Boothbay Region Historical Society Spring Newsletter

Volume 21, Issue 1

 

BRHS Annual Meeting

May 20 at 4 p.m.

Cathy Sherrill, BRHS board member and former president, will share stories of her time as a crew member sailing along the north coast of Labrador at the society’s annual meeting, Tuesday, May 20, at 4 p.m.

     During the summers of 1995 to 1997, Sherrill sailed aboard a 22-foot Marshall cat boat, and her talk will focus on “the magic of this east coast outpost.”

     Sherrill’s talk will be preceded by a brief business meeting, including a summary of BRHS activities during the past year and election of officers and trustees for 2008-09. Nominated for reelection are Doreen Dun, president; Sally Bullard, secretary; and Sarah Giles, treasurer. Stephen Alley has been nominated for vice president. Nominated to join the board as a new trustee is Philip Haselton. Nominees for reelection as trustees are Sarah Giles, Cathy Sherrill, Don Soler and Margaret Voight.

     The meeting is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

 

Colonial Murray House Tour and Fund Raiser

The stately “Murray House” on Murray Hill Road in East Boothbay will be the scene of the historical society’s major fund raiser this year. Bob and Fran Lord, owners of the historic home, have generously offered to open the house on Sunday, Aug. 24, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. to a limited attendance of 60 people.

     The imposing colonial style home, believed to have been built in 1769, backs onto the East Boothbay mill pond and offers views from the front across the road to the fresh water pond known as “the marsh.” The marsh, with its island in the middle, is part of the property.

     The historic home was built by Samuel Montgomery, a member of the family that settled East Boothbay in 1730. It passed down to Montgomery’s adopted nephew, James Murray,and his descendants – hence the name Murray House. Old-timers may remember the giant willow that hovered over the front of the home. Used as a residence for most of its history, the house, almost identical to the footprint and architectural layout of both the Nicholas Knight house at Boothbay Center and the Harry Leach house on Sawyers Island, also served as an inn from time to time. It has been carefully restored by the Lords, who have owned the property for the past 10 years.

     The Aug. 24 event will include a festive array of food, wine and light beverages. Tickets, at $50 each, can be bought at the BRHS, 72 Oak St., Boothbay Harbor.

     This is the fourth year in a row that the society has offered a tour of a historic home. In 2005, it was the stone house on Fisherman’s Island. Two years ago, it was the Harry Leach family home, and last year guests visited the Nicholas Knight house.  

Russell House Fund Raiser

Monday, July 14, 2008, has been designated as Boothbay Region Historical Society Day at the Russell House restaurant in Boothbay. Owners Scott and Corrine Larsen have generously offered to donate to the society a portion of all receipts from meals and drinks served at the restaurant on that day. The Russell House, one of the best regarded eateries in the region, is open for both lunch and dinner. We hope you will mark your calendars and plan to enjoy a meal there on July 14th – knowing that you also will be helping to support the historical society.

Summer Speaker Series

On June 3 at 4 p.m. we will be delighted to welcome Elizabeth Fisher, education director of the Ocean Classroom Foundation to speak at the society. Fisher holds a Ph.D. in maritime history with an emphasis in colonial history. The foundation, moved to its new homeport in Boothbay Harbor in mid-2007, a welcome addition to this vibrant seafaring community.  As a leader in experiential education, the non-profit organization provides programs of sea education and adventure for young students aboard the schooners Westward, Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage. These learning adventures vary in length and location, taking students aboard for a day, a week, and for some students it’s a semester-long adventure.  The schooners sail from the Canadian Maritimes to the Caribbean Sea. Fisher will speak about the organization and also about the ice trades from the Boothbay region to the Caribbean in the late 1800s.

