by Jolly Arsenault.
————
ONGOING
ACTIVITIES
Members'
Tangible Gifts
At
Easter Brenda Bettinson and Cordula Mathias offered to underwrite a
targeted gift for the society. They kindly agreed to provide funds for Boothbay
Register archival boxes
and mats for temporary photo displays. My favorite kind of phone call!
Society
director Peggy Voight donated a great printer for our scanner. With the
purchase of a light box and the use of the digital camera donated by Dick
and Joan Hodgdon, we're able to produce prints from negatives.
Thanks
to the 124 respondents to the fall fundraising letter who generously sent
funds to carry out our preservation mission. We've expended those funds on
safeguarding the wiring and will soon acquire fireproof files.
Collections
Work
A
number of volunteers have been working behind the scenes on most
Wednesdays and some Saturdays. Ken Hanson continues to catalog artifacts
and check their locations against the information. He's also been
cataloging material from the large Francis B. Greene collection as well as
plans from the water district.
Faith
Meyer and Barbara Rumsey continue the routine collection work of
accessioning, cataloging, and acknowledging artifacts and small
collections. Lynne Nicoletta, Doreen Dun, Sterling Andrus, and Sally
Johnson have been coming in regularly to catalog and work on collections.
A
great new volunteer is Linda Giles, who has focused on the Greene
collection, going over the letterboxes, photos, and clipping files. Robert
Rice came in all winter on a weekly basis to catalog photos in long
sessions.
We're
always looking for people who might man the building in the summer for a
shift or work behind the scenes on projects. Don't hesitate to drop by or
call if you're interested.
Our
biggest project of the last few months was participating twice in the
Lincoln County Sheriff's Department Correctional Work Program. Over many
weeks in December and February into March, deputy Rob Banks and a crew of
jail inmates cut the growth in the back yard and painted inside.
Refurbished
are the kitchen and upstairs rooms, including the fishing room and
domestic room, which also got a new ceiling. A large part of each job is
moving everything out of the rooms while the work is going on.
Society
trustee Larry Brown oversaw the work and kept the men in supplies, coffee,
and goodies. Tom Carbone lent the use of his truck to dispose of brush.
Rob and his crew will come back and do additional work on the building
exterior this summer—their fifth work party with us. It's a terrific
program for municipal and non-profit groups.
Larry
Brown and Robert Rice continue to watch over the building and keep things
shipshape. Steve Branch and his crew spent a few days in the building
replacing almost all of the old wiring and outlets, and adding some
upstairs. It's good to know there are new wires snaking through the old
walls.
Volunteer
Bill Wilson has been working all winter long with Barbara Rumsey on the
fussy work of remounting displays in the rooms refurbished by the jail
inmates. Bill has made exhibit supports and come up with all kinds of
clever ways to exhibit items without damaging the newly spackled and
painted walls. Come in and see the changes!
————
OUTREACH
Faith
Meyer was a presence for the society at Senior Recognition Day, a fair
arranged by Active Older Adults. She provided information about the
historical society.
Doreen
Dun and Cathy Sherrill created a display of school memorabilia at the high
school which stayed in place for a few months.
Larry
Brown represented us at an Adult Ed volunteer opportunity evening,
explaining the opportunities and our needs.
Bruce
Wood of Southport and Maryland maintains and updates
boothbayhistorical.org, our website—a bonus to all the other things he
does for us. Another key element in our internet activities is Great Works
Internet (GWI) which hosts our email (brhs@gwi.net) and website. GWI
generously provides access at no cost to non-profit organizations.
Out
Of Our Past
Articles
that were in our Boothbay Register column, "Out of Our Past,"
since the last newsletter included four by Barbara Rumsey: one of East
Boothbay stories Jim Stevens told her, one on 1890s town-related concerns
in Boothbay Harbor, one on the Harbor waterfront fire of 1945, one on the
fish-that-ate-the-jug-handle story; Barbara also annotated two more of the
John M. Hodgdon stories, written by Flora H. Bishop.
In
the month-long lapse between articles or a series of articles, we run a
photo with a detailed caption in the Register. Some of the photos profiled recently: a circa 1875 view of
Boothbay Harbor's east side; an early 1920s view of two Hodgdon-built
vessels, the Medric and the Bowdoin;
an 1899 view of Capitol Island; a 1940s view of Tess' Trailer by the Opera
House; and a circa 1910 shot of Harbor Island.
