Activities

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Activities

Ongoing activities include:

• Locating and restoration of signs posted at various historic sites in 1937

• Ongoing inventory and update of histories of old houses and buildings

• Maintenance and update of cemetery records

• Outreach to schools including history tours provided all third grade classes each year

• Newsletters to all members and other historical societies on a monthly basis

• Workshops on a variety of subjects including crafts, herbs, genealogy and preservation

• Regular public programs on topics of historical interest

• Maintenance of three historic structures and planning for future

• Research for public and municipalities

• Participation in community events

Tool Collection   When this collection of tools was donated to the Society, donor Glenn Libby had to identify most of them! Dozens of implements used for everything from woodworking to shoemaking (and every task in between) are on display at the Old Grocery Museum. Another display showing more old tools is of interest to visitors at the Society headquarters. Collecting and identifying tools and other old items is part of the ongoing activity at the Society.

Visitors   Members of the Lowell family visited the Society in the fall and donated a great many items, including genealogical information.

Civil War   Stevens Bunker of Gray, Civil War Cavalry re-enactor, and historian, arranges artifacts in preparation for a talk about the Maine cavalry soldiers during the Civil War. More than 70 people of all ages attended the Jan. 23 program held at Windham Public Library.

Ice Cutting   Ice harvesting was big business in Maine’s history. Today, a few folks continue to practice this old skill. Lyle Merrifield in nearby North Gorham, provided an opportunity for the public to watch and participate – and this special event was a field trip for Society members

Oriental Powder Mill   Each year, member and former educator Walter Lunt leads tours of the site of the Oriental Gunpowder Mill. Here by an abandoned foundation, a group listens to the rich history of this area.

Field Allen School   On January 15, 2010, a re-dedication ceremony was held at the Field-Allen school followed by a similar re-dedication of the Field Allen American Legion Post 148 at the Windham Veterans Center. Members of both families were on hand to enjoy the event. One special guest was Paul Sullivan from Massachusetts, whose ancestor was Molly Sullivan, the fiancée of Charles Field. He brought with him the story of the girl who was left behind and the photos returned to her by a buddy of “Chick” Field. She never married. Many members of Allen’s family attended and brought with them scrapbooks, photos and memories which were shared. A public ceremony will be held on Memorial Day, 2010.

Blacksmith   Member Sam Simonson will demonstrate the skills of blacksmithing at the June 19 Summerfest in Windham.