     Award winning author and maritime artist Loretta Krupinski will speak on June 24 at 4 p.m. at the museum about her current work on 40 paintings for a mid-coast maritime history book that she is also writing. The book will be published Down East Publications and is due out in 2009.  This most recent collection of her oil paintings depicts moments captured in photographs from 1850 to 1940 along Maine’s working waterfront, including images of the Boothbay region.  When speaking at the society, Krupinski will present examples of her work, share her insights and then explain the process involved with bringing black and white photographs to life as richly colored oil paintings.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

During the long snowy winter of 2007/2008, several events at the museum brightened some otherwise dark days, notably, the well-attended Harbor Lights open house in early December and a close to standing-room-only talk by local fisherman, restaurateur, and television personality Bet Finocchiaro in February.  The quiet season also allowed time for planning ahead.  I hope you will enjoy participating in the upcoming programs and activities listed elsewhere in this newsletter.

     Many people carry us forward – volunteers, benefactors, board members. I’d like to mention three year-round volunteers whose contributions are truly outstanding:  Eleanor Alley, who efficiently organizes and coordinates the food donations needed to accompany various meetings and programs; Ken Hanson, who tracks and accounts for artifacts; and Bill Wilson, who can be relied upon to help with just about everything, from hanging a historical photo at just the right height and giving instructions to young and old on knot tying to giving a talk on his experiences in the U.S. Coast Guard.

     We are particularly grateful to Fran and Bob Lord, who have graciously offered to host a fund raising party this August at their 1700s home on Murray Hill. I hope you will participate in the two fund raising events planned for this summer: BRHS Day at the Russell House restaurant on July 14 and the party at Fran and Bob Lord’s historic house on August 24.

     Jim Hunt will retire from the board in May. The society has benefited greatly from Jim’s many contributions during his eight years on the board, including as president and as chair of the finance committee.  Fortunately, he has agreed to continue to share his financial acumen as an ongoing member of that committee. Jim’s place on the board will be filled by Philip Haselton, a founding member, supporter and neighbor of the society.  I am looking forward to having Philip’s thoughts and insights at the table.

     I would like to thank Barbara Rumsey and Laurie Green for their tireless, enthusiastic devotion to the historical society. Their hard work, special talents, and insights help ensure that the society continues to fulfill its role as the region’s memory.  Doreen Dun.

The Quilt Raffle was a Great Success!

We have a winner!  The quilt that was beautifully crafted by Kevin Bowler and Marty Helman for BRHS as a raffle fund raiser found its home with local Boothbay Harbor resident, Judy Eastwood.  The winning ticket was selected from over 1,000 entries during the annual Harbor Lights open house last winter. Quilt maker Marty Helman (right) chose the winning ticket.

Did You Know?

The Pinky (left) was the predominant vessel used by Boothbay mariners of the early and mid-1800s. A pinky was a small vessel, normally measuring 25’ to 70’ and most were 40’ or 50’. It had a jib, fore and mainsails; the cuddy forward gave standing room with two berths. A brick fireplace was built abaft the foremast, and its chimney, built from wooden planks, was lined with sheet iron or plaster for protection from fire.  According to fishermen of the time it had a “knack of rolling the water under its bow.” The method for fishing, before dories and trawls aided the pinky’s work, consisted of a line with two hooks cast over the rail.

Rooms in Time           The Meeting Room

The Fresnel Lens that once served as the Ram Island Light, made in Paris, France, in 1811, now sits in an eastern window in the meeting room and casts impressive spectrums throughout the room. The Courtney Houck’s bell is here, recovered sometime prior to V-J Day in 1945. New acquisitions are also cased here, as well as an extensive collection of postcards, views, guidebooks and various autograph books, the latter a popular hobby during the Victorian era. Handwriting certainly was brought to an art form in those books, and clever sayings abound. In each newsletter we focus on a particular room in the museum, hoping you will consider a visit to the Boothbay region’s “Rooms in Time.”

Membership Matters

We currently have 667 members. Membership dues are largely allocated to operating expenses, and we sincerely thank you for your continued generosity in supporting our organization.