————
MEMBERSHIP
MATTERS
Our
membership now stands at 620. Since the November newsletter we've gained
the new members listed below. Thanks, everybody—your dues provide a
large part of our operating funds.
Our
members join for various reasons: they may be residents, summer residents,
descendants of old Boothbay families, annual visitors, and so on. Our new
members below represent all those categories. We'd appreciate your telling
us your reason for being a member, particularly if you are a descendant.
New Members
MAINE
Boothbay:
Ronald Conant
Boothbay Harbor:
Nancy Noyes and Bruce Offhaus (and
Newburyport, Mass.)
West Harbor:
Rick Thorpe (and Annapolis,
Md.)
Brunswick:
Barbara Whitepine
Hastings-on-Hudson,
New York: Sara Nehrbauer
Hewlett, New York:
Peter Small
Wayland,
Massachusetts: Tom McGonegal
Middletown, New
Jersey: Ruth Ann Szostek
————
ACQUISITIONS
We've
been given some additions to our collections from a number of donors. Judy
and Owen Pinkham brought in a framed copy of a 1917 petition of women of
voting age urging people to vote for women's suffrage. Ethel Marr gave us
a promotional item, a button hook, from the Marson shoe store. Joanne
Brown, on behalf of Roger Brown, donated a large net needle.
Mark
Biscoe gave us a copy of a new book he wrote on Waldoboro, Merchant
of the Medomak, featuring vessel building. Debbie Swann gave us a 1927
book, Historic Churches and Homes of
Maine. Evelyn Snowman gave material relating to the opera house in the
1970s.
Alice
Hodgdon Thompson gave her father, Norman Hodgdon's, fine collection of one
design building correspondence and bills from the 1950s. Barbara Rumsey
gave a tape she recorded of Chet Rittall talking about proposed 1960s
Harbor improvements. Alison Stitzer sent spikes she'd picked up in August
1945 shortly after a Mill Cove hulk was burned on V-J Day.
Jean
Chenoweth donated vintage Christmas ornaments, as did St. Andrews Thrift
Shop volunteers and Jane Fawcett, Evelyn Snowman, Marty Peak Helman, Nancy
Lindberg, and Pat Waldman; those who lent ornaments are Florence Harrold,
Lynne Nicoletta, and Nylene Page.
Bob
Barter donated packs of souvenir postcards of the region, as well as
slides of the Boothbay region and the state of Maine. The Boothbay Region
Water District brought in a large collection of plans. Cataloged so far
are Boothbay Harbor tax maps, some with owners' names, of the 1970s and
1980s.
Jane
Cowley donated her husband Arnold's name badge which he wore at Sample's
shipyard during World War II. The society bought a copy of the 1899 novel
about Fisherman's Island, Mary Cameron. Frances Kimball donated an 1899 book about Pemaquid.
Nancy
Irving gave us copies of her work on the Preble family. Richard Plunkett
brought in many fine local photos and an Edgecomb photo album. Dave
Andrews sent over some 1950s aerial views of the region. Alden Reed sent a
CD of Rick Prescott boat images and one design material.
We
appreciate all the gifts that have come our way. Our donors do the hard
work of disposing of things in a thoughtful way. Many of the recently
given artifacts are on display, and the paper items can be located easily
for those who would like to see the new acquisitions.
————
HOURS
Hours
are 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays
during the winter. The hours expand to Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from July 4 to Labor Day.
Barbara
Rumsey is normally in the building on Saturdays to help with any inquiries
and on one weekday afternoon year-round.
•
Phone: 633-0820. Email: brhs@gwi.net
•
Website: www.boothbayhistorical.org
* * *
DATES
TO REMEMBER
•
May 17: Annual Meeting, 2 p.m.
Barbara Rumsey Talk, "Fisherman's Island"
•
June 7: Talk by Colin Woodard, 4 p.m.
His Latest Book, The Lobster
Coast
•
June 22: Slide Show by Jim Hunt, 4 p.m
World War II Boothbay Region Shipbuilding
•
July 28: Slide Show by
Tad Pfeffer, 7 p.m.
Summer Cottage Architecture
•
August 14: Fisherman's Island Party, 4:30 p.m.
•
September 27: Volunteer Recognition Day, 5 p.m.
BOOTHBAY REGION
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
P.O.
BOX 272
BOOTHBAY HARBOR, ME
04538-0272
Help your Society and increase our local support—give the membership form to interested friends and encourage them to join the Society.
INFORMATION email: brhs@gwi.netTABLE OF CONTENTS
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