New Members

The David Boggs Family, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Peter and Rhonda Segerstrom, Winchester, Massachusetts

Don and Chris Kenniston, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

June Dunton Koeppe, Nearney, Nebraska

Patrick J. Slattery, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

David and Judy Eastwood, Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Peggy and John Chapman, Woolwich, Maine

Gifts In Memoriam

Memorial gifts were given to the society in the name of:

ò      George Patch

ò      Sara Nehrbauer

Volunteers In Action

Winter at the historical society included the annual festive Holiday Lights open house, a talk by Bet Finocchiaro of “Bet’s Famous Fish Fry” and the modest beginnings of efforts to rearrange some of the society’s exhibits.

     Richard Plunkett, antique appraiser, dealer and collector, was the star of the show at the open house. Plunkett was on hand to appraise attic treasures brought in by a steady stream of people during the four-hour event. Plunkett also lent antique toys from his collections for a special display.

    A major highlight at the open house was the long-awaited raffle drawing for the quilt depicting local scenes created by Kevin Bowler and Marty Helman. The lucky winner was Judy Eastwood. As always, open house guests were treated to hot mulled cider, a full table of holiday baked goods and sandwiches, provided by trustees and volunteers.  The museum was festively decorated by BRHS president Doreen Dun, trustee Faith Meyer and volunteer Judy Burgess.  Thanks also to Doreen, who donated a lovely tree again this year for decorating.  The Boothbay Region Garden Club donated beautiful wreaths that were used to adorn the exterior windows and front door. 

      Laurie Green, BRHS administrator, is spearheading an ongoing project to further organize some of the society’s exhibits to draw better attention to them and to bring out, in rotation for public viewing, some of the many artifacts that are now hidden away in storage. The committee working on the project includes Barbara Rumsey, director; Bea Walker, trustee emerita; trustees Don Soler, Dorothy Gregory and Peggy Voight; and faithful volunteers Judy Burgess, Richard Plunkett, and Bill Wilson.

     Thanks to volunteer videographer Tammy Green, Bet’s thoroughly enjoyable and informative talk can be seen on BRCTV 7.

     No newsletter would be complete without thanks to our mailing party crews, some of whom are pictured below. They work throughout the year on various mailings. Thanks to all of them!

If you are interested in volunteer opportunities, please call or stop by the museum to learn about the many ways you can get involved.

Volunteer Recognition Reception

September 16, 2008 - 5 p.m.

All museum volunteers are invited to join us for a reception in your honor.  It is an opportunity for the trustees to thank you for supporting the society with all of the many and varied contributions you make with the gift of your time, hard work and expertise. 

We couldn’t do it without you - let us thank you in return. 

Please join us!

Thank You!

We are very fortunate to have members and friends who donate goods, services and funds to benefit the society. Many thanks for their thoughtfulness and generosity. Recent gifts include:

ò      The Bay Landing Craft Fair & BINGO Fund gave a financial donation.

 

ò      TW Green Custom Framing donated conservation framing for 10 late 1800s prints of local fishing industries.

 

ò      Brenda Bettinson and Cordula Mathais donated funds dedicated to the purchase of  archival storage products.

     Notes from the Director  by Barbara Rumsey

In the course of the winter, collections volunteers have been hard at work. Ken Hanson accessions artifacts and collections and has been working, as time allows, on organizing some 1940s Boothbay town papers. He's augmented his personal project of checking the Boothbay Registers for Sawyers Island info with noting news for the Boothbay Fire Department. Sally Bullard keeps up with the filing of documents and photos and has been typing exhaustive lists of uncataloged collections. Bea Walker is doing the slow job of reorganizing all the textile box contents, painstakingly doing any needed care and cataloging. Bill Wilson comes in regularly to help in collections and upkeep. Kay Wilder continues to refine the cataloging of the Hodgdon collection and she transcribed a 1979 talk by Harold Clifford.

     The buildings and grounds committee, ably headed by Don Soler, has been overseeing work behind the scenes. The exterior painting of the building's east side by the correctional workers was postponed until late spring by the November weather. Thanks to a donation by Philip Haselton, we have an emergency boiler hook-up to his generator next door, and Will Poore was able to further protect the boiler and upgrade the cellar by patching the foundation, filling in the old cistern depression, and jackhammering troughs to lead any water out. Bob Johnson has renailed the north side of the building to restore its watertight integrity. Bill Wilson has been doing a great job of getting some of the interior doors to behave!

     Longtime member and well-known local figure Captain Marion Dash died in February. Dave and Marion Dash were good friends of my folks, so she'd been part of my life for more than 50 years. As she aged, she spent time thoughtfully disposing of Dave's and her lifetime accumulation of things. I spent many hours at her house as we went over items, and she turned over to the museum uniquely Boothbay material: memorabilia from the passenger boats Richard T. and Holiday she and Dave captained; the papers of the Passenger Boat Association, Windjammer Days, and Lincoln Arts; her father-in-law's doctor bag, a large collection of National Fisherman containing local waterfront news, old home movies, and much more. She topped her large quantity of donations to the museum with one final gift: a bequest to the society. Thank you for everything, Marion.

Articles and Photos

     As has been the case since 1988, the society's "Out of Our Past" column, consisting of articles on historical subjects, has appeared approximately monthly in the Boothbay Register. Since the last newsletter, article subjects by Barbara Rumsey have included:

      Four articles on the schooner America, built in 1967 at Goudy & Stevens

      A 1910s Romance at an East Side Sardine Factory

      Two articles on the 1958 Fisherman’s Wharf Fire

      The Back River School

     Since 1999, photos with extended captions have appeared about monthly as well. 

 

Photos since the last newsletter:

      Rice Brother’s Awandra in front of the Menawarmet Hotel in 1908

      The Dudley-Pratt-Silver Lining store in the 1920s

      The Steamer Merryconeag about 1900

      A 1920s punt by the Frank Rice yard

      Knights of Pythias on Parade

 

Recent Acquisitions

Lucy Marlowe: Boothbay constable and fire department badges of her grandfather Freeman Van Horn

Jane Cowley: Samples Shipyard World War II badge

Loraine Nickerson: have-a-heart mousetrap made by Victor Orne

John McKown: items given to shipyard crew at 1967 Goudy & Stevens schooner America launching

Larry Crane: DVD versions of 1980s Rumsey videos of townspeople

Tam Green: DVDs of 40th anniversary and Bet Finocchiaro talk

Tom Bissell: Auto Stop Inn sign

Toots Adams: 1937 Boothbay Prize Speaking medallion

Tom Cornell: local postcards and books The Log of the Schooner Bowdoin and Revolt of the Scapegoats by Norman Linker

Philip Haselton: West Harbor property deeds

Royall Dodge: local photos

Alden Stickney: 1981 Merchant Vessels

Boothbay Home Builders: 1928 plans of the Spencer place at Spencer's Point

Barbara Rumsey: 1950s workman's lunch box

Bea Walker: A. K. Cross crayon packet, local postcards, Lakeview Motel brochure, book Mary Cameron, Sprucewold brochure

Alan Fisher: Dell computer

Alice Thompson: local photos

Bill Wilson: DVD of his Feb. 2007 talk at society

Bob Goodspeed: Barters Island church and hall history by his wife Blanche

Jolly Arsenault: YMCA 1967 plumbing papers

Nancy DeCosta: family history of Whitehouses and Hodgdons

Evie Stevens: photos of 1938 East Boothbay mothers with children in strollers and local captains

Alden Reed: 1939 photos of Hendel's Whistler and Isle of Springs images

Jean Chenoweth: Christmas ornaments

Zibette Dean: tapes of Boothbay people made by Nick Dean

Bet Finocchiaro – A True Seafaring Woman

Combining her usual unabashed exuberance, honesty and wit, local commercial fisherman, entrepreneur, and television personality Bet Finocchiaro brightened up a winter afternoon as she spoke to a standing-room-only crowd at the museum on February 26.

     During the informal question and answer session, Bet fielded queries from the audience on topics as diverse as her family history and how to bleed a fish in order to keep it as fresh as possible. She also talked about her nightly television interview show on Boothbay Region Community TV Channel 7, in which she interviews people from businesses and organizations in the region. 

     While Bet’s discourses on memories of being raised in a fishing family, her career path and culinary   experiences were generally humorous and light, her serious side shone through when it came to explaining the difficulties faced in operating a profitable fishing vessel.  As any worthy commercial boat owner should, Bet appreciatively credited her able crew for their ability in navigating the rough seas of federal fishery regulations and strictly enforced ground fish limits.  She also praised their talent in maximizing profit for the catch while faced with fluctuating markets and prices at the Portland Fish Auction.

NEMA Conference, November 2007

Last November, Laurie Green, administrator here at BRHS, won a full scholarship to attend the New England Museum Association (NEMA) annual conference. 

     Portland was the backdrop for this event, where there were over 500 attendees, representing a cross-section from museums around New England, large and small, seasonal and year round, academic, fine art, new and historical. 

     NEMA is a 90 year-old organization. Its mission is to strengthen member museums and other museums in the region. The organization offers resources, publications, workshops and the annual meeting.

     The conference theme, What Makes the Museum, helped to define the workshops, speakers and overall direction of the three-day event. There were 60 sessions to choose from, all of them geared toward the many aspects of museum culture and the work involved to strengthen and maintain museums.

     In Laurie’s view, the conference was a chance to learn more about the greater museum culture, as well as an opportunity to meet and visit with other museum professionals to learn and see a bit of what museums are up to, and to exchange views about the challenges and opportunities presented and how best to approach them with the highest standards for excellence and accountability.

Mark Your Calendar

¨       Tuesday, May 20 at 4 p.m. Annual Meeting with guest speaker Cathy Sherrill.

¨       Tuesday, June 3 at 4 p.m. Summer  Speaker Series Ocean Classroom educational director, Liz Fisher speaks about local ice trading during the late 1800s.

¨       Tuesday, June 24 at 4 p.m. Summer Speaker Series Maritime artist, author and illustrator Loretta Krupinski speaks about her local historical paintings, research and an upcoming book.

¨       Monday, July 14, all day. Fundraising Event BRHS Day, where a percentage of each meal served by the historic Russell House Restaurant & Tavern will be donated to the society.

¨       Sunday, August 24, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The Murray House Tour and Fund Raising Event on Murray Hill Road in East Boothbay.

¨       Tuesday, September 16 at 5 p.m.  Volunteer  Recognition Reception honoring our hard-working volunteers.

¨       Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12,  10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 41st Annual Fall Foliage Festival, and as always, we will sell Grafton Village Cheese.

 

Membership form   The BRHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Members receive newsletters twice a year and a 10% reduction on purchases. Send checks to BRHS, P.O. Box 272, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538-0272

Please send checks payable to:

Boothbay Region Historical Society

P.O. Box 272, Boothbay Harbor, ME  04538-0272

Newsletter Committee

Doreen Dun

John McKown

Margaret Voight

Laurie Green, Editor

Museum Hours of Operation:

Wednesday through Saturday

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

72 Oak Street, P.O. Box 272

Boothbay Harbor, Maine 04538

Phone:207-633-0820

Email: brhs@gwi.net

Web:boothbayhistorical.org

The BRHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

GWI KEEPS US ON LINE

     Great Works Internet (GWI) offers a subsidized service free of charge to non-profit organizations. GWI generously provides  BRHS with online access, an email account and hosting of our website.  Thank you GWI!

     Also, many thanks as always to Bruce Wood of Southport and Maryland, who maintains and updates our